Leo and the veteran stood side by side before a small mound of earth. A crude cross made of bound branches marked the spot where poor Tom now slept eternally.
In his left hand, Leo held the silver crucifix, letting it hang naturally. In his right, he held his Bible against his chest. The sheathed General Qi's Saber hung silently at his left hip.
"When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things."
"So do not say with grief that you are sorry he is gone, but rather say with gratitude that you are thankful he was here."
"For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known."
[Ding! Performed Funeral Rites. Roleplay Success: "Priest"]
["Priest" Proficiency: 1% -> 2%]
As Leo finished his sermon, the veteran stared blankly at the grave, then slowly, reverently crossed himself.
"Thank you, Father."
The veteran forced a pained, crooked smile, turning to look at Leo with genuine gratitude.
"Running into a priest out here... it was a godsend. Even if you are a bit... unconventional."
His eyes drifted involuntarily to the saber hanging at Leo's waist.
Leo smiled faintly. "Think nothing of it. I only did what I could."
Having bid farewell to Tom, the two men shouldered their meager belongings and headed back the way they came.
The bodies of the four Irish thugs lay abandoned in the mud, rotting exactly as Leo had prophesied in his battle hymn—slain by the sword, a portion for foxes.
Halfway back to the main road, the veteran suddenly stopped.
He seemed to recall something. After a moment of thought, his expression turned serious.
"Father, I just remembered something. Actually... I have seen a white male with a red tattoo on his neck."
Leo's expression sharpened instantly. He turned to the veteran, his eyes demanding details.
The veteran cleared his throat.
"Five days ago, Tom and I were passing a motel when we ran into a group of Mexicans."
"They're a local gang. Call themselves the 'Los Lobos'—the Wolf Gang."
"I saw it clearly. One of them had a red tattoo on his neck."
"I can't be sure if it was a skull or not, but it was red."
"A few days ago, I was drinking at a tavern and heard some rumors about this Wolf Gang from the bartender."
"According to him, their hideout is at a place called 'The Paradise,' not far from here."
"What is 'The Paradise'?" Leo asked immediately.
"It's an abandoned train station nearby," the veteran explained. "Used to be full of hobos and drifters, that's why they called it 'Paradise.' But when the Wolf Gang moved in, they took it over. The squatters were either kicked out or butchered."
Leo lowered his gaze, calculating.
"Veteran," he said softly, "do you know exactly where this 'Paradise' is?"
The veteran pursed his lips, hesitation flickering in his eyes.
"Father, I can tell you where it is. But..."
He sighed deeply, his tone shifting to one of warning.
"I have to warn you. You're good with a blade, I've seen it. But a knife can't beat a gun."
"These Mexicans aren't like those four punks back there."
"They are a real cartel. They're ruthless, there's at least a dozen of them, and they are well-armed. They have guns, Father. Real guns."
"A sword won't be enough against lead."
Leo gave a calm, reassuring smile.
"Thank you for your concern, old timer."
"But I'm not a fool. I won't bring a knife to a gunfight without a plan."
"Just tell me where 'The Paradise' is. I'll handle the rest."
The veteran shrugged, smiling bitterly. "Alright then. I can only wish you luck."
He rattled off a set of directions and landmarks. Leo memorized them instantly.
"Thank you for the intel. You've been a great help."
The veteran waved his hand dismissively. "Don't mention it. Consider it payment for Tom's funeral."
Talking as they walked, they reached the wide, straight highway.
"So, old timer. Tom is gone. Are you still heading home?"
"Yeah. I need to give Tom's things to his mother. Then I'll find work. If I can't find work, I'll beg. I'll live one day at a time."
"I see. Take care of yourself. Don't let poverty or sickness win. May the peace of the Lord be with you."
"Hahaha! If the God of War and his artillery couldn't kill me, being poor won't either! You take care too, Father! I hope you find that bastard with the red skull tattoo!"
The two men extended their right hands and shook firmly.
Then, as if by prior agreement, they released their grip and turned away simultaneously, walking in opposite directions.
Neither Leo nor the veteran looked back. They walked their separate paths without hesitation.
Tap, tap, tap, tap...
On the empty highway, the sound of the cane hitting the pavement rang out clearly, like an echo in a valley.
The veteran gripped his cane, eyes forward, limping step by step toward the sunrise.
Tap, tap, tap, tap...
...
...
Leo carried his luggage—a large suitcase with a few changes of clothes and daily necessities—walking at a steady pace down the road.
General Qi's Saber was once again wrapped in cloth, resting casually on his left shoulder.
Armed with the veteran's intel, he was heading straight for "The Paradise" to hunt the Wolf Gang.
Without a companion or scenery worth looking at, boredom began to set in.
To kill time, Leo decided to check the System.
With a thought, a translucent blue screen, visible only to him, unfolded in the air.
[Host: Leo]
[Current Playable Roles:
Priest (Lv.3 - 2%)Paladin (Lv.2 - 1%)Berserker (Lv.1 - 0%)Vigilante (Lv.1 - 0%)]
[Current Skills:
General Qi's Saber Arts (Lv. C)Bajiquan (Lv. D)One Man Army (Lv. B)Lever-Action Rifle Mastery (Lv. A)Bullet Time (Lv. B)]
This "Priest" role is getting harder to level, Leo thought with a sigh of frustration. The progress bar barely moves, and I have to act like a devout holy man every time I want XP.
It had been six months since he arrived in this timeline.
Six months ago, he was just an ordinary web novelist.
He lived a quiet life on decent royalties and low desires—reading books, listening to music, playing piano, and typing away at his keyboard when necessary.
One afternoon, feeling drowsy while reading in his study, he dozed off in his recliner.
When he opened his eyes, he had transmigrated to 1924 America. His spawn point: a nondescript place called "Starlight Town."
The body was strange, but the name was familiar—the original owner was also named Leo.
The moment he realized he had time-traveled, he received the standard-issue cheat code for all transmigrators.
With a crisp ding, a system installed itself in his brain.
Leo named it the "Roleplay System."
The mechanics were simple: The System unlocked specific archetypes. If he successfully acted out these roles, he gained experience points (XP). Leveling up a role granted powerful skills and unlocked new classes.
His first role was "Priest."
When he saw the word, he was dumbfounded.
Raised under the red flag of socialism, Leo was a staunch atheist.
Asking an atheist who had never even touched a Bible to play a priest? It was a tall order.
But a cheat is a cheat, and he wasn't about to waste it.
He bit the bullet, bought a Bible, and studied it religiously. He visited local churches to observe how real priests conducted themselves, mimicking their mannerisms and speech.
The veteran would never have guessed that the professional, pious Chinese priest who buried his friend didn't believe in God at all.
For two months, Leo worked as a busboy in a cafe, grinding XP by acting pious whenever possible.
It took nearly two months to get "Priest" from Lv.1 to Lv.2.
When he finally leveled up, he received his first skill: "One Man Army (Lv. B)."
[Skill: One Man Army (Lv. B)]
[Description: Grants a physique far surpassing that of ordinary men. All physical capabilities—strength, speed, endurance—are elevated to the level of a world-class Olympic athlete.]