“The Spirit Gun. Wooden handle, silver-plated barrel, the best companion for a novice exorcist. As its name suggests, it allows its wielder to sense ghosts and even hurt them.”
Hades’ deep voice echoed softly, his rows of golden teeth gleaming under the dim oil lamp light, casting a mesmerizing glow.
But in that moment, a chill crawled up Lu Li’s spine.
As soon as he picked up the flintlock pistol, the entire tavern seemed to fill with an oppressive, sinister malice. Every shadowed corner felt as if venomous eyes were watching him, and the previously empty seats were now faintly crowded with eerie figures.
The glow of the oil lamp and the light filtering through the window dimmed visibly, consumed by the encroaching darkness. An overwhelming abyssal shadow surged forward—
“If I were you, I wouldn’t keep holding it.”
Hades’ abrupt voice snapped Lu Li out of the illusion.
Lu Li’s pupils tightened. He lifted his gaze and silently looked around. The flame in the oil lamp was steady and upright, the light from the window remained a soft haze, and the first-floor seating was still empty and vacant.
“Why,” Lu Li asked as he placed the flintlock pistol back on the counter, casting a shadow over it.
“You already felt the reason,” Hades chuckled lightly, his tone laced with mocking amusement.
Lu Li paused briefly. “...What was that?”
“The truth of this world.”
Lu Li’s pupils narrowed into sharp pinpoints.
Hades continued nonchalantly, “Or rather, the first layer of truth.”
Lu Li felt he was getting closer to understanding the true nature of this world. He pulled a high stool closer and sat down. “Can you explain in detail?”
“Sure, just because you only bargained once,” Hades said, pocketing the shillings and dragging a chair over to sit as well. However, due to his short stature, he could only lean awkwardly against the counter. “You’re very composed, so last night, when the ghost appeared, you probably noticed that once it vanished, you couldn’t find it again. Am I right? That’s because that ghost doesn’t even exist in this world!”
Lu Li’s expression remained calm, and he said nothing.
Hades, hoping to see shock on Lu Li’s face, was disappointed and continued, “While most ghosts originate from the dead, they belong to another world entirely. What manifests in our world is just their projection. That’s also why we can’t touch most ghosts.”
“The Spirit Gun is an exception. The runes engraved on it allow the wielder to enter the world where the malevolent spirits exist, enabling you to hurt their true form. Does that explanation make sense? Sorry, this is my first time explaining it. No one’s ever asked before.”
“More or less,” Lu Li nodded slightly.
“Hey, buddy, the freebie from your one-time bargaining is over,” Hades complained, tapping the table with his fingers, annoyed at Lu Li’s persistence.
Lu Li shifted his gaze back to the Spirit Gun, its elegant yet dangerous aura radiating from the counter. “How can I be sure it actually works?”
“Go test it. You’ll find out. Assuming you survive if it doesn’t,” Hades leaned forward, reaching over the counter to pat Lu Li on the shoulder. “And if it doesn’t work, feel free to return it, my friend.”
“What about the bullets?”
Hades, as if expecting the question, pulled a silver-plated bullet engraved with runes from beneath the counter and placed it upright on the table. “I’ll throw in one for free. The rest you’ll have to buy. You can get them from me or other exorcists.”
“How much?”
“Fifty shillings each.”
“Expensive.”
Lu Li frowned slightly.
A freshly baked three-pound loaf of black bread cost just two shillings, and a full day of hard labor in Belfast earned only ten shillings.
“This is a breech-loading rifled flintlock. It doesn’t use lead bullets or require gunpowder. Just load the bullet, cock the hammer, and pull the trigger. The silver-plated bullet will pierce anything—man or ghost—within fifty yards.”
Hades rattled off a set of specs, clearly unbothered by the possibility of Lu Li turning down the price.
“If that’s the case, then fifty shillings is fair.”
Lu Li nodded. Coming from Earth, he understood better than anyone else the value of faster reloading.
“So, how many bullets do you want?” Hades grinned, his golden teeth shining in his signature merchant-like smile.
He seemed more like a vendor than an exorcist.
Lu Li picked up the bullet. “If you’re willing to tell me more about this place, I might be interested in buying more bullets from you—and even becoming a regular customer.”
As expected, Hades looked intrigued.
“What do you want to know?”