Chapter 116: The First Customer
Creak.
Bent Gavin pushed open the old-fashioned wooden door.
"What is this smell?"
As soon as he entered, he smelled a fresh fragrance, and his spirit relaxed considerably.
Old standing cabinets, yellowed floorboards...
No matter how he looked at it, this place seemed to have been open for a long time; it didn't look like a new shop at all.
Bent stepped back outside. The promotional sign at the door indeed read "Grand Opening."
Although he didn't quite understand the Chinese characters, there was an English annotation underneath.
At the same time, the layout inside the shop also aroused Bent's curiosity.
There were several round tables at the entrance, with glass bottles placed randomly on them.
Near the back of the shop, there was a row of small private rooms, with white cloths covering the entrances.
"Hello? Is anyone here?" Bent asked softly.
At this time, inside the shop's break room.
Materials for refining Holy Oil were boiling on a stone platform.
William threw a small leg of an Immolator into the furnace underneath.
The flames shot up instantly.
Soon, a faint fragrance wafted from the burning leg.
This was the method Sadie taught him.
Mixing monster parts with materials like Veratrum, Aconite withered wood, and Eyebright and burning them could convert the monster's own toxicity.
This provided a layer of stronger activity during Holy Oil refinement.
The Holy Oil produced this way would be of higher quality.
Suddenly, William heard someone calling him in the shop, so he hurriedly got up and wiped his hands.
"What do you need?"
He walked to the cashier counter and sat down.
Although it was called a cashier counter, there was no electronic equipment here.
Only various papers and clear water were messily placed there, looking like he was in the middle of making Holy Water.
Bent's throat rolled.
The shop owner seemed to be a priest as well.
But the other party's robes were a bit dirty, and his sleeves were rolled up casually.
This appearance, as well as the layout of the shop, was completely different from other shops.
If Bent walked into any other shop right now, he would see exquisite decorations and neatly arranged holy artifacts.
Even the shop owners would be clean and elegant, looking like upper-class members of the Church.
Bent intended to leave, but the shop owner had already come out, and he was the only customer in the shop at this time.
For a moment, he felt a bit embarrassed to just walk out.
"Um... I want to buy high-vintage Holy Oil."
Hearing this, William pointed: "Oh, the one-year vintage ones are on the table; the rest are in the cabinet on your left."
Bent was startled inwardly upon hearing this; he hurriedly leaned in close.
Relying on his perception of Holy Power, Bent confirmed that these Holy Oils were indeed one year old!
"The shop owner just said 'the others are in the wooden cabinet,' does that mean..."
Bent approached with suspicious eyes.
Then he felt an even more ancient aura from the bottles in the wooden cabinet!
There really are some!
But Bent immediately looked conflicted.
He didn't have enough money!
He just wanted to use that as an excuse to leave earlier.
After all, in the entire Dei Commercial Street, only a few large shops might sell high-vintage Holy Oil.
Who would have thought such an inconspicuous shop would have it too!
Seeing this young man acting sneaky, William became vigilant.
"A thief?... Has the Church fallen this low?" He grabbed a crucifix and held it in his hand.
"Which one do you want?" William spoke again.
"Um... that... I..."
Bent seemed a little cramped.
A moment later, he finally mustered up the courage.
"I... I want a bottle of Holy Oil that's about one week old."
As soon as this remark came out, the air fell into a brief silence.
The corner of William's mouth twitched.
Asking for high-vintage as soon as he entered, William thought a big customer had arrived.
Turns out he only wanted to buy "few days" quality now...
Moreover, William didn't usually use such low-end goods.
For a moment, where was he supposed to find that...
Wait! He actually could find a bottle!
William raised an eyebrow, suddenly remembering that when he practiced refining Holy Oil yesterday, he made a bottle of about two weeks quality.
But because the quality was too low, he threw it in a corner.
"Wait a moment."
William walked into the break room with a look of reminiscence.
Before long, Bent heard the sound of rummaging through things.
"Is two-week quality Holy Oil becoming rare now too..." He wiped his forehead, thinking secretly.
After spending some effort, William finally found that bottle of Holy Oil.
"Handmade Holy Oil, 2500 dollars."
Bent just wanted to reach out, but was shocked upon hearing this.
"Th... this is too expensive!"
A bottle of freshly made handmade Holy Oil was only about 500 dollars.
Even if it had been stored for one to two weeks, the price would not exceed 1500 dollars.
This was simply robbery!
William smiled slightly: "Don't look at the high price; this is made with an exclusive secret recipe. How can those outside compare?"
He really wasn't wrong about this.
The efficiency of refined Holy Oil was much higher than the ordinary version.
Bent looked suspicious; he had never heard of such a claim!
But he had already rejected the shop owner once.
If he didn't buy this bottle either, how would this shop owner view him?
"He will definitely think I'm a pauper! Then my reputation in the academy will be ruined!"
Images of everyone pointing fingers at him floated in Bent's mind.
"Forget it! I'll buy it!"
Bent pinched his nose and paid the money.
"Welcome to come again next time."
Bent looked pained.
"Even if I'm possessed by a demon, I will never come here again!"
The next day.
Dei Exorcism Academy, "St. Peter" Training Room.
The students had been waiting here for a long time.
They all carried a small bag in their hands, containing the Holy Oil to be used in class today, as well as some cleaning supplies.
"Evele, what quality of Holy Oil did you buy?"
"Only managed to buy one stored for a month."
"You are so lucky. I ran to many shops yesterday, but only bought one about a week old. The Cologne Brothers' Sacristy sells them so expensively!"
"Then you are lucky too; Johnny only bought one made this morning. She's going to be at the bottom this time!"
The students discussed with each other, their words all related to the quality of Holy Oil.
Bent also arrived at the classroom. He sat in the corner, his face written with worry.
"Did you get it?"
At this time, his friend Zar leaned over.
Bent nodded: "Only bought a two-week one."
"That's good luck; many classmates didn't get any!"
Zar patted Bent upon hearing this.
"I spent 1800 dollars to buy this bottle of three-week quality Holy Oil. The shop owner was such a scammer!"
This sentence stung Bent again.
"Three weeks quality, 1800 dollars... that shop owner was indeed a scammer!" He gritted his teeth.
"Tell me about it! The Church should really step in and regulate this!"
Zar sighed, completely failing to notice his friend's abnormality.
A moment later, a discussion arose in the classroom.
"Look, Silas is here!"
"In the last 'Holy Artifact Operation' training, only he successfully dispelled the evil."
"I heard the academy specially rewarded him with five drops of one-year vintage Holy Oil!"
"He will definitely be number one in practice today too."
Silas wore a smile, calmly enjoying the praise around him.
He had short pale blond hair, and his emerald-like eyes were very charming.
Silas looked left and right, and soon his eyes lit up.
"Hey Bent, did you buy any? I happen to have a bottle of three-month quality Holy Oil."
As he spoke, he reached into his small bag.
"But as you know, the academy just rewarded me with one-year vintage Holy Oil recently, so I won't be needing this bottle."
Bent and Zar rolled their eyes secretly.
"This guy loves to show off too much," Bent thought speechlessly.
"Thank you for your kindness, Silas, but we bought some." Zar also forced a smile.
The other party might enter the upper levels of the Church in the future; there was no benefit in making enemies with such a person.
"That's really a pity. Feel free to ask me if you need anything."
Silas's hand never came out of the bag.
Hearing the two refuse at this time, he shrugged indifferently.
Then, inadvertently, he revealed the Bronze Cross embroidery on his cuff.
Only in a Parish-level Exorcism Academy could one possess this emblem in the first year.
And in the local parish, this condition would be even more difficult.
This was also a symbol of strength.
Just as Bent planned to change seats, the academy teacher Kay Richie walked into the classroom.
He wore a pair of black-rimmed glasses and was about forty years old.
"Young people, today we are going to learn the usage and defensiveness of Holy Oil!"
Richie took out a glass jar as he spoke.
"Inside this is some corrosive fluid excreted by those possessed by demons. Of course, it has been diluted."
"Later, after applying Holy Oil, each of you must come into contact with it."
"Those who can successfully resist the evil will receive a drop of three-year vintage Holy Oil!"
"And there will be extra credits at the end of the term."
Richie smiled.
"Who wants to go first?"
☆☆☆
-> 30 Advanced chapters Now Available on Patreon!!
-> https://www.pat-reon.co-m/c/Inkshaper
(Just remove the hyphen (-) to access patreon normally)
If you like this novel please consider leaving a review that's help the story a lot Thank you