The Black Book: Seven Deadly Sins
Chapter 98 - 98: Chant [My Name]

Instinctively pulling out the revolver he always carried, Wilson stared intently at the figure hidden beneath the black cloak, while his other hand subtly reached for a red button under the edge of the table.

However, as the visitor lowered his hood, a flood of kinship surged through his soul, instantly soothing his terrified heart, and gradually relaxing Wilson.

"My lord."

Taking a deep breath, Wilson put away his revolver, stood up, and bowed, his eyes devoutly fixed on the smiling boy not far away.

"You did well last time."

Hearing the boy's praise, Wilson's heart surged with endless ecstasy and gratitude, half-kneeling on the ground, overwhelmed by favor.

"Glory be to my lord."

With a faint, knowing smile, Zhu Haomiao casually flicked his fingers, and with a light metallic hum, two shining gold coins spun rapidly, drawing a parabola in mid-air, landing precisely in Wilson's palm.

Wide-eyed with disbelief, dark light twisted in Wilson's eyes as the greed coins in his palm gradually melted into an oily, viscous liquid. It seeped bit by bit into his skin, flowing through his bloodstream, integrating into every cell, every strand of his divine soul.

Watching the other's veins swell and wriggle like little snakes, and the agonized yet ecstatic expression on his face, Zhu Haomiao could sense that the other was gradually losing himself, that mysterious, eerie darkness had already engulfed most of his soul.

And as the corruption deepened, he could now even sense what the other was thinking.

His thoughts were transparent in one direction, but the other had no awareness of this change, still feeling grateful and devoted to him, like a fanatical believer.

Sigh... He was clearly a sunny, cheerful young man, so why did his methods feel increasingly sinister?

He sighed quietly in his heart, standing still, Zhu Haomiao patiently waited for Wilson to digest the greed coins.

After a long while, the anomalies around Wilson gradually dissipated, and his twisted, contorted expression slowly eased, returning to that of a graceful, noble gentleman.

"Now, I assign you a new mission."

Half-kneeling on the ground, Wilson looked up at Zhu Haomiao, expression devout, eyes resolute yet frenzied, quietly awaiting his command.

"Make the entire Shanghai underground world chant my name, these... are your 'start-up funds'."

With hands spread wide above his head, Wilson held the dozen or so greed coins Zhu Haomiao had given him in his palms, nodding firmly.

"Yes, my lord!"

Zhu Haomiao nodded, put on his hood, took two steps back, and vanished into the dark shadows like a specter, leaving only a faint whisper.

"Remember, my name is... Primordial Sin."

............

"Primordial sin is in the hearts of each of us, only by cleansing our sins with the blood of sinners can we attain redemption!"

In a spacious secret room, a group of people watched Wilson on the stage, spouting rhetoric in fervent excitement, their expressions indescribably puzzled as they exchanged glances.

Among them were men and women, half were blonde and blue-eyed foreigners, the other half wore the traditional queue hairstyle of Qing people.

But without exception, they were all prominent figures in the ten miles of foreign market on the surface, and secretly controlled many unspeakable powers.

Smuggling, opium trafficking, coercing women into prostitution, running casinos, kidnapping, and murder...

They wouldn't engage in any money-losing deals, but the shadows of all gray and black industries lurked in their actions.

Originally, these people thought Wilson had painstakingly gathered them for some big deal, arriving eagerly in response to his invitation...

Only to find it was for preaching?

And about some unheard-of third-rate cult?!

If not considering the favors and benefits Wilson had extended, some would have stormed off long ago.

But even sitting there with patience, they had no interest in listening to Wilson's preaching from the stage, whispering amongst themselves.

"Did this guy take the wrong medicine?"

"Don't know, probably brainwashed by some religion."

"Wasn't he said to be a formidable character? Just in under a year, he expanded his influence tenfold!"

"Being formidable and being a religious fanatic aren't mutually exclusive."

"That's also true..."

Seeing the attendees showing no sign of reverence, Wilson frowned in dissatisfaction, clapped his hands to attract everyone's attention.

"I know you don't believe what I'm saying, after all, sinners are ignorant... but..."

His words drew a frown from the audience below, but in the next second, when Wilson opened an exquisite small luxurious treasure box, a mesmerizing golden light spilled out, projecting a twisted soul's golden evil shine on everyone's retinas.

With pupils widening slowly, vision losing focus, all eyes fixed on those small gold coins, an uncontrollable frenzy of greed surged in their hearts.

Mine!

All mine!

They're all mine!

Pa~

Wilson closed the treasure box, blocking their sight, also curtailing their near-uncontrollable greed.

Soon after, their empty, unfocused pupils sharply refocused, leaving a void in everyone's hearts, as if missing a piece.

As if they had lost the most important thing in life, they instinctively slapped the table, glaring at Wilson on the podium with hatred, as if he were the mortal enemy who took away their beloved.

Bathed in their hostility, Wilson fearlessly gazed back, the dark, deep, twisting black light writhing in his pupils, bestowing a terrifying, soul-piercing pressure upon everyone.

"Primordial sin is merciful, it grants us release, grants us redemption, grants us everything we desire!"

Gently raising the treasure box in his hand, under their fiery, greedy gazes, Wilson seemed to hold supreme authority aloft, akin to a sacred and majestic priest.

"Now... who wishes to receive my lord's redemption?"

The people below froze, the remaining reason told them the path ahead was a dangerous abyss, stepping in might mean eternal damnation.

But instinctive greed, like an addiction, drove them, urging them to seize that gold coin at all costs!

"I... I am willing."

After a brief internal struggle, a man stood, breath heavy, shaking as he stepped onto the stage, myriad emotions battling in his eyes, but ultimately greed took dominance.

Seeing this, Wilson nodded in satisfaction, his voice deep and authoritative as he commanded loudly.

"Kneel!"

Thud!

The man's legs went weak, crashing to his knees, looking at Wilson with ecstatic joy as he placed a gold coin in his palm.

Clutching the coin tightly in his hand, the man, like an addict in withdrawal, inhaled its scent greedily, displaying an intensely twisted expression.

And with the example set by the first, the remaining others could no longer suppress the greed within them, rushing forward in a mad scramble.