Chapter 061: Welcome to the Gang

The process of capturing Rudolf’s soul proved far easier than Li Lekang had imagined. Sterl’s elaborate contingency plans were entirely unnecessary. Perhaps those of higher status fear death most; when faced with the loss of their authority and the privilege of ordering others about, such men find it a fate worse than death itself. Even when he realized he had been set up and betrayed, Rudolf still clung desperately to life, hoping for a chance to turn things around—at least, it was preferable to being devoured by the fierce demon of hell standing before him.

After the giant wolf Mike had devoured a second subordinate, Rudolf cried out his surrender. “I can offer you a higher price—five times, ten times more! Whatever he can give you, I can as well! I’ll even hand over the leverage you need to control me, from now on we can be partners, or I’ll be your subordinate, obeying your every command!”

Such worldly bargains only made Li Lekang smile disdainfully. So much for the blood of barbarians you claim to possess—when faced with death, you are utterly cowardly. Compared to Sterl, who could keep his wits and negotiate with the devil, this blustering, timorous fat man grovelled and begged for mercy, willing to sacrifice anything to cling to power and status. The thought of dying, of descending into hell, was unbearable to Rudolf; he pleaded for his life, stripped of all his former arrogance.

Li Lekang, accompanied by the mighty wolf king Mike, approached the fat man. “Is your condition that I show you a way to survive?”

Rudolf nodded frantically, as if grasping a lifeline. “Yes, exactly! I can accept any condition! I am far more useful alive than Sterl—he could never manage the intrigue among the Saints’ upper echelons, but I can!”

Li Lekang paid him little heed and continued, “So what are you willing to offer in exchange?”

Before Rudolf could answer, Li Lekang cut him off: “I do not need money or power—these worldly things mean nothing to me.”

Rudolf was momentarily speechless, then, as if inspired, decided to follow the method of legend: “My soul! I am willing to offer my soul for our bargain!”

No need for Li Lekang to prompt him; Rudolf made the offer himself. It was as if a pillow was handed to a drowsy man—Li Lekang could hardly refuse. “Then I accept your proposal, Mr. Rudolf.”

“Yes, I agree!” Rudolf nodded eagerly, making the common mortal mistake—rushing to accept a contract without even reading its terms in full. Only when the parchment burned before him did he vaguely realize the price of trading his entire soul to the devil, but by then it was too late.

Li Lekang placed a hand on Rudolf’s head, the other holding the blank soul stone. The soul, swollen with the seven deadly sins, would be drawn into the stone according to the contract. Rudolf would not die, but after losing his soul, he would be incapable of feeling anger, happiness, or passion ever again. With his soul extracted, he would become an empty shell, a mere body, a walking corpse—alive, but forever deprived of the joys, sorrows, and desires of humanity.

When the soul of seven sins was absorbed into the stone in Li Lekang’s hand, and its colors shimmered with seven hues, Rudolf’s gaze grew dim, his hollow eyes seeming to see through all worldly things. No anger remained, no tension, not even the urge for revenge. Now, if anyone slapped him, he would feel no fury, nor any inclination to retaliate.

Li Lekang pocketed the soul stone and smiled faintly at him. “I shall keep my promise and show you a path to survival, Mr. Rudolf. The entire city is hunting you, Sterl has sent men to kill you, but the north is safe—leave on your own.”

Like a soulless husk, Rudolf departed without a backward glance.

As for the aftermath, Li Lekang bribed the wolf Mike with ten soul beans to perform once more, devouring the last remaining man, and then departed with his canine companion.

Shortly after Li Lekang returned to the hotel, he received a summons from the police to assist in their investigation. Witnesses had seen Li Lekang enter Rudolf’s room, after which Rudolf was never seen again—he had vanished without a trace.

Li Lekang inevitably became suspected of aiding a fugitive, but he faced the police with a bemused look. “Are you suggesting I used magic to make him disappear, or performed some sort of grand illusion?”

The officer’s expression was peculiar.

Li Lekang couldn’t help but laugh aloud. “Please don’t tell me you’re planning to offer this as evidence. If the judge doesn’t laugh, the jury certainly will!”

An FBI agent knocked on the table. “Then explain why you happened to be in contact with the suspect during the time he disappeared, and why you both vanished together?”

“I refuse to answer that question—I require my lawyer to be present.”

Li Lekang declined to respond. “I’ll only say this: I am a performance artist, not a sorcerer, and I cannot explain what cannot be explained.”

As a celebrity, Li Lekang naturally had his own legal team. Judy immediately called in a lawyer to speak on his behalf.

The police began to feel the headache that comes from dealing with wealthy individuals—always invoking lawyers and legal rights, one misstep can land you in trouble.

You can hardly claim that Li Lekang used magic to make Rudolf disappear, can you?

But their standoff with the magician did not last long; soon after, they received a tip from the public—someone had spotted the fugitive! The police dispatched a team and successfully apprehended Rudolf.

He offered no resistance, cooperating throughout, even appearing utterly indifferent, as though he had seen through the vanity of the world.

Li Lekang’s involvement in the investigation naturally ended. He was cleared of suspicion. Although he did not explain what happened during his magic performance, it no longer mattered; with the major suspect in custody, everyone’s focus shifted there.

Li Lekang returned to his afternoon tea, now awaiting further developments. If necessary, he would offer Sterl a little help to smooth his rise—as the contract required.

Sterl, however, did not disappoint. His methods and intellect were impeccable; he responded swiftly to the crisis, skillfully distancing himself and aligning interests with the upper echelons, binding themselves together.

The Saints could not oppose the government; they needed to attach themselves to its power to survive. Sterl recognized this and cooperated fully during the investigation, soon clarifying everything.

Rudolf, once captured, confessed to all crimes without protest, making no effort to defend himself. Whether the guilt was his or not, it mattered little to him; he simply assumed responsibility for it all.

Rudolf was taken away, destined for a lifetime of imprisonment without hope of release. Sterl, having handled matters brilliantly, naturally ascended to the position of bishop, becoming one of the five heads of the Saints.

The Saints had five bishops, mainly active in North America. A century ago, there had been a pope, but for various reasons that seat remained vacant, leaving the five bishops to rule collectively.

Sterl’s jurisdiction now encompassed the entire American West, with numerous politicians closely tied to the Saints, both in religious and business affairs.

It was a coveted position—Rudolf had acted with impunity, disposing of lives as easily as swatting flies. Prosecutors investigating him had even received death threats.

Now Sterl held the seat. Although he faced internal controversy—accusations of betrayal and whispers of backstabbing—he had not yet secured his throne entirely. But he knew he possessed a powerful trump card: he was now part of the Hell syndicate. As long as he pleased the devil, he could live with reckless abandon.

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