Book 4: Chapter 16: Halo Removed
âHe Who Knows Fate, whatâs wrong with you? Why are you staring at my halo in a daze?â Exusiai waved her hand in front of Chen Hengâs face. She only withdrew her hand after verifying Chen Heng had recovered his wits.
âI was just pondering why the halo can hover over a Lateranâs head.â
âThen you will probably take a long time. When you figure it out, you can write a thesis on it. I can only silently cheer you on.â Although Exusiai said that, she wasnât hopeful. Although she found the halo floating over her head strange, it was something she took for granted.
âThen, as a friend willing to support me, may I touch your halo?â As mentioned before, Chen Hengâs darned curiosity would get him killed someday.
âOnly a touch.â Exusiai agreed to let Chen Heng touch her halo, probably on account of his bullets.
âDonât worry, just a touch.â Chen Heng extended his sinful hands toward that glowing halo.
However, Chen Heng discovered what âcuriosity killed the catâ and âone wonât get in trouble if one does not court troubleâ meant in the next moment.
Chen Heng plucked off Exusiaiâs halo. Furthermore, it became even brighter in his hand, rather dazzling even in daylight.
He glanced at the halo in his hand, then at the dumbfounded Exusiai and Texas. The warm halo in his hand suddenly felt extremely hot.
âMy-my haâ¦â Exusiai was the first to react after the shock. Tears welled up in her eyes. This halo was the hallmark of the Laterans, the faith of the Laterans. However, it was now gone. Although Exusiai was usually optimistic, unlike most Laterans, that did not mean her faith was not firm.
âI did not do it on purpose. Here, Iâll put it back!â Chen Heng quickly placed the halo in his hand back over Exusiaiâs head andâ¦succeeded.
After Chen Heng let go, that halo seemed like before, hovering over Exusiaiâs head, except it was now brighter.
âItâsâ¦itâs back.â Exusiai felt the importance of the halo to her for the first time, nearly crying from joy. She normally regarded it with extreme disdain whenever she tried to sleep.
âErmâ¦I suddenly recalled something urgent. Iâve got to go first.â Seeing the halo back in its original place, Chen Heng released a bated breath and immediately left via a spatial jump, not daring to remain a moment longer.
He feared this Lateran called Exusiai would bash his head with her submachine gun and shoot him a few times. He did not doubt how crazy a religious person could get.
ââ¦â
ââ¦â
His abrupt departure left Exusiai and Texas sitting there dumbfounded.
âExusiai, can I remove the halo on your head?â Eventually, Texas broke the silence, proving that not just cats had strong curiosity; apparently, dogs did too.
âNo way! No way! What if you canât put it back?!â Exusiai frantically shook her head, shielding the halo. Who knew how Chen Heng removed it and how he placed it back?
What if Texas managed to remove it but couldnât put it back? Exusiai would become the only Lateran without a halo.
âJust let me try. Itâs not like you will get pregnant. Furthermore, if I cannot put it back, just get that person to put it back. Think about it. What if that person has a special significance to you Laterans? This is an extremely rare opportunity.â Texas did not give up, eagerly egging Exusiai on.
Although Texas usually showed little interest in the things around her, this was different. She had tried touching Exusiaiâs halo before but never plucked it off.
This meant that Chen Heng, someone she knew only recently, had taken Exusiaiâs first time.
Previously, Texas had not cared, as the halo could not be removed. However, she had seen the halo being removed right before her eyes, soâ¦
âThisâ¦â Clearly, Exusiai was starting to concede to Texas. After all, removing a Lateranâs halo had been unheard-of.
âJust think about it. Since he can do something others cannot, it means that he has a special significance to you Laterans. Donât you have things like Godâs son, Holy Spirit, saints, messiah, and righteous people in your faith? If you miss this opportunity, it might never come again. If you miss out on a person with a special meaning to you Laterans because of your hesitation, wonât you have sinned greatly?â Although Texas did not understand the Lateran religion, she knew how to adapt.
âAlright, just this once.â It was as Texas said. While Exusiai worried about being unable to place her halo back, she worried even more about missing out on a person with a special meaning to the Laterans.
What if he really is something like Godâs son, the Holy Spirit, or some saint? I must drag him to Laterano, even if I have to kidnap him.
âOw! Ouch! Texas, let go! You canât get it off like this!â
âNo way. I donât believe it. Would I be any inferior to that guy?â
âTexas, quickly let go. This wonât work. If you keep trying, you will pull off my head!â
Facts proved Exusiai was not why Chen Heng could pluck off her halo earlier. After all, Texas tried for a long time but failed.
Since it had nothing to do with Exusiai, it had to be Chen Heng.
âLetâs go, Texas. Letâs go search for that He Who Knows Fate.â After verifying Chen Heng was the cause, Exusiai made a decision.
âWhat are you going to do? Donât tell me you want to kidnap him to Laterano? Exusiai, calm down. This is Rhodes Island, and he is Rhodes Islandâs staff. There are only two of us.â
âYou are overthinking. Am I that rash? I will only use force if reasoning does not work.â
âThen arenât you going to use force in the end? However, looking at his earlier skill with firearms and the ability he used when leaving, can we defeat him?â Although Texas complained, her body reacted honestly, following when Exusiai stood up.