Chapter Ten: Redeeming Jack

Glancing at Jack, whose face was full of misery, Link cleared his throat and put on the kindly professional smile of a charlatan as he said, “Before the Father, child, there’s no need for sorrow. Life is filled with hardships, but what we must do is look ahead with courage.”

Jack shot Link a cold look, his sneer growing sharper. “You damned preacher, you sure know how to talk. But if you’re trying to convert me to your so-called Father, let me save you the trouble—there’s nothing I believe in less than gods! If gods exist, let them bring my mother back to life first. Otherwise, get lost as far as you can!”

“You don’t believe in gods? That may not be the case,” Link replied with a playful smile, then his expression turned solemn as he intoned, “Jack Sparrow, do you know your sins?”

In an instant, Jack saw the same vision Ball once witnessed—Link radiated with a holy light that shook Jack to his core, and a surge of overwhelming guilt crashed over him.

Yet to Link’s surprise, though Jack’s strength was lacking, his spirit was formidable. The moment Jack sensed something amiss, he gritted his teeth and resisted. “Damn it, you preacher, what are you doing to me? Get out—don’t even think about invading my soul!”

With Jack’s resistance, the power of the Confession spell became unstable, and a portion of its force rebounded onto Link himself, making him dizzy, as if struck by a heavy hammer.

Link immediately realized the danger. If this backlash continued, his mind and spirit would suffer severe damage, and he might very well end up an imbecile. This was the common risk of all spells that tampered with the mind, and he had no reason to believe Confession was any different.

“Damn, this kid is tougher than he looks. I have no choice—I’ll have to risk it or I’m finished!” Knowing he was already riding the tiger, Link clenched his teeth and forced the Confession spell again, trying to overpower Jack’s resistance.

Thus, the two locked in a fierce mental struggle, back and forth, until at last Link gained the upper hand, suppressing Jack’s resistance and allowing the Confession spell to fully take hold.

“Phew, finally succeeded. Damn, if I can’t be sure the target’s spirit is weaker than mine, I’ll never use Confession again. Nearly turned into a fool,” he thought, wiping cold sweat from his brow. Link turned his gaze back to Jack, who by now was utterly consumed by the power of the Confession spell, his face twisted with remorse and bitterness as he began to confess his sins.

But Jack was different from Ball. He wasn’t a simple villain. Beyond admitting his crimes, Jack also poured out his secret grievances.

It turned out he truly was a tragic figure. His mother died when he was young. As an illegitimate child, he was brought back to his father’s house, where the mayor’s legal wife despised him, and his two half-brothers looked down on him. Surrounded by such a family, it was no wonder he became a local bully as he grew.

Yet, surprisingly, Jack wasn’t wholly evil. Though he mixed with thugs, he hadn’t committed many serious crimes. The worst was this current incident—driven by jealousy of the close bond between Saga and his sister, he’d tried to stir trouble. In truth, he only meant to rough Saga up a bit and scare Yuna before letting her go; his talk of selling Yuna to traffickers was nothing but empty threats.

This revelation amused Link. So, in the end, Jack was just a rebellious youth desperate for attention.

As the power of the Confession spell deepened, Jack began to reveal the darkest secret buried in his heart—his mother’s dying wish: that he should take revenge and kill the mayor’s family.

This was a thorn in Jack’s soul. Though he hated his father and brothers, he was, at heart, a good person and couldn’t bring himself to harm his kin. Torn between vengeance for his mother and his own family ties, he lost himself, hoping the gods might give him an answer. But the gods never manifested, and so he grew to hate them, seeking solace in his own downfall.

At that, Link finally understood why Jack was so scornful of the divine. He could only shake his head ruefully. Humans—they always hope for the gods’ help, and when it’s not given, they turn to hatred. Truly, they are “clear in love and hate,” never once considering why the gods should help them at all.

“It’s not that gods need the faith of men, but that men need to believe in gods,” Link murmured, recalling what he’d told Saga days before. He’d only meant to hoodwink the boy back then, but now it seemed there was truth in the words.

Judging by the time, the effect of the Confession spell had lasted two minutes already—he couldn’t risk prolonging it. Link immediately donned his professional charlatan’s smile and said, “Before the Father, child, I know everything now. Both the Father and I understand your inner turmoil, so you must trust in the Father. Only the great Father Link can guide you out of the shadows of your past.”

Hearing this, Jack was like a drowning man who had spotted a rescue boat. He looked up at Link with eyes full of hope and uncertainty. “Is it true? Can the Father really show me the way?”

Link spread his hands, exuding the aura of a true preacher. “Child, the great Father Link loves all humanity. As long as you trust and believe in him, he will become your guiding light, leading you into the future.”

“Father Link…” Jack stared at Link, his gaze shifting from doubt to awe. In that moment, Link seemed to radiate a dazzling, holy light, as if a god had descended.

Suddenly, Jack’s eyes burned with fervor as he cried out, “Father, I understand now. You are the incarnation of Father Link on earth! I believe in you, I believe in the Father. Only you and the Father can guide me. The Father is my one and only faith!”

Instantly, Link saw, above Jack’s head, a name and a rank: Fanatic Believer.

Link was overjoyed. Though it had taken great effort—he’d nearly addled his own brain—the result was worth it. He had converted Jack, solving the most pressing problem at hand.

With that in mind, Link promptly asked, “Jack, how much wealth do you possess?”

Jack, fervent and respectful, replied, “Father, as an illegitimate son, I receive little money each month, and I must also take care of my brothers, so I don’t have much. I can only come up with three hundred Sola at present. Is that enough?”

“Only three hundred Sola?” Link frowned. That was nowhere near enough to pay his debts.

In truth, Link had hoped Jack could help settle his debts. He wasn’t worried about offending Jack—a fanatic was more loyal than any other believer, more faithful even than a suicide soldier. For the sake of their faith, there was nothing they wouldn’t do. In Jack’s eyes, Link was the incarnation of the Father on earth, the very focus of his belief. Whatever Link asked, Jack would do without hesitation.

But it seemed Jack was not as wealthy as Link had imagined—three hundred Sola would barely cover the interest.

“It seems converting a single person isn’t enough to solve my financial woes,” Link sighed, realizing he’d have to find another way.

Seeing Link’s sigh, Jack asked, “Father, are you in urgent need of money? Should I try to find a way?”

Link immediately shook his head. Now that he knew Jack’s background, he understood there was only one way Jack could get money—by trickery or theft. Though Jack’s family had money, there was no guarantee he could get his hands on it. And now that Jack was his most loyal follower, Link didn’t want him committing further crimes.

So Link instructed him, “Jack, from now on, don’t do any more harm. It’s not good. Do you understand?”

Jack agreed at once, not merely to appease Link but with genuine intent. To him, Link’s words were no different from divine command.

Link called Jack out of the room, where Saga and the other two had been waiting. The three immediately gathered around, wary as soon as they saw Jack. Link explained, “Don’t worry, Jack has answered the Father’s call. He is now the Father’s most loyal follower and won’t commit any more evil deeds.”

The three were visibly shocked, and Jack spoke earnestly, “I’m sorry, everyone. I’ve done many wrong things before. I don’t expect your forgiveness, but please give me a chance to atone. Believe me, I will make amends for my past mistakes.”

Saga and the others were stunned. The local bully had reformed, just like that? Was this a joke? It wasn’t April Fool’s Day!

None of them could quite believe Jack had turned over a new leaf, but his devout expression was hard to doubt. Maybe he really had repented.

With that, all three cast Link looks of reverence. They didn’t know what had happened, but it was surely Link’s doing.

Link gave them a preacher’s smile and said Jack had been moved by the Father’s call. The three didn’t know if it was true, but they asked no further questions. Whatever the means, anyone who could bring about such heartfelt repentance in a villain deserved respect.

After taking his eyes off Jack, Saga asked, “Father, should we call the constables to deal with Ball Black’s corpse, or just leave it here?”

“What? Ball Black is dead?” Jack exclaimed in shock. “How did he die?”

“I judged him with the power granted by the Father,” Link said calmly. “Scum like him deserved no better fate. Jack, is there an issue?”

Jack’s face darkened. “Father, Ball Black may have been scum, but he was a Guardian Fighter of the Temple of the Mad God.”

“A Guardian Fighter of the Temple of the Mad God!” Saga and the others were appalled, and even Link looked grave.

The Temple of the Mad God was another religion in Kinko Town—not as large as the Church of the Star God or the Church of War, but in terms of influence, the other three together couldn’t match it. The temple’s power extended not only throughout Kinko Town but also to several neighboring cities.

Most importantly, the temple was notorious for protecting its own. If anyone dared harm one of theirs, they would always seek revenge. Even if they couldn’t win by force, they would find ways to harass and vex their enemy. Compared to the clergy, these people were more like a gang of ruffians.