## Chapter 62: Darkness and Light
The rain outside was a steady drizzle.
London had been drenched in rain all night, and it still hadn’t stopped by dawn.
The windows of Arthur’s residence were covered in streaks of rain.
Agareus sat by the window, gazing at the sun struggling to rise through the gaps in the clouds. He took a deep breath.
He held a small piece of paper in his hand, the address of the gas institute that Faraday had given to Arthur yesterday.
Faraday’s words echoed in the Red Devil’s ears.
“The Gas Institute was originally built in Clifton, but after the founding of King’s College in 1828, it was merged into the King’s College’s affiliated teaching hospital, St. Thomas’s Hospital. Its address is 10 Bessemer Road, Southwark, on the south bank of the Thames.”
The rain on the windowsill dripped rhythmically, and Agareus’ fingers danced along with it, tapping the edge of the window frame. The two sounds merged, as if playing a symphony without a name or discernible joy.
He slowly closed his eyelids, humming a lullaby. The magical melody lingered in every corner of the room, as if wanting the entire world to succumb to the eternal stillness of the song.
The rain outside grew heavier, but Agareus’ singing gradually softened.
He opened his eyes and suddenly realized that Arthur had already gotten up. He was sitting at the table by the window, staring silently at the rain that threatened to turn London into a vast ocean.
“Up so early?” Agareus mumbled. “Shouldn’t you be asleep? My song…”
“I never slept at all,” Arthur said, holding a cold teacup. “You hummed that mosquito-like tune all night. No one could sleep through that.”
“Really?” Agareus chuckled awkwardly. “I thought you were asleep. You haven’t closed your eyes all night. Why don’t you go back to bed for a while? I’ll wake you up when it’s time. The sun hasn’t even risen yet.”
“No need.”
Arthur rubbed his sore shoulders. “As soon as I lay in bed, I started thinking. Will the gas institute that Mr. Faraday recommended really be able to cure Robin? Even though it might be the best research institution for treating lung diseases in all of Britain, I still feel uneasy.
After all, you said before that Robin’s illness is difficult to treat. Even you, a supernatural devil, can’t do much. Can the gas institute really come up with a reasonable treatment plan?”
Hearing this, Agareus leaned against the edge of the window and laughed.
“Yes, that little girl’s illness is indeed very tricky. But it’s not like even a devil can’t do anything. At least I, this devil, originally had a way. It’s just that due to some special circumstances, I can’t use that method.”
“Special circumstances?” Arthur frowned at Agareus. “What special circumstances? You wouldn’t be trying to incite me to murder and steal souls again, would you?”
“No, no, no.” Agareus shook his finger dismissively. “Arthur, if I wanted to incite you to murder, I wouldn’t need to do it this way.
Those ordinary human souls are not particularly stimulating to me. Just like this world, there are different levels of people, and souls are also sour, sweet, and everything in between.
Don’t always think of me as so bad. If I were truly just greedy for immediate gain, I wouldn’t have waited for someone like you to appear before making a pact.”
Arthur glanced at him. “Playing the long game, catching the big fish?”
Agareus smiled. “Yes! The bigger the fish, the more experience it has, the easier it is to hide, and the harder it is to catch. The longer the line, the closer to the center of the pond, the more concealed it is, and the easier it is for the big fish to take the bait.”
“But you still haven’t told me why you can’t save Robin.”
“Why?”
Agareus’ words were full of hidden meaning. “Because this is ultimately a human world. If a soul falls into the hands of a devil, it’s because someone made a deal with the devil. If a soul is redeemed, it’s also because of human intervention.
Arthur, you must understand. It’s easy to kill, but it’s hard to save. This is an immutable law, ever since the time of Solomon, it has been an ironclad rule.”
Arthur held his teacup and looked at him. “So you want me to believe in science? A devil, asking me to believe in science. A dying person, only able to hope for God. This world, it’s truly absurd.”
Usually, when Agareus heard such words, he would jump up from the windowsill in a fit of anger. But for some reason, today he was unusually calm.
The Red Devil opened the window, letting the cold wind rush in. The icy rain splashed onto Arthur’s nightgown, making him curse.
“Agareus, what have I done to offend you today? Close the window! It’s already June, but it’s still freezing when it rains in the morning. You know, this damn London weather!”
But Agareus seemed not to hear Arthur’s words. He spoke inexplicably.
“Arthur, you know? Being God isn’t as comfortable as you mortals think. God doesn’t always live in heaven. He even has his own hell.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Nothing, I was just saying, this rain is so heavy, how can we go to the gas institute?
The roads are all full of sewage, everything is muddy. Didn’t you just buy a new pair of boots?
Those brand new, beautiful, spotless boots.
I guarantee, if you dare to go out today, your boots will be ruined beyond recognition.
Listen to me, don’t go out today.
Don’t go anywhere today, just sit in the District Police Station’s office, let’s have some tea and read the newspaper.
At noon, let’s invite your unreliable friend and that Darwin, and have a good talk about monkeys…
Don’t worry about the missing person case at Scotland Yard. Stay safe and stable for this period of time, you’ll soon get promoted again. After that, we can climb towards higher places step by step.
There are countless souls there, and countless beauties to see. Wealth, status, power, everything you want is there.”
Arthur heard this, his brows suddenly tightened, his back straightened, and his tone became stiff.
“Agareus.”
The Red Devil crossed his fingers, his eyes darting around. “What’s the matter?”
“I ask a question, and you don’t even ask for my soul. That’s not like you. What are you hiding from me?”
“Arthur!” The Red Devil suddenly shouted. “I told you, some things are better not known! You don’t have the capacity to know!”
Arthur took a deep breath. He snatched the paper from Agareus’ hand. The address was tightly held in his hand, as if it were engraved on his palm.
Arthur’s eyes fixed on the Red Devil. After a deathly silence, he seemed to know something.
He took a deep breath, put on his police uniform and gloves, hesitated for a moment, then grabbed the police knife hanging on the headboard.
Seeing this, Agareus hurriedly tried to stop him. “Arthur, you can’t go anywhere today!”
Arthur turned back and looked at the Red Devil, his face expressionless.
“Agareus, children are afraid of the dark, that’s understandable, and it’s not scary.
You know what’s scariest in this world? It’s when adults are afraid of the light.”
With that, he left the angry Red Devil behind, opened the door, stepped out in his boots, and walked down the stairs with heavy steps.
Agareus saw this, the Red Devil was burning with anger.
He shouted, “Arthur, you can’t handle it, you idiot!”
(End of Chapter)