Chapter 21: The Operator
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation
As soon as Miles departed, the rest of the group seemed to awaken from a trance, their minds refocusing on the present.
“Hold on,” Grace exclaimed, a sudden realization dawning upon her, “Miles played a crucial role in rescuing us, and we didn’t even express our gratitude. How inconsiderate were we?”
“Why don’t we treat Miles to a dinner soon?” proposed Peter, “Perhaps some skewers at a local joint?”
William, with a chuckle, chimed in, “Just skewers? Peter, you’ve got modest tastes. I believe Miles deserves a grand dinner at a luxurious restaurant, followed by some fun-filled karaoke, and maybe even a deluxe spa treatment. I’ve heard his current living situation isn’t the best. I could even talk to my father about getting him an apartment close by. I’ve made up my mind; I’m standing by Miles side. And Grace, considering your past connection with him from middle school, I expect you not to try and woo him away.”
William ended his statement by giving Grace a pointed and somewhat suspicious look, adding playfully, “And definitely no trying to charm him.”
Grace’s cheeks turned a light shade of pink, “William, what in the world are you implying?”
Peter looked at William, clearly shocked, “Don’t you think you’re going overboard, William?”
Raising an eyebrow, William retorted, “Overboard?” His tone was sharp enough to make everyone else take a cautious step back.
The women in the group exchanged glances, a blend of astonishment and confusion on their faces. They were no strangers to William’s intense nature, but this was almost surreal.
“You think I’m bluffing?” William challenged, “Would you prefer confronting a ghost?”
The mere mention of ghost instantly reignited their recent frightful memories, and their expressions became clouded with dread.
Swallowing his apprehension, Peter finally responded, “If forced to choose, I’d rather believe in your generosity.” The females reddened, recollecting how Miles had stepped up to save Coral and even made that lighthearted comment about her potential future as his spouse.
Everyone could agree on one thing: Miles emanated a comforting aura of protection.
Switching to a more grave demeanor, William elaborated, “Right warned us that these supernatural occurrences aren’t isolated incidents. They’re on the verge of escalating into a worldwide calamity. Ordinary individuals like us are hardly prepared to confront such supernatural threats. It appears only those with special skills, like Right and perhaps Miles, have the capability. So, Miles is indeed a blessing in our lives. He might be our only hope.”
The gravity of the situation seemed to sink in for William. The terror they experienced the previous evening was something he hoped never to relive. He mused that if he were a woman, he might already be finding solace in Miles company, similar to how Coral did.
His gaze then shifted to the bus stop where Coral had earlier urged Miles to accompany her home.
Inside the bus, Miles was visibly exhausted. He observed the familiar urban landscape, the consistent rhythm of city life, and the bustling scenes outside. Oddly enough, these mundane sights and sounds brought him solace.
At least, for now, there were no ghostly apparitions to deal with.
Coral had grown unmistakably close to Miles, clinging to him for comfort and support. Given the evolution of their budding relationship, it wouldn’t have been a surprise if she’d contemplated moving in with him in the near future. However, for the moment, she was content just having him accompany her home.
She hesitated, fingers clutching tightly around Miles’s arm. With a shaky voice, she finally managed to ask, “Miles, do you think we’ll face such supernatural events again in the future?”
Miles took a deep breath before replying, “I can’t be certain, Coral. It’s possible. But consider this: our world is vast, and even if supernatural anomalies persist, the probability of them consistently happening around us, especially in every town or community, is low. These incidents aren’t as ubiquitous as, say, earthquakes or floods.”
His words were designed to bring her comfort, but deep inside, Miles knew the unpredictability of what lay ahead.
Suddenly, his eyes caught a chilling sight: two dark, baby-sized handprints on Coral’s neck. They resembled the remnants of a fading tattoo. This mark wasn’t the handiwork of the ghost child they had encountered earlier but appeared more like a brand of some sort.
A cold chill ran down Miles’s spine. Wrestling with the idea of informing Coral, he ultimately decided against it, given her current vulnerable state. After all, sometimes the mind’s self-inflicted fears are the most paralyzing.
He gently advised, “Stay alert over the next few days. And remember, if anything feels amiss, don’t think twice about reaching out to me.”
Coral’s eyes welled up with gratitude. “Thank you, Miles,” she whispered.
Suddenly, the shrill ring of a phone pierced the tense atmosphere.
Coral jumped, letting out a startled yelp, her face draining of color.
Miles tried to soothe her, “Relax, Coral. It’s probably just a regular call.” He began rummaging through an assortment of devices.
Finally, he pulled out a rugged, walkie-talkie-like satellite phone given to him by the ghost tamer, Right. The hefty gadget was a relic in today’s age, devoid of internet features and designed purely for calls. Miles sometimes questioned his decision to lug such a device around.
Answering with some trepidation, Miles spoke into the receiver.
A woman’s voice responded promptly, “Hello, Right, update us on your status.”
“I’m not Right. This is Miles,” he replied, taking a deep breath. “Right is no longer with us.”
There was a sharp intake of breath on the other end. “Dead? How?!”
“He met his end during childbirth,” Miles said gravely.
The woman sounded utterly baffled. “Childbirth?!”
“Yes, childbirth. It was a cesarean gone horribly wrong. There wasn’t enough time for proper medical intervention. It seemed like the infant was too eager to enter the world, bursting forth in a ghastly manner. I saw it with my own eyes. That child… it had a malevolent streak. I might have erred in not intervening correctly because shortly after its birth, it lunged at me, teeth bared. I narrowly escaped becoming its victim,” Miles recounted with a shudder.
At the other end of the line, Rain, a seasoned operator who worked with Interpol’s elite supernatural unit, found her patience wearing thin. “What on earth are you blabbering about? Identify yourself immediately! How did you come into possession of Right’s secure satellite phone? Do you realize that you’re meddling with a critical Interpol investigation? My name is Rain, and I am Right’s designated liaison. I am well within my rights to demand a clear and factual report about his current state.”
“I’ve already informed you—Right is no longer alive,” Miles responded with an even tone. “If you’re truly intent on getting to the bottom of this, wouldn’t it be wise to send an agent to verify my claims? Or do you want me to spell out the fact that Right met his end at the hands of a malevolent spirit that wreaked havoc on a public school? Did your training not include effective listening and comprehension? I have to question your aptitude in your role given your failure to grasp the core of what I’ve told you.”
“Get someone competent on this, or our conversation ends here,” he stated emphatically.
Meanwhile, at the bustling nerve center of Interpol’s Ghost Tamers Division located within the Asian region, desks were strewn with an array of gadgets and documents. Here, Rain, clad in her crisp uniform, felt a mix of anger and frustration. Her usually steady hand gripped a pencil tightly, almost snapping it in two. Her notes on the paper became increasingly sharp and pointed, reflecting her growing irritation.
Rain mentally coached herself, “Stay centered, Rain. This annoyance is nothing compared to the high-stakes scenarios our agents face in the field.”
She took a few deliberate breaths to recollect herself and then replied, adopting a diplomatic tone, “Sir, your assistance is crucial to our ongoing investigation into this matter.”
Miles’s response was a dismissive “Humph.”
“Sir, we need you to cooperate.”
“Humph.”
“I sense you’re withholding vital information. If you’re in an inappropriate location for this conversation, take a few minutes to find a private setting and then update us on the situation,” she suggested.
“Humph.”
Rain’s patience was nearing its breaking point. Trying to retain her professionalism, she ventured, “If you’re unable or unwilling to talk, could you at least share your name? We’ll dispatch an agent to follow up on this case.”
His voice dripped with defiance, “Looking to investigate me, are you? I have nothing to conceal. First name: William. Last name: Wei. Approach if you dare. If not, your threats are nothing but hot air.”
Gritting her teeth, Rain retorted, momentarily letting her emotion get the best of her, “Stay right where you are, William Wei. We’ll be there soon. And trust me, you won’t be smirking for long.”
Uh. Is this harem? Cause….
sort of, but the MC is losing all of his emotions so there’s really nothing to go on
Isn’t he just being an a**hole in this?
if you want to hear the truth, i wish the MC would double the assholeness he showed, then maybe the ending wouldn’t be so tragic and sad. the characters all don’t deserve their fate
how bad is the ending?
pretty bad, some technically had a decent future, but they’re really not good at all