Chapter 31: A Chilling Gift For You
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation
The shopkeeper looked deeply unsettled by Miles’s intense and emotionless stare, which left his skin crawling. Gathering his wits, the shopkeeper aggressively pushed Miles back and shouted defiantly, “What’s your game? You think you can intimidate me? I won’t hesitate to call the police! You look like some small-time crook trying to sell stolen items and now threatening me? If you know what’s good for you, take your junk and go. Otherwise, I’ll make sure you’re locked up. I’m not scared of you.”
Trying to rally the public, he loudly said, “Everyone, look at this! This man is trying to sell stolen goods. Can someone call the police and get him arrested?”
It was evident the shopkeeper wanted to cheat Miles of his valuable phone and tarnish his reputation by falsely accusing him of theft.
His commotion drew curious eyes from the street as people began to gather, witnessing the escalating confrontation.
Miles soon realized the full extent of the shopkeeper’s deceit.
With an icy voice and cold smirk, Miles responded, “You wanted trouble, so don’t blame me for the outcome. You like phones? Here’s one for you.”
Suddenly, he snatched up a phone and hurled it towards the shopkeeper’s head. As he did so, an eerie red glow emanated from his hand, and an eyeball on its back opened suddenly.
“Smack!”
The phone struck the shopkeeper. Yet, when Miles pulled back, the phone had vanished.
In fury and pain, the shopkeeper shouted, “How dare you assault me! I’m calling the cops right now. If you have guts, stay right there!”
But a pang of guilt swept over him. Instead of really calling, he pretended, worried that his own deceptive actions might be caught on record, turning the tables on him.
Miles, with steely calmness, replied, “Please, go ahead. I also have someone to call.”
He took out his phone and dialed. An eerie phrase, “The cold moonlight has turned my longing for you into a river,” echoed in the store. The sound wasn’t coming from Miles or the store’s devices. Shockingly, it came from inside the shopkeeper’s head.
Screaming in pain, the shopkeeper collapsed, blood oozing from his facial orifices. His head felt like it was about to burst from the unbearable pain.
Quickly ending his call, Miles grabbed a pen and jotting down some bank details. “That phone’s worth ten thousand. Transfer the money to this account within ten minutes. If not, your personal horror show continues. Once you’re ready to get the phone out of your head, call this number.”
After making his threatening demand, Miles gathered up his other phones, effortlessly slung his backpack onto his shoulder, and left the repair shop with a steely gaze.
You think you can double-cross me?
Prepare for a fate much worse than death.
A while had passed since Miles’s departure when the shopkeeper, previously writhing in intense pain, drenched in blood from his nose and eyes, struggled to regain his composure and stand. His expression was one of abject fear.
He tentatively touched his head, sensing an unfamiliar presence inside. It felt as though an alien object was lodged deeply in his brain, inducing unbearable pressure. Looking outside the shop’s window, he searched for Miles, the young man who had been selling used phones, but he had vanished from sight.
On the counter, a note caught his attention. Scribbled on it were a phone number and bank account details.
A demand for ten thousand dollars?
He had a mere ten minutes to wire this large amount, or else experience that torturous sound resonating in his head once more?
Wanting to avoid a repeat of the agonizing ordeal, he hurriedly began the process to transfer the demanded money.
But as he was about to finalize the transfer, doubt clouded his mind.
Could all this be a hoax?
What if this entire harrowing event was just a nightmarish accident? If he paid, would he be foolishly losing ten thousand dollars on a mere coincidence?
He chose not to send the money.
The shopkeeper took a drink of water, trying to soothe his pulsating head. Though he still felt the discomforting sensation in his brain, it was currently manageable.
Maybe I should see a doctor, he mused.
However, precisely ten minutes later…
Miles, strolling the streets, checked his phone. No notifications. No transferred money. Without hesitation, he redialed the ominous number.
“The cold moonlight has turned my longing for you into a river.”
The torturous ringtone echoed in the shopkeeper’s head, overwhelming him with its intensity. He crumpled to the floor, convulsing and gasping in pain, blood streaming once more from his facial openings.
After allowing ten seconds of torment, Miles cut the call.
Continuing his walk, he wielded control over the shopkeeper’s fate.
“Think he could cheat me? I will ensure you feel every ounce of my wrath.”
Soon after, the unmistakable notification of a successful money transfer rang on Miles’s phone.
Ten thousand dollars, just as demanded.
Almost immediately, another call came in. Answering it, Miles was greeted by the shopkeeper’s desperate pleas, “Sir, I beg you, I’ve sent the money. Please, end this nightmare.”
“Money? I haven’t seen a dime. Did you send it to the wrong place? You’ve got only three minutes left. And, just so you know, the cost has now doubled to twenty thousand,” Miles retorted with a casual, almost rehearsed ease before hanging up the phone.
Their twisted game of deception showed no signs of ending.
Fully aware of the dire stakes, the frantic shopkeeper hurriedly sent another payment of twenty thousand dollars.
The unmistakable chime of a received payment rang on Miles’s device.
“Listen, I’ve triple-checked the account details. Did the money come through this time?” the shopkeeper asked, desperation evident in his voice.
“It’s here,” Miles replied coolly. “I’ll give you a break for the next ten minutes. But after that, we’re back to our routine: ten grand each time I ring you.”
He ended the call without waiting for a response.
“If he calls again in ten minutes, I’m done for,” the shopkeeper muttered to himself, feeling the weight of regret. Tears threatened to spill as he lamented his greed and deception. In his life, he had conned many without consequence. But now, he’d crossed paths with a formidable adversary.
He tried repeatedly to call Miles, begging for mercy, but Miles didn’t answer.
Unable to stand the torment any longer, the shopkeeper preemptively sent another ten thousand dollars and tried calling Miles yet again. This time, Miles picked up.
It was turning out to be the costliest phone call of the shopkeeper’s life.
“Listen, can we end this? I’ll return your phone. You’ve taken forty thousand dollars already. Isn’t that enough?” The shopkeeper’s voice was thick with emotion.
Miles replied with cold detachment, “Remember earlier when you were ready to call the cops on me? Why don’t you report me now? I’m out shopping, not too far. Here’s how it’s going to be: ten thousand dollars, every ten minutes.”
Without another word, Miles disconnected.
As another cycle approached its end, another payment notification lit up Miles’s screen.
The shopkeeper called, his voice breaking with emotion. “Please, I’m begging you. I’m on my knees right now. I know deep down you’re a good person. Forgive me. I realize my mistakes. I shouldn’t have tried to cheat you or acted so brazenly. I’m willing to face the consequences for my actions. Can’t we resolve this?”
Miles responded, voice dripping with contempt, “Whether you face legal consequences or not doesn’t concern me. Our business is simple: money in exchange for peace. I’m not forcing you to pay anything. Just remember, another ten grand is due in a few minutes.”
“I-I’ve emptied my account,” the distraught shop owner managed to say, the words catching in his throat. “You’ve taken fifty thousand from me. That’s all I had.”
“Run out of cash?” Miles responded in a mock-sympathetic tone, “No worries. There are numerous online lending platforms available. They might have steep interest rates, but they process loans pretty quickly. Perfect for your predicament. And if I don’t see that payment in the next ten minutes, well, I guess we’re done here.”
“You’re bleeding me dry,” the shopkeeper whispered, his voice shaking with emotion and disbelief.
Chuckling, Miles replied, “This isn’t robbery. Robberies aren’t nearly this organized. And just so you know, my phone balance isn’t endless.”
Then there was the unmistakable sound of a low-battery alert. “Beep.”
No small mobile repair shop would have 50k sitting around lol.