Chapter 32: The Closed-Down Marketplace
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation
Miles relentlessly cornered a sly merchant for more than an hour, pushing him to the edge of his tolerance. It was only after this confrontation that he went back to the mobile phone repair shop and removed the phone he had forcefully embedded into the merchant’s head as a form of intimidation.
Grabbing the merchant by the collar, Miles spoke with a cold and threatening tone. “I believe you’ve built a career out of duping innocent people by taking away their phones and replacing them with knock-offs. I’m sure you’ve accumulated a significant amount of wealth with this deceit. I can either be a regular customer who walks away, or I can be a force you’d dread, making you rue every deceptive act. Keep in mind, I’ll always be watching. If I catch you continuing these fraudulent actions, next time it won’t be just a phone I’d be embedding.”
The merchant, overwhelmed with fear, stuttered, “I-I promise, I won’t ever do it again.”
“It’s disappointing to see how easily some abandon their morals to earn an extra buck. When you’re not exposed, you act high and mighty, even trying to shift the blame on me, accusing me of selling stolen goods. Do you believe a mere apology would wash away all your misdeeds once they’re unveiled? Your deceitful ways seem so second nature that there’s no shortage of frauds like you around. Consider today’s incident as a wakeup call, and think twice before attempting such a scam again.”
Having reprimanded the merchant, Miles walked away, having received some form of restitution for the emotional ordeal he went through. Though his methods might have been questionable, they didn’t bother him much.
Being a notorious figure living on the fringes between the natural and supernatural realms, Miles knew that locating a particular ghost was crucial for his existence. “Even if it means adopting sinister methods, I’d do anything to ensure a peaceful retirement for my ailing mother. If something happens to me, who will care for her? Her health is deteriorating,” he pondered, showing a rare moment of vulnerability.
“It’s unfortunate that there’s no financial gain in addressing paranormal disturbances here. Otherwise, I’d gladly put everything on the line for a shot at substantial rewards.”
Wandering through the city’s alleyways, Miles was always on the lookout for opportunities to enhance his finances. His journey brought him to a telephone pole plastered with various posters. These ranged from rewards for locating missing children to more straightforward ads seeking billboard space.
Among these, a partially torn poster caught Miles’s eye. After giving it some thought, he found himself wondering, “Should I venture into this?”
“The reward mentioned is worth more than a million dollars. If I manage to get hold of that money, it would sufficiently fund half of what’s required for my mother’s comfortable retirement,” Miles thought. Rather than simply ringing up the number provided in the advertisement, he was determined to directly visit the specified address and see the situation for himself.
Hailing a taxi, he provided the driver with the address mentioned in the flyer. They quickly made their way to a busy street filled with tall structures and a swarm of pedestrians. One of the buildings was a large shopping mall, which, based on its prominent location, matched the description in the ad.
Miles paid the taxi driver and stood for a moment, observing the mall. There was yellow police tape cordoning off the entrance, suggesting that an incident had recently occurred there. The mall seemed eerily quiet with its lights dimmed, and no shoppers were in sight. A sign indicated it was temporarily closed.
Curiously, Miles approached the entrance. Several job advertisements were prominently displayed. These ads highlighted attractive employment packages that offered a monthly salary of six thousand dollars, inclusive of meal and lodging allowances.
“Something serious must have happened here,” Miles mused, “but could it have a supernatural twist to it?”
Without much hesitation, he decided to enter the mall. As he set foot inside, he was met with a familiar but unsettling scent. The foul, rotting smell of a dead body, similar to what he had encountered at his school not too long ago.
He glanced around. The entrance was well-lit, but beyond it, darkness consumed the vast space of the mall due to the power outage. This created an almost suffocating, tense atmosphere.
Miles couldn’t shake off the feeling that someone or something was silently watching him from the concealed corners of the dimly lit shops.
Then, breaking the silence, he heard the clear sound of footsteps echoing from the deeper recesses of the mall. As the footsteps grew louder, a figure began to take form, approaching from the dark.
Heart racing, Miles tensed up. “Is it a ghost?”
The shadowed figure continued its approach, coming straight for Miles without any signs of hesitation.
“I’m sorry, but the mall is currently not open to the public. We’re reorganizing and cleaning up. If you’re here to shop, there’s a convenience store just a few blocks down,” a voice called out. As the figure emerged from the darkness, it revealed a slim young man dressed in a security guard’s uniform.
The guard looked puzzled, noticing Miles’s intense gaze. “Is something wrong? Why are you staring at me like that?”
After a brief pause, Miles inquired, “Where were you just moments ago, sir?”
“I was using the restroom. Why do you ask? Is there a problem?” the security officer responded.
“Why aren’t the lights switched on inside?” Miles inquired, trying to make sense of the mall’s peculiar ambiance.
“The cost of electricity adds up, and our boss is quite stringent about unnecessary expenses. Additionally, if you’re here with no purpose, it’s better you leave. We’ve had issues with intruders when the mall’s closed. Just last week, a child sneaked in, and I had a hectic time locating him – was almost fired for it,” the security guard elaborated with a touch of frustration.
“I’m not here to shop. I’m actually trying to locate the owner of this place,” Miles explained, hoping to get straight to the point.
“The boss isn’t around today,” the security guard replied curtly.
“Do you know when he’s expected back?” Miles pressed.
“He’s on an out-of-town business trip and isn’t expected back for a few days. And why the interrogation? You’re not here to cause any issues, are you?” The guard asked suspiciously, narrowing his eyes.
Taking a deep breath, Miles calmly stated, “Actually, I’m here because I’m interested in one of the job vacancies.”
“Really? A job?” The guard looked him up and down with a mix of surprise and skepticism. “You’re aware that there have been people going missing here lately, aren’t you? One person vanished within these walls just a short while ago and hasn’t been found since.”
“I wasn’t informed about this when I arrived, but now that I know, it doesn’t deter me,” Miles replied confidently.
The guard raised an eyebrow, “Despite the risk, you’d still want to work here?”
“When the pay is as lucrative as advertised, it’s hard to resist. Besides, a disappearance doesn’t necessarily equate to supernatural activity,” Miles reasoned.
Seeing his determination, the guard relented, “Alright then. Follow me. I’ll introduce you to Sister Pear, she’s in charge of hiring.”
Miles followed the guard to a somewhat quaint office space nestled within the mall’s interior. Several employees were lounging on a couch, seemingly in a relaxed state, either engrossed in a television program or preoccupied with their mobile devices.
“Sister Pear, we’ve got someone here interested in the job openings,” the guard called out.
A woman, presumably in her late forties, wearing a neat work uniform, glanced in their direction. Standing up with a warm and welcoming demeanor, she said, “We’re gearing up to get the mall operational again soon, but we’re short-staffed currently. At this point, we’re not too fussed about credentials or past experience. We’re offering a package of six thousand dollars a month, with meals and lodging included. Do note, however, that the shifts can stretch long. If that’s acceptable to you, when are you available to begin?”
Pondering for a moment, Miles replied, “I can commence work immediately.”
“There’s an initial three-day trial period. Do you have a preference for any particular role? We have vacancies in front desk operations, procurement, cashier positions, and security,” Sister Pear listed, starting to go into the finer details.
As she continued, Miles’s attention began to drift. His primary intention had been to meet the owner and potentially secure the reward money. But it seemed he had another path to explore now.
“I may lack extensive experience in other roles, but I believe I would fit the security position best. Moreover, when I was outside, I came across some posters mentioning that the owner has sought the services of spiritual experts, like Taoist priests, for some cleansing or exorcism rituals in the mall. Is there any truth to that?” Miles inquired, looking directly into Sister Pear’s eyes.
For a brief moment, Sister Pear’s composed demeanor seemed to waver. She took a deep breath and then nodded, “Yes, those flyers are accurate. The mall had experienced some… unusual occurrences, which prompted the management to explore various solutions, including spiritual ones. However, that’s an internal matter and not something that should weigh on your decision to join us.”
Sensing his continued interest, she quickly added, “As a newcomer, it might be helpful if you could share a bit about yourself with everyone present, so we can get to know you better.”
Although Sister Pear tried to deflect the topic, Miles couldn’t shake off the feeling that there was more to the story than she was letting on. The mall’s strange atmosphere, combined with her reaction, only intensified his suspicions that something mysterious was happening behind its closed doors.