Chapter 55: Please Start Your Performance
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation
“Ethan, let’s pause our discussion for the moment,” Miles declared. “I need to address this situation first.”
Across from them, Ethan shot a pitying look towards Mall Manager Li because he understood the man didn’t have a clue who Miles was or what he represented.
In the world they now inhabited, it was widely acknowledged that one should avoid clashing with those who had control over a malevolent spirit. There was a spectrum of those who commanded a ghost, ranging from those with benevolent intentions to the utterly malevolent. The ones with kind hearts usually aligned themselves with the Ghost Tamers HQ. Their primary mission was to maintain peace, contribute to the well-being and prosperity of the country, and ensure the safety and continuation of the human race. While these might sound like exaggerated claims, it was the truth of their reality.
On the other side of the spectrum, there were those so wicked they could transform into evil spirits themselves. Individuals like Miles had a vast array of methods at their disposal to deal with an average person, and often, their victims wouldn’t even be aware of how or when their downfall happened.
Acknowledging Miles, Ethan responded, “I’ll be here then.”
Miles then directed his attention to Mall Manager Li, offering his hand and said mockingly, “Caterpillar, are you ready for your spotlight?”
Li’s face turned red with anger. “Who are you calling a caterpillar?”
With rising fury, Mall Manager Li yelled for everyone present to witness, “Do you all see this blatant disrespect from a mere security guard? He didn’t just stop at insults; he also extorted a large sum from me while I was at the mall. He managed to transfer over 1.8 million dollars from my bank account into his own. Surely, such a significant transaction deserves a proper inquiry, right?”
A police officer present stepped in, stating with authority, “If your claims are legitimate, we will ensure a rigorous investigation is conducted. No guilty party will be left unpunished, and no innocent will face injustice.”
Then, addressing Miles, the officer continued, “Young man, may we have your name and a look at your identification?”
Miles, remaining calm, replied, “Gentlemen, I think there’s been a significant misunderstanding. I never extorted Mall Manager Li. We had a business agreement, and he willingly paid me in advance for services I provided. If you wish, you can validate this with others who were present with us at the time.”
Another officer chimed in, “We will definitely conduct a detailed investigation. But for now, please provide us with your name and identification.”
As all this transpired, Ethan noticed Mall Manager Li smirking triumphantly from the corner. He seemed to think he had cornered Miles and believed he would regain every penny from the security guard he so looked down upon.
“My name is Miles,” he responded without any hesitation, presenting his ID for verification. “Feel free to check it.”
Taking the ID, one officer handed it to another, who promptly started checking their database for any possible criminal activities or other pertinent details linked to Miles.
The first officer continued his interrogation, “Mall Manager Li has made a serious allegation, accusing you of stealing a sum of $1,854,863 from him at the mall. Do you confirm this, or is it a false claim?”
With confidence, Miles replied, “I pride myself on my integrity. I would never engage in such illicit activities. This is nothing but a false accusation aimed at tarnishing my reputation.”
Mall Manager Li scoffed, his face a mix of disdain and disbelief. “Honest? You? That’s laughable. Just take a look at these,” he said, thrusting forward a set of transfer records. “These documents clearly indicate multiple transactions stemming from Miles’s bank account.”
The officer quickly glanced at the provided papers and turned his attention back to Miles, his voice stern, “Do you recognize this account, Miles? Confirming its authenticity will only make our job easier. If you admit it’s yours, we’ll corroborate these transfers and an official investigation into you will begin.”
Miles, trying to suppress a grin, responded confidently, “This account? It isn’t mine.”
And indeed, it wasn’t. The account in question belonged to his mother.
Not to be outdone, Mall Manager Li interjected with a hint of smugness, “No matter. If he won’t own up to it, a quick bank verification will uncover the real account holder’s identity.”
He then gestured to one of the officers, silently indicating him to pursue the matter. The officer, equipped with the necessary information, nodded and promptly left to gather additional evidence.
Seizing the brief moment of privacy that ensued, Mall Manager Li leaned closer to Miles, dropping his voice to a hushed whisper. “Think about your future, young man. Rumor has it you’ve accumulated over ten million just by saving a handful of people. Refund my money, and I’m willing to overlook this whole affair. Just consider, if you’re found guilty of misappropriating over 1.8 million, you might end up serving at least ten years in prison.”
With a cocky smile, Miles retorted, “I’m perfectly willing to return your money on one condition: Make your way back to the fifth floor of the mall, crawling like the caterpillar you so resemble. Do that, and your funds will be in your account instantly.”
Mall Manager Li visibly paled, a hint of dread in his eyes. He had vowed never to return to that haunted section of the mall.
He steadied himself and continued, “Granted, you did save me once, and I give you credit for that. But verbal affirmations won’t stand in a court. Concrete evidence is what matters. With my connections in the legal world, believe me, I have the upper hand. You can’t possibly outmaneuver me. Just give me back my money and I’ll ensure the charges of embezzlement against you are dropped.”
Miles’s face darkened, his voice icy, “You’re truly despicable, betraying those who’ve helped you. If I had recognized your twisted nature sooner, I would’ve dealt with you long ago.”
His voice dripping with warning, Miles continued, “You should really consider retreating while you have the chance. It’s not too late to back off. But if you persist in antagonizing me here…”
Moving closer, he whispered chillingly into Li’s ear, “I won’t think twice about showing you a side of fear you’ve never known.”
Mall Manager Li felt an involuntary shudder but quickly regained his composure, reminding himself of the people surrounding him and offering a sense of security. He snorted, “Scared of you? Prove your threats if you’re man enough. The only ungrateful person I see here is you.”
Elsewhere in the vicinity…
“Captain Bright, you need to see this,” one of the officers, engrossed in his investigations related to Miles, beckoned.
Captain Bright, intrigued, quickly moved closer, asking, “What have you found?”
The officer looked perplexed as he stared at the laptop screen. “Captain, there’s something off about this individual’s profile,” he said, pointing towards the display.
Captain Bright leaned in, his eyebrows furrowing as he observed the digital profile in front of him. All it displayed regarding Miles was the cryptic message, ‘File Confidential, Access Denied’.
“Wait, we’re blocked from viewing this profile? That’s unusual,” Captain Bright remarked with evident astonishment. His voice turning more serious, he directed the officer, “Give me that ID card. I need to consult someone higher up.”
With no delay, Captain Bright took out his phone and dialed a known contact. “It’s Bright. I’ve got an ID from someone we’re currently investigating, but I can’t pull up his profile. Can you possibly help me from your end?”
There was a brief pause before the contact replied with a mix of exasperation and amusement, “Oh Bright, you always find the most intriguing cases. The clearance level for this particular file is way beyond normal parameters. To be honest, not even my direct superior can access it. Hold on a moment, someone’s calling me about this exact profile.”
The voice on the other end faded momentarily.
Growing impatient, Captain Bright pressed, “You still there?”
After what seemed like minutes, the voice returned, albeit with a hint of caution. “Listen closely. We’ve received directives from the higher-ups in the government. All investigations regarding this individual, Miles, are to be put on hold. It’s clear that his clearance is leagues ahead of ours. If there’s genuine evidence of any wrongdoing on his part, you may continue your investigation. However, under no circumstances are you to arrest or detain him without a directive from the top brass. Moreover, a stark warning has been issued: any attempts to frame or falsely implicate others will result in serious consequences.”
Captain Bright paused to digest the information. “Thank you for the heads up,” he finally responded before hanging up.
Mulling over the new revelation, he turned his gaze to Miles who was patiently waiting a short distance away. The ID had stated that Miles was merely eighteen years old. No matter how prodigious his skills might be, attaining such a high clearance level at that age was nearly impossible.
A thought struck Captain Bright, “Could he be someone like Agent Right?” He pondered inwardly. People in the same league as Agent Right were often given exceptional privileges by global governments, marking them as special assets.
Clearing his throat, Captain Bright addressed his team, “Let me take charge of Miles’s situation. Redirect your focus to other issues here.”