Chapter 57: First Time Collaboration
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation
Miles hesitated for a moment before delving deeper into the expansive and dimly lit corridors of the mall. He turned to Ethan, stating firmly, “I want to be straightforward. I’m willing to collaborate with you on this. However, if everything spirals out of control and chaos erupts, I’ll prioritize my safety. I hope you won’t hold it against me if I choose to abandon the mission and possibly leave you behind.”
Ethan nodded, replying, “I understand. We’re here with a common goal: to track down and capture this ghost. But if the situation takes a turn for the worse, we all need to prioritize our own safety. Ghosts are unpredictable beings, and even the most experienced ghost tamers sometimes struggle with capturing a particularly powerful spirit.”
Miles reflected for a moment and then shared, “Classifying and ranking ghosts can be treacherous. I’ve learned that the hard way in the past.”
Recognizing Miles’s experience, Ethan said, “It’s comforting to know you grasp the gravity of our situation.” Miles simply nodded in acknowledgment.
Miles possessed a unique ability: he could teleport himself out of the mall instantly, safeguarding him from any ghostly threats. Even the infamous ‘Knocking Ghost,’ which many feared, couldn’t lay a finger on him. This left a lingering question – was the ghost they were chasing within this mall even more menacing?
Feeling confident in his abilities, Miles broached another topic. “Before we proceed, we should discuss how we’ll divide the rewards after capturing the ghost. I think it’s best to settle this now to avoid any disagreements later.”
Ethan thoughtfully replied, “We can split the bounty equally and share any information we gather. And don’t worry, considering you’ve been supportive, I have no intention of shortchanging you.”
Miles seemed satisfied, nodding, “That’s fair.”
However, another question gnawed at him, and he asked, “Is the title of ‘City Head’ considered prestigious in our line of work?”
Ethan looked surprised and asked, “You’re not familiar with it?”
Miles responded, “I’m still acclimating to this world. If you’re uncertain about it, it’s okay. I can always ask the operator later.”
Seeking to enlighten him, Ethan explained, “The City Head role is of high importance. It grants the holder the power to utilize the city’s resources to their fullest extent, but only when dealing with paranormal events. The title is a mark of respect and recognition, but there’s only one designated City Head per city. In Dachang, for instance, the last person to hold that role was someone named Right, whom I’ve had the privilege of meeting.”
Miles contemplated this revelation, “Just one City Head for every city? That sounds pretty daunting.”
He remembered encountering at least three other paranormal entities, not counting the incident with the ghost child.
Ethan responded, “It’s a challenge, given the sheer number of cities globally. Having even one ghost tamer for each city is quite an achievement in itself. But such a role often demands personal sacrifices.”
Pausing for a moment, he continued, “However, not all who deal with ghosts wish to be in such authoritative positions.”
Miles pondered on that, asking, “So some choose to stay out of the limelight and avoid paranormal confrontations?”
Ethan nodded, “That’s one way to see it.”
Miles mused, “But all this hinges on the idea that our survival isn’t guaranteed. If there’s a shift in how vengeful spirits emerge or behave, then the City Head ghost tamers would stand to gain a significant advantage. They are the primary line of defense against supernatural disturbances within the city, which gives them an edge in ensuring their own survival.”
Ethan blinked in surprise, taken aback by the depth of Miles’s thoughts.
Miles continued, speculatively, “If someone has figured out how to prevent the reawakening of a malevolent spirit, where do you think they’ve gleaned that knowledge?”
Raising an eyebrow, Ethan asked, “What exactly are you driving at?”
Miles replied slowly, choosing his words carefully, “I believe there are researchers and scholars who are delving deep into this field. Even if they haven’t fully unlocked the mysteries of these spirits, they’re making strides in trying to control and mitigate their vengeance. Their efforts might already have yielded some breakthroughs. However, these methods may not be foolproof. They might be unstable, risky, or come with unintended consequences. And that’s why they haven’t made these findings public,” Miles deduced before continuing. “As the frequency of supernatural incidents escalates, and as the threats intensify, even experimental techniques might be forced into the open. After all, we’re the specialists trained to combat these ethereal threats. From a broader perspective, society can’t afford to lose our expertise.”
Reflecting for a moment, Ethan admitted, “My previous job was as an electrician, so I’m still wrapping my head around all this ghost stuff. If we succeed in our mission here, I can introduce you to a particular group I’m affiliated with. They’re my primary source of intel on these matters.”
Miles’s interest was piqued. “What sort of group?”
Ethan explained, “An exclusive society for ghost tamers. They might be few in number, but their reach is vast, their connections extensive, and their collective knowledge is far superior to what we know.”
“That sounds intriguing,” Miles noted, recognizing the potential benefits of tapping into such a network.
As they conversed, they unknowingly ascended to the mall’s second floor and were gradually making their way towards the third. Their senses remained alert, ready for any unexpected occurrences.
Glancing around, Miles observed, “It seems the spirits we saw on the fifth floor have vanished. There are no remnants or signs of their presence.”
“Do you think they’ve gone into hiding again?” Ethan speculated.
Miles warned, “Never let your guard down with ghosts. The ones in this mall have a unique and terrifying method of attack: they replace human heads with their own. I noticed it on the fifth floor. Those people whose heads are swapped don’t lose their memories. They remain oblivious to the change. But they’re ticking time bombs – they can transform into vengeful spirits without warning.”
Ethan looked shaken. “You spotted this earlier? Why didn’t you fill me in? And why did you let me get close to them?”
Miles responded, “It’s not that I doubt your skills. I just wasn’t certain about those individuals. There’s an old saying – in every large group, there’s bound to be a few who act recklessly. Some folks make choices that not only endanger themselves but also put others at risk. I was trying to sidestep any unforeseen complications. And about their peculiar way of moving, like caterpillars? You’ve seen how fast and fluidly they moved on the floor. Oddly, they even seemed content with their state, didn’t they?”
Ethan was at a loss for words. He finally admitted, “You’ve got a point. Your strategy was smarter than I initially gave it credit for.”
Miles gave a brief smile and said, “I’m glad you see it that way.” He then abruptly directed his attention to his satellite phone, “River, are you there? Respond if you can hear me. If something’s happened to you, I promise to recover your body.”
River’s voice, laced with tension, broke through the static, “I’m still here, Miles. I’ve been watching you two. Please, hurry up. Strong’s body, something’s very wrong with it.”
Miles immediately pressed further, “Where was the ghost first spotted?”
River said, “While monitoring the CCTV footage, I noticed the ghost first appearing in a clothing store on the fifth floor. It transformed into a hazy figure before merging with one of the mannequins. I’ll send you a snapshot.”
“Use my backup phone; this satellite one isn’t equipped to receive images,” Miles instructed.
“Got it.”
A few seconds later, Miles’s secondary phone buzzed with an incoming image.
Ethan, curious, leaned over to view the picture and asked, “Is this what the ghost truly looks like?”
Miles nodded before turning to Ethan, “Did you bring the containment tools as planned?”
From inside his jacket, Ethan produced a gleaming golden box, small enough to fit in one’s hand but with a noticeable weight to it. It had a sturdy, sealed build.
Seeing the box, Miles couldn’t resist poking fun, “For such a massive ghost, you’ve brought this tiny box? Why not just use a Pokeball?”
Ethan replied with a hint of exasperation, “Gold prices have skyrocketed lately. This little box alone cost me over two million. I practically drained my savings for it.”
Miles raised an eyebrow, “I understand the price, but its size concerns me. It’s so small; I doubt it could even hold a handful of ashes. How do you plan on trapping a full-sized ghost in it?”
Ethan, with confidence in his voice, said, “Although it may seem diminutive, it should do the job. A ghost is essentially a shadowy entity, right? Maybe it doesn’t possess a tangible form, allowing us to confine it in a compact space.”
Miles hesitated for a moment before admitting, “Given our current situation, I guess we don’t have much choice but to try.”
Upon reaching the fifth floor, Miles instantly recognized the clothing store River had mentioned. Through the glass storefront, he could see various mannequins in haphazard poses. Some were missing limbs, creating an eerie display. He remembered finding the sight unsettling during a previous patrol.
His gut feeling had been spot on.
The real antagonist, the ghost, lurked within.
Pushing aside any lingering doubts and jokes, both Miles and Ethan mentally prepared themselves.
The store was shrouded in an unnerving darkness. Although the entrance seemed unlocked and easily opened at their touch, the knowledge of the lurking ghost filled the air with palpable tension. Miles could feel his heart racing and his hands becoming clammy.
In his journey thus far, this was his inaugural direct confrontation with a true ghost.
The previous encounter with the ghost child didn’t truly qualify in Miles’s mind. In that situation, he had mainly played a supportive role in a rescue operation rather than directly confronting the supernatural entity. Now, the stakes were different; he was in the forefront, gearing up for a direct confrontation.
As Miles and Ethan steadied themselves to advance, a strange and eerie phenomenon transpired.
The heavy, reinforced glass door of the clothing store, seemingly under the control of an unseen presence, began to creak open slowly, all on its own. The quiet, deliberate movement sent a shiver down Miles’s spine.
Was it possible that the ghost was aware of their approach and was somehow inviting them in?