Chapter 83: The Faint Echo of a Cough
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation
Miles strolled thoughtfully along the main avenue that led to Yellow Hill Village, taking in the surroundings with a discreet but attentive gaze. The village presented a fascinating mixture of the past and the present.
Newly constructed houses, resembling modern country villas, were scattered at the front of the village. Their fresh designs and finishes exuded a sense of comfort and tranquility. In stark contrast, as one ventured deeper into the village, the architectural style shifted dramatically. Here, ancient earth houses and weathered wooden homes, some of which were over a hundred years old, stood testament to the village’s rich history. While some of these older homes were still occupied, mainly by the village’s elderly residents, others were left deserted. Their shattered windows and unhinged doors allowed only minimal light to seep in, casting a dim and eerie ambiance inside.
Yet, the harmonious blend of the old and new wasn’t what was unsettling about Yellow Hill Village. It was the whispered tales about the village being a haven for spirits that sent shivers down the spine.
Curious for more insights, Miles pulled out his satellite phone and dialed a contact. “Hello, Rain? It’s Miles,” he began.
Rain’s voice came through, sounding slightly surprised, “Miles! Good timing. I meant to mention some things about Enlight during our last conversation. His psychological evaluation suggests he might be quite challenging to work with. I’d recommend steering clear of any disputes with him, especially if you’re going to work together in the future.”
While shuffling some papers in her hand, likely pertaining to Enlight, Rain added, “Perhaps this warning is coming a bit late, but he’s going to be difficult-”
Miles quickly redirected the conversation, “I’m currently in a village not far from Spear City named Yellow Hill. There are stories about supernatural events occurring here. Do you happen to have any records or reports about this place?”
“I’d love to assist,” Rain replied, “But I can’t access those files myself. However, I can ask a few of my associates to look into it for you.”
Curious, Miles probed, “Who has the required clearance to access such files?”
“It would be you,” Rain clarified, “Once you ascend to the leadership role in Spear City. With that position, you’d gain access to not only these files but also records of other ghost tamers.”
Determined, Miles replied, “Then please do what you can to get me that information. After this issue is resolved, I’m contemplating joining HQ. Could you facilitate that for me?”
Taking on the challenges of HQ and dealing with supernatural incidents was fraught with danger. However, if Miles managed to harness the power of another spirit and stave off the awakening of his evil ghost, the rewards, both in terms of authority and benefits, might make it worthwhile.
Rain’s voice brightened, “Certainly! If you’re willing, I can arrange for a representative to meet you, provide an introductory training session, and run a psychological evaluation. You could be officially onboarded within the week.”
Miles added a condition, “I appreciate that, but I’d like to replace Enlight as the head of Spear City.”
Rain was momentarily taken aback, “I can’t guarantee that. Such decisions lie with the senior management.”
Miles posed a hypothetical, “What if, let’s say, Spear City currently lacked a leader?”
Rain pondered for a moment before admitting, “In that case, a local candidate like you would definitely be given priority.”
Rain hesitated, searching for the right words. As she processed her thoughts, an epiphany struck her, and she urgently voiced her concern, “You must tread carefully, Miles! I’m not privy to the depth of your disagreements with Enlight, but it’s crucial that personal vendettas don’t overshadow our primary objective here.”
Miles replied with measured assurance, “I always keep the larger objective in mind. Just ensure those documents reach me. It’s your team’s duty to handle these supernatural phenomena. Right now, I’m offering my help without expecting anything in return, so it’s only right for you to support me.”
Rain nodded in agreement, “You make a valid point. Addressing the supernatural incident at hand is indeed our topmost concern.”
Miles nodded, “We’ll discuss this further later. But for now, I’d prefer if you only call me when absolutely necessary. I’m now in Yellow Hill Village, and there’s a possibility I might encounter spirits.” Without waiting for a response, he disconnected the call.
Now more concerned than ever, Rain promptly relayed the details of her conversation to the team’s head, Build.
After listening, Build chuckled lightly, “Why the concern? Once Miles clears the assessment and officially becomes a ghost tamer, we can simply assign a new role to Enlight. It’s probably better if Miles oversees Spear City anyway, given his local roots. Your primary focus should be assisting him with the paranormal events in Yellow Hill. I’ll take care of getting the required documents.” He added, emphasizing Miles’s potential, “If he manages to address not one, but two supernatural disturbances independently, then making accommodations for him won’t be a problem.”
Build’s words offered Rain some comfort.
“There’s hope as long as you’re breathing. Once you’re gone, no amount of talking matters,” she reflected, possibly recalling past incidents.
Miles, holding his satellite phone, was haunted by the memory of Right’s tragic end.
“Will that be my destiny too?” he wondered as he ventured deeper into Yellow Hill Village.
As he walked, he spotted a few members of the “Cockroach Club”, including individuals named Stretch and Page. They were engrossed in their own discussions, barely acknowledging him with a brief nod.
But it was a particular scene that captured Miles’s full attention.
Centrally located in front of a building, a red, gleaming coffin was on display. Numerous wreaths surrounded it while villagers, dressed in traditional mourning clothes, were kneeling and offering tributes by burning paper money. Their audible sobs and cries added to the somber atmosphere.
From the portrait displayed alongside the coffin, Miles recognized the deceased as an elegant man wearing a formal suit.
Stretch, the middle-aged ghost tamer nearby, looked visibly annoyed as he exhaled a cloud of smoke, “What rotten luck! Why did someone have to die now? This only complicates matters further.”
Another club member voiced a superstitious fear, “To be safe, maybe we should burn the coffin. Who’s to say the corpse inside won’t rise and roam when darkness descends?”
Page turned to him, eyebrows raised slightly in disbelief, and remarked, “Burning the coffin in plain sight of the villagers? That would be a catastrophic misstep. You have to realize how that would provoke their anger and outrage. Then, handling any supernatural disturbances would become a secondary concern to simply maintaining our safety here. And seriously, if it’s just an ordinary deceased person, what’s the big deal? We’ve encountered countless corpses in our profession, haven’t we?”
He paused to let that sink in and added, “We should keep things in perspective. It’s just a body, after all. The dead aren’t our real concern; it’s the potential spirits lingering in this village that might be the real issue.”
A voice from the crowd chimed in, “Regardless, we’re still in the dark about the current state of affairs in this village. Let’s first gather intel. Perhaps speaking to the locals about any unusual happenings recently would be a good starting point. Given our unique skillset, even if we were to bump into a ghost, it’s not as if we’d be instantly in grave danger. If there’s a problem, we face it as a unit. Together, our collective prowess should be enough to manage a few restless spirits.”
Another added, “Considering the size of this village, moving as one big group might slow us down. We should partner up and cover more ground.”
A consensus formed quickly, “Sounds like a plan. Let’s get to it.”
The members of the “Cockroach Club” then engaged in a hasty strategy session, collectively deciding to embark on a collaborative investigation before settling on any further action.
Miles, not truly one of them, wasn’t directly involved in their strategic deliberations.
He took a moment to gaze at the coffin displayed prominently in the funeral hall. Drawing out a different phone, he captured an image, focusing on the portrait of the deceased. Without hesitation, he forwarded the picture to Rain, asking for details on the individual, the cause of death, and any potential red flags surrounding the event.
If there was anything unusual about the person’s passing, it might point towards ghostly activities. Moreover, understanding how someone died could offer insights into the operational pattern of any lingering spirits.
Such insights were invaluable.
Observing the “Cockroach Club”, Miles noted that they hadn’t taken any similar initiative. He couldn’t determine if it was an oversight on their part or if they felt their collective strength rendered such precautions redundant.
Deciding on his next move, he mused, “I’ll start by getting the lay of the land, gauge the mood here, and then look for a suitable place to base myself.”
With a determined stride, he started familiarizing himself with the village’s intricate pathways, landmarks, and anything out of the ordinary.
During his reconnaissance, Stretch, one of the “Cockroach Club” members, made his way over to him, inquiring, “Miles, do you have a minute?”
Facing Stretch, Miles replied with a hint of surprise, “Stretch? What’s up?”
Stretch, offering a half-smile, said, “It looks like you’re planning to tackle this paranormal situation solo. Given the magnitude of what we might be dealing with, that could be ambitious. How about we team up? Pool our resources and expertise?”
Miles, curious, asked while continuing his exploration, “You’re a core member of the Club. Why not team up with them?”
Stretch responded with candor, “To put it simply, I want to align with the best. From what I’ve seen, you have skills that outstrip most of them. In my opinion, if we collaborate, our odds of success skyrocket.”
Miles considered Stretch’s proposal for a moment before replying, “It might be premature to discuss collaboration just yet. As of now, all we have are unverified claims of ghostly happenings. There’s no concrete evidence pointing to an actual haunting. For all we know, any spirits that were once here might have already moved on. It’s not uncommon for spirits to be passing, shifting locations based on certain conditions or triggers.”
He added with a firm tone, “If we do ascertain the presence of a ghost, then, by all means, we can revisit the idea of working together.”
Stretch nodded with a wry grin, understanding Miles’s cautious approach, “You make a valid point.”
However, their conversation was interrupted by a frail, raspy cough that sounded eerily close as if originating from directly behind them.
Both men, on high alert, immediately queried, “Who’s there?”
Stretch’s face drained of color, and beads of perspiration formed on his brow. He spun around to find the source of the sound, only to be greeted by the sight of a crumbling old wooden house. Its decayed state suggested long-term abandonment, with a significant portion of the roof caving in and the door barely hanging onto its hinges. The home seemed so inhospitable that even stray animals wouldn’t consider it a refuge.
“Of all the rotten luck,” Stretch muttered under his breath, clearly unsettled.
Without any hesitance, Miles strode towards the house, forcefully kicking what remained of the fragile door.
With a resonating crash, the fragile barrier shattered, revealing an overgrowth of weeds dominating the interior space of the house.
Surveying the inside, Miles observed, “There’s no one here. It’s empty.”
Stretch, trying to regain his composure, inquired, “Do you think… it might have been a spirit?”
Miles responded thoughtfully, “I can’t be certain. I didn’t detect any malevolent presence. It’s entirely possible that an elderly resident of the village was simply passing by and coughed. With the numerous pathways winding through this village, it wouldn’t be uncommon for villagers to traverse nearby. Jumping to conclusions and spooking ourselves serves no purpose. For now, it’s best you keep your distance. If there’s genuine proof of a haunting, notify me. Only then will I contemplate aligning with you.”
What Miles didn’t reveal was his deeper strategy: he had deliberately spread word of the supernatural occurrences, hoping to draw the “Cockroach Club” members to the village. In doing so, he hoped they would inadvertently act as ‘bait’ for any lurking entities, enabling him to observe and strategize without being directly in harm’s way. Facing ghosts head-on wasn’t his style.
Recognizing Miles’s determination, Stretch nodded, “Understood. I’ll respect your wishes. All the best, then.” With the air still thick with unease, Stretch made a swift exit from the vicinity.