Mysterious Awakening

“Could you assist me in sealing this?” Miles asked the boss of the shop, indicating a box he wanted welded. “The finish isn’t crucial, we just need it closed up.”

Finding himself outside an aluminum door and window shop that hadn’t yet closed for the day, Miles sought the owner’s help in welding the gold-tinted box he carried with him.

As the welding process began, the gilded foil melted away, uncovering shocking stains of crimson.

“What’s this? Some kind of leakage?” The shopkeeper questioned, startled by the color.

“It’s chicken blood, intended for evil repelling,” Miles responded, fabricating a rationale on the spot.

“I see.”

The owner chose not to probe further. His interest lay solely in earning, and the specifics mattered little.

Miles mused to himself, “If it’s not completely sealed, the ghost will inevitably break free. The residue of Ethan’s ghost blood is currently acting as a barrier, but it appears to be a temporary fix. Once the potency of this fresh blood wanes, the spirit will undoubtedly try to break loose again. The only solution is to permanently seal this crevice.”

Choosing caution, Miles decided to get the box welded immediately.

Any delay could have cost him the ghost within.

After settling the payment with the shop owner and reclaiming the box, Miles headed back to his car.

“What’s that you’ve got? It looks valuable, and golden too,” River inquired, her curiosity piqued.

“It’s better not to ask about certain things. This item holds great significance for me,” Miles countered.

Understanding his gravity, the clever River chose not to pry further.

Soon, they reached a residential neighborhood.

“Feel free to come in, don’t be shy. This is my rented studio, and I’m the sole occupant. You’re welcome to stay a few days if you’d like,” River extended an invitation.

“I don’t intend to stay long. I’ll leave in a few days. Just remember to keep my affairs confidential. Discussing them won’t do you any favors,” Miles answered seriously, primarily concerned that River might spill information about the golden box, his most treasured possession.

“I’m off to freshen up, make yourself at home,” Miles declared, leaving River slightly surprised since that’s something she should’ve said as the homeowner.

“Can I borrow your car? I need to get a few things. Plus, I haven’t had dinner yet,” River asked.

“Feel free. I could do with some food too, perhaps a serving of fried rice,” he responded.

“Alright, take your time. I’ll be back shortly,” River said, her smile radiant as she took the car keys and headed out.

As River drove away, Miles pondered her presence, eventually deciding that having her around wouldn’t be so bad. After all, he had already ascertained that she wasn’t a ghost.

Having someone to take care of his everyday needs would give him peace of mind.

In return, he knew he’d have to ensure her safety, at least for the duration of their cohabitation.

“Oh right, if indeed gold has the power to ward off spirits, the global demand for the precious metal would certainly rise, leading to a continued surge in its prices. Ethan pointed out that gold prices have been on an uptrend of late. At present, I’m sitting on a cash pile of over ten million. If I don’t have immediate use for it, perhaps investing it in gold isn’t such a bad idea. While my goal isn’t to make a fortune, a profit of a million or two would certainly be welcome.”

“Hmm, I could consult with River about this idea later. As an accountant, she’s likely to have some financial insights.”

While taking a shower, Miles found his gaze drifting towards the golden box welded in his sight, prompting him to strategize his next moves.

“Ethan had mentioned a club exclusive to ghost tamers. I should make an effort to gather more information about it. However, it seems the situation at Ghost Tamers HQ is more complex than I had initially assumed. Besides figuring out a method to prevent the resurgence of malevolent spirits, I also need to clearly define my role and identity.”

“Do I wish to remain an independent ghost tamer, join the exclusive club, or willingly take up the offer to become a city head?”

Miles found himself mulling over these options. “This decision is pivotal. The ideal choice will come down to a balance of risks and benefits. I can only arrive at the correct decision by comprehending the situation and weighing the options.”

After some thought, he decided to contact Ghost Tamers HQ, where Rain, the female operator from the previous call, answered.

“Hello, is this Miles?” Rain’s voice was slightly muffled, suggesting she might be eating something.

“Yes, it’s me,” Miles replied.

“I received your activity report today. The team from the Dachang District mentioned your encounter with a paranormal event at the Furen Mall. How are things?” Rain inquired while perusing the case record, “Did a new ghost manifest?”

Miles retorted, “You certainly keep up with the news, receiving the report in less than two hours.”

“I haven’t affiliated myself with HQ yet, so I’m in no position to opine. I’ve resolved the paranormal incident, so you don’t need to worry. My primary reason for calling is to understand the responsibilities of a city head.”

After a moment’s pause, Rain replied, “To my knowledge, a ghost tamer’s primary duty is managing paranormal incidents within their city.”

“Is that it?”

“You’re probably curious about the perks.”

Rain elucidated, “The perks for managers differ based on their location. For us at HQ, apart from the role itself, there are subsidies for each paranormal event. The current subsidy is one million, a significant hike from the initial two hundred thousand. Moreover, there’s an allotment of a hundred kilograms of gold. For each successful containment of a ghost, HQ rewards ten million and increases the gold allocation. As for free housing, benefits for family members, and other such details, those are location-specific and beyond my purview.”

“And information?” Miles asked. “Global ghost sightings are a reality. Don’t tell me that nations aren’t researching and analyzing the existence of ghosts.”

“That area is still in the experimental stage. I don’t know much. However, I can assure you that if any research results emerge, you will be among the first to know.”

Miles mulled over this.

As he had suspected, nations are indeed conducting research in this field, but no significant progress has been made. Either they’re still in the trial phase, or they have achieved results but haven’t disclosed them yet.

However, the benefits of being a city head are indeed good. While the money might not be a lot, it’s enough to provide a comfortable life.

Most importantly, the power and status that comes with the role are substantial.

“What about the duties and responsibilities if I become a city head?” Miles asked.

Rain replied, “If you’re considering becoming a city head, I can arrange for someone to meet with you and explain everything you want to know. However, becoming an official city head requires systematic training and psychological evaluation. It’s not that easy.”

“Especially the psychological evaluation, it’s crucial. I’ve asked about your mental state several times because, in most cases, those who control malevolent spirits will subconsciously be influenced by these ghosts. This influence is irreversible. Some people are so severely affected that they experience mental instability, breakdown, and even tendencies towards self-destruction.”

“Some can’t handle the immense mental stress and suffer from a mental breakdown, giving up on themselves and becoming utterly insane.”

“So, are you saying that most ghost tamers are mentally unstable?” Miles furrowed his brows.

Rain responded, “No, we can’t label them as abnormal. Perhaps in their eyes, we’re the abnormal ones. They’ve just been influenced by the ghosts. Can you understand that? They didn’t know they would end up like this.”

“Also, our chat records will be sent to a specialist for analysis and evaluation of your mental state. What’s certain is that your mental condition is excellent. You’ve been minimally affected by the ghosts, which is why I hope you’ll become a ghost tamer.”

“I’ll consider it. That’s enough for today. I’ll contact you if there’s anything else.”

Miles ended the call.

Upon hearing Miles hang up, Rain’s note-taking paused, and she furrowed her brows.

“Rain, how is Miles doing? He’s a promising candidate; don’t let him slip away. He just became a ghost tamer and already successfully resolved a paranormal event. I read the report; it was excellent. He managed to contain a high-level ghost within half an hour. Even seasoned ghost tamers would struggle to achieve this.”

“Even though he collaborated with that ghost tamer named Ethan, we can’t deny his merit.”

Captain Build commented as he walked over. In his hands were several photographs, all taken by surveillance cameras. One of them was a picture of Miles welding the golden box.

“Captain, he’s already been in contact with other ghost tamers. He might be having second thoughts about joining us,” Rain remarked.

“But he doesn’t reject ghost tamers, right? After all, his life was saved by Right. He has a favorable impression of ghost tamers. I can tell. If it were someone else, they’d be cursing us. Some even wanted to strangle the operator over the phone, scaring them into hanging up,” Build chuckled.

Rain responded, “Captain, you’re right. I’ll make sure Miles joins Ghost Tamers HQ.”

“Be mindful, especially about his mental state. The mental pressure of becoming a ghost tamer is immense. When faced with the reality of their mortality, people can easily stray down the wrong path. You can’t pressure Miles into submission for the sake of a greater cause. You should start with a mutually beneficial cooperation. Right now, things are going quite well.”

“He’s not a ghost tamer, yet he’s resolved a paranormal event for HQ. If he doesn’t pose a threat, you can maintain this cooperative relationship until he’s ready to join HQ,” said Captain Build.