Hot Spring Hotel, a spacious room.
Yang Jian had changed out of his foul-slling clothes and was dressed in a loose robe with a local flair, casually seated on the tatami. His gaze was cold and yet calm, devoid of even a hint of emotional turbulence, like a statue.
Keiko, wearing a similar robe, was kneeling beside him, head slightly lowered.
Nagase was also in the room, but he remained silent, rely smiling as he watched the television set that was successfully connected.
They were on a call with President Mishima from the Exorcism Club through the club's mobile phone, holding a small eting.
The eting was not initiated by Yang Jian but by President Mishima.
"We are already aware of the general situation. We would like to ask Mister Yang once again to take on the challenge and ensure the resolution of this Ghost Door Knocker incident. Please, this operation is very close to success, and we believe that with Mister Yang's abilities, he will definitely manage it,"
President Mishima, on his knees on the floor, pleaded earnestly from the video in the television set.
"The situation is not so simple. It's not just an ordinary supernatural event. According to my previous experiences, I should have been successful. However, I was interrupted by another supernatural event. I lost a decaying Dead Man's Head that I was holding. Of course, when I say this, I do not an to ask for any compensation. Rather, I am indicating that the next course of action will be even more difficult,"
Yang Jian said indifferently.
"You also know the details of Sakai's death. Out of nowhere, he was killed by a ghost, with no ti even to react. The pattern of these killings is terrifying."
"Moreover, I found the bodies of your club mbers in a private residence in Kobe City, dressed in suits, dead for several days, turning into a supernatural event. I suspect Mister Sakai was also aware of this. These phenona indicate that the Ghost Door Knocker incident is actually a large-scale supernatural event made up of multiple incidents."
"It's impossible for to deal with the door-knocking old man while under the attack of other malevolent spirits. Of course, a safer thod would be to deal with each event one by one, leaving the most dangerous one for last."
"But Mister Mishima, your Exorcism Club has only paid for one supernatural event. Yet, you expect to handle three, or even ten tasks. This seems a bit like exploiting an honest person."
He, of course, would not admit that the Dead Man's Head balloon incident in the Ghost Domain was his own doing. After all, the initial information about the Ghost Door Knocker had co out during his ti at No. 7 Middle School, and nobody could have predicted the changes that had occurred during the past half-year.
President Mishima's face on the other side of the screen stiffened slightly.
The reason he had spent a considerable sum to enlist Yang Jian was indeed partly due to this; the incident was too complicated. If you really wanted to handle it, you needed a team of ghost controllers, and even that might not be sufficient given the imnse danger involved. Although not as perilous as a Class S supernatural event, it wasn't far off.
If it were just the Ghost Door Knocker as a single supernatural event, and only one malevolent spirit involved, the Exorcism Club would not be so destitute as to ask for outside help.
"President Mishima, Yang Jian's action has failed, and all this stems from your wrong decision. You've not only lost face for our Exorcism Club but also led us to lose fifty tons of Gold reserves, as well as Sakai, a ghost controller, and three pieces of Ghost Porcelain. Soone should bear the responsibility for all of this."
Suddenly, another voice appeared in the video. A balding man in his fifties with a slightly corpulent figure appeared, severely chastising President Mishima on the screen, showing no concern for the occasion.
"Right now, the supernatural event continues, yet here you are, doing nothing. I think you should take the initiative to resign as president," he said.
"Ichiro Minister, please show so respect. This is a very important video conference. If there's an issue, we can discuss it after the eting ends," President Mishima imdiately straightened up and retorted angrily at the suddenly appearing Ichiro.
"No, you should resign imdiately, and I will recomnd soone more suitable to fill your position," Ichiro said.
"That's impossible. I have confidence in resolving our current predicant, and if Mister Ichiro would cease causing trouble, I think the operation would proceed much more smoothly," President Mishima said.
Yang Jian watched the situation unfold in the video conference and frowned, saying, "I don't understand what they are saying. Can soone translate for ?"
It seed that there was a severe argunt between President Mishima and another person, but due to the language barrier, it was not understood.
Keiko, who was beside him, quickly translated the argunt for him.
Hearing the translation, Yang Jian gave a slight smile and said, "It seems there's no peace even in your Exorcism Club, struggling for power is unavoidable. My operation has encountered a small hiccup, and yet they couldn't resist seizing the opportunity to make trouble. If that's the case, let that man nad Ichiro handle this matter. I can return the paynt; that's not an issue."
"Business hinges on integrity, and although I am not a businessman, I still value honesty."
Nagase and Keiko by his side looked at him with so surprise, seemingly not expecting Yang Jian to actually speak of quitting.
"Is it because he's too disappointed with the actions of the Exorcism Club?"
Nagase thought to himself; "What a bunch of idiots. Those sitting in offices could never imagine the dangers we faced before. It's already very lucky to have survived, and now they're there busy fighting for power and influence, it's truly infuriating."
"If I were there, I definitely wouldn't be able to help but kill those idiots who have nothing but intestines in their heads."
He couldn't help but clench his fists.
He was angry for Yang Jian, as well as for himself.
Such a powerful man who could fight fierce ghosts head-on shouldn't be humiliated by such trash.
"I'm truly very sorry for letting Mister Yang witness this farce. Please don't take Ichiro's words to heart. He's utterly ignorant about the earlier events, only knows to calculate money and profits, and is a short-sighted fool."
On the video call, President Mishima was startled when he heard Yang Jian's words co through, and hurriedly apologized to Yang Jian.
The world had changed, and top ghost masters like these could almost determine the rise and fall of a country, their worth could not be asured by any amount of money.
Arrogance and stubborn prejudices could cause the Exorcism Club to lose its position in the future.
Mishima had long seen through this, which is why he arranged for the talented Keiko to be sent over, a gesture of goodwill and a very far-sighted investnt.
If the object of this goodwill was soone else, Mishima might still hesitate, but Yang Jian was worth doing this for. The only person globally with real records of resolving S-grade events, he had taken out a whole circle of formidable foes, and incidentally slaughtered a Captain Level person. The headquarters' attitude towards Yang Jian was still friendly and amicable.
This was the value embodied.
Therefore, a humble stance and sufficient sincerity were necessary.
"You bastard, why do you show such respect to a failure? If he can't do it, let him get lost. I'll send Yamazaki there to handle it; with his capabilities, he's bound to succeed," blustered the corpulent Ichiro.
President Mishima said coldly, "If Yamazaki goes, he's sure to die. He won't even have a chance of making it out alive. Mister Yang was about to succeed but was interfered with by an uncertain factor. All mbers who had encountered that fierce ghost died without exception. Only Mister Yang survived and even protected Keiko, who is an average person."
"Do you have a brain, or is the struggle for power blinding you? This is about the survival of Kobe City, no, even several cities. In the face of survival, anything can be set aside. Ichiro, may I ask you, do you still have loyalty to this country?"
Anyone with half a brain could see, except for Sakai who died unexpectedly, the people involved in this operation survived, proving that Yang Jian still had strength to spare or was more than capable, even looking after ordinary people.
Whether it was Keiko or Mishima, these two won were like two touchstones.
They had no ability to resist fierce ghosts, and would die upon contact. If they both erged unscathed, it indicated that Yang Jian was indeed extraordinary.
Watching them argue, and listening to Keiko's translation by his ear, Yang Jian couldn't help but smile.
Whether this was a cody or a scandal, he was uninterested.
"You go on arguing, I don't care. I can wait patiently with you," Yang Jian said.
His mission this ti was already complete. As for this supernatural event, he was still considering whether or not to deal with it. If that Ichiro interfered, causing Mishima's plan to halt, Yang Jian could happily go ho.
"Get Ichiro out of here, and don't let him anywhere near the conference room again." It was at this mont Mishima made a decision and imdiately ordered staff to escort Ichiro away.
"Bastard, Mishima, you're utterly disrespectful..." Ichiro yelled as he was kicked out.
Only then did the video call beco a bit quieter.
Finally, Mishima said, "I am very sorry, Mister Yang. I hope you can forget the unpleasantness just now. Can we continue with the topic we were discussing?"
"Since President Mishima wishes to continue, I have no objections," Yang Jian said. "After all, it was a significant sum that brought here to help, and I owe your Exorcism Club so respect."
"I fully understand," Mishima breathed a sigh of relief.
What Yang Jian implicitly ant was that this bit of respect was due to the sincerity shown previously.
"The matter isn't so easy to resolve. I can deal with the Door Knocking Ghost, but only to that extent. However, I mustn't be interfered with. If I fail due to interference, President Mishima, you can't bla for not putting in the effort," Yang Jian stated calmly.
President Mishima nodded his head.
He had heard Nagase's report before and indeed, it was quite regrettable.
At a critical mont, that head had flown away and beco part of those heads in the sky. The balance between the ghosts was disrupted, forcing Yang Jian to retreat.
"Then please, Mister Yang, make a move once more. If there's interference again, I will bear all consequences," Mishima said through clenched teeth, making a promise.
Bad luck once doesn't an the sa for the second ti.
Mishima chose to take a gamble.
He wagered his position as the president of the club.
Seeing this, Yang Jian's gaze shifted slightly, "Since President Mishima has said so, I will act once more. It's going to take so ti and preparation."
"Is there anything I can help with, Mister Yang?" Mishima asked earnestly.
"A sufficiently sturdy box, and after the matter is finished, I will take the ghost with ," Yang Jian replied.
He pondered and decided to confront the Door Knocking Ghost once more.
Not just for the sake of this mission, but also to deal with this ghost once and for all.
"Understood. I will prepare imdiately," President Mishima responded and nodded.
These requests weren't excessive; in fact, they were much less than anticipated. Yang Jian indeed had sincere intentions.
Soon, the video call ended.
At this mont, Yang Jian looked towards Nagase, "Do you have any good suggestions regarding that Door Knocking Ghost? If not, on the next operation, follow my orders unconditionally and execute them."
Nagase's face grew stern, and his smile gradually disappeared. He spoke seriously, "I've been observing the previous operation. Mister Yang's actions were flawless, without any vulnerabilities—the head, the black hand, and the shadows. The suppression from all three sides was complete, leaving no chance for the ghost to strike back."
"But the horror of that ghost was imnse. It seed the suppression wasn't completely successful, or an accident occurred before it could be completed, causing the three-sided containnt envisaged by Mister Yang to fail."
Yang Jian didn't interrupt him and wasn't curious about Nagase knowing his personal file.
As a man of status, basic information about him was probably well-understood by now, short of advertising it to the world, so nothing was strange.
"Continue," Yang Jian prompted.
Nagase said, "I have a special idea we could try using bait to lure the ghost out, then create a trap, place a box, and make the ghost fall into it. If we close the box in ti, we might be able to imprison it without making contact."
He laughed, thinking his idea was sowhat nave, yet there was a space for feasibility—it simply required resolving a few issues.
"Not a bad idea," said Yang Jian with a light smile.
Dig a pit by the door, wait for the ghost to knock, then have the Ghost Master fall into the box voluntarily.
"However, it's not very feasible, making Mister Yang laugh," said Nagase, rubbing his head.
Because there was one significant, seemingly insurmountable problem.
That was, for the ghost to fall into the trap, it needed to return to reality and its exact position determined.
And to achieve this, one would need to suppress the Ghost Domain comprehensively and pull the ghost out of it. There might even be attacks from the ghost in the process.
If this couldn't be accomplished, the static trap wouldn't catch its prey.
"No, your thod does have so viability, at least that's how I see it," Yang Jian nodded and said, "So let's pleasantly decide on this and proceed with your thod, letting the Ghost Master actively step into the trap."
"Ah? Can it really work? But how do you lure the ghost to appear correctly?" Nagase asked sowhat surprised.
"I understand the ghost's pattern of killing and can use that to our advantage. Leave it to to handle," said Yang Jian.
"Who will act as the bait then?" Nagase asked.
"Don't we have ready bait right here?" said Yang Jian calmly.
Nagase imdiately looked towards Keiko, who was kneeling beside Yang Jian.
Keiko's face paled with fear, and she couldn't help but clutch at Yang Jian's clothes, pleading, "Please, no. I don't want to be bait. Mister Yang, Keiko will do anything you ask, but not this, please."
"The bait isn't you. Ordinary people should do what ordinary people do; this is a task for a ghost master," Yang Jian explained.
"Ah?"
At this, Nagase's face instantly fell.
So, he was the bait? And Keiko wasn't even being considered?
Keiko, initially shocked, then brimd with surprise and joy. Looking at Yang Jian, her eyes filled with gratitude and emotion, as if she had received great care.
"Would you rather hide behind a woman? Besides, Mishima is already ntally compromised; only you are capable of undertaking this task," Yang Jian asserted.
"I understand," Nagase replied, wary and anxious, but he steeled himself to agree.
He would act as the bait to attract the Door Knocking Ghost.
Yang Jian was responsible for suppressing the ghost on the spot and locking it in the trap.
This was the best plan, avoiding direct contact. If it failed, the danger was minimal—only Nagase's life would be at risk.
Though it might seem cruel, such was reality.
Yang Jian was irreplaceable, while Nagase was in a position to be sacrificed.
"Then it's settled. Once the Exorcism Club's box is ready, we'll act," Yang Jian declared. "Now, there's ti to rest a bit."
The plan was decided and wouldn't change further.
Reviews
All reviews (0)