“Don’t look so dejected.”
Ethan smiled, trying to lift their spirits. “The authorities have been pouring resources into research these past few years. Who knows? We might just develop medium weapons capable of taking on high-rank malevolent ghosts someday.”
The class nodded, but there was little excitement in their eyes.
It was just empty hope—nothing more.
John, however, perked up, catching the key detail in Ethan’s words.
These past few years?
Had supernatural incidents been happening long before now?
So the authorities have been working behind the scenes, John muttered to himself. They tried to stamp out the supernatural before it could spark mass panic. Too bad it all blew up so fast.
“Alright, chin up.”
Ethan pressed on, his tone firm but encouraging. “Malevolent ghosts follow a pyramid power structure. High-rank ones are always the minority. If you can take down low-tier ghosts, you already have what it takes to survive—even protect your family.”
The students pushed their despair aside, resolve flickering back to life in their eyes.
Great figures were few and far between in every age. For ordinary people like them, just staying alive was enough.
“Your medium is your weapon. Your courage is your armor. If you can find a way to rattle a malevolent ghost, to catch it off guard, you’ve already gained the upper hand in the fight.”
Ethan’s voice rose with conviction. “And if you successfully resolve a supernatural incident? You’ll be rewarded with a small fortune—enough to keep your family fed and clothed for a long time.”
Nods rippled through the room, and a spark of excitement ignited in their chests.
If they hadn’t joined the Intelligence Division, striking it rich on their regular salaries would have been nothing but a pipe dream.
Ethan turned on the projector once more.
“Now, let’s go over the ghosts the authorities have documented so far—mostly low-tier ones that medium weapons can handle…”
The day slipped by in the blink of an eye.
Every member of the Intelligence Division left class feeling like they’d learned a lifetime’s worth of knowledge, and the cold dread of ghosts lingering in their hearts had faded a little.
“Guess this stuff only goes so far, though.”
John muttered as he walked back to the hotel, patting the vial of rooster’s blood in his bag.
According to Ethan’s lesson, these medium weapons were only good for low-tier ghosts.
Against a high-rank malevolent ghost, the rooster’s blood would be useless. He’d still be unable to touch it, still fall prey to its curse.
“Is there something better out there…?”
He mused, his gaze drifting down to his chest, to the ghost face hidden beneath his skin.
“Buddy, you’re at least as good as those Bound Ghosts, right?”
John was surprised to spot a familiar face the moment he stepped into the hotel lobby.
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“William? What are you doing here?”
William was standing by the entrance with three other people, his expression a jumble of excitement and fear.
“Boss John? Is that really you?!”
William spun around, rushing over to John with a look of pure delight on his face.
“What’s going on? Why are you here?”
“I got a mission.”
William shrugged, his tone sheepish.
“A mission?”
John blinked, then a strange look crossed his face.
“Don’t tell me the authorities sent you guys to handle the supernatural incident here?”
William nodded vigorously, leaning in with a pleading look.
“Boss, you gotta have my back on this one!”
He’d initially wanted to turn the mission down. But when he saw it was centered on John’s neighborhood, he’d guessed John might be here—and taken the job in an instant.
“…”
John’s mouth twitched. Him, an ordinary person, protecting a Ghost Binder?
William, oblivious to his thoughts, pressed on, desperation in his voice.
“If we pull this off, you can split the Ghost Shard reward with us! I swear!”
Even though he was a Ghost Binder, and his confidence had grown lately, the thought of facing a real malevolent ghost made his blood run cold.
After all, four students from Ghost Binder Class 2 had died even with Ron’s protection.
Ghost Shards?
John’s ears pricked up, zeroing in on the words at once.
A scrawny boy standing beside William scoffed, cutting in sharply.
“William, what are you spouting nonsense for? Why should an ordinary person get a cut of our reward?”
“Shut up.”
A deep, gruff voice snapped before William could reply.
John blinked, recognizing the burly man who’d spoken at once.
It was Miller—the man whose Bound Ghost he’d stolen a while back.
“Boss John…”
Miller smiled awkwardly, clearly having asked around about John since their last encounter.
The scrawny boy’s face flushed with anger at the rebuke, but with William and Miller both showing John such deference, he clamped his mouth shut, biting back his complaints.
“Alright. Tell me about these Ghost Shards.”
John’s eyes glinted with greed, his gaze sharp and eager.
“They’re an official reward,” William explained quickly, glad to change the subject. “They boost a Ghost Binder’s power. They’re also the universal currency for anyone in the Ghost Binder trade.”
“Oh.”
John’s excitement dimmed a little, disappointment crossing his face. It sounded useless to him.
William, seeing his reaction, hurried to add, “If you don’t need ’em, Boss, you can trade ’em for money! One Ghost Shard is worth one hundred thousand cash!”
One hundred thousand?
John perked right up, all traces of disappointment vanishing.
He was flat broke these days. With his current appetite, his savings wouldn’t last a week.
“How many Ghost Shards is the mission reward?”
“Two.”
So that’s two hundred thousand dollars… nice. John muttered to himself, already calculating.
“???”
The other three Ghost Binders stared at him in disbelief. Was he really planning to take the whole reward for himself?
Aside from William, their expressions soured, cold flickers in their eyes.
“Boss John, we’re counting on you, then!”
Miller was the first to recover, his voice oozing flattery.
His mind whirred with scheming. He’d been worried about scouting out the ghost’s movements—and now John had fallen right into his lap.
If John could get them intel on the ghost, their chances of success would skyrocket.
As for John’s safety? That was none of his concern.
“Sure thing.”
John’s lips curled into a smirk, shooting Miller a look that said he saw right through his game.
The group headed into the hotel and gathered all the residents in the lobby.
“Everyone, listen up.” Miller stepped forward, putting on a confident show, his voice booming to calm the crowd. “I’m Miller, the Ghost Binder the authorities sent to resolve the supernatural incident here.”
For all his posturing, the man could talk. His words soothed the residents’ frayed nerves, chasing away a little of their fear.
“Tonight, the five of us will each patrol a floor. You have nothing to fear.”
Miller continued, his tone steady and reassuring.
“If you notice anything unusual—any strange noises, any cold spots—yell for help. We’ll be there the second we hear you.”
They were Ghost Binders, but they had no way to track the malevolent ghost’s location. All they could do was wait for it to strike.
The residents nodded, looking a little calmer, and dispersed to their rooms.
John and the four Ghost Binders reconvened in the empty lobby.
Miller spoke first, his eyes glinting with a hidden agenda.
“Boss John, with your skills, patrolling the fifth floor shouldn’t be a problem, right?”
The victim that morning had been in Room 506. The ghost was far more likely to strike there again.
And being on the top floor meant escape would be nearly impossible if a lethal danger struck.
“Problem.”
John raised an eyebrow, refusing flat out.
“The fifth floor’s too risky. I’m not going. Whoever wants the job can take it.”
“???”
Miller froze, stunned.
So you’re not an idiot after all?
He’d thought his flattery had gone to John’s head, that he’d be foolish enough to take the most dangerous post.
But when it mattered, John had shut him down cold.
