World Occult Usage Guide

Chapter 190 The Real Ghost

"A real ghost?"

Simon frowned; Vanessa's words gave him a sense of foreboding.

“Ms. Miller, what are you talking about? The Ghost was killed by us a few days ago, and its body has been sent to the research department for preservation.”

“Don’t you find it strange?” Vanessa said. “Initially, the Ghost only targeted mystics, but the Ghost we captured is ruthless and specifically targets ordinary women.”

"You mean... there are two ghosts in total?"

“Perhaps more than two. But I can confirm that the ghost the Foundation first witnessed and the ghost that was later captured are not the same person.” Vanessa ended the conversation. “Mr. Lloyd, the evidence is that I saw the real ghost right here at port G-92 in the bay.”

"What?!" Simon exclaimed.

“Not only that, there’s some bad news.” Vanessa sighed softly, “That ghost… is very likely one of your team members, Mr. Ann Lin.”

Like a thunderclap from a clear sky, not only Simon, but also Mish and Barry, who were listening in, shouted out.

“That’s impossible!” Mishi exclaimed. Barry added, “According to the records, Lin is an alchemist from China. His mystical arts mainly consist of [Sword Flight] and [Essential Elixirs]. How could he be related to [Ghosts] that shatter souls?”

“It was our oversight,” Vanessa explained. “Because Lin’s rating… is not just legendary; he’s at least at the mythical level, and most likely… the origin.”

Her words were broken and disjointed, and she was clearly not very confident.

How could an "outstanding employee" who had undergone rigorous screening by the foundation, worked diligently for two months in Dietrich and at headquarters, and solved countless mysterious incidents, possibly be the legendary ghost?
However, logic tells Vanessa that this conclusion is 90% correct.

"The source?!" Mishi exclaimed, her voice almost cracking. "Has Lin been deceiving us all along?"

If Lin An really is a ghost, wouldn't they be working with this Alpha-001 wanted criminal while simultaneously discussing their plans to capture him in front of him?
“Only this can explain all the doubts.” Vanessa gradually calmed down, regaining her usual composure. “Let me analyze it from the beginning.”

“Ms. Miller, I trust your judgment, but this time, I think you’re wrong—terribly wrong.” Simon’s tone was icy. “He swore to my sword, to death, to live honestly; and you’re telling me our oaths are worthless.”

“I don’t believe in inner sincerity; I believe in the facts themselves.” Vanessa listened intently to the sounds from her communication device. “You’re on your way? Good, you’ll see the truth with your own eyes.”

Simon stopped talking and began her analysis without holding back.

"【The Ghost】—I'm referring to the original one—commits crimes once a week, concentrated on weekends, which happens to coincide with university students' class schedules."

"According to you, all the teenagers and college students in Dietrich will suffer."

"The first body discovered was based on the mysterious prototype of the [Dwarf Demon], and the time was 9 pm on December 6, 2037, very close to the Chinatown area where Lin used to work every Friday."

"Why don't you lock up the entire Chinatown in jail and keep the students company?"

Vanessa was a forensic pathologist in Dietrich who had worked with Simon on occasion. She knew that some of his sarcastic and nonchalant habits stemmed from his undercover work, so she didn't take them to heart.

"Let's talk about the second victim. A woman who smuggled herself from the East Coast and worked in the sex trade died on December 13, 2037, an unlucky day. Her death was extremely gruesome, confirming the ruthlessness and cruelty of the [Ghost]."

"Besides me, many others are heading to the port... You notified everyone in the Direct Contact Department, Ms. Miller?"

“President Emmanuel was with me,” Vanessa continued methodically, extinguishing Simon’s hope of changing the subject. “Then, the Ghosts remained inactive for ten days, until Winter Festival on December 25th.”

"The deceased was from the Hibiscus Kingdom. Traces of the Basilisk were found at the dojo. The Foundation determined that the Ghost and the Witch were connected, but the trail went cold and the matter was dropped."

“Lin had already joined the foundation by then!” Simon couldn’t help but interject. “He stayed at the facility the whole time and even taught people Tai Chi!”

“Except for the period between Winter Solstice and New Year,” Vanessa said. “Lin completed his new recruit training ahead of schedule, applied to leave while waiting, and was granted permission.”

"The foundation has been closely monitoring his phone's location!"

"Because of X's collapse, the previous video footage disappeared and could not be verified. But Lin is smart enough to realize that he was being monitored, and we did not suspect anything, letting the last piece of evidence slip through our fingers."

Vanessa paused, waiting for Simon's rebuttal, but a long silence fell on the other side.

“Since 2038, Ghost’s activities have ceased. The Foundation suspects that he left Dietrich and moved to another state or country. In fact, he was tied up by the missions and attendance of the Direct Division and had no choice in the matter.”

"After Lin joined the Foundation, the [Ghost] disappeared until early February when a new [Ghost] appeared—I call it the 'Imitator'. Because the souls of the deceased were all damaged to varying degrees, the Imitator became the Foundation's number one wanted criminal."

“Mr. Lloyd, I’m not sure about Lin’s true rating, but please think back carefully. During the transport of the Thunderbird, were there any strange and inexplicable events that happened around him? And why couldn’t the branch’s ‘Seekers’ find out who the culprit was?”

"..."

Simon immediately thought of the deaths of Colette and Leah in New York, and the "third mystery" mentioned by the surviving believers in Lady Ava's séance.

“Your current inferences can all be explained by coincidence,” he insisted.

"So, Mr. Lloyd, where are your team members right now?"

“He… accidentally fell into the water.” Vanessa offered no comment, saying calmly, “Finally, I have to mention the crucial evidence for conviction. Remember in January, when you went to Farmington and brought back the [Zomo Rabbit]?”

"One of the few 'dreamers'."

“This mysterious object has a strange characteristic. It is unusually close to Lin, and as soon as it breaks free from its restraints, it will run towards him,” Vanessa concluded. “And just now, Zomo’s shadow flashed and disappeared next to the [Ghost].

Simon seized on the key point: "So you saw the [Ghost] with Lin's face?"

"No, he has no physical features."

"Ms. Miller!"

“It was a humanoid figure surrounded by green data,” Vanessa said. “Believe me, Mr. Lloyd, once you see him, you will believe it—that is the ghost that haunts Dietrich, the original ghost, the real ghost.”

Simon's pupils contracted, and the feathers on his body almost bristled.

Green code surrounding?

This was the mysterious figure he had witnessed at headquarters!
The source of the flashing light in the sky was a terrifying entity that nearly destroyed the San Francisco headquarters...

But before he intervened in that great battle, the figure bent down and healed his own wounds, which made Simon restless and full of suspicion.

If the "ghost" is Lin An...

That makes sense!

“Your team is one of the few who know the truth,” Vanessa broke the silence. “The president and I don’t want to cause panic among our colleagues. Even if the Ghost is Lin, we’ve decided to keep this information under wraps until he’s caught.”

Why did you specifically tell me this?

“The president believes you have the right to know the truth.” Vanessa thought for a moment and advised, “At least you didn’t lose your life, Mr. Lloyd, you’ve spent so much time with the Ghost.”

Simon chuckled softly: "He only lost his dignity."

Oh, poor thing! Vanessa thought, this gentle, restrained, and honest fellow is passionate about a goal, but also easily wallows in sorrow with all his enthusiasm, while mediocre people would seek pleasure with such emotions.

Setting aside her distractions, she reminded him, "We're going to capture the [Ghost]. Mr. Lloyd, this is the mission of the St. Anilov Foundation, no matter how enigmatic or deceptive the adversary may be."

“We will.” Of course we will. Simon thought to himself.

A salty wind blew through the angel's deep silver hair, and something vanished from his body.

His eyes no longer shone like they used to; the center of his once piercing gaze, which had constantly been rekindled, was now nothing but weary ashes.

Using its wings to maintain balance, those tired eyes gazed into the distance.

Dusk came earlier than expected, and the last rays of sunlight were obscured by the clouds. The international port looked like an old photograph, with everything familiar shrouded in gray shadows.

On the river, two points of light, one green and one blue, chased each other and entangled endlessly.

Different languages ​​and illusions collided, and strong aftershocks spread outward. The energy of "Comerth" was like an independent star, casting a shimmering reflection.

…………

The space transformed into rapidly receding colors as Zomo led Lin An out of the cargo hold warehouse.

A loud "boom" sounded from behind, and the enraged Doris, like a wildfire, clung tightly to his back.

"Gug!"

Zomo let out a high-pitched cry and abruptly stopped moving matter.

Lin An was trapped inside a bubble barrier that resembled an air wall. Hebrew text floated up and down, and a pentagram transformed into a carpet that spread out beneath his feet.

The magic of hidden spaces...

Zomo is merely a mystery figure of the supernatural level, and cannot teleport through coordinates like a witch. If it is blocked by a barrier along the way, its ability will be rendered ineffective.

The river water gurgled beneath his feet. Lin An activated the Philosopher's Stone, and the air currents supported his body. He raised his head and met Doris's eyes.

The code reappeared, obscuring his face.

"Ghost, I will kill you today!" Doris said through gritted teeth.

(End of this chapter)