World Occult Usage Guide

Chapter 200 Ghost Legend (Part 2)

A deep-seated corruption, mixed with a faint, dull ache, surged forth like a tide.

Doris couldn't fall asleep. Despite taking a strip of sleeping pills, she lay wide-eyed in her bed, unable to drift off.

Perhaps she will never be able to sleep peacefully again until the ceremony is successful.

Fortunately, mystics like her hardly need to catch up on sleep; for them, sleeping soundly like humans is more of a supplement to their lives.

Doris raised her wrist, gazing at the shimmering, colorful gems that had formed on her skin, her eyes flashing with hatred.

The search for the "seed" that could withstand the pollution was going very poorly. Due to the presence of the ghosts, the free mystics in Dietrich were not as unruly as before, and the security situation was getting better and better. Doris, who had lost all her subordinates, could no longer take advantage of the chaos.

Some of the newly awakened individuals were either recruited by the witch or, after understanding the rules of Comors, continued to live in the city.

Some of them spontaneously created new factions of mystics; Doris alone knows of three: the Ghost Worshippers Association, the Furry Lovers Group, and the Pythagoreans Brotherhood.

She didn't want to know what these organizations were researching; they sounded too stupid.

Moreover, Doris is currently short of money. While the police and related agencies appear respectful on the surface, they are secretly hindering her work efficiency, which is very frustrating for her.

However, the biggest obstacle is none other than...

She looked at the projector in front of her, where a forum with a black background appeared. Doris scanned the posts on it using the scrolling keyboard tray.

"Don't believe those 'personality test questions' that are circulating wildly lately! Phishing websites, phishing websites!"

"Instead of this unreliable social science, let's continue our discussion of ghosts. I heard that a 'miracle' happened at the central hospital in Dietrich."

"Breaking news! Ghost's new moves! Absolutely true!!!"

Doris glared angrily as her questionnaire was swallowed up by the ghosts, her teeth clenched.

Ghost, I never knew you were such a show-off!

"Jingle Bell!"

Bad news followed one after another: the e-button played an inopportune electronic sound, and Doris slid her keyboard to close the wretched interface of the World Tree Forum.

“My dearest third daughter, it’s almost time for our meeting.”

"I understand, Father."

Doris had heard that voice countless times, always so arrogant and elegant. Perhaps because she was upset, she didn't notice the worry in her father's tone.

Hearing her reply, which she was barely suppressing her impatience, the man sighed deeply.

“Lili, this is an ultimatum. I want you to return to the family immediately. If possible, I wish you would start packing your bags and embark on your journey right now.”

“Father, let me play a little longer.” Doris glanced at the calendar in the corner. “There are still a few days until the April Fool’s Day party we agreed on. I promise I’ll be there on time.”

The man fell silent, then resumed his usual condescending tone, speaking casually to his own daughter as if evaluating a stranger.

"After your refusal, I dare not make any more demands on myself."

"Then goodbye."

Doris hung up the phone, rubbed her temples, and dialed a new contact.

"Hey?"

Unlike before, this time the person who answered the phone was a woman with a calm and soothing voice.

“Foundation, name your price,” Doris said coldly. “I need some of your people.”

"I'm sorry, Miss Esther," the female voice said kindly and regretfully, "we do not intend to participate in the chaos and struggles of the Eagle Kingdom or even the Upper East in the near future; because our mission is coming to an end."

"Is my price not high enough?"

“Unlike that guy; I never lie or break my promises. When I reveal something to you, I swear by my loyalty and mercy that it is true.”

"The Foundation—the Aske and Embra Heritage Foundation! Wait a minute!"

"Good luck, miss."

The other party calmly and firmly cut off the contact, leaving Doris with only the cold, mechanical voice of the voice assistant.

She slumped onto the luxurious bed, the silence and helplessness more unbearable than the pain in her soul and body, so much so that her eyes reddened slightly, but soon, tears streamed down, turning into an inextinguishable fire that made her blood boil and burn.

"Everything is on this. Esther, you are not a victim of the world, but the master of your own destiny. Your choices and decisions determine your future."

…………

In the luxurious office, a man adds milk to perfectly heated black tea, filling the air with its aroma.

Lord Arthur listened patiently to his secretary's incessant report.

"The Wisconsin branch claims that they are no match for the elusive MI-Alpha-002, causing the control and punishment teams to disobey their original assignment to help the Michigan branch manage the mysterious entities in the Northwest region, and requests headquarters approval."

"The Iowa branch believed that even if they resisted MI-Alpha-002, they would be completely wiped out. Therefore, they made a pact with Ghost to never set foot in Michigan again. They demanded that Michigan resolve the issue itself, or that headquarters intervene."

"This is the third email from Michigan today. MI-Alpha-002's reputation and influence have surged in a short period of time, far exceeding our control. It is showing signs of developing into the mysterious, uncrowned king of Dietrich. We request support from headquarters."

“Reply: ‘Your suggestion is being actively considered.’” Lord Arthur picked up a butter scone with smoked salmon. “Submit the first two to the Inspectorate’s approval system; they should be approved in three days.”

“Aren’t you going to mobilize manpower to help Michigan?” The secretary flicked his lizard-like tail. “Those foundation branches seem to be collapsing because of the fear brought on by MI-Alpha-002.” “It’s not the Dawn Society’s place to play the hero, Mr. Bean.” Lord Arthur took a bite of his scone. “Let them settle things in the Eagle Country, don’t drag the trouble to the West. Anyway, once the dust settles, a public speech to the people of the Lion Country will be enough to make them forget about the truth across the ocean.”

"I'm not Mr. Bean, Lord," the secretary said, operating the headquarters system. "What are you announcing?"

"We brought peace to an entire generation."

…………

The pungent smell of hospital disinfectant hit the room, which was unusually quiet. The faint breathing sounds and the monotonous beeping of the medical equipment echoed incessantly, like an endless etude.

"Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock..."

At some point, someone appeared beside the hospital bed, quietly gazing at the pale-faced boy.

After a long while, he raised his hand, and the strange stone that represented "all things are one" floated up. The world inside slowly rotated, with ouroboros circling the blue and red planet. Hermes raised his serpent staff high.

An invisible green energy permeated the air, and the boy awoke like a forsythia in spring.

The ceiling was dark, the fluorescent lights hadn't been turned on for a long time, and only the moonlight dappled across the cold tiles.

The boy turned his head and saw three strange people standing in what should have been an empty hospital bedroom.

A woman who is half-human and half-goat, a solemn and dignified man, and a being whose face is obscured in the center and whose body is surrounded by green code, existing in a way that is both illusory and real.

They were like the inhabitants of a kingdom in Alice's Wonderland, with rather strange appearances and attire, as if they were fantastical creatures from a whimsical world.

The boy tentatively sat up and was astonished to find that all his pain had disappeared.

"Am I dreaming?"

“No, this is reality,” the figure in the center said, his voice melodious and pleasant.

"Did you save me?"

"It was just an experiment," the figure said, gradually fading into indistinctness. "I discovered that healing others attracts the 'God of Agriculture,' causing the pollution level to increase by 0.5%, and you happen to be the 100th person, which gave me data worth recording."

"do not go!"

The boy suddenly jumped off the hospital bed, rushed forward and hugged the green humanoid figure. His steps were still unsteady, and he stumbled as he walked.

"Thank you for saving me, big brother! Dad will be so happy!" He hugged his waist, looked up at him, and asked, "What's your name? I'll remember you for the rest of my life!"

"【ghost】."

“Your name is strange, you have neither a first name nor a last name. I am Andrew Fenton.” The boy looked at the ghost’s blurry face. “You’re warm to the touch.”

"Alright, alright, go back to bed, kid."

The ghost put the boy back on the hospital bed, and just as he was about to do something, he was suddenly grabbed by the arm.

"Ghost, can you heal my friend too? He lives right next door to me... He has cerebral palsy, and his parents have a little sister and don't want him anymore."

Receiving no response, the boy quickly added, "You can give him my health. I still have my dad and mom, but he has nothing left."

"This minor illness is nothing compared to the Philosopher's Stone. I could even cure all the critically ill patients in this hospital in an instant."

The ghost picked up the photo on the boy's bedside table; it was a group photo of four people, which caught his eye.

"Although this will probably increase my pollution level by 3%."

"What is pollution?" the boy asked.

"One of the two boundaries between 'Commerx' and us is that there's a notebook that says pollution levels are 'humanity.' Now, I think I'm starting to understand that."

"So, have you agreed to treat my friend?"

“He’s already full of life.” Ghost chuckled. “Actually, there are several people in your father’s company who can do the same thing, but unfortunately the Foundation doesn’t allow Mystics to intervene in social organizations without permission. I guess it’s to make it easier to set a uniform price for ‘miracles’ in the future.”

“They sound like really bad adults.” The boy gripped the ghost’s wrist tightly. “Ghost, please don’t go.”

"how?"

"I'm afraid of the dark."

"Here's a gift for you." The ghost took out a candle that emitted a cold, ever-burning light, replacing the photograph to protect the boy like a lighthouse in the darkness. "It's called the Ghost Lamp."

"Thank you, ghost." The boy reluctantly let go of her hand. In his eyes, the magical but cold lamp couldn't compare to the ghost's warmth. "Next time, I'll prepare a gift for you. Is there a wish you want to have?"

The ghost put the photo into its bosom and returned to the couple.

“I hope you read Peter Pan a few more times, because I see that it’s the highest-rated book on your tree diagram.”

The boy paused, then nodded as if he understood, "Okay, since you said it."

"Goodbye, little friend."

"I will always miss you, ghost!" the boy shouted as he watched him disappear.

Thank you to Pan-Fried Silver Cod, Otherworldly Emotions, Book Friend 20220116123457765, and Broken Run Seth Azura for the monthly tickets, and thank you all for the recommendation tickets and subscriptions.



(End of this chapter)