He moved into his new home overnight, a villa in an excellent location.
Becoming a Ghost Tamer made it really easy to acquire wealth, far better than slogging away as a wage worker like before.
Hu Jiu put all the ghosts and valuables he had contained since his rebirth in the bedroom. He considered building a safe house out of gold later and putting a few immobile Fierce Ghosts there to guard it.
He had yet to decide where to put the safe house, though. If he placed it in Linjiang City, the current person in charge, Liu Mingguang, would be an eyesore...
His satellite phone suddenly rang. When he answered, Lin Guangning's voice came from the other end. "Hu Jiu, why didn't you promptly report that you were attacked by a Ghost Tamer?"
Seemingly realizing her tone was inappropriate, she added, "You should contact headquarters immediately when something like this happens. If you're in danger, we can provide support in time, and we also need to establish a file afterward."
"Oh, I'm really sorry. I'm a newcomer, after all, so I don't know the procedures very well. Besides, I didn't expect to be attacked right after joining headquarters." Hu Jiu spoke evenly, without the slightest change in emotion.
"All right. Since the attacker has been killed, please describe the Fierce Ghost he controlled in detail and give it a brief code name based on its abilities." Lin Guangning tapped impatiently at her keyboard. She was in a huge office, headquarters' communications center, where many young, attractive operators were busy at work. Occasionally, a few ill-timed bursts of noise could be heard.
"Code name: Ghost Hand. It looks like a blue-black right hand covered in livor mortis and can't move. Its killing rule is touch. Anyone it touches rapidly decays. For now, I suggest classifying it as C-class."
Hu Jiu lied. Not only could the Ghost Hand move freely, but its killing rule was also death upon contact. But... why should he tell the truth? The Ghost Hand was his spoils of war, and every ghost he collected was a trump card of his own. There was no need to leak information.
Besides, Lin Guangning's attitude really rubbed him the wrong way!
Headquarters was wary of Ghost Tamers, but weren't Ghost Tamers just as wary of headquarters?
After creating a file on the Ghost Hand, Lin Guangning continued, "According to regulations, since you contained the Ghost Hand, you can turn it in without compensation and receive credit, or sell it to headquarters. Of course, you can also choose to keep it, but I still recommend turning it in. Accumulate enough credit, and headquarters will think of you first when there are benefits to be had in the future. Besides, headquarters has more comprehensive containment measures. If the Ghost Hand goes out of control while in your possession, not only will it threaten public safety, but you'll also bear considerable responsibility."
In the past, this would have been settled with five hundred yuan and a small commemorative banner. Who would have dared object? Now headquarters had to lower itself and offer a high price to buy it back. The more Lin Guangning thought about it, the worse she felt.
Those who could work as operators at headquarters were either exceptionally capable or had connections. Otherwise, how could it be so easy to get into a state institution of this rank?
Ghost Tamers appeared at random and came from all walks of life. Watching this group from the bottom of society, with their unstable personalities, suddenly turn their lives around and gain easy access to power and wealth, outstanding members of the social elite like Lin Guangning naturally felt displeased. Her attitude also offered a glimpse of the prevailing attitude among the country's authorities toward Ghost Tamers.
In his previous life, an S-class supernatural incident, [Mirage], had broken out early on in the country. The grim reality had finally jolted the powerful figures at the top fully awake. They had stopped relying on luck and adjusted their strategy in time.
Sometimes, there was real sense in the saying, "Nothing can be built without first being broken."
Now that the Mirage Ghost had been brought under control, unless a major incident broke the rigid status quo, there was no telling how long the conflict between the powerful and the Ghost Tamers would drag on.
Hu Jiu calmly refused to turn over the Ghost Hand and asked, "Have you identified the attacker? Headquarters can't be that inefficient, can it?"
Lin Guangning lowered her voice. "We have. The attacker, Zhou Zhi, belonged to Beifeng Commune, a civilian Ghost Tamer organization. Headquarters will contact Beifeng Commune, issue it a warning, and discuss compensation."
Hu Jiu was silent for a moment. "Send me a copy of the detailed information on Beifeng Commune."
"What are you going to do?" Lin Guangning frowned deeply. "This may have something to do with the ghost you control. Headquarters will help you handle it. You should know that every Ghost Tamer is a valuable resource, and Beifeng Commune has cooperated with headquarters several times. Don't act rashly on your own!"
"Understood. Take a step back and the sea and sky open up. It's all for the greater good. I understand." Hu Jiu's face was expressionless. "But I have to take some precautions. You can never be too careful around others. Heaven knows if they'll attack me again."
Hearing Hu Jiu say that, Lin Guangning was reasonably satisfied. "All right, I'll send you the information shortly."
The call ended, and a file arrived soon afterward.
If he had been a newcomer to being a Ghost Tamer, the matter would have ended there.
Unfortunately, when it came to Hu Jiu, there was never any taking a step back for a brighter future. He lacked the good qualities a human being ought to possess. He was only capable of saying a few pleasing platitudes. Surely no one had actually believed him?
Civilian Ghost Tamer organizations were arrogant and high-profile. Forget compensation; even a verbal apology was unlikely. Hu Jiu didn't care anyway. They just had to die. He didn't need an apology...
Hu Jiu spent quite a while looking over the information on Beifeng Commune. The organization included not only Ghost Tamers but also quite a few ordinary people. They were wealthy and powerful people who funded and supported the Ghost Tamers, and both sides benefited from their cooperation.
Hu Jiu also spotted two familiar names in the file—Zhou Long and Wei Xiyuan.
No wonder Lin Guangning said this had something to do with the ghost I control. The Bloodstained White Silk originally belonged to Zhou Long. Headquarters hasn't questioned me further about Lizhou. Compared with a newcomer like me, Beifeng Commune is still more suspicious.
Apart from Zhou Long and Zhou Zhi, who were already dead, Beifeng Commune's remaining documented Ghost Tamers were [Zombie] Wei Xiyuan, [Drunkard] Liu Tiancheng, and [Ghost Footprints] Zhao Lifeng.
The other few Ghost Tamers had no recorded instances of taking action, and their abilities were unknown.
Beifeng Commune's headquarters was in Zhenyuan City, not very far from Linjiang City. Its president was Zhao Lifeng, whose code name was [Ghost Footprints], but he might have controlled more than one ghost.
Looking at the information, Hu Jiu fell into thought. How exactly should he kill them? Should he start with their families, or... lure an S-class Fierce Ghost to Zhenyuan City?
Could he also drag Liu Mingguang into it and kill two birds with one stone?
Whether it was a side effect of the Mirage Ghost or the Ghost Book, Hu Jiu felt no sleepiness or mental fatigue. He tossed and turned all night as countless vicious ideas flashed through his mind, and an evil plan gradually began to take shape...