Hidden Threads? Conspiracy?

"Hmm?"

Fred dialed the phone again in confusion.

"Beep~"

The moment the ringing started this time, it was hung up directly.

Fred was a bit dazed.

"Strange? Why isn't Aunt Lenora answering the phone?"

Just as he was about to dial for the third time, a sharp, piercing voice suddenly sounded right above his head.

"Stop fucking calling, you brainless idiot!"

Fred's face darkened, and he angrily looked up to see who dared to scold him.

Yet the instant he raised his head, he suddenly felt his vision go dark, as if something was blocking his eyes.

Immediately afterward, he felt a pain in his hair and couldn't help crying out.

"Ah! My hair!"

Flutter~

The sound of flapping wings rang out, and Fred's vision brightened, restoring the light.

Rubbing his forehead, he looked in doubt and alarm at the strange creature hovering in front of him...

It was strikingly a Red-tailed Ghost Parrot!

"You—what kind of ghost are you?!"

Fred hurriedly stepped back, reaching behind his waist to grab the butt of his hidden handgun.

The Red-tailed Ghost Parrot vibrated its wings, the flapping sound faint and indistinct.

Plop~ Plop~

Fred swore that if it hadn't been so close, he wouldn't have noticed it at all.

Spitting out a wisp of hair from its sharp beak with a ptoo ptoo, the Red-tailed Ghost Parrot screeched, "What are you afraid of, you idiot kid!"

With that, its figure flashed abruptly.

"!!!" A shock jolted through Fred's heart, and he pulled out his handgun straight away.

Yet the next second, a sharp pain suddenly struck his left shoulder, followed by his neck being heavily slapped by a great force.

Ah!

Fred couldn't help letting out a miserable scream.

Only to see the Red-tailed Ghost Parrot digging its claws tightly into his