Meanwhile, IM, who was in another room, had found nothing of value.
Hmm... he thought to himself, disappointed. Maybe Xian and Yolan had better luck.
He decided to check one more room before rejoining the others. As he phased through the wall, he found himself in a spacious bedroom, bathed in the soft glow of moonlight streaming through the window. A king-sized bed occupied the center of the room, its luxurious silk sheets invitingly rumpled.
IM's eyes, however, were drawn to a large walk-in closet. Curiosity piqued, he floated towards it, passing through the closed door effortlessly.
The closet was a treasure trove of designer clothing, shoes, and accessories. Rows of meticulously arranged suits, dresses, and handbags lined the shelves, their price tags still attached, boasting exorbitant figures.
IM chuckled to himself. "This guy really loves his luxury brands," he muttered, shaking his head in amusement.
He began to rummage through the closet, searching for anything that might be of value. He found a collection of diamond-encrusted cufflinks, a platinum watch, and a pair of designer sunglasses that looked like they cost a small fortune. He carefully placed them in his pouch, making sure not to disturb the pristine arrangement of the closet.
As he was about to leave, something caught his eye. It was a small, velvet box tucked away in a hidden compartment at the back of the closet. IM opened it, revealing a stunning diamond necklace, its brilliance rivaling the moonlight streaming through the window.
"Jackpot," IM whispered, a triumphant grin spreading across his masked face.
He carefully placed the necklace in his pouch, feeling a surge of satisfaction. This would definitely make a dent in Mateo's ill-gotten wealth.
With his mission accomplished, IM phased back through the wall, rejoining Xian and Yolan in the hallway.
"Find anything good?" Yolan asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
IM held up his pouch, a smug grin on his face. "You could say that," he replied, the diamond necklace glinting in the dim light.
Yolan's eyes widened. "Wow, that's impressive. You always find the best stuff."
"Where's Lili?" I asked, turning around to look for her.
Just as I asked, Lili emerged from a nearby hallway, her expression a mix of determination and sadness. "I found it," she said, her voice barely a whisper.
"Found what?" Yolan asked, her brow furrowing in concern.
Lili held up a small, wooden box, its surface etched with intricate carvings. "The Weeping Woman's remains," she replied softly.
"Weeping Woman... a ghost?" I asked, surprised.
She nodded, her eyes filled with a melancholic glow.
"Geez... a lot of supernatural creatures in this house..." Yolan said, shaking her head in disbelief.
"Really?" I tilted my head, surprised.
She nodded. "Earlier, I just killed a Jinn or a demon, I guess... It said that man was its master."
A sense of unease settled over me. "So, not only is he corrupt, but he's also dabbling in dark magic," I muttered, my voice laced with disgust. "This guy is worse than we thought."
IM nodded grimly. "We need to get out of here. Who knows what other horrors he's unleashed in this house."
Lili clutched the wooden box tightly. "We need to bury her remains first," she said, her voice filled with a quiet determination. "She deserves to rest in peace."
"What kind of remains?" I asked, curious.
Lili shrugged her shoulder. "Let me ask again... come to the hallway near the kitchen."
We followed Lili back to the hallway near the kitchen, where the air still hung heavy with the remnants of the supernatural battle. She closed her eyes, her face contorted in concentration.
"Weeping Woman," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Can you hear me?"
A moment of silence passed, then a faint, ethereal voice echoed through the hallway. "Yes, child. I can hear you."
"What kind of remains do you have?" Lili asked, her voice filled with a gentle curiosity.
The Weeping Woman's voice wavered, tinged with a hint of sorrow. "My bones... they were shattered and scattered throughout the ground. I've been here a long time, even before this house was built."
Bones... I thought it would be something like her money, I thought, a bit disappointed.
I closed my eyes, focusing my imagination.
Imagine I can sense any bones buried underground...
A tingling sensation spread through my body, and I felt a connection to the earth beneath my feet. It was like a sixth sense awakening, allowing me to perceive the hidden depths of the ground. I focused on the area surrounding the mansion, searching for any traces of the Weeping Woman's remains.
Suddenly, a series of faint images flickered through my mind. Scattered fragments of bone, buried beneath the manicured lawn, the flower beds, and even the concrete foundation of the house itself. It was a gruesome puzzle, but I knew we had to put it together.
I opened my eyes, a newfound determination in my gaze. "I know where they are," I announced, my voice firm. "But we'll need to dig them up."
Yolan and IM exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of surprise and resolve.
"Or no..." I added, a new idea taking shape in my mind.
"What do you mean, no?" Yolan asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.
I walked towards the place where I sensed the bones, leaving the house through the entrance and heading to the backyard where there were many trees.
Arriving at the edge of the backyard, I could see numerous ghosts there, not just one. They were all perched in the trees, watching me intently.
Geez... they're all staring at me... I thought, a shiver running down my spine.
I raised my hand and commanded, "Come."
Srreak!
IM, Yolan, and Lili were shocked by the sudden movement beneath the ground.
Thud! Numerous bones emerged from the earth, flying towards my outstretched hands.
The bones, once scattered and forgotten, now assembled themselves in mid-air, forming a skeletal figure that hovered before me. The Weeping Woman's spirit materialized beside it, her translucent form shimmering in the moonlight.
"You... you found them," she whispered, her voice filled with awe and gratitude.
I nodded, gently placing the wooden box on the ground. "Rest in peace," I said softly.
The Weeping Woman's spirit flowed into the box, her form merging with the skeletal remains. The box glowed with a soft, ethereal light, then faded, leaving behind only the empty container.
Lili, her eyes filled with tears, knelt down and picked up the box. "Thank you," she said, her voice thick with emotion. "You've freed her from her torment."
I smiled sadly. "It was the least we could do," I replied. "She deserved to find peace."
We turned to leave, but the ghosts that had been watching us from the trees suddenly descended, their forms swirling around us like a silent vortex.
"Thank you," one of them whispered, its voice filled with gratitude.
"You have brought peace to this place," another added.
We nodded, a sense of fulfillment washing over us. We had not only completed our mission but also helped a lost soul find rest. It was a reminder that our powers could be used for more than just fighting and vengeance. They could also bring healing and closure.
"Alright, time to go home?" IM asked, breaking the silence.
"Yeah, we got a lot of money here, and he already confessed his guilt. We'll just wait for the news tomorrow," Yolan replied, a satisfied smile on her face.
***
Ting! Ting! Ting!
The morning alarm jolted me awake. I opened my eyes, glancing over at IM who was still asleep in the bed next to mine. I sat up on the edge of my bed and reached for my phone. It was buzzing with notifications. As I unlocked it, I saw a flood of messages and alerts, mostly from Twitter, all about the corrupt official's confession.
[Anon: I don't know how to feel but... this is kinda weird, right?]
[Anon: Lol, he's going to jail after this confession.]
[Anon: Don't care, old man, you'd better die.]
I could only shrug my shoulders. Well, it's his own fault for being corrupt. I just did my part as a hero.
Creak! The door opened.
"Xian...? Come on, let's eat. Also, wake IM up," my mother said.
I nodded and got up, walking slowly to IM's bed and kicking it.
Thud!
"Wake up," I said.
IM opened his eyes. "...Man, fuck school... I'd rather just be a Harbinger like in the old days..." he grumbled.
"Come on, I'll wait in the dining room," I replied, leaving him to get ready.
After a quick breakfast with IM, my mom, and dad, we headed out to school. The morning air was abuzz with the news of the corrupt official's downfall. As we walked through the school gates, whispers and curious glances followed us.
Monic walked past us and greeted us with a playful smile, "Morning, two handsome guys. You guys always seem to be the center of attention these days."
Both of us nodded; it had become a routine for IM and me - being popular.
"I don't really want this attention, though," I replied, feeling a bit overwhelmed.
< Chapter 134 > Fin.