"Perhaps you could dress in red robes and dance around a bonfire, chanting prayers all night. See if that works," Avery gestured with his hand sarcastically.
"So there's nothing special," Ein concluded, disregarding the mockery.
"Not that I know of." Avery leaned back against the booth with a sly smile. "But I'll have you know, if you want to make a wish, you'll have to wait two and a half years until the next blue moon."
Ein let out a huff. "I wasn't asking for myself."
Avery feigned curiosity, placing a hand over his heart. "Oh? Then who are you asking for?"
"No one."
The ghost leaned towards Ein with a teasing tone, "Man, why are you so bad at coming up with excuses? Are you really a hitman? You're so bad at lying."
Although Ein didn't turn his head to look at Adriel, his face took on a deeply unimpressed expression. And Avery took the look as a 'screw off' hint.
"Alright, then. Keep your secrets," he said, humming a random tune as he moved on with the cleaning.
Ein's gaze flicked to the ghost yawning beside, then back to the table. Clearly, Avery didn't take this wish thing seriously. He was most likely just messing around from the start, trying to pull a reaction out of Ein.
Realistically, such a thing as paranormal wishes coming true should have either never been possible in the first place. Or, at the very least, they should have had some serious rituals or even sacrifices to be made.
Although... Ein looked back to Adriel sitting on a nearby stool, swaying left and right like a bored seaweed. Technically, they did make a sacrifice. This guy's life. Did it mean that the cost of two wishes coming true was one life?
But it was absurd. Ein hadn't consciously wished to see Luke's soul for months. So why would it come true now, out of all times? And with the wrong soul?
Adriel huffed, impatiently rattling the stool he was sitting on. "Can we go now? Avery's not telling you anything useful. Just google it later."
Ein kicked the stool to stop it from shaking, and Avery glanced back at the clatter.
"What are you throwing a tantrum for?" Avery chided. "Go home if you're not gonna help. And look over the deal. I need an answer in two days."
"Yeah, yeah," Ein murmured, standing up.
"Also get some proper rest before you go mad and rekindle your belief in Santa Claus," Avery commented, waving at him with the cleaning cloth on the way out.
Ein walked out, grumbling, "I never believed in Santa to start with."
The ghost tagged along behind him, "Me neither. If Santa was real, he'd go bankrupt after one year of purchasing millions of gifts."
"I think the part about flying reindeer pulling a sleigh that weighs tons was more unrealistic."
Adriel chuckled as they made their way towards the car, parked by the side of the road. Once Ein buckled in and started the car, the ghost turned to him in all seriousness.
"Hey, Ein, can we go to the Red Tail bar and check the surveillance cameras? To find out who tampered with my drink?"
"Is that why you were so eager to leave?" Ein shot a question back.
"Well, partly," Adriel mumbled, fiddling with his fingers. "I want to know who did it... But I also thought—what if I possess my body to meet my uncle like that? He frequents the bar."
Ein leaned back in his seat. "And then what? What will you do after you meet your uncle? You think he'll let you leave?"
Knowing his uncle wanted Adriel dead, nothing good could come out of such a meeting.
The ghost mused, "Well, I can tell him that I've developed an illness that makes my heart temporarily stop... If I put on some makeup, like blush, I could pass as a living person. So could you buy some makeup for me?"
Ein couldn't help but scoff at this half-baked idea. "Your body will eventually deteriorate and start to reek. Then what? Will you say you forgot to use deodorant?"
"Fine, putting the part about possessing my body thing aside, can we just go to the bar for now?" Adriel insisted.
"Later. I have to go home and read the file," Ein set his foot down, pulling out of the parking spot.
The ghost pressed, "Now? There's still time. You can read it tomorrow, no?"
"I have to research the target before making a decision. I won't make the same mistake again," Ein said, keeping his eyes on the road.
Adriel shifted in the passenger seat restlessly. "Then can you just reject that deal? You don't even have the time for that right now. And for how long will you live to kill anyway?"
Ein let out a long sigh, watching the ghost from the corner of is eye. "Is finding out who tampered with your drink that important to you?"
Adriel nodded, keeping up with his big sad eyes look.
"Fine." Ein gave in and turned the car around. "We'll go to the bar, take a quick look around, then go home. Does that work for you?"
"And don't forget to stop by a beauty shop on the way," the ghost commented, back to his chipper demeanor after getting his way.
Ein sent him a denying look. "I'm not buying you makeup. And you're not going to see your uncle while you're dead. That's final."
"What 'final'? You're not the boss of me," Adriel retorted, bristling up.
"I'm the one who's alive, so I'm in charge," Ein announced in a matter-of-fact tone.
The ghost shook his head. "But I'm the owner of the body, so I should have a say in this."
"No. Everyone knows you're dead by now. If you walk around freely, people will think a zombie apocalypse has started. Worst case, you end up in a lab."