"I'll go to the press and expose the dirty dealings of you and your so-called company, Jimmy! You won't get to deceive anyone again!" Derek continued confronting his boss, Jimmy.
"Hahaha! Go ahead, go ahead! Do you really think today's reporters are champions of justice? That's so naive it's laughable!" Jimmy and his burly driver burst into laughter upon hearing Derek's threat.
"I'll post about your schemes all over campus forums, revealing how you exploit students!" Derek added, trying to intimidate him.
"Derek, you'd better behave yourself! I know you have a younger sister, Emma, who's a sophomore at Cangsong Art Academy. If you dare spout nonsense online, I can't guarantee her safety! Let me tell you, my cousin runs a nightclub, and he's got plenty of enforcers—bigger and stronger than my driver here. And right now, he just happens to be short a few hostesses…" Jimmy's expression turned dark as he pointed to his tattooed driver, speaking in a menacing tone.
"If you so much as lay a finger on my sister, I'll never forgive you!" Derek shouted back in fury. He treasured his family above all else, and the thought of harm coming to Emma enraged him.
"So, let's not cross paths unnecessarily, Derek. For your sister's sake, keep your temper in check," Jimmy replied with a smug expression, convinced Derek wouldn't dare escalate things further.
"Jimmy, you've conned so many innocent students into working as free labor for you. Don't you feel the least bit guilty?" Derek shook his head. He had hoped to resolve the issue peacefully, but Jimmy's shamelessness and threats pushed him to reconsider.
"Guilty? Making money makes me happy—guilt is for the weak!" Jimmy retorted, his tone dripping with arrogance.
"You owe me three months' salary. If you don't pay me today, you'll beg to repay me several times over later. Don't say I didn't warn you," Derek said calmly, hiding his growing determination.
"Oh, such big words! Let's see how capable you are!" Jimmy sneered dismissively, watching Derek leave his office.
After discovering that Johnathon's confession of murdering his wife had gone viral thanks to Derek's anonymous upload, Derek felt a deep sense of accomplishment. The outcry of netizens had pressured the local police to reopen the case, with state-level authorities stepping in to investigate.
The thought of bringing a criminal to justice made Derek feel like a true hero. For someone who had been an ordinary, invisible cog in the world, wielding the power of his ghostly clone opened doors to righting wrongs and seeking justice.
But now, it was time to practice. Derek needed to familiarize himself with the nuances of his newfound ability to create free-form ghost realms. And who better to target than Jimmy, the shameless boss who exploited young graduates like himself?
Derek decided to create his first ghost realm in the company elevator. He remembered how Jimmy had once turned pale when the elevator malfunctioned slightly. A confined, isolated space was the perfect setting for fear.
As Derek planned, his ghostly clone interrupted, "Since this is your first free ghost realm, the Ghost Leaderboard has gifted you a special starter pack designed for elevator scares!"
"What's in it?" Derek asked eagerly.
"The gift pack contains:
Flickering Light Card: Creates a flickering effect during the 10-minute ghost realm to heighten the fear factor.
Elevator Movement Card: Allows you to manipulate the elevator to move erratically, creating psychological pressure.
Call Block Card: Blocks both cell signals and emergency calls in the elevator."
"These cards can also be redeemed later from the Ghost Leaderboard," the clone explained.
"Perfect!" Derek grinned. With these tools in hand, his ghost realm was complete.
Late that evening, Derek waited near the company, biding his time until Jimmy, who often worked late to supervise his exploited employees, prepared to leave. As Jimmy stepped into the elevator alone, Derek activated his ghost realm.
The elevator lights flickered ominously. Instead of descending, the elevator began climbing past the building's eight floors—to the ninth, the tenth, and then the fourteenth, a floor that didn't exist. Jimmy's heart pounded in terror. Just as he tried to use the emergency phone, the elevator plummeted, simulating a freefall to the ground floor.
When the doors finally opened, Jimmy thought he was safe—until the lights flickered, and a ghostly figure emerged. Pale and bloodied, it whispered chillingly, "You can't escape me."
By the time Derek ended the ghost realm, Jimmy lay unconscious on the elevator floor, a faint smell of urine in the air.
"Free ghost realm completed," the clone reported. "You gained 20 mana points, some special cards, and... a teddy bear?"
Derek smirked. It was just the beginning for Jimmy. If he didn't pay up soon, Derek had more horrors waiting. This was no longer about the money—it was about justice.