Chapter 187: Caretaker of Monsters (1/2)
Calvin was quick to react, just as the twin daggers revealed their cold sheens. He ducked his head and dodged the attack. Then, he kicked Old Zhong back while retreating and saying, ”What the fuck, Old Zhong, it's me! Chill! Chill! Chill!”
”Who are you?!” Old Zhong was knocked against the wooden walls of his house. His eyes were bloodshot as he growled at Calvin. He didn't seem to believe that the Calvin standing in front of him was the genuine Calvin that he had accompanied earlier to the tunnels.
”I told you already, it's me! Calvin!” Calvin didn't know whether to laugh or to cry.
”You're lying! If you're Calvin, then how did you get out of that village so fast? Even the Village Chief only managed to come out of the village after a month!” Old Zhong roared.
”Sigh...” Calvin let out a sigh, ”Then, how do I prove it to you that I am the real one?”
”I haven't heard of monsters that can steal the memories of the deceased. In that case, tell me everything that happened before I left you in the tunnels. If you're the real Calvin, then this shouldn't pose a problem. If you're not, then lay down your life! How dare you try to pretend that you're a human being in front of me? Monster!” Old Zhong cried out.
Calvin awkwardly scratched his head and he didn't protest any further. It was because he could see that Old Zhong was serious. Calvin couldn't afford to offend this so-called King of Burst. If he did, then he might find his head rolling on the ground the next moment.
Having made a decision, Calvin started his spiel and told Old Zhong every detail that he could remember as to what had happened earlier.
It didn't take long for Old Zhong to be convinced.
”Calvin...”
”Yeah? Now, do you believe that it's me?”
”You're alive... Wonderful, I didn't expect that you'd come back so fast!” Old Zhong gave Calvin a hug.
The latter wanted to avoid the hug at first, but Old Zhong's movements were faster than he had expected. Before he knew it, he was already wrapped around the arms of Old Zhong.
”All right, all right, I understand that you're relieved to find me alive, but can you not hug me so tight?”
”Ah, my apologies...” Old Zhong dryly laughed as he took a step backward.
Old Zhong noticed that Calvin was alone. His expression turned serious and he couldn't help but ask, ”Where are the others?”
”They're dead...” Calvin let out a deep sigh.
But before Old Zhong could react, Calvin beamed into a smile and added, ”Nah, they're still alive. I just came back because I need someone to accompany me back to the Village of Tulog.”
”What?” Old Zhong was floored. He became confused, ”Are they dead or what?”
”They are still alive. I was just kidding with you.”
”Oh...” Old Zhong didn't know what to say. But he was relieved that Ricardo and Heisenberg were still alive, ”What did you say again? You came back because you need to drag someone with you back to the Village of Tulog?”
”Yup.” Calvin smiled, ”You see, my friends are alive, but they are being held hostage by a vengeful ghost who demands the presence of her lover so that she could move on.”
”What?!” Old Zhong was startled, ”Are you saying that you're going to sacrifice one of us to that vengeful ghost, so you can ensure the safety of your friends?! No, no, no... I cannot let you do that at all costs. Who are you to sacrifice my fellow villagers?”
Calvin hurriedly shook his head, ”No, you misunderstood me, Old Zhong. I am not out here to sacrifice anyone. Remember that I'm a member of one of the three Judiciaries serving under the Church of the three Orthodox Gods...”
”Why would I sacrifice anyone? In fact, I wouldn't even come back here if I can't ensure the safety of that person under the presence of that vengeful ghost!”
”I see...” Old Zhong calmed down significantly after hearing Calvin's words. He trusted every member of the three Judiciaries as a devotee of the Goddess of Compassion and Light, ”Who is that person that you're after? If he's really in this village, then I can convince him to come with you. Despite looking like this, I still hold quite the authority, you see?”
”Ah, right...” Calvin nodded his head, ”I'm looking for a man whose name is Presto. Can you convince him to come with me?”
”What?” Old Zhong's pupils constricted, ”Say that again?”
”I'm looking for someone named Presto.”
”Presto?”
”Yeah...”
”Shit. Your friends are going to die.” Old Zhong's figure shook as he was quite rattled by what he had heard.
”What are you talking about? Could it be that the young man's already dead?” Calvin asked.
”Yeah... He's dead. He killed himself the next morning after we discovered some parts of clothing that belonged to Freya.”
Old Zhong rubbed his glabella, ”Speaking of Freya.... what a pitiful young lass. To think that she would become a vengeful ghost. Unfortunately, her lover is already dead... what should we do now? Can we still rescue your friends with the bones of Presto?”
”The bones of Presto?” Calvin's expression changed, ”You have his bones?”
”Of course, not!” Old Zhong snorted, ”Joselian traditions say that one must be buried under the shade of one's favorite tree. Unfortunately, Presto's favorite tree unexpectedly withered the moment he died so we have no choice but to bury him under the favorite tree of his lover so that we are comforted that both of them can be lovers once more in their next lives.”
”I see...” Calvin nodded his head, ”Can you bring me to the bones of Presto? It's in the middle of the night, so we should be able to retrieve his bones without letting anyone notice what we are doing.”