Chapter 43 (1/2)
The stocky bloke on TV looked about forty to fifty odd, Hao Ren guessed. He was a proprietor of a small inn, living on the edge of Brewshire. The local, named Angus, had encountered supernatural happenings in the ruins and had spread the news to attract visitors. His decent and honest guise was a perfect cover, seeing that he was a business-minded man.
Hao Ren was so engrossed with the interview that he did not noticed Lily who was scratching him with her claws. The werewolf couldn’t understand a single word and was close to throwing a tantrum.
“….I was clearing the room on the second floor that night,” Mr Angus’ face was flushed as red as a tomato on camera. His excitement was apparent as he narrated his supernatural encounters. The popularity of his inn has grown following the supernatural ruckus. To him, this is nothing but good news. “My inn is just on the edge of the town, ‘Angus’ Lodge’ is the first building you’ll see if you are coming in from the highway. There are windows at the back of the inn directly facing the castle ruins. It is still a mighty distance away, so you can’t really see the rocks. But that night, I saw a pillar of flame in the general direction of the ruins. There’s nothing there, no trees nor houses, just a pile of rocks. Since I did not know what was it that actually caught fire, I gave 999 a dial…”
“Did many saw the pillar of flame?” The interviewer interrupted to refocus on the topic at hand. The man was very eager to stay on camera and would have gone on had she not stopped him.
“Oh yes, yes. The part of the town facing the ruins was lit up.” Mr Angus nodded. “I even checked with the others around when it happened again the day after. It lit up for a good ten minutes or so and before vanishing, as though it was never there. The Fire Service had went through the area and found only barren rocks in that vicinity. I’m very sure I did not make a prank call. I’m an honest business man you see, ‘Angus’ Lodge’ is a long and proud product of honest…”
“I heard that you drove up to check the place out?” The lady interviewer interjected.
“Yes, I sure did, many times, even during the nights.” Fear crept on his face. “During which I ran into some ghastly incidents. There was once this soldier in full steel armour marched in front of my car, screaming in a very strange voice. Other times the engine died for no reason, the radio played some very strange noise… They’re the most horrifying encounters.”
The interviewer turned back towards the camera with her microphone. “The supernatural tales of Brewshire had since spread far and wide, attracting many adventurers and supernatural enthusiasts to this town even catching the attention and interest of a few electromagnetic and geological researchers…”
Hao Ren’s interest in the show had faded by then. It’s pretty much a show that exhort the curiosity of science and one that myth of the supernatural realm. He switched off the TV and sat in a stupor.
Lily had pretty much lost her patience and was throwing a tantrum. She jumped onto the sofa and violently nudged Hao Ren’s shoulders. “Mr Landlord, Mr Landlord, what was she talking about!?”
“… I’m afraid our ‘new friend’… is probably a ghost” Hao Ren said heavily. “Remember the disturbance in a castle ruins that Mr Nangong was talking about? It was the same as the one on the television show. If this is not something the locals cooked up to bring in tourists, it’s definitely something connected to the ‘new guy’ Raven12345 talked about. My god, why does it have to be someone so troublesome..”
Vivian did not understand what’s being said on TV, but she caught glimpses of what was on the screen and surmised. “Wait a minute…, that means that the Yorkford castle ruins will be swarming with people, most of which are looking for ghosts?”
“Yeap, that just complicates things…” Hao Ren sighed. “If I could help it I would love to do without the unnecessary attention. Who knows if this new guy will play nice, like the both of you. Good grieves… if this guy turns out to be a bloody brat, it will surely get messy.”
Lily was squatting on the sofa for a good while now and with a loud clap, declared “I’m sleepy. Gonna go take a nap now.”