The Ghost' Story

Chapter 9

“It will not be an easy task. However, I must find an opportunity to spy on this enigmatic elder to learn more about Daddy and Jason’s past.”

Selina walks outside the Black Circle, relying solely on her luck. With the hope of seeing the enigmatic elder there. She considers returning to the same hiding area she used the day before to watch for Shadow’s activity, which could lead her to the man she had hoped to see again.

‘Even Shadow, a one-of-a-kind assassin, can make mistakes, and I should be patient to see it.’

Selina merges in with her surroundings in an instant, listening to any kind of talk and waiting for even the tiniest movement of Shadow.

***

Shadow, who is reporting to the elder in his hideout, has already picked up on Selina’s presence.

“Does she happen to be someone on our target list, Shadow?”

“She was elder, before Light and I killed her in response to the Black Circle’s statement.”

“How come she’s still alive if you and that unpleasant person have both hunted her down?”

“Forgive me elder, but that is also a question. I’d like to know the answer to that as well.”

Stomping sounds are approaching the room where both the elder and Shadow are residing. Another man dressed in a dark green mantle appears and enters the room. 

“Mon ami Joan, she is my daughter!”

The joy that is reflected on both Joan and Shadow’s faces as they see this man is palpable. “Mon ami, Gary! I must say I am delighted to see you here.” Joan responded as he approached him for a handshake.

“Master Gary,” Shadow says, with a small bend of his head.

“Shadow! You look as rigid as ever, I see,” Greets Gary, with a slight smile. “But I am glad to see you in person.”

Despite Gary’s kind greeting, Shadow does not dare lift his head and gaze into his master’s eyes.

‘Will my life come to an end here if Master Gary discovers that I attempted to murder his daughter?’

“I could be able to give you an answer to your curiosity, Joan.”

“But first and foremost, Gary, you must make yourself comfortable. I’d like you to have a seat.” Joan begs. 

Joan and Gary sit side by side in a happy mood. Shadow, on the other hand, is an outlier. He continues to bow his head to Gary.

Joan becomes agitated when he switches his gaze to Shadow. “Shadow, why are you the only one standing when Gary and I are putting our lower bodies on the sofa?”

Gary is looking at Joan with admiration at how his old friend remained the same as in the old days, then he speaks to Shadow, “You don’t have to be concerned about me, Shadow. Despite my desire to kill you, the fact that you didn’t know that Selina was my daughter was enough to earn my mercy. So, I ask you to raise your head and follow Joan’s words.”

 Shadow’s heart has been touched by a sliver of relief, prompting him to be less careful and follow Gary’s command to sit, as elder Joan instructed. Joan, on the other hand, is interested in learning the truth about Selina, who is his close friend’s daughter.

“Now, I will answer your question about how Selina has managed to stay alive. The answer is that someone was coincidentally passing by and decided to take her with him.” 

“I more interested in something else instead of that, if I may ask, is Selina Hayes really your biological daughter? There is no harm in my question, but we are both aware that the rest of the elders could resort to apprehending plans such as making up something like this.” 

“She is my pride and joy, Joan. No matter how long it has been, I will never forget the angel face of my daughter. N'est ce pas comme ça, Joan?”

Joan cannot help but laugh to his heart’s content at his friend’s hilarious tease, “Ahahaha! Gary, your teasing talents haven’t deteriorated in ten years. You are right, even if I went blind, I’m confident I’d identify my children by their voices as parents.”

Both guys are laughing and reminiscing, leaving Shadow to do his best to keep his curiosity hidden.

“Now, Joan, do you think we should pay attention to Shadow’s question this time? Based on his disturbed expression, there are a lot of things he wants to know.”

Shadow’s face turns pale, and his eyes widen from Gary’s sharp intuition. “Master Gary, if you are watching all this time, why didn’t you order me to save Selina Hayes?”

“Because I’ve been waiting ten years for the opportunity to take everything back, and I can’t risk ruining everything just to give you this one thing. That is also the purpose of your affiliation with Black Circle, for you to become my source of information about Raisen and Jason.”

“Forgive me Master, but Jason Hayes was killed by my poison dart. How could he still be alive?” Shadow objects to his master’s response. “Furthermore, elder Raisen has utilized his body to entice Selina.” 

“I’m interested in listening to the same explanation. Gary, please give us more details to understand your assumption.” Joan begged.

Gary simply leans back on the couch and smiles instead of reacting to Shadow’s argument. “Did you personally examine Jason’s body after your dart hit him, Shadow?”

Shadow fumbles with his hands and hesitates to respond to his master’s query. “No, Master, both Light and I immediately left to avoid any suspicion and proceeded to meet elder Raisen,” Shadow explained.

“As someone who has known Raisen and Jason for a long time, I could say they are so similar to each other. The two of them will go to any length to achieve their goals. Whether it is under contract to control people, killing everyone who gets in their way, or even deceiving people by feigning death, it’s all part of the game.”

“Gary, are you perhaps suspecting your own brother was the one who caused your accident ten years ago?”

Gary’s facial expression, which is going into a pause from Joan’s question, is pouring intense anger, as Joan and Shadow can see.

“It seems like it was yesterday that my daughter and I were in a vehicle accident. In the blink of an eye, Jason’s visage appeared behind the wheel of the car that was crashing into us on purpose. Joan, I’m not suspecting my brother; I’m telling you the truth. “

“Mon ami, you have lost practically all of the memories you had when I found you the first time. Maybe you mistook Jason for the assassin who tried to kill you together with your daughter ten years ago.”

“You are correct, Joan; not even Selina and Catherine’s faces. Back then, I couldn’t even recall my name. However, there was a small girl who was disappointed because she couldn’t see pandas, which brought back all those memories for me. The truth that Jason had attempted to murder me was difficult for me to accept until the traces of our quarrel were discovered. “

“Gary, as far as I know, you and Jason have never quarreled. What was the reason behind your feud with Jason to make you so sure that he was the one responsible for your current shambles?”

“Raisen is the source of the problem. With an offer to become an elder, she has turned Jason into her toy. Her invitation came with one stipulation: I had to join Jason under the pseudonym of elder Light and Shadow as well.”

Joan’s face has turned as red as a ripe tomato as her rage has grown. He had expected Raisen to become involved in his friend’s accident, but he had not expected her to make his younger brother dirty his hands for a position in the Black Circle. 

“My condolences, mon ami Gary, on hearing such a story from a respectable person like yourself who longed for the same thing as the Brainer family; that is, to leave Black Circle.”

“My experience is nothing similar to the Brainer family’s, Joan,” Gary sighs deeply before replying to Joan’s empathy.

Joan ponders, “What do you mean?”

“I believe you are by now familiar with the name Axel Brainer, the Brainer family’s youngest kid.”

“I am, but what does Axel Brainer have to do with-”

Gary does not wait for his friend to finish his question before responding. “Under Jason’s order to investigate the administrator he has exiled from the Black Circle, like yourself, my daughter Selina has killed his older sister Jasmine Brainer.”

Joan jumps off the couch in disbelief when she learns that one of the Brainers has been murdered by his friend’s daughter.

“Do you have any idea what’s going on here, Shadow? Do you know why Jasmine Brainer was on the list of people who should be eliminated? ANSWER MY QUESTION!!” Joan was outraged.

“Forgive me, elder Joan, I didn’t have that information,” Shadow says, with remorse in his voice.

“Don’t blame him, Joan. Jason was the one who came up with the idea. He’s been secretly chasing down the four of you because he thinks Raisen is plotting to depose him from his position as Owner.”

“Gary, why didn’t you stop Selina from killing the Brainer family’s eldest daughter?”

Gary is well aware of his old friend’s fury. It is understandable, given Joan’s friendship with the Brainer family and their mutual assistance.

“I’ll take you to see her when the time is suitable. Right now, I need you to allow yourself to be followed by Selina, allowing her to free her mind and no longer be manipulated by Jason or Raisen.”

“Gary, are you indicating the possibility that Jasmine Brainer may have managed to avoid her death?”