Philip immediately did a U-turn after switching off his phone.Ignatius asked, "Philip, aren't we heading back?""No. The safest place for me is to be by Aria's side." Philip had it all figured out.Ignatius raised his eyebrows. "What about me?""You should go home," Philip instructed, gazing at the darkening sky. "My brother will definitely come looking for me at your place. Just tell him you don't know where I am."Ignatius hesitated. "But Mr. Carver saw you today.""He's too preoccupied dealing with Mindy to bother contacting Kenny," Philip assured him, his mind racing. "Park my car at my apartment and take a cab home. Don't waste any time."Recognizing the urgency, Ignatius nodded. "Alright. Leave it to me."Philip knew Kenny well. When Kenny's calls to Philip went unanswered, Kenny started tagging people in their group chat.However, after the incident, there was an unsettling silence from all the socialites.Despite questioning numerous acquaintances, none of them had s
Moses ignored Blake. He stood up and crushed the silver cross under his foot. "People like you just enable evil! Mark my words, you can't save him. I'll drag him down with me!"Jeeves trembled in fear. "M-Mr. Windsor, he…""Time isn't up yet, so it shouldn't harm anyone," Blake said. Everything happened for a reason. Even revenge had its timing.Blake glanced at Jeeves. "Change of plans. Tell Mr. Layne Senior to find Mr. Wagner immediately!"Without Philip, Blake wasn't sure he could save Moses.Blake had meticulously planned for everything. Now, he was thrown off balance, wondering who had forced the entity from Ignatius.He clenched his fists, his gaze intense. The vengeful spirit wasn't at its peak yet, so Blake could suppress it with his current cultivation.If no scapegoat arrived by 9:15 pm, Blake would be powerless against the intense resentment and chaotic energy.Blake kept this crucial information from Samuel, pressuring them to find Philip instead.Kenny also noti
Aria needed to be in the basement. It was the only way to understand what was truly happening.Surprisingly, the hotel's intricate geographical location safeguarded Fiona.This was unlike any situation Aria had faced before. Despite the apparent danger lurking within the hotel, she sensed something unsettling in the chaotic atmosphere. An unsettling energy that, while threatening, seemed to be keeping Fiona's sanity tethered to this place.Aria tapped away at the keyboard, utilizing specialized tools to calculate the optimal path she needed to take. Within Five Elements, there was a technique known as Acupuncture Strike. It seemed the hotel wasn't inherently problematic—just poorly designed elements contributing to a pervasive gloom.The first step to rectifying this disrupted atmosphere was thoroughly examining the basement. There had to be something hidden there that wasn't readily apparent. This was where the topaz stones became crucial.After meticulously planning her course
Aria clutched the amethyst pendant in her hand, trying to gather her thoughts.What was Mindy's role in all this? Dorothy's confident demeanor didn't seem to fit a maid's. And Owen's behavior was suspicious too.Aria never considered the possibility that Mindy might be Owen's illegitimate daughter. After all, if Mindy were Owen's biological child, the Carvers wouldn't have simply sponsored her. They would have taken her in as their daughter, replacing Aria in the family.Everything felt off.Aria recalled Warren mentioning their past support for Mindy because she was different from the other sponsored children—Mindy bore an uncanny resemblance to Aria when she was young. Aria narrowed her eyes in contemplation. Just as she was about to ask questions, wind chime-like sounds filled the room despite having none. Turning to the window, Aria noticed a shift in the hotel's atmosphere. It was an earthbound spirit. Aria tried to open the window, but it wouldn't budge. Meanwhile, Sam se
Landon coughed several times, a dry rasp that betrayed his sickly appearance. Despite his illness, he still carried himself with an air of aloof composure. The colorful bracelet on his wrist accentuated his demeanor. Despite his tall stature, his legs seemed longer in the hotel corridor, and his entire physique appeared almost out of place. "How did you even know where I was? My phone doesn't even have a signal!" Aria exclaimed, grabbing his wrist and pulling him inside. Their closeness startled Landon. The tip of his nose brushed against her hair, and a faint scent filled his nostrils if he leaned closer. Aria was surely like no other. Ever sharp, she moved with practiced precision, effectively stopping whatever was trying to enter the room.Soon, the lights flickered ominously, revealing an endless black mist behind Landon, invisible to him but clear as day to Aria. It defied logic. As far as Aria knew, Earthbound Manifestation should be an impenetrable barrier. With his u
Philip was bewildered. Did Landon just address him as Mr. Wagner?Philip felt out of place standing there. "I…""I heard you admire my fiancée and that I can't hold a candle to you." Landon coughed lightly before smiling. "I thought it was just a gossip among the commoners."Philip's expression contorted, struck by Landon's words like an arrow.Suddenly, Philip remembered his teasing remarks about Aria on Panne Street, particularly about her sharing everything with her boyfriend.He wished he could rewind time, clamp his mouth shut, and stop his own blabbering. "Mr. York, it's a misunderstanding, truly," Philip clarified. Philip figured everyone in their social circle feared Landon and that no matter what Kenny might say behind Landon's back, he'd still cower under a single glance from the man.It was an unspoken rule—everyone was fair game for comparison except Landon, who was untouchable.Landon stared at Philip, a smile playing on his lips. "It's nighttime already. Is you
Across the suite, Sam, tasked with guarding Fiona, bolted upright, his eyes gleaming with excitement.Fiona's brow furrowed. "What's gotten you so riled up?"Sam licked his lips, his gestures animated. "I'm hungry! There's a whole buffet out there, just begging to be eaten. But the boss told me to stay put and guard you."Fiona also heard the commotion coming from the living room. A hotel suite is typically spacious and should theoretically have good soundproofing. However, she could hear numerous sounds right now. It started with the tinkling of wind chimes, and now there was the sound of people running around.Thinking back, she often heard people speaking when she was asleep. When she told Owen about this, he always dismissed it as her condition worsening.Fiona also doubted herself, wondering why she could hear things others couldn't.When she saw Sam's reaction, she felt a connection. "You can hear the voices too?"Sam nodded and gestured, "A lot of them, and they're coming
Aria subconsciously checked her phone. It was exactly 9:00 pm. Earthbound spirits shouldn't appear at this hour.Narrowing her eyes, Aria looked out the window. Then, she spoke calmly. "You should get used to it and evolve your mindset to adapt."Philip was rendered speechless. Why was she telling him to evolve his mindset?Landon took a sip of his coffee and raised an eyebrow. "What are you trying to get him to evolve to?""His constitution makes him a good fit to become a psychopomp." Aria explained to a confused Philip, "They're what movies call grim reapers. You guide people to their rightful place in the afterlife, and you get paid by the underworld. Understand?" Philip's face turned pale. "I understand, but I don't think I'm cut out for that career. I don't have the guts, and it sounds dangerous.""True. I heard it's easy to get your soul sucked out if you're not careful," Aria replied seriously. "Though, I haven't actually seen a grim reaper."Philip was stunned. How cou