Free Web NovelChapter 90: Chapter 8: Foreign Ghost Hunting Squad
The white mercenary who appeared in the hallway was dressed like a true professional. His submachine gun was fitted with a dark red, consecrated attachment, designed to fire blessed bullets at targets that weren’t ordinary humans. His goggles also had a special tracking function, allowing him to see high-energy substances invisible to the naked eye. Under certain conditions, they could even block the user’s vision to prevent them from seeing things that could drive a person instantly mad.
Gao Tian made a simple assessment.
This was a Ghost Hunter from abroad.
Supernatural events were erupting all over the world, not just in Xia Country. Foreigners were people, too, and they died just the same when they encountered ghosts. It was only natural that corresponding professionals and organizations would emerge there to deal with such things.
Based on what the white mercenary said, this hallway was likely a sealed-off area within some supernatural event in North America. Their team had someone named Nancy who could create a spatial passage to lead the entire squad out of this sealed space.
For some unknown reason, however, the endpoint of the spatial passage had been misplaced. It wasn’t in California, but on the eleventh floor of Jin Hai Mansion in Shanghai, thousands of miles away. This was also why Wang Wenbo and the others had seen this suddenly appearing, mysterious staircase and thought it was some kind of supernatural phenomenon.
’There must have been some kind of vengeful ghost, or an incomprehensible creature, living in this hallway originally. Who knows where it is now.’
Hearing the Wind Attendant Buddha’s account, the white mercenary slowly lowered his submachine gun, though his eyes remained full of vigilance, watching the Wind Puppet’s every move.
He continued to press in English:
"What city is this?"
Gao Tian replied:
"Shanghai.
"It seems the Miss Nancy on your team has a terrible sense of direction.
"That’s a pretty big deviation. To get coordinates wrong all the way from California, United States, to Shanghai, Xia Country."
The misunderstanding between them partially cleared up. The mercenary, who had been in a state of extreme tension and excitement, relaxed slightly after learning he was dealing with a human.
"My name is Bruce.
"Was that person who came up earlier your accomplice?"
Gao Tian knew he was referring to Xiaoliu, the security guard.
"No, just an ordinary person.
"Your targeting error dragged him into a supernatural event he never should have been involved in. He’s stuck at the top of the stairs, and he’s having a mental breakdown.
"I plan to take him away with me when I go back down."
Bruce let out a soft chuckle, his tone dripping with disdain for Gao Tian’s words.
"This is the Tower of Resentment (Spire of Bitterness). Once an ordinary person comes in, they can forget about ever leaving in this lifetime.
"If your friend wants to leave here, let alone sue us for medical expenses and psychological damages, he first needs to make it out of here alive."
He didn’t want to waste time on ordinary humans. By comparison, Bruce was far more interested in Gao Tian’s "superpowers."
"Are you a Mage? Or some kind of psychic? How else can you command the Wind Element to fight for you?
"I’ve never seen an ability like this. Captain Aurora would love it.
"Your control over the Wind Element is perfect for exploring the Tower of Resentment. Have you considered joining our squad? The compensation is excellent."
In the distance, the terrifying shriek of a woman rang out again. It sounded like countless fingernails scraping across a metal panel, sending goosebumps crawling up one’s skin.
Gao Tian countered with his own question:
"What is this ’Tower of Resentment’?
"How long will your passage remain here? You’re sure no monsters from this hallway will rush out and wreak havoc on Shanghai, are you?"
Bruce turned his head and spoke with a smile to a new figure who had appeared in the hallway.
"This rookie really doesn’t know anything. Forget it, Nancy, you explain it to him."
This time, it was no longer Bruce who answered his question. A tall, blonde, blue-eyed woman slowly walked out from around the corner, smiling as she explained to Gao Tian:
"After the supernatural resurgence, a large number of ’Haunted Houses’ appeared in the United States. Each one serves as a container for supernatural beings that defy scientific explanation.
"Once targeted by a Haunted House, an ordinary person is doomed, left with no choice but to await death. But for mercenaries like us, these Haunted Houses also hide immense fortunes—riches unimaginable to humanity before this new era."
Lan Chu had mentioned these so-called Haunted Houses when she flew back from the United States.
She had provoked two of them while she was in the U.S. One was called the "Corridor of Final Silence," which was similar in nature to the Living Human Apartment. Every so often, victims were required to attend a dinner at a designated location. Residents who refused were forcibly hanged within the Haunted House.
’This so-called Tower of Resentment must be a similar type of Haunted House.’
The blonde beauty named Nancy looked at the Wind Attendant Buddha’s body, formed entirely of wind, with great interest in her eyes. She continued her explanation:
"The biggest difference between the Tower and other Haunted Houses is that it’s composed of numerous, completely sealed secret spaces. Once you enter any of these spaces, an ordinary person can never leave for the rest of their life.
"So, any players who enter the Tower must have special abilities. They need to be able to create passages, wormholes, teleport, or open doors—whatever you call it, they must have their own way out.
"This also means the barrier to entry for the Tower is extremely high. Ordinary Ghost Hunters aren’t qualified to come here. For them, it’s a one-way trip to their death, to say nothing of mortals."
That explained why Bruce and his team were so eager to invite him to join their squad the moment they saw his Wind Attendant Buddha.
The Wind Puppet’s ability was extremely unique and perfectly suited for the Tower. After entering a sealed space, one only needed to focus on completing the mission without ever having to worry about how to retreat.
"Seriously, you should consider joining our team.
"The squad’s rewards are incredibly generous. Every floor of the Tower contains things that some very important people need. All we have to do is accept the mission, retrieve the items from the Tower for those corporate tycoons, and we can earn more wealth than we could spend in a lifetime.
"Mansions, supercars, yachts—anything you want.
"Our team is also very diverse. As long as someone is capable, we welcome them, no matter which country or region they’re from.
"If you’re willing, I’m sure you’ll get along great with chen and Mr. Mutou. After all, you all come from the same culture.
"After all this talk, what’s your name, our friend from Xia Country?"
Faced with the dual recruitment pitch from Nancy and Bruce, Gao Tian showed little reaction, neither accepting nor refusing.
"My name is Gao Tian. You can call me Gao.
"What exactly is at the end of the hallway? That woman’s voice is getting louder. Are you sure the members of your squad have cleaned things up?"
’I’m already burdened with a Living Human Apartment; that’s more than enough trouble for me.’ He had no interest in joining some other Haunted House for the time being.
Bruce smiled and walked toward Gao Tian at a leisurely pace.
"Mr. Gao, I must say, you’re an exceptional person, but you have one very bad habit.
"You ask too many questions.
"This is just an abandoned mental hospital, and inside is a mad widow who was locked in the depths of the electroshock therapy room over fifty years ago and forgotten by everyone.
"Who knows what she’s survived on for the past fifty-plus years, still wearing that iron chain around her neck. That madwoman’s body has undergone some kind of mutation. She’s unharmed even when riddled with bullets. If her head and limbs are severed, they regenerate instantly.
"Of course, no need to worry, Mr. Gao. Everything is under control.
"Our Watcher Squad has been in and out of far more terrifying Tower spaces and has dealt with much tougher enemies. A madwoman of this level is nothing, not even worth mentioning. She’s already been contained by two of my teammates."
’Isn’t this woman just a ghost?’ Gao Tian thought.
Ghosts were immortal. Machine gun fire could, at best, suppress her for a while, but it could never truly kill a ghost.
Moreover, every ghost had its own unique way of killing. This "madwoman" just hadn’t revealed hers yet. If Bruce maintained such an arrogant attitude, trouble was bound to happen soon.
Nancy said smugly:
"The item that ’Mr. Old’ commissioned us to retrieve has almost been secured by our teammates. All we have to do now is wait here for our partners to regroup, then leave through the passage. The mission will be over.
"Mr. Gao, I’m afraid your friend can’t leave this staircase. That’s because the staircase was prepared for the Watcher Squad’s retreat. If an ordinary person steps onto it, it will just become an infinitely looping staircase with an ’up’ but no ’down’."
Bruce glanced at his watch with a puzzled look.
"How much longer until your passage closes, Nancy?"
Nancy replied:
"There’s still plenty of time. An hour."
She added playfully,
"But, if I get killed, the passage will turn into a normal staircase and collapse completely within two minutes.
"May God protect me and not let that happen."
A flicker of surprise crossed Bruce’s face.
"Strange. It’s been almost five minutes. Why haven’t Joe and the others come over yet?
"Didn’t they signal us earlier to open the passage and prepare to leave this godforsaken place?
"Could it be they ran into some unexpected trouble on their way from the other hallway?"
Nancy said:
"It’s only been five minutes. Don’t be so anxious. Patience is a virtue.
"If they really ran into something they can’t handle in that electroshock therapy room, they’ll fire a flare to call us over."
In the distance, the woman’s screaming began to sound off. It was clearly getting closer to their position.
Bruce was a veteran mercenary who had faced death many times, and he was extremely cautious.
"Something’s not right here. I’m not waiting for those two idiots. I’m leaving through the staircase now."
Nancy refused to leave, though not out of concern for her companions’ lives, of course.
"We haven’t gotten Mr. Old’s item yet. We can’t go!"
Just as the two were arguing, Gao Tian’s Wind Attendant Buddha couldn’t help but interject:
"Um...
"You two might want to look at what that... thing... running down the hallway behind you is.
"Is that one of your companions?"
