Chapter 27: Infinite Ghosts

The ghost infant was busy.

After delivering its killing intent, it turned its head and drifted into the cell, wanting to try pulling the shikigami off the imprisoned son's leg.

While it was struggling...

...

Jiang Xia tidied up the cigarette box that had soaked up the killing intent and looked at the two first-graders beside him.

Conan was still clutching his neck and coughing—that white-haired old lady's grip had been quite heavy.

Ayumi patted his back, and after finishing, she turned her head to steal a glance at Jiang Xia.

When Jiang Xia met her eyes, he asked casually, "Are you okay?"

"I-I'm fine!" Ayumi answered loudly.

After speaking, she gave Jiang Xia a hesitant look. Following the convention of being rescued in TV dramas, she felt she should give him a little peck on the cheek to express her gratitude—look, this big brother had even gone so far as to crouch down. His savior was giving such an obvious hint...

Ayumi thus leaned in expectantly, debating whether to kiss his left or right cheek, while whispering with a blushing face, "Thank y..."

Before she could make contact, a hand suddenly landed on her shoulder from behind, blocking her.

Conan advised with a weary expression, "Don't kiss him."

...Combining his past experience, if she went through with it, she’d likely end up kissing a mop.

And he'd be the one blamed with a weird reputation afterward.

Besides, Ayumi had already been through enough scares today. If she suddenly experienced a blow from an ally, she might just burst into tears.

Jiang Xia certainly wouldn't bother with a crying child.

If that happened, he'd be the one who had to comfort her...

...

Ayumi was unaware of the truth.

She looked at Conan with pleasant surprise, guessing he was jealous. She began to seriously agonize over whether to choose her savior who had descended from the heavens or her long-time classmate.

Just then, a series of footsteps echoed through the passage.

The police had found the dungeon.

...

Inspector Megure walked in with several subordinates, and upon seeing the scene inside, he stopped in shock.

...In a society ruled by law, someone had actually built a private prison right under their noses.

Absurd. It was utterly absurd.

Looking at the disheveled and miserable citizen in the cell, Inspector Megure felt quite guilty. He walked over with concern, intending to offer some words of comfort.

To his surprise, the "victim" inside saw the police and suddenly lunged toward the bars like a tiger, crying out in joy, "Let me out! I want to turn myself in!"

Inspector Megure: "...Turn yourself in?"

...

As soon as those words were uttered, the shikigami clinging to the son's leg suddenly let go.

The ghost infant had been huffing and puffing while trying to pull the shikigami's leg; once the shikigami released its strength, the two ghosts tumbled into a heap and landed on the floor with a thud.

The ghost infant froze for a moment.

A moment later, it regained its senses and happily dragged the shikigami back to Jiang Xia's side, handing over the newly caught ghost.

At the same time, it looked longingly at the cigarette box in Jiang Xia's hand.

Having made an unexpected gain, Jiang Xia was in a good mood.

He opened the cigarette box, tapped out a piece of ghost mint, and prepared to light the killing intent to celebrate.

Just as he was about to light it, a hand suddenly reached out from the side, heading straight for his cigarette.

Jiang Xia instinctively raised his hand to dodge and looked to the side.

The person attempting to snatch the cigarette was actually a police officer.

Officer Sato frowned slightly. "Smoking in high school? What will happen to your lungs when you grow up? Where did you get these cigarettes?"

According to regulations, the sale of tobacco and alcohol to minors is prohibited anywhere. If he had stolen them from home... then it would be necessary to have a talk with his parents.

Facing her sharp gaze, Jiang Xia sighed silently in his heart.

For a long time, in Jiang Xia's impression, eighteen was the age of adulthood.

Who knew that in this place, he was suddenly two years short.

With a police officer blocking him, Jiang Xia had no choice but to tuck the cigarette into his sleeve under the ghost infant's tearful gaze and explain, "I don't smoke. I just like the charred aroma when a cigarette is first lit; it helps me think."

Beside him, Conan's eyelid twitched.

He remembered the last time they rescued that kidnapped little girl, Jiang Xia hadn't just lit a cigarette, but had finished the whole thing in no time.

Moreover, now that the culprits were caught, there was absolutely no need for anything to "help him think."

The police wouldn't believe Jiang Xia's nonsense.

Just as Conan was thinking this, he saw Miwako Sato nod. "So that's how it is."

Conan: "...?"

...

Officer Sato didn't judge people solely by their appearance.

Her main reasoning was that there were significant differences between long-term smokers and non-smokers.

And Jiang Xia—whether it was the color of his teeth, the appearance of his fingers, or his scent—did not possess the characteristics of a habitual smoker.

Furthermore... furthermore, Jiang Xia did look very sincere, possessing an inexplicable sense of approachability that made people want to believe him.

...

After seeing the police off and stowing away his new shikigami, Jiang Xia returned to the logistics company to finish his shift.

...

The next day, after waking up, he sat in a daze for a while, reminiscing about the grand scene in his dream where he raised his arm and a hundred ghosts responded to his call.

Then, he pressed the tattoo on his chest and released all the ghosts and shikigami sealed within.

Four ghosts lined up on the quilt in order. One ghost infant and three shikigami.

The shikigami were quite obedient, spreading out on the quilt like actual pieces of paper, motionless.

The ghost infant looked around in confusion, habitually trying to lean against Jiang Xia.

It was then ruthlessly pressed back onto the quilt to force it into line.

After arranging the ghosts, Jiang Xia pointed at them one by one: 1, 2, 3, 4.

...Only four.

He counted them again: 1, 2, 3, 4.

Still only this many.

...The dream was better.

Resting his chin on his hand, Jiang Xia let out a long, melancholy sigh

I wonder if I can pick up where that dream left off if I lie down for a nap right now.

...

On the quilt, the ghost infant stared at Jiang Xia's fingertip, lost in thought.

At this time, Jiang Xia began his third bored count: 1, 2, 3, 4...

This time, after being counted, the ghost infant quickly rolled a few times and moved to the end of the line.

Jiang Xia's counting finger stopped on its head: "...5."

It barely made a round number.

Both human and ghost were satisfied.

The ghost infant obediently rubbed its hands together, then looked at the cigarette box by Jiang Xia's pillow with longing eyes.

Jiang Xia tapped out one, twirled it between his fingers, but didn't light it

"It's not very convenient to keep calling you 'you, you, you.' How about I give you a name?"

Ghost infant: "..."

Recalling the names Jiang Xia had given his precious potted plants, the ghost infant didn't just want to shake its head; it wanted to run.

...But Jiang Xia was currently holding its food.

The ghost infant bit its finger, agonized for a long time, and then nodded with a sense of endurance.

Jiang Xia was very satisfied with its cooperation: "Let's call you Xiao Bai (Little White)."

The ghost infant felt a subtle sense of relief.

It was a bit simple, but at least it wasn't something like Cat-egg, Dog-egg, Pig-ear, or Green-comb...

...

Thus, when Jiang Xia called it "Xiao Bai," it responded very cooperatively.

Jiang Xia patted its head with satisfaction, got out of bed, walked to the table, and lit the ghost mint.

While Xiao Bai was happily inhaling the ghost mint,

Jiang Xia recalled the shikigami on the bed into his tattoo, preparing to tidy up and head to the agency for work.

Just then, the doorbell suddenly rang.

Jiang Xia was startled. He walked over and opened the door, finding a delivery.

Jiang Xia: "..."

He hadn't shopped online recently, and no one usually sent him anything.

Only Sherry and her sister would occasionally send some homemade health supplements.

Thinking of this, Jiang Xia reached out to take the package.

As before, the sender field was marked with an "S," the first letter of Sherry's English name.