I'm just in a bad mood and needed to vent
After the little girl left, the atmosphere in the restaurant remained tense.
The patrons all turned their eyes toward the staircase leading to the second floor.
Soon, a bandaged ghost descended the stairs, holding in its hand a head that was bloody and lifeless, clearly belonging to another ghost from the second floor.
As it made its way down, the only sound in the restaurant was the echo of its footsteps, with the customers keeping their distance.
Passing by John, the bandaged ghost suddenly stopped and handed him a card.
"My lord says, if you need anything, you can find her here."
John took the card, which featured a black and gold rose, bewitching and spectral!
Below it was an address, and nothing more.
When he looked up again, the bandaged ghost had vanished.
The restaurant seemed accustomed to such occurrences and quickly returned to normal, with the customers soon acting as if nothing had happened and happily continuing their meals.
"John, are you okay?" Jessica hurried over, grabbing John and asking with concern.
"It's just a minor incident, did you see me panic?"
"But, your pants are wet..."
"That's just some soup I accidentally spilled."
Soon, the sound of the bell signaling the end of the restaurant's business hours rang.
The patrons of the restaurant gradually stood up and left one after another.
After the restaurant emptied, a puppet entered.
It first commented on Jessica's performance for the day, then gave her two 100 ghost Coins.
Then, turning to John: "Your performance today was subpar, so no reward for you."
"And because of you, the restaurant suffered considerable losses, so you'll be punished accordingly!"
John's face darkened upon hearing this.
No reward was one thing.
But a punishment?
"The first table's customers were satisfied with my cooking," John said.
"But the second table was a complete disaster," the puppet said.
"That ghost wasn't planning to eat my cooking; it wanted to eat me. So, no matter how well I cooked, it would never have been satisfied!" John argued.
"Regardless, you've caused losses to the restaurant, so tomorrow I will announce your punishment. Go home and rest well!"
After saying this, the puppet left. But at the corner, it left behind one more remark.
"And remember, you are an employee of the restaurant, as well as vermin. Know your place!"
This last sentence was clearly meant as a warning.
John's face was somber, and though he said nothing, his frustration reached a peak.
Damn it!
When I'm capable, I'll buy this restaurant and turn that puppet into firewood!
"John, cheer up. I'll treat you to something today. Eat whatever you want," Jessica said, holding two ghost Coins, trying to lift John's spirits.
John waved his hand dismissively: "No need for you to treat, someone will invite me."
Jessica was puzzled.
Apart from the two of them, who else was there?
John walked out of the restaurant and headed straight for the vending machine in the hallway.
Last time, after being savagely attacked by John's chainsaw, the vending machine had almost completely healed itself overnight.
However—
John approached without a word, pulled out a Bloodied Bone Mallet, and started smashing furiously.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Glass shattered, metal dented, fragments scattered!
The vending machine ghost roared in anger: "You damn fool, what have I done to you now? What are you going insane for?!"
"You haven't done anything to me, I'm just in a bad mood and needed to vent."
"Thanks, old pal!"
After saying this, John started smashing again, releasing all the pent-up frustration within him.
"Oh, shit! Your bad mood is none of my business!"
"You think I'm easy to bully, huh? If you don't stop, I won't be so polite anymore!"
The vending machine ghost attempted to retaliate but was kicked back into the corner by John, continuing to take the beating quietly.
"This human, his ghost strength has increased again!" the vending machine ghost realized in horror, now completely no match for John.
Facing the destruction of his own body, the vending machine ghost was both angry and helpless.
Who could have imagined that just three days ago, the vending machine ghost could tease John like a vermin!
5 minutes later.
Having vented his frustrations, John felt much better. He put away the Bloodied Bone Mallet, sat down on the ground, and wiped the sweat off his forehead.
He patted the battered vending machine and said, "My arms are sore from all the smashing, give me a bottle of water, I'm really thirsty!"
This request nearly drove the vending machine ghost mad.
Ah!!
This was simply too much bullying of a ghost!!
After drinking a bottle of water, John went to bed early.
The puppet said the punishment would be announced tomorrow, and judging by his guess, it was definitely related to tomorrow's work.
Regardless, it wasn't going to be easy for him!
With the worst expectations, John fell asleep.
The next morning.
The alarm clock ghost doll's terrifying scream woke John up.
Just as he got up, he noticed Jessica was already awake, looking somewhat worn out: "Didn't you sleep last night?"
"I didn't sleep well. I had a nightmare... I dreamed that you died outside today, and I was left alone in the dormitory," Jessica said, hugging her knees.
She didn't do this because she had fallen for John.
In this terrifying, isolated world, John had become her only support and her pillar of strength.
"You must have also had trouble sleeping, right? After all, that puppet is going to punish you today," Jessica said.
It was like the last night of a death row inmate; who could sleep?
"Not at all, I slept pretty well," John stretched lazily.
"..."
At that moment, someone knocked on the door.
John got up to open it. There was no one outside, but looking down, he saw it was the puppet.
"Let's go."
"Where to?"
"You just need to follow me." The puppet was very direct and turned to leave.
Jessica hid behind, biting her lip.
John nodded at her, said nothing more, and followed.
He was also very nervous.
The trouble he caused yesterday was indeed significant, but the main conflict was not on him.
John then understood.
They just needed someone to blame.
And that scapegoat, other than him, a humble human, seemed to be no one else.