Chapter 8: A New Journey

Look at the dazzling town across the river from his bedroom, Agnes already back to his usual self. His usual indifferent self. It's currently 9.30 in the evening, and one can see the moon slowly climbing up in the night sky full of twinkling stars.

He plans to go to bed early today after what happened this morning. He doesn't know if what he sees is truly real or merely an illusion. He knew what he saw. And he knew that was not an illusion. But there is part of him that is not convinced as what he saw is real. He may get too excited this morning as to reveal his other side. Therefore, he needs further confirmation.

He may turn into a devil, and he may not. He may turn crazy from the build-up stress, and he may not. He doesn't know, as it is the first time in a long time he steps into an unknown territory. He needs to go back to the basics.

In the morning, after he wakes up and still able to see the soul of a living person, this checks one of his genuine boxes, but if he does not, then he indeed has turned crazy and merely saw illusion. It is a complete bias in judgment, and he knew it well. As it is about himself, he mustn't be playing favorites.

Indeed his heart chooses excitement, but his brain chooses reason. What is the use of a heart full of excitement but without a brain to reason? He doesn't want to become a lunatic who thinks with his heart's desire. He wants to become something much more.

He wants to be what he currently is but on a different level. Just thinking about what he can do with this power, if it is real, he can't help but smile a little. He can tell if a man is lying to him with the simple movement of their

soul. He may also be able to see the desire of every man. With a whip of gaze, truth lay bare.

The possibility is endless if this power of his turns out to be true. There will be no more traitors among his organization, and he can maybe conquer the underworld and becomes its ruler. The dream that he thought was impossible to achieve now seems to be able to reach. Such potential, his heart can't help but beat vigorously.

Yet maintain his excited heart, Agnes takes a sip of his wine. The wine that had no taste before is now miraculously as sweet as honey.

Looks at the clock and sees it is 9.55 in the evening; Agnes walks to his bed. Place the glass of empty wine on the side table, he then lay down on the bed. Empty his mind and calm his heart. Several seconds later, he found himself deep in slumber.

"Jakob Kocher, 56 years old, married, five kids, three male, two female, CEO of Silver Tune, a 10 billion Sol net worth company, status alive. Insurance claims, a straw buyer, pump-and-dumps, misrepresentation..."

In his room, prepared by his brother. Tobias fixed his eyes on the file of Jakob Kocher. He read it thoroughly and diligently without missing a single sentence. Like a completely different person, his eyes never stop moving, and his hands never stop typing on a laptop by his side.

Complete focus; no one would believe he is Tobias if they don't know him enough. A playboy, yes, he is. Careless and reckless, yes, he is. But before work and revenge, he is none of that.

Smile as he finishes lays all the dirt on Jakob Kocher from what he had done, how many children he has, where they go to school or college, how many family members he has, siblings to cousins, in law and also illegitimate children, he closed his laptop and place down the file.

"All done. With a single click, you will be going down, Jakob. You want to play dirty with me. Let me show you how playing dirty really is."

Wake up as the clock hit five; Agnes did his daily routine. Went downstairs after he fit into his midnight suit; he had his breakfast alone in the dining room as he watched the River town and checked his daily email. Calm and indifferent as always, he sips his tea as he peeks at one of the gardeners cleaning the snow in the yard.

He can see it, and it is definitely not an illusion. Crack a slight smile as his heart beats; Agnes puts some bread in his mouth. The sweet jelly and creamy butter do go well together.

"Good morning, brother. Did you have a good sleep last night? Have you experienced any hallucinations after you woke up?"

"Yes. No."

"Well, that's good to hear. I will be going back this evening. You know, work. It is hard being a young owner and CEO at the same time. Of course, not as hard as you, though."

"Hmm, do whatever you want."

"I will wire you the money as soon as I settle my business."

"Hmm."

"Well, then. Enjoy your breakfast. I will leave you alone."

Sips his tea as he continues watching the gardener or, more specifically, his soul. Agnes can't help but amuse. As to where the gardener goes, his soul would follow. Like a chain that bounds, the soul will stay in its body and not move even an inch. It is truly fascinating to see. He doesn't even listen to what his brother says, as his focus is solely on that gardener's soul.

Now that he has convinced that he can see the soul of a living person, he needs to experience it with other living beings to further solidify his conviction. Is it only a person's soul he can see or all living beings? Trees are living, breathing being that is alive. But do trees have souls?

Looks at the dead bushes surrounding his garden because of the winter climate, the roses, the oaks, and all the other plants that are present in the yard, he sees no soul in them. Maybe plants have no soul, or his plants are not without a soul. There is also a possibility that he can't see the soul of plants, either way, he needs to experiment further.

Looks at the cats that play about in the hallway; he cracks a slight smile as he can see their soul. While it was only a simple experiment, it told him that he could see the soul of both humans and animals, but not vegetation.

Now that he has established what he can and can't see, he shifts his gaze from the cats to the River town. There is a need to study the movement of soul. Admiration, adoration, aesthetic appreciation, amusement, anger, anxiety, awe, awkwardness, boredom, calmness, confusion, craving, disgust, empathic pain, entrancement, excitement, fear, horror, interest, joy, nostalgia, relief, romance, sadness, satisfaction, sexual desire, surprise, all of it. He needs to study all of it. What better test subject than a town he controls himself?