Recruiter Unveiled Family

A day passed in a blur, filled with the usual routine of school and social interactions. But as the final bell rang, signaling the end of the school day, it was time to resume my mission as The Imaginary, to bring justice to those who preyed on the innocent.

"Now, now... I should check the news for the latest corrupt individuals," I said to myself, opening my phone and scrolling through social media, my eyes scanning headlines and articles for any mention of wrongdoing.

As I stood perched on the edge of a building, my suit shimmering in the twilight, I caught glimpses of people below snapping pictures of me. But my attention remained fixed on my phone, my brows furrowed in concentration as I searched for any leads. "Hmm... no news..." I muttered, a hint of frustration creeping into my voice.

Suddenly, a voice cut through the quiet evening air, "Fool god."

I whirled around, my senses on high alert. Standing behind me was a figure cloaked in darkness, their face obscured by a deep hood.

"Ah, you're that... the Harbinger who came to the office the other night," I said, recognizing the voice despite the figure's obscured appearance. "What is it? You're clearly not here for a simple greeting, are you?"

"My master is here, Liam... he wishes to meet you, Your Majesty," the Harbinger replied, his voice a low, respectful rumble.

"Also, don't call me that," I countered, a hint of annoyance creeping into my tone. "I'm not sure if I'm the 'fool god' you're talking about. Lead the way."

The Harbinger nodded, a silent acknowledgement of my request. He turned and gestured for me to follow him. With a final glance at the city skyline, I leaped off the building, my cape billowing behind me as I soared through the air, keeping pace with the Harbinger's swift movements.

He led me through a labyrinth of winding alleyways and dimly lit streets, his movements swift and silent, a stark contrast to the vibrant city we left behind. Finally, we emerged onto a bustling street, the aroma of grilled meat and spices filling the air. The Harbinger stopped in front of a small, unassuming kebab stall.

"My master is the son of this kebab stall owner. Go talk to him, he's a bit shy," he said before disappearing into thin air, leaving me standing alone amidst the crowd.

Talk to him... what should I talk about? Also, there are a lot of people here buying kebabs... I thought, feeling a bit overwhelmed by the sudden change of scene.

Just as I was contemplating my next move, a voice called out from behind the kebab stall, "Here! Come to the back of the stall!"

I turned to see a young man waving at me, his face a mixture of shyness and eagerness. It must be Liam, the Harbinger's master.

I navigated through the crowd, weaving between hungry customers and the fragrant smoke billowing from the grill. Reaching the back of the stall, I found Liam waiting for me, a nervous smile on his face.

"Hello," I greeted, offering a friendly smile. "You're Liam, right?"

He nodded, his cheeks flushing slightly. "Yes, that's me. It's an honor to meet you, The Imaginary."

"Please, just call me Xian," I said, trying to put him at ease. "So, what did you want to talk about?"

Liam hesitated for a moment, his gaze darting nervously around before settling back on me. "I... I want to join you," he finally blurted out, his voice barely above a whisper. "I want to be part of the Unveiled Family."

"About that, I know," I replied, my confusion growing. "But why didn't you go to the company?"

Clearly, Dove or Yolan must have sent an invitation to his house, but he never actually showed up.

"Um... actually, that time I did go, but I got confused," he admitted, his cheeks reddening. "I just stood in front of the company like an idiot, and when the workers looked at me, I just walked back home..."

I couldn't help but chuckle at his honesty. "Well, that explains it," I said, trying to hide my amusement. "Don't worry, it happens. But if you're still interested in joining, you're welcome anytime."

Liam's face lit up, a shy smile spreading across his features. "Really? You mean it?"

"Of course," I assured him. "We could always use more help. Besides, your Harbinger said... you're lucky?" I asked, recalling the cryptic comment.

"Yeah... I think I am?" he replied, tilting his head slightly. "He said I'm always lucky."

"Interesting," I mused, intrigued by the concept of luck as a power. "What's your Harbinger's power?"

Liam hesitated for a moment, as if unsure whether to reveal this information. But then, he seemed to make up his mind. "What I know is he can, like, um... like this..." he gestured vaguely at the air. "So it's normal that he, like, pulls it and boom, he can, like, open a paper in thin air."

Pull the air? Might be some kind of reality warping? I thought, trying to make sense of Liam's explanation. It was a bit vague, but it definitely sounded intriguing.

"Can you demonstrate it?" I asked, my curiosity piqued. "I'd like to see it in action."

Liam looked a little hesitant. "I'm not sure if he'll do it just because I ask him to... He's a bit independent."

I smiled reassuringly. "It's okay, just try. I'm really interested in seeing what he can do."

Liam took a deep breath and then, with a determined nod, he called out, "Essokinesis!"

Nothing happened at first. I glanced at Liam, who looked slightly embarrassed. "I guess he's not in the mood," he mumbled, looking down at his feet.

Just as I was about to reassure him that it was okay, a faint ripple appeared in the air beside Liam. It shimmered and expanded, revealing a swirling vortex of energy. Slowly, the air seemed to crack open, revealing the Harbinger stepping out from the distortion.

"I'm here," he announced, his voice a low, resonant hum.

I couldn't help but stare in awe at the Harbinger's entrance. It was a truly impressive display of power, one that left me with a newfound respect for his abilities.

"Impressive," I said, my voice filled with genuine admiration. "So, this is your power? You can manipulate the fabric of reality?"

The Harbinger nodded slightly. "In a way," he replied, his voice still carrying that deep, resonant quality. "I can open portals between dimensions, allowing me to travel through space and time."

These guys could make it easy to search for that Whale... I thought, a flicker of hope igniting within me.

"Can you, like, destroy the air?" I asked, curious about the extent of his powers.

The Harbinger tilted his head slightly, considering my question. "Destroy the air itself? No, that's beyond my capabilities. But I can manipulate it to a certain extent." He raised a hand, and a gust of wind swirled around us, carrying with it the scent of distant lands.

"I can also create pockets of vacuum or compressed air," he added, his voice a low rumble. "It's useful for disorienting opponents or creating barriers."

I nodded, impressed by his versatility. "That's quite a powerful ability," I said. "It could be very useful in our fight against the Whale."

The Harbinger's eyes narrowed slightly. "The Whale?" he echoed, his voice laced with a hint of curiosity. "You're planning to confront it?"

I nodded firmly.

"Oh, you mean the whale that's always in the sky?" Liam asked, his eyes widening in surprise.

"Yes," I confirmed, my gaze drawn to the sky, searching for the familiar silhouette. "The one that constantly circles the city, casting its ominous shadow."

A look of understanding dawned on Liam's face. "Ah, that one. I've always wondered what it was doing up there."

"If it's true, that whale is a Harbinger... one from another world, I should say... and it only appears if its master calls it, it means there's a master of that Harbinger out there," I explained, my voice tinged with a hint of worry.

The Harbinger nodded slowly, "That's true. Even I've never spoken to that whale, even though I've lived a long time. That whale is... too dangerous."

Liam's eyes widened. "So you think there's someone out there, controlling the Whale?"

I nodded grimly. "It's the most likely explanation. And whoever they are, they're definitely sorcery level."

A heavy silence descended upon us, the realization of the potential threat hanging heavy in the air. Liam's face paled slightly, his initial excitement at the prospect of joining the Unveiled Family tempered by the gravity of the situation.

"That's... that's terrifying," he finally stammered, his voice barely a whisper.

"So, are you ready?" I asked, my voice firm but gentle.

Liam nodded, his resolve returning. "Just give me your phone number," he said, his voice steadier now.

I nodded and pulled out my phone.

I quickly entered my contact information into Liam's phone, then handed it back to him with a reassuring smile. "We'll be in touch," I said. "In the meantime, stay safe and keep your eyes open."

Liam nodded, a newfound determination in his eyes. "I will," he promised. Then, his expression softened into a shy smile. "Hey, wanna eat some kebab? You don't have to pay."

"Sure..." I replied, my stomach rumbling in agreement. The aroma of grilled meat had been tempting me since I arrived, and the offer of a free meal was too good to pass up.

Liam beamed and quickly disappeared into the back of the stall, returning moments later with two steaming hot kebabs wrapped in foil. He handed one to me, and we found a quiet corner away from the bustling crowd to enjoy our meal.

"So... I've heard your power is imagination manifest?" Liam asked, his eyes sparkling with curiosity as he watched me take a bite of my kebab.

"Mhm, yeah, something like that," I replied, my mouth full of deliciousness.

"Your Majesty's power is truly extraordinary... I'm really glad you're on our side, Your Majesty," Essokinesis said, his voice filled with admiration.

"Don't praise me," I said, a slight blush creeping onto my cheeks. "It's just... what I can do."

Liam's brow furrowed in confusion. He clearly didn't understand why his Harbinger suddenly addressed someone as "Your Majesty."

"Fool god?" he asked, looking back and forth between Essokinesis and me.

Essokinesis chuckled, a deep, resonant sound that seemed to vibrate in the air. "Ah, young Liam, you have much to learn about the world and its hidden histories," he began, his voice taking on a storytelling tone. "The Fool God is a figure of legend in many cultures. A powerful being, capable of bending reality to their will, often using their powers for amusement or to teach valuable lessons. Some see them as a benevolent deity, while others fear their unpredictable nature."

He paused, his gaze meeting mine with a knowing glint. "But in all tales, the Fool God is a force to be reckoned with, a wildcard in the grand scheme of things. And it seems," he added, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, "that our Xian here might just be the latest incarnation of this ancient being."

"I'm not old or a fool," I interjected, a hint of amusement in my voice.

Essokinesis chuckled again, a deep, rumbling sound that seemed to shake the very air around us. "Perhaps not in the traditional sense," he conceded, "but your powers, your ability to shape reality with your imagination, and even the prophecy that foretold your arrival all point to you becoming human and wielding the power of imagination manifest."

"I don't remember," I mumbled, my focus momentarily shifting to the delicious kebab in my hand.

"Woah... if Essokinesis says that, it must be true..." Liam's jaw dropped, his eyes wide with awe. The concept of a Fool God, a being of such immense power and unpredictable nature, seemed almost too fantastical to comprehend.

I shrugged, taking another bite of my kebab. "I'm still not sure about all that," I admitted. "But I guess we'll find out eventually."

Essokinesis smiled, a knowing glint in his eyes. "Indeed, we shall. And we shall make the cult rise again!"

I raised an eyebrow, a wave of unease washing over me. "I don't want to do anything with a cult. It's disgusting," I said firmly, my appetite for the kebab suddenly waning.

"Well, I don't want to be in a cult either..." Liam chimed in, his gaze fixed on Essokinesis with a mixture of apprehension and defiance.

Essokinesis let out a hearty laugh, the sound echoing through the quiet alleyway. "Relax, young ones," he said, his voice booming with amusement. "I was merely jesting. The days of cults and blind worship are long gone."

I finished the kebab and wiped my hands with a tissue. "How did people praise me back then? And when?"

"Hmm? When? It was a long time ago, before I became a Harbinger... or even before Harbingers existed..."

Before Harbingers existed? What does that mean? I thought, confused.

"Wait, don't Harbingers just appear out of nowhere and with the..." I trailed off, not knowing how to phrase it.

But Essokinesis shook his head. "No. Harbingers are former Demons or Satans who willingly changed themselves to work with humans, allowing them to live within their bodies. Long ago, they used to perform sacrifices and other rituals to call us. And that time... when the Fool God was still alive and before they were gone, they were praised by ancient humans, Homo sapiens, and even rock humans... in the stone age."

I stared at Essokinesis, my mind reeling from the implications of his words. The Fool God, a being worshipped by humans since the Stone Age? The thought was both awe-inspiring and terrifying.

"And that time... when you were still in your true form, everyone praised you, not just humans but demons, Satans, and others," Essokinesis added, his voice filled with reverence.

"Oh... then how does my true form look like?" I asked, curiosity overcoming my initial shock.

"An eye, and then hands," Essokinesis replied, his voice taking on a mystical tone. "One single, large eye, floating around, and two hands, each with thirteen fingers."

The image he painted was both bizarre and strangely compelling. A floating eye, all-seeing and all-knowing, paired with hands capable of shaping reality itself. It was a far cry from the human form I currently inhabited, but there was a certain... rightness to it. A sense of familiarity, buried deep within my subconscious.

"Weird..." I murmured, a shiver running down my spine.

"W-Well... I wanted to get mad because you said that, but then I remembered you are the Fool God himself..." Essokinesis said, a hint of sheepishness in his voice.

Liam put his finger on his chin thoughtfully. "Huh... it's far different from other religious books. There's never been mention of another Fool God, right?"

Essokinesis nodded solemnly. "Indeed. The Fool God's existence predates recorded history, their influence woven into the very fabric of reality. While many cultures have their own interpretations and myths surrounding them, the core concept remains the same: a being of boundless power and unpredictable whims."

Liam's eyes widened further, his mind struggling to grasp the enormity of it all. "So... Xian is like... a god?" he whispered, his voice filled with awe.

"Not quite," Essokinesis corrected gently. "More like a fragment, a shard of the original Fool God's essence. But even in this diminished state, their power is immense."

I shifted uncomfortably under their scrutiny. The idea of being a divine entity, even a fragment of one, was overwhelming. It was a burden I hadn't asked for, a destiny thrust upon me without my consent.

"I just want to live a normal life," I mumbled, my voice barely above a whisper.

Liam nodded, a flicker of empathy crossing his face. "Yeah, same..."

"You know? At first, I was diagnosed with schizophrenia," I confessed, a wry smile tugging at my lips. "But it turned out it was just a family power passed down from my ancestors."

Liam's eyes widened in surprise. "Really? That's... that's incredible."

Essokinesis chuckled. "Indeed. The Fool God's power often manifests in unexpected ways, defying conventional understanding. It's a testament to their playful and unpredictable nature."

"So... what are you going to do after this?" Liam asked, his curiosity piqued.

"I'm going to continue terrorizing corrupt people," I replied with a determined nod. "But I don't know when the next target will appear."

"How about some of those government officials who take a lot of taxes?" Liam suggested, his voice laced with a hint of anger.

"A lot of taxes?" I echoed, intrigued by his suggestion.

"Yeah, this government always takes an insanely large amount of tax from stall sellers like me and my family," Liam explained, his voice laced with frustration. "They take 45% of our profit for taxes."

45%? That's... a lot... I thought, my eyebrows knitting together in concern. That seemed excessively high, even for a struggling business like a small kebab stall.

"45%? That's... outrageous!" I exclaimed, my sense of justice flaring up. "That's practically highway robbery!"

Liam nodded sadly. "It makes it incredibly difficult for us to make ends meet. We're constantly struggling to keep the business afloat, and it's not fair."

I fell silent for a moment, my mind churning. I had always known that corruption existed within the government, but hearing it firsthand from someone directly affected by it made it all the more real. A wave of anger washed over me, mingled with a fierce determination to do something about it.

"This isn't right, Liam," I said, my voice firm. "Someone needs to hold these corrupt officials accountable."

A flicker of hope ignited in Liam's eyes. "You mean... you'll help us?"

I smiled, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Consider it done. The Imaginary will expose their greed and bring them to justice."

Liam's face broke into a relieved smile. "Thank you, Xian. This means so much to us."

I nodded. "It's the least I can do. After all, that's what The Imaginary is here for, to fight for those who can't fight for themselves. So, what's this government's name and where are they located?"

Liam's expression turned serious. "They're called the 'G City Council.' Their main office is located in the city center, near the town hall."

"G City Council..." I repeated, committing the name to memory. "Alright, I'll start my investigation there. But I'll need your help, Liam. Can you provide me with any information you have about their corrupt activities?"

Liam nodded eagerly. "Of course! I've been keeping records of their excessive tax collections and other suspicious dealings. I'll gather everything I have and send it to you."

< Chapter 163 > Fin.