1.13 The First World

"Tell me honestly. Do you transmigrate here? Since when?" Ryan asked.

"I am not," Derrick replied. "It's true."

"How come you're here, then? And, what about Blacky?"

"I made a contract with Blacky. The only thing that transferred to this world is my consciousness. Unlike you, who took over this body as a whole, I'm not. I simply cohabit into this body. A mere parasite that could control the body of Derrick Lee in any desirable way I want. And, I stayed in this world for about two years?"

Ryan glances at his system while raising his eyebrows. He is gesturing at White Ball to explain further this extraordinary situation that Derrick experienced.

{That's because your body is dead, host. While this man is a living man. How can his soul leave his own body unattended? What I can say is when he is sleeping in his world, his consciousness is transcending through the barrier of times and dimensions and occupy the only suitable vessel in every world he's hopping into. And, his soul force is far exceeding any normal people. That's why he can control, no he can possess this body as easy as breathing without any severe backlash.} White Ball explained.

(And, Derrick Lee will never realize that his body is being invaded by some pest?)

{Well, from his aptitude,} White Ball eyeing Derrick for a while before continuing its words. {The probability for the original soul to wake up and retaliates is almost nonexistent. This man can suppress the original soul easily, and I doubted if such a problem arose, he would be heavily implicated by it.}

(You wanted to highlight that this man is capable of making this body his own? And if not because he already has his own body over there, he can actually possess several vessels, simultaneously, at the same time? Is that what you mean?)

{Probably, yes?} White Ball was unsure about the answer. This system was only able to guide two hosts. And Han Ryan is the second one. The first one decided to abandon his mission and duty for something stupid.

This system was hoping for the first host to be burned in hell. And that his soul cannot enter the reincarnation cycle ever again! White Ball said mentally.

"That's bullshit!" Ryan yelled at White Ball in disbelief. He slammed the table in a fit of anger, and the sound was attracting others' attention.

Derrick is blinking his eyes at Ryan in wonder. He then scanned his surroundings and apologetically nodded his head at the onlookers as almost all customers and workers in the cafe were staring at them. Some female customers are whispering something among themselves before giggling excitedly.

"Calm down. Everyone is looking at you, silly." Derrick puts a fake smile on his face. He grabbed Ryan's arm and forced him to sit down.

Ryan finally realizes that he had cursed loudly in a public space. His face reddens and he immediately plopped down on his chair while covering his face with both of his hands. He tried to bury his face on the table. The blushing becomes more prominent as he heard the murmurs of the customers, questioning his mind eligibility and his attitude. Some even recognized him as the new president of the famous Zhang corporation and had been wondering about his lack of mannerism.

(This is your fault, White Ball!)

White Ball ignored Ryan's words.

Derrick chuckles in amusement. He shook his head.

"You never changed, Ry."

Ryan refused to lift his face.

"Well, Ry, to satisfy your curiosity, I will explain just this once. This body," Derrick lightly touched his left chest. "...is mine, but, at the same time, it is not. I am still alive, it's just my consciousness in the original world is going on and off. While I'm awake here, my body over there is sleeping. This 'Derrick Lee' is put to sleep by me to avoid him hindering my plan. As long as I'm here, I am the one who controls this body. Not you, not Blacky, and not even this 'Derrick Lee'. Do you understand?"

Ryan peeked at Derrick from behind his fingers. His face is still blushing, although the color faded slowly.

"Then, why did you kill me, bastard? Did you kill me off because you know I will bound myself to a system?"

"Ah, that? Who knows?"

"You...!" Ryan gnashed his teeth. He wanted to yell at this smiling jerk but refrained himself. Calm down. You should build a good image, Ryan. In the future, you will be a very well-known person that can rival this jerk's identity. You also need to complete the third mission after all. If not, White Ball will be pestering you day and night, persuading and threatening you in its creepy voice for a whole week. He said mentally. " You said something about next life. I don't believe as a psychotic killer, you will have a belief in religious matters, nor in the reincarnation cycle. You must know some important information."

"Did I?" Derrick supported his chin using his free hand. "You sure think so lowly about me, Ry. "

"Don't call me Ry. It's disgusting." Ryan angrily spat his words. "All I want is to apprehend you and bring you to justice. Deceiving, torturing, and murdering people in the dark, while posing as a righteous person? No. You had been delaying your judgment. It's time to stop, and I swear upon my own name, I will stop you this time. If you were really able to transfer your consciousness and travel into another world, how many people will fall as your victims? I cannot let you do that." He closes his eyes momentarily as a memory from the past flashed by on his mind. Two persons, a boy, and a girl, with cheerful smiles on their faces, are waving their hands at the cameraman. And the cameraman was him. " You intentionally dragging me around, pit me against my family, and making them lost all the trust they had in me, who do you think you are? I am not your damn toy!"

A smile is still plastered on Derrick's face. He then stretched out his body as if he just finished a marathon. It's a wonder whether he registered the words Ryan said, in his brain, or will he filter it out like before?

"Well, Ryan, you no longer focus your attention on me. Too many cases in the precinct took away your precious time as you no longer care about me. I guess, the title of 'The Most Outstanding Police Officer of The Year' holds you back and makes you holed up in your office, for another useless thing."

"That's not the reason for you to suddenly increase your number of victims! And, it's not a useless thing! Do you think the world is filled up with good people only? There are bad peoples like you who enjoyed leading a double life. During a day is a successful businessman, but unleash your criminal nature at night. And, rather than killing as your sick obsession, you only kill for me to see!"

"Since when you suspected me as J? I thought my acting is perfect?" Derrick disregarded Ryan's outburst of anger.

"When you said the police found the first two victims. Anonymous tip? J never sends out such information to anyone. To J, people will be sorted into two categories. Either you used them or you'll kill them. When you said someone gave you a piece of suspicious information, I rule out two important things. Either you're J or his accomplice."

"Basically, you're saying I'm J anyway."

"And, you bothered me. What kind of police officer gives confidential information to an outsider, much less to a murder suspect? Even if you trust that person, your action will cause more harm than good effect. I am not an idiot!"

Derrick slid a slice of blueberry cheesecake in front of him.

"Hmm, as expected. My Ryan is clever and had a sharp instinct. Here's your reward." He coaxes Ryan with his favorite food.

Ryan is flustered with such an action that he accepted the cake without thinking.

"Oh, thank you...Hey, wait. Don't change the subject!"

***

Outside the cafe. Approximately 10 meters from the target.

A suspicious figure, wearing a simple white shirt with a pink cardigan and a dark, plain miniskirt is hiding behind a pole at the opposite side of the cafe. Her clothes are accentuated her sexy figure very much and true to that notion, many men are eyeing her with lustful looks. Some even flustered when the female turned around and her big, doe emerald eyes are staring at them with a confused expression. Her skin is also very fair and unblemished. With her tall stature and beautiful long legs, she looks like a model that just comes out straight from shooting an ad.

Why are they staring at me? Are the clothes didn't fit me well? I know I have never worn such a style before, but, do they look that odd? She said mentally.

Little that she knows, those people, males, and females alike, are admiring and envying her appearance at the same time.

Since she is wearing a mask, they couldn't gauge her beauty perfectly. They could only sigh exasperatedly as they imagined her beautiful face.

Ah, what a beauty. If she agreed to be my girlfriend, I am the happiest man in the entire world! This thought keeps swirling around in the minds of the males.

However, the woman ignored the attention she gets and focuses solely on the two males in the cafe.

Should I approach them?