Night Ride

Lenna looked at Dove skeptically. "That's not the whole truth, is it?" she asked, her voice laced with a hint of suspicion.

Dove hesitated for a moment, exchanging a quick glance with me. It seemed like she was weighing the risks of revealing our family's secret.

"It's complicated," Dove finally admitted, her voice evasive. "We're... more than just a manufacturing company."

Lenna's eyes widened. "What do you mean?"

Before Dove could elaborate, the waiter arrived with our food, a fragrant aroma filling the air. The three of us fell silent, the tension in the air thick enough to cut with a knife.

I took a bite of my steak, trying to focus on the food but failing miserably. Lenna's gaze remained fixed on Dove, her curiosity piqued.

"Let's just eat and then head back," Dove said, her voice clipped.

Lenna nodded, but her eyes still held a questioning glint.

I remained silent, lost in thought.

I couldn't blame Lenna for being curious, but I knew it was best to keep our secrets hidden for now. A secret is a secret, I reminded myself.

"Anyway, Xian..." Dove began, her tone shifting to a more serious note.

"Yes?" I replied, looking up from the plate of half-eaten food.

"Let's transfer the money from that black card to crypto, and use my name for the purchase."

"Huh?" I asked, confused. "Why?"

"Buying land anonymously isn't a good idea," Dove explained. "The government could easily seize it if they suspect any wrongdoing."

"I see..." I nodded slowly, understanding dawning on me. "So, what do we do?"

"I'll transfer the money to a crypto wallet under my name," Dove explained. "Then you just tell me what land you want to buy, within the budget, of course."

I nodded in agreement, relieved that she had a solution.

Lost in thought, I wondered what would happen if we were caught. We had spent an exorbitant amount of money, and even with Gilg's expertise in money laundering, there was still a risk. But I trusted Gilg. He had taught me a lot about hacking in the past week, and I knew he was capable of covering our tracks.

***

Vroom!

The motorcycle came to a stop in front of Lenna's house. It was late evening, the sky a deep indigo.

Lenna dismounted, carefully holding the bag containing the incriminating documents. "Thanks for today, Senior," she said, a shy smile on her face. "See you at school tomorrow."

"Yeah, get some rest," I replied. "Tomorrow's Sunday, so you can relax."

Lenna nodded. "And please tell your family to take good care of Hana," she added, a hint of concern in her voice.

"Don't worry," I reassured her. "They can see ghosts too, so they'll be able to keep her company."

Lenna smiled gratefully, then waved goodbye as I revved the engine and rode away

A chill wind whipped past my face, a stark contrast to the warmth of the afternoon sun. I'll have to take a hot bath when I get home, I thought, shivering slightly.

The van cruised along the highway, the silence broken only by the rhythmic hum of the engine. I glanced at Dove and Aca, lost in their own thoughts, and a sense of unease crept over me.

"I can sense a demon," the Harbinger's voice suddenly echoed in my mind, its tone grave.

I jolted in surprise, my grip tightening on the handlebars. What do you mean? I thought back, my heart pounding with a mix of fear and adrenaline.

"I can feel something following us," the Harbinger replied, its voice laced with a hint of warning.

A chill ran down my spine, and I tightened my grip on the handlebars. I tried to focus on the road ahead, but my mind was racing.

"Can you see it?" I asked the Harbinger, my voice barely a whisper.

"Not yet, But I can sense its presence. It's closing in on us," the Harbinger replied.

A sense of dread washed over me as I realized the danger we were in. I twisted the throttle, urging the motorcycle to go faster. The wind roared in my ears, blurring the scenery around me.

"We need to lose it," I said, my voice tight with adrenaline. "Find a shortcut, a hidden alley, anything."

"Turn left at the next intersection," the Harbinger instructed. "There's a narrow alleyway that will lead us to a back road."

I obeyed, leaning into the turn as we veered onto the smaller street. The alleyway was dark and narrow, barely wide enough for the motorcycle. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest as I navigated the tight turns and blind corners.

Suddenly, a shadowy figure darted across the road in front of us. I slammed on the brakes, sending the motorcycle skidding to a halt.

"What was that?" I asked

The Harbinger's voice echoed in my mind, urgent and commanding. "We need to go. Now."

I didn't need to be told twice. I revved the engine, and we sped off, leaving the shadowy figure behind in the darkness.

Whoosh! A gust of wind howled through the air, sending a chill down my spine.

"Damn it! In front of you!" The Harbinger's urgent voice echoed in my mind.

I slammed on the brakes, the motorcycle screeching to a halt. Standing before us, bathed in the pale moonlight, was a monstrous figure. It wasn't a ghost; it was a demon, towering over us with a menacing aura.

"So... you're the one who stole my master's money..." it growled, its voice a guttural rasp that sent shivers down my spine.

I gripped the handlebars tightly, my heart pounding in my chest.

My Harbinger materialized from the shadows, its form flickering in the darkness. "So you're Asmar's companion…" it said, its voice cold and menacing.

"Grrr," the demon snarled, its eyes glowing with a sinister light. "What is this... a Harbinger? Kekeke! A rare sight indeed..."

The Harbinger stood defiantly before the demon, its shadowy form dwarfed by the creature's immense size. But there was no fear in the Harbinger's eyes, only a steely resolve.

< Chapter 064 > Fin.