Family Companny

"Right," I confirmed, sighing. "I'm going to help her. But I'm still clueless about how to go about it..."

"Oh... and can I bring Hana to my house?" Lenna asked, a hopeful note in her voice. "It seems like she needs someone to talk to."

"Oh, sure," I replied, my tone even. But inside, my heart leaped with relief.

Yes! I don't have to deal with her alone!

"Anyway... I should get going, Senior. See you tomorrow!" Lenna waved goodbye and walked away, Hana's translucent form floating beside her.

I watched them go, a wave of relief washing over me. Now, I could focus on my own investigation, without the added pressure of dealing with a restless spirit.

As I waited for my father, the familiar sound of a motorcycle engine roared in the distance. A sleek bike pulled up to the curb, its rider clad in black leather and a helmet with a dark visor.

Who's this?

I wondered, squinting against the late afternoon sun. The figure dismounted, removing their helmet to reveal a familiar face framed by short, tousled hair.

"Xian! Let's go to our place! Everyone's waiting!"

"Aca?" I asked, surprised to see my cousin.

She grinned, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Yep, it's me. Hop on! Do you want to drive... can you drive?"

Vroom!

I shook my head. "I can't drive a motorcycle."

She laughed, swinging her leg back over the seat. Rev rev rev!

"Hop on then!"

I climbed onto the back of the bike, my arms wrapping around her waist as she kicked the engine to life.

Vroom!

"Where are we going?" I asked, curiosity bubbling up within me.

"Our team's secret hideout!" she yelled over the roar of the engine.

Our team's secret hideout? A place for the Unveiled? Where was she taking me?

I kept silent, my mind racing with anticipation and a hint of trepidation.

Vroom! Vroom! The bike sped away from the school.

***

The motorcycle roared to a stop in the parking lot of a towering office building.

"What is this place...?" I asked, my eyes tracing the sleek lines of the modern architecture.

Aca removed her helmet, revealing a wide grin. "This is our family's company, silly! Didn't you know?"

I shook my head, a sense of awe washing over me. I had no idea my family owned such a prestigious establishment.

"Huh... well, we use our powers to maintain our cover here," Aca explained, patting the motorcycle's seat. "Let's go inside. We can talk more while we walk."

I nodded, my curiosity piqued. As we entered the building, I couldn't help but marvel at the opulent lobby, with its marble floors, soaring ceilings, and gleaming chandeliers. It was a far cry from the humble tea shop my father owned.

As we walked through the lobby, a worker passing by gave Aca a respectful nod. We continued towards the elevator, our conversation flowing easily now.

"We use our powers to create things," Aca explained. "For now, we focus on items like materials, merchandise, toys, and other products. Remember Yolan's power?"

We stepped into the elevator, the doors closing with a soft whoosh.

"To manipulate items?" I answered.

"Yes, exactly! She's the one who makes all of our products. She can manipulate matter to create items to sell, it's easy for her..." Aca pressed the button for the 20th floor.

"Floor 20?" I asked, surprised.

"Yep, that's our main office," she confirmed. "Dove, Yolan, me, and the others all work there."

"I had no idea..." I murmured, taking in the fact that my family had built a successful business using their powers.

"We also utilize Irune's healing abilities," Aca continued. "We take ordinary water and she transforms it into a healing elixir. It's been quite successful, especially in the form of injectable medicine."

"... I never knew you guys built all this..." I said, awe in my voice.

"We've been building this company for years, since we graduated high school, Xian," Aca explained.

"Really?" I asked, still trying to wrap my head around it all.

"Yep," she confirmed with a proud smile. "We've come a long way."

"Why did you bring me here?" I asked, a sense of unease creeping into my voice.

Aca's smile faded slightly. "We're more than just CEOs and founders, Xian," she said cryptically.

I blinked, confused. "What do you mean?"

"We brought you here to train you," she explained. "We need more... help... to continue our extracurricular project."

"Extracurricular project?" I echoed, my brow furrowing.

"Yes," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "We still don't know the full extent of your powers, but... once you've unsealed your eyes, we can continue our project."

"What kind of project?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.

She hesitated for a moment, then said, "...We steal from corrupt people."

I gasped, my mind reeling. They're thieves?

Ting!

The elevator doors slid open, revealing a long, empty hallway with a single, imposing door at the far end. It was made of dark wood, adorned with intricate carvings and a gleaming brass handle.

"Come on," Aca whispered, her voice barely audible in the hushed atmosphere. "Everyone's waiting."

She pushed open the door, revealing a spacious room that looked more like a high-tech command center than an office.

"Ah, you're here," a voice called out from across the room.

I stepped inside, my eyes widening in surprise. Dove sat behind a large desk, a nameplate on it that read "CEO".

She's the CEO? I thought, a mix of awe and confusion washing over me.

The room was impressive, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering a panoramic view of the city below. A large conference table dominated the center of the room, surrounded by plush leather chairs. The walls were adorned with sleek artwork and framed certificates, a testament to the company's success.

"Welcome, Xian Ying," Dove greeted me, a warm smile gracing her lips. "It's good to see you again."

I nodded, my eyes darting around the room. Yolan, Irune, and Vill were already seated at the table, their expressions a mix of curiosity and anticipation.

< Chapter 022 > Fin.