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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 141: Soul Devourer (Part One)
Bu had not exhibited any unusual behavior throughout the night. Aside from answering a few phone calls, he occasionally walked over to speak with the director. It seemed that Bu was determined to stay until the opening of the art festival. Tomorrow, once it opened, my opportunities would be limited.
Just as I was about to lose my patience, I noticed Bu turning towards the elevator. Was he leaving? My chance had come!
I quickly followed Bu, weaving through the crowd until I reached the elevator.
Bu did not seem to notice anything amiss. After pressing the elevator button, he stood quietly waiting.
I quietly positioned myself behind him, waiting for the elevator.
Soon, the doors opened, and a few people stepped out. Bu moved aside and entered, and I hurriedly followed him inside. He glanced at me and then at my right hand, which was wrapped in gauze. Then, as if nothing were out of the ordinary, he pressed the button for the basement level and took a few steps inside, maintaining a distance from the others.
I pretended to press the button for the third basement level and casually hit the close door button, standing next to Bu. The elevator doors began to close slowly. With so few people inside, everyone stared at the indicator light, ignoring each other as they waited for their respective floors.
Before long, we reached the first floor. As people exited, only Bu and I remained in the elevator. I glanced at Bu; he seemed lost in thought and made no move. I had no choice but to press the close door button again. Just as the doors were closing, I heard Bu speak in awkward Chinese, “I know you; you are a soldier.”
Here it comes. I slowly turned my body to face Bu directly in the eyes and said, “It’s good that you recognize me. Welcome to invest here, Mr. Busho. But it seems that your intentions go beyond mere investment?”
Bu's pupils suddenly constricted as he replied slowly, “Who are you?”
“Who I am is not important. What matters is that Mr. Busho should know that even without evidence, it would be best not to make any further moves here. This is China, not Japan!”
To my surprise, Bu laughed mockingly. “Oh? I thought all Chinese liked money; I didn’t expect someone to meddle in others’ affairs. I want to know on what basis you warn me.”
His demeanor was somewhat flippant and arrogant, igniting a fire within me. However, I maintained a calm exterior as I slowly unwrapped my right hand and held it out before him. “Mr. Busho, this is my basis!”
Bu looked confused at first; clearly, he did not understand what I meant. But when his gaze fell upon my palm, his eyes widened in shock as he gritted his teeth and shouted, “Baka!” His face turned red with rage.
I had anticipated some reaction from Bu but never expected it to be this intense! Striving to appear composed, I said calmly, “Mr. Busho, did you ever think there would be consequences?”
“Baka!” Bu muttered again under his breath before suddenly looking up and glaring at me fiercely. “Consequences are terms used by the weak! The strong! In the dictionary, there is no such thing as consequences! Do you understand?”
Ah, it seemed he was genuinely angry now; his speech was becoming less fluid. Oh right—just a little more fuel on this fire would do nicely; I silently reminded myself. Indeed, there were cameras in the elevator; my plan was to provoke him into making a move first. This could serve as an international incident—anything to delay him from leaving too quickly would work in our favor. The longer he stayed, the more clues would emerge for Ah Huang. Brother Ah Huang, this is all I can do for you right now.
“Mr. Busho, I only understand that you will always pay the price for what you do!” I mimicked his tone.
“Hmph!” Busho grunted heavily. Just then, the elevator reached the second floor parking garage with a soft ding. Busho suddenly looked up and scanned the area, a smile breaking across his face. “Oh, there are cameras! You’re in big trouble!”
Oh no, he figured out my intentions. What should I do? My mind raced as the door opened, revealing bright lights outside.
Busho shrugged. “My dear, I’m a businessman. In today’s China, everything is about the law. Excuse me!” He sidestepped me and prepared to exit, brushing against the cylindrical object on his back.
Got it! I suddenly shouted from behind, “Busho, I’m going to expose you! You’re illegally trading our Cultural Relics and carrying them out of the country!”
As soon as Busho stepped out of the elevator, he froze as if struck by lightning, turning his back to me.
I had guessed right! I suspected Busho had other motives for coming to China. Whether he was buying Cultural Relics or not, I didn’t know, but if someone really reported him, it would definitely cause him a lot of trouble!
I quickly pressed the elevator button to keep it open and shifted my body so that the camera could capture Busho at the door. I waited for his reaction.
After a long pause, Busho slowly turned around, his face clouded with anger. “What exactly do you want?”
“I don’t want anything; I just want to know how Eagerly died and what happened to the other two girls. Did you have anything to do with it?”
Busho remained silent for a moment. “I didn’t kill anyone!”
“Really? What about the two unconscious girls lying in their hospital beds?”
The muscles in Busho’s face twitched slightly, but he still said nothing.
“Busho, aren’t you going to admit it? Is the Soul Retrieval Technique in your hands?” As soon as those words left my mouth, I regretted them!
Busho suddenly fixed his gaze on me, his eyes blazing with intensity. In that moment, I sensed a murderous intent emanating from him—true malice. Oh no, oh no! I regretted my lack of experience.
Seeing my change in expression, Busho glanced at the camera again and said, “I’ll tell you whatever you want to know, but please come with me.” To my surprise, he stepped back into the elevator and pressed the close button without saying another word or even looking at me. What the hell! This can’t be happening! Was this really him? Or was it because I pressed the button for the underground level? The retribution came so quickly! I forced a bitter smile as the elevator began to move downwards.
I felt that Busho was dangerous at that moment; hostility radiated from him. Logic told me not to follow him down to the underground level where there were no lights or cameras—once we exited the elevator, there would be no way to save myself if something happened. But driven by curiosity and a desire for truth, I couldn’t resist taking that gamble. Besides, Busho was unarmed; he had traveled all this way to China—he couldn’t possibly be carrying a gun with him! Confidently thinking that he was just a businessman and not necessarily my match, I dismissed his threats. However, little did I know that my arrogance and carelessness would ultimately lead me into deep trouble.
The elevator descended to the third floor, and a soft ding broke the silence between us. That sound resonated in my ears like a thunderclap. Perhaps I was overreacting, or maybe my imagination was running wild, but at that moment, a phrase popped into my mind: "For whom does the bell toll?" My heart skipped a beat. Damn it, this is an ominous sign, I thought.
Before I could gather my thoughts, Bu Shang stepped out of the elevator first. He paused at the door without looking back and said, "You are a member of the National Army. Do you want to hear a story about a National Army soldier and a Japanese soldier from sixty years ago?"
It seemed that Bu Shang had already adjusted his mindset; his tone was calm and devoid of emotion. He added, "Of course, you can choose not to follow."
With that, Bu Shang glanced back at me, his eyes challenging and filled with disdain.
Damn it! Stop pretending! Who's afraid of whom? I thought as the elevator doors began to close slowly in front of me. In a moment of impulse, I pressed the open button and stepped out of the elevator.
Bu Shang didn't say anything further; he simply turned and walked ahead slowly. The surroundings were enveloped in dead silence and darkness, with only faint lights flickering in the distance. I stood still for a moment, my eyes taking time to adjust to the environment. I found it strange that Bu Shang seemed unaffected by it at all.
Once my eyes adapted, I widened them and heightened my vigilance, keeping my distance from Bu Shang while observing my surroundings as I followed him cautiously.
Hearing footsteps behind me, Bu Shang began to tell me a story in broken Chinese.
(To be continued; tomorrow will be even more exciting!)
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