38: Old Tom with Alzheimer's

Chapter 38: Demented Old Tom

"How is this possible, you actually... actually touched me?!"

The female ghost grabbed Dick's hand and struggled constantly, but it was useless.

Dick's hand was like an iron clamp, tightly squeezing the female ghost's neck.

In just a few seconds, the female ghost's body began to become illusory and hazy.

Fear appeared in the female ghost's eyes for the first time; she was about to dissipate.

"Yes, yes, I'm sorry, please spare me... I, I've never hurt anyone, it's just that my resentment is too deep, and I can't leave..."

Listening to the female ghost's pleading, Dick nodded gently and then released his hand.

On the female ghost's fair neck, there was a terrifying bloodstain, shocking to behold; this was caused by Dick.

This was thanks to a talent of the Mage profession, called 'Exorcism Hunting Soul'.

After reaching perfection, one can not only obtain true vision of phantoms and ghosts.

When fighting them, one can also gain significant damage reduction and increase all damage dealt, which is very practical.

"Who, who are you? Could it be that the Academy hired a professional Exorcist?"

The female ghost was extremely scared; if Dick had used just a little more force, she would have nearly been annihilated!

"Exorcism? No, no, no, I prefer refining ghosts, enslaving ghosts, devouring ghosts..."

Dick chuckled and shook his head, squatting down and saying lightly, "From now on, only I am allowed to ask questions, and you must answer within five seconds."

"If you lie or talk nonsense, I will immediately extinguish your soul body, understand?"

"Un- understand!" The female ghost immediately nodded like a chick pecking rice, extremely honest.

Not far away, Alice and Xiao Nai's brains crashed; this terrifying female ghost was actually completely controlled by Dick.

And honestly, Dick seemed more like an evil spirit himself.

Ten minutes later, Dick had completely figured out the female ghost's origin, and the task progress had changed to [Completed 3/7].

The female ghost's name was Anberer'er, a student at the Academy ten years ago, who hanged herself on the rooftop due to unbearable bullying.

Anberer'er's family had no power, and she herself was not valued at home, truly a nobody.

Therefore, after several operations by the Academy's higher-ups, Anberer'er's suicide incident was suppressed and is now unknown to anyone.

Due to her deep resentment, Anberer'er's soul mutated, becoming an evil spirit, wandering on the Academy's various rooftops every night.

Unfortunately, the students who had bullied Anberer'er had already graduated and left.

At the same time, due to her weak soul power, Anberer'er couldn't leave the Academy at all, usually only scaring people, belonging to a relatively low-level bound spirit.

Dick listened expressionlessly, completely indifferent to Anberer'er's crying, while Alice and Xiao Nai on the side felt a little emotional.

It would be midnight soon; it was time to go to the Clock Tower to investigate 'The Thirteenth Chime of the Midnight Clock Tower'.

"Since we've figured out the truth, let's go."

Dick got up, ready to leave; Anberer'er wasn't worth the time, her soul power was too weak, there wasn't even a need to enslave her.

"Hey, are you leaving already..."

"What else? Or are you saying you want me to send you off?"

"How will you send me off?"

Anberer'er couldn't help but ask; Dick seemed incredibly capable, maybe he had a way to help her dispel her resentment.

"It's simple," a ball of blue-black flames appeared in Dick's right hand, "I can refine you in an instant!"

Hearing this, Anberer'er was startled, her soul body even faded quite a bit, and she quickly waved her hand to refuse.

...

On the way to the Clock Tower, Alice was clearly much more relaxed, as Dick's fierce actions just now had lifted the veil of mystery from ghosts for her.

Fear comes from the unknown, and also from insufficient firepower.

And by Dick's side, neither of these things was lacking, so naturally, there was nothing to fear.

"Dick, I didn't expect you to be a professional Exorcist. Can you teach me a move or two for self-defense..."

Xiao Nai was extremely excited, constantly probing Dick; she never missed any opportunity to learn and make money.

If she could learn a little from Dick, maybe she could add 'Exorcism services' to her business card in the future.

"No problem," Dick glanced at Xiao Nai and said softly, "The master leads you to the door, but doesn't guarantee you'll learn; everything depends on the individual, classes start after payment."

Xiao Nai was a bit speechless upon hearing this but still asked, "H- how much?"

"Exorcism, twenty thousand gold coins per class; Demon Subduing, fifty thousand gold coins per class; Witchcraft rituals, talismans, Five Elements spells are charged separately, prices are subject to change..."

Xiao Nai's eyes widened; Dick's prices were ridiculously expensive. Even a rich young lady of Alice's status probably couldn't take many classes.

"Stop, stop, stop!"

Xiao Nai interrupted loudly, "You might as well just rob the Elf Gold Firm; that's the fastest way to make money!"

"Mm, when my strength is sufficient in the future, I will go," Dick said casually, his expression calm.

Xiao Nai was completely speechless, muttering inwardly that Dick was even more boastful than herself.

With ten minutes left until midnight, the three arrived at the old Clock Tower located on the west side of the Academy.

It seemed like no one had cleaned here for a long time; the Clock Tower's outer walls were covered in vines, and weeds grew all around, making it look eerie and strange.

It was no wonder; this place looked like it was frequently haunted, and that eerie thirteenth chime naturally made people's imaginations run wild.

Arriving in front of the Clock Tower, Xiao Nai gently knocked on the door and said sweetly, "Grandpa Tom, it's Xiao Nai..."

The Tom Xiao Nai mentioned was the bell ringer, who was already one hundred and nine years old this year, an enviable long-lived person.

Soon, the Clock Tower door opened, and a hunched old man with white hair held a candlestick, his cloudy eyes carefully examining Xiao Nai.

"Oh, it's John, you've finally come to see me..."

"Grandpa Tom, it's Xiao Nai. Uncle John is a two-meter-tall strong man, how could you mistake me for him?"

"Sorry, sorry, my eyes are old and blurry," Old Tom showed a kind smile and said gently, "Mark, long time no see."

"Grandpa Tom, it's Xiao Nai!"

Old Tom was stunned for a moment upon hearing this, then used his rough old hand to touch Xiao Nai's face, and finally said, "You are... Xiao Nai."

"Yes, yes!"

Dick and Alice on the side were a bit speechless, finally understanding why there was a thirteenth chime.

Given Old Tom's level of dementia, any number of chimes wouldn't be strange; just one extra chime was already considered the condition being stable.

Old Tom was known for being warm and hospitable; after some self-introductions, he directly welcomed the three inside.

"It's freezing cold outside, hurry in and have a hot drink, Jimmy, Joseph, Jackson."

Xiao Nai: "..."

Dick: "..."

Alice: "..."

Listening to the three unfamiliar names from Old Tom's mouth, the three found it a bit hard to bear.