"You're pushing your luck!"
The young man's face turned ashen, his fists clenched tightly, and a faint black aura emanated from his body.
"Stay calm," the middle-aged man beside him urged, stepping forward to place a hand on his shoulder. He turned to Alex and said, "Mr. Carter, we're not here to commission you, but we do have a proposal."
"I'm listening," Alex replied, eyeing the young man with interest. He could sense the ghostly aura around him. Though it was at the ordinary level, it was at the upper limit. If sold, it might fetch a good price.
"We're members of the Heavenly Path Department, part of the national security framework," the middle-aged man explained. "Mr. Carter, you might have noticed the increasing frequency of ghost appearances."
"Many remain unaware, but if left unchecked, these occurrences could soon erupt globally."
"Our department was established to counter this, recruiting ghost hunters worldwide to curb ghost proliferation."
"Ghost hunter?" Alex echoed, intrigued. "What exactly is a ghost hunter?"
"A ghost hunter is someone who hosts a ghost within them, temporarily harnessing its power. But overuse can lead to being consumed by the ghost," the man explained patiently. "You might be new to this."
The middle-aged man continued, "We've reviewed your live stream, concluding that you possess powerful ghosts and likely have more in your sack."
Hearing this, Alex blinked. Ghosts within him? News to him.
"I'm not like you," he corrected.
"True, you overpower ordinary ghosts effortlessly, suggesting you host at least an evil spirit, possibly stronger," the man speculated. "If you join us, we offer substantial benefits."
Alex had initially wanted to clarify he didn't host any ghosts, but the mention of benefits piqued his interest.
"What kind of benefits?" he asked, intrigued.
"For someone like you, the starting salary is $50,000 a month," the man offered.
Alex's eyes lit up. He had used up his savings renting the office and was short on cash.
"But you'll be responsible for handling any supernatural events in your area," the man continued. "You'll earn bonuses for each event, dependent on difficulty."
"Most importantly, as a member, you'll have the authority to temporarily mobilize local police resources."
Alex was tempted. Joining would mean knowing ghost locations, earning from sales, and getting extra cash. Plus, handling commissions would mean triple the income!
Such an opportunity was rare.
Taking a deep breath, Alex resisted the urge to agree immediately and said solemnly, "Your offer is enticing, but you know how dangerous ghosts are."
The middle-aged man sighed, understanding that not all ghost hunters were eager to join.
"And using ghost powers increases the risk of being consumed faster," Alex added. "So..."
Were they about to be rejected?
The two representatives exchanged glances, disappointment evident.
"You'll have to offer more."
The two men: "..."
---
After a heated ten-minute discussion, the middle-aged man conceded, agreeing to raise Alex's salary to $80,000 a month.
Before leaving, the man handed Alex a card. "My name is Carl Young. Here's my contact information. Your credentials will arrive within three days."
"Meanwhile, take some time to rest."
Rest? No way. Ghost trafficking is my calling! Not a day to waste.
Alex rolled his eyes, ushering them out. "Alright, alright, off you go. Don't interrupt my business."
---
Outside, the young man fumed. "Even someone like him can become a ghost hunter?"
Carl remained expressionless. "Because he still has a conscience."
The young man scoffed, "Captain, are you going to say he doesn't have much? That's cliché. I watched the video with you."
Carl stayed stoic. "Jake, has anyone told you not to undermine your leader, especially your direct superior?"
Jake: "..."
"You entered the office left foot first, right?"
Jake paused. "Think it was the right foot. Why?"
Carl replied, "That'll be half a month's salary deduction."
"No, no, I remember now, it was the left foot, definitely the left."
Jake quickly put on a sheepish smile.
"Clap!" Carl lit a cigarette. "Then add another half month."