**[Ding dong! You have successfully opened the mysterious gift from the principal of Despair Elementary School and acquired the skill: Invisibility]**
**Invisibility:** Allows you to perfectly conceal your ghost power.
Alex Carter's eyes lit up. This was precisely what he needed!
Ghosts naturally have a keen sense of ghost power. Whether it was the first female ghost in white or the talented Pen Fairy earlier, they all sensed the ghostly aura within Alex and fled.
No wonder he hadn't encountered many ghosts recently—his high ghost power made them avoid him.
"Then again, this principal must think I'm too slow at capturing ghosts, gifting me such a skill," Alex mused, shaking his head. He decided to head home and think about it later.
Before leaving, he remembered to turn off the classroom lights.
Reaching the school gate, Alex planned to hail a taxi. It was late, and the school's location was remote, making it hard to find a ride.
After waiting over 20 minutes, a taxi finally approached and stopped by the curb.
Alex got in and gave his address. The driver, a man in his thirties, said nothing but pressed the accelerator.
After four or five minutes, Alex sensed something was off. They weren't heading toward the city.
"Where are you going?" Alex asked.
"Let me tell you a story," the driver began, ignoring Alex's question. "Once, a driver, overwhelmed by his wife's illness and dwindling finances, worked day and night but couldn't make ends meet. Despairing, he drove into the river."
"Now, every late night, a taxi appears on the road to the river. My story ends here..."
"Isn't this world unfair?"
The driver laughed, a low, hoarse sound that cut through the quiet night.
"It is quite unfair," Alex nodded, unfazed. "But what does this have to do with me?"
The driver was taken aback. Shouldn't normal people be scared?
"You're not afraid of me?" The driver looked through the rearview mirror.
Alex met his gaze, expressionless. "You'd better get me home soon, or I won't be responsible for what happens."
The driver, not getting the reaction he expected, ignored him and continued driving.
"I said, take me home! Can't you hear?" Alex snapped. "You brought me to the suburbs at night. How am I supposed to get back?"
The driver was stunned, one hand on his face, unable to react.
"Playing deaf, huh?" Alex scolded, giving another slap.
"You wanna die!" the driver spat, enraged. His face turned a ghastly blue, body dripping as if fresh from the river. He spun around, glaring, eyes black as night.
"You think you can scare me?" Alex raised a hand and slapped him again.
"Y-you..." the ghost driver growled.
Another punch from Alex.
"Boom!"
"Ouch!"
The ghost driver tried to retaliate but was met with another blow.
"Ahhhh!"
"Boom!"
"I was wrong, big brother, I was wrong, stop hitting me!"
"Boom!"
"I've apologized, why are you still hitting?"
The ghost driver, bruised and swollen, felt a pang of injustice.
"Sorry, my hand slipped," Alex said, initially embarrassed. Remembering the driver's late-night abduction, his anger flared again. "Now hurry and drive me home!"
"I-I'll take you back, okay?" the ghost driver stammered. "But... I'm a ghost! Aren't you scared?"
"You're too weak for me to fear," Alex replied.
Silence. The driver felt a prickle of annoyance.
"Okay, let's get going," Alex urged, growing impatient.
"Will you kill me after I drop you off?" the driver asked cautiously.
"Kill you?" Alex paused, then said earnestly, "No way, I love ghosts!"
Without ghosts, how would he make a living?
The ghost driver interpreted this differently.
Love ghosts? Who loves ghosts?
He's definitely planning to kill me!
The ghost driver shivered.
Sneaking a glance at Alex, who was idly playing on his phone, the driver felt slightly relieved.
It seemed safe until they reached the destination.
The ghost driver realized he might still have a chance to escape this fate.