Chapter 3

The moment Victor Shaw saw me, his smug face instantly turned ashen, cold sweat beading on his forehead. "Ah, a ghost!" His legs gave out, and he stumbled backward in a panic.

I said chillingly, "Victor Shaw, you attempted to assault me and then murdered me. My blood is on your hands! You indirectly caused my mother's death, and now you still show no remorse…"

As I spoke of my grief, my eyes became bloodshot, and resentment surged through me.

How could I, a vibrant young woman, have suffered such a cruel death at the hands of this monster? How could I ever swallow this hatred?

The air around us seemed to turn blood-red.

My enemy was right before me, and I could no longer suppress my desire for revenge.

Victor Shaw's legs trembled uncontrollably. He turned to Kaelen Stone for help.

"Aren't you a Special Agent investigating urban paranormal events? There's a ghost here, this is paranormal! Catch her quickly! I'll pay you!"

A sliver of fear crept into my heart. Kaelen Stone's power was profound. If he helped Victor Shaw against me, I wouldn't stand a chance.

Unexpectedly, Kaelen Stone simply stood quietly to the side, making no move.

Combined with his earlier declaration to "thoroughly investigate your crimes," I immediately understood that Kaelen Stone was tacitly allowing me to act.

"Hmph, I only said I wouldn't harm the innocent. I never said I'd let a scumbag like you go!" My eyes blazed.

My fingernails instantly grew several inches long, and I lunged at Victor Shaw.

"Help me!" Victor Shaw was terrified out of his mind.

In his panicked flight, he grabbed the pregnant woman beside him and shoved her towards me.

My killing intent was surging. Seeing the woman flying towards me, I truly wanted to tear her to shreds.

However, in that split second, through my translucent vision, I clearly saw a tiny fetus in the woman's womb!

Her belly wasn't noticeably large yet.

She was innocent, and she was carrying an innocent life inside her.

Even as a vengeful spirit, I couldn't bring myself to harm the innocent.

I flashed past the pregnant woman, and in the nick of time, used my telekinesis to gently guide her onto a nearby sofa cushion, narrowly avoiding a sharp table corner.

It was in that moment of distraction that Victor Shaw snatched the jade Buddha pendant from his neck and slammed it hard into my back!

"Ah!" I let out a piercing shriek. The immense force knocked me to the ground.

My vision blurred, and my body struggled to hold together... Was this what it felt like for a soul to be shattered?

"Collect!"

In that critical moment, Kaelen Stone pulled the jade vial from his knitted pouch, chanted an incantation, and pointed it at me.

The next instant, I was sucked into the jade vial. Before my consciousness plunged into darkness, I couldn't help but think: *Sure enough, men with such strange quirks are never good news. I knew he had ill intentions… attacking a young woman like me when I was off guard.*

I didn't hear Kaelen Stone's words after I passed out: "My apologies, I couldn't save you in time."

When I woke again, I found myself in an unfamiliar room.

The lights were dim, but I could see many suspicious figures subtly radiating an ominous aura. I quickly retreated to a corner, fearfully surveying everyone present.

No one paid me any mind. They whispered amongst themselves, yet it felt like they were all secretly observing me. The eerie atmosphere only heightened my fear.

Just as I stood there, lost, Kaelen Stone reappeared before me. Seeing his familiar figure now, it was like seeing a savior. I quickly rushed forward and grabbed his arm. "Why did you bring me here?" The people around me were just too terrifying.

Kaelen Stone cast a helpless glance around, his gaze sweeping over everyone.

Their expressions varied, but with a strange synchronicity, they transformed into wisps of green smoke and vanished. This bizarre scene almost made my jaw drop.

They weren't human! No wonder I felt so scared. But I was a ghost too, so why was I still so afraid of ghosts?

Kaelen Stone slowly walked to an altar, reverently lit three sticks of incense, and then turned to me. "What's your name?"

"Maya…"

I stared blankly at Kaelen Stone, utterly bewildered as to what this mysterious man with peculiar hobbies was really up to…

Kaelen Stone gazed at me.

"My name is Kaelen Stone. I'm a Special Agent from the Paranormal Investigations Agency. Our agency specializes in handling all sorts of supernatural events. Can you smell the incense? I offered it for you."