The office was simply furnished. Aside from a large black desk, there was a set of sofas and chairs on the right. On the table to the right, I saw Rufina Howard's big schoolbag, just sitting there.
"Where's the girl?"
I asked, and Redmond pointed to the sofa, signaling us to sit over there. Hugh Thompson and I walked over, and with a swoosh, Redmond flashed onto the sofa and sat down.
"I'm exhausted."
I blinked, looking at Redmond. He could get tired too? But then I thought about the Blue Wraiths outside, working day and night for Redmond's company, and I couldn't help but sigh.
Sure enough, Vivian Maple was there. She walked over lightly and served us tea.
"What time is it, Ethan Zhang? What do you think? That little girl fell asleep long ago."
I smiled, thinking that was true. Redmond kept staring at me, which made me feel a little embarrassed.
"What is it?"
"Look, Ethan Zhang, the token on you is the King of Hell's Token. Basically, as soon as the King of Hell summons you, your soul will automatically go to the Underworld."
My heart jolted as I looked at Redmond.
"What should I do?"
"There's nothing you can do."
Redmond waved his hand. I let out a sound of surprise, looking at him in disbelief.
"Didn't Matron Noon tell me to come find you? Isn't there some way to resolve this?"
"Someone at her level is just making assumptions. Right now, even though I hold the King of Hell title, those bastards in the Underworld..."
Redmond spoke, looking genuinely angry. I asked him a question.
"What happened?"
"Let me explain."
Vivian Maple stepped over and began to explain to us.
Long ago, after John Chou hosted the first Feast of Ten Thousand Ghosts, he set up a private hell and seized some dead souls, sending them straight to the Hall of Bloodbane. Back then, the dead could still reincarnate, because John Chou had Mr. Brown create a direct passage to the Sanzu Force.
This shocked everyone in the Underworld, but soon, the other Ghost Sovereigns also began hosting the Feast of Ten Thousand Ghosts and established their own hells. All the reincarnation passages for the Ghost Sovereigns were crafted by Mr. Brown.
The Underworld, unable to intervene, had no choice but to acknowledge the Ghost Sovereigns' misdeeds.
Now, Redmond has hosted the Feast of Ten Thousand Ghosts as well, and although he received the Underworld's recognition, the souls reporting to the Hall of Malice can't reincarnate. He originally thought the Underworld would grant him some authority, let him govern a few places, but unexpectedly, he's become nothing more than a figurehead.
At this point, Redmond started cursing loudly.
"Hmph, those old bastards in the Underworld, just wait and see."
"Boss, you may not have real power now, but at least you get the same treatment as the King of Hell. After all, the King of Hell's Token they gave you is real, which means..."
"Vivian Maple, enough. You sure have a lot to say today."
Redmond seemed unwilling to tell us about his King of Hell's Token, deliberately sending Vivian Maple away. Both Hugh Thompson and I understood this.
"The other six have all tried it, but I haven't experienced it yet. Ethan Zhang, go ask Mr. Brown for a favor—see if he can help me create a direct passage to the human realm, all right?"
I let out a sound of surprise. But thinking of Mr. Brown, I felt it was impossible.
"That's impossible. Mr. Brown doesn't even listen to John Chou anymore."
"That's true. John Chou really went too far, so of course Mr. Brown won't listen to him. He's been cleaning up after that guy for over a thousand years—anyone, even a god, would be fed up."
I couldn't help but smile knowingly.
"Ethan Zhang, just help me find Mr. Brown when you have time. All you have to do is invite him here, all right?"
"I'll do my best." Suddenly, I realized—if Redmond really had Mr. Brown create a direct passage to the human realm, wouldn't that cause chaos?
"Don't worry about that, Ethan Zhang. Go back and find John Chou. He's probably the only one in this world who can break the King of Hell's mark on your soul. The Ninth Tribunal and the Equal King aren't ordinary figures. If it were any other tribunal, I might have some way, but his token is really powerful."
Once I understood, I stood up. I was already a bit drowsy, but I couldn't sleep—if I did, my soul might leave my body and head straight for the Underworld.
"Redmond, thank you—for everything on the Underworld Path."
I stood up, planning to head back to the apartment building—by flying.
"Hmph, Ethan Zhang, make good use of your instincts. As for those people in the Immortality Society, don't provoke them for now."
I stared wide-eyed at Redmond. He looked calm and composed, watching me. I said nothing and left the office with Hugh Thompson.
After leaving the building, I said goodbye to Hugh Thompson and planned to fly straight back to the apartment. I spread my wings and slowly rose into the air.
"By the way, which hospital is Dalton Fang in? I'll visit him when I have time."
"He's at South District People's Hospital."
I nodded, then shot up onto a building and into the pitch-black night sky. Heading south, I flew toward where my apartment was.
The night air up here was chilly, but it felt exhilarating. Looking down, the city's twinkling lights blurred by as the wind roared around me. I shifted my body into ghost form, moving even faster.
It was late at night, so I didn't have to worry about being seen. I lowered my altitude a bit, weaving between the skyscrapers, feeling fantastic.
All the unpleasant feelings in my heart seemed to vanish. I remembered that, in the past, John Chou would take me out into the boundless night sky when I was feeling down, almost like going for a drive.
I could already see some of the landmarks of South City. I even spotted my old cleaning company. Thinking about it, it's been almost a year since I left that job.