When I returned to my room—602—it was already past 3 a.m. Rufina was asleep, showing no signs of anything unusual.
Later, Zhang Jizheng spoke with me for a long time. He mentioned that the person who captured Rufina Howard wasn’t a Blood-Sucking Revenant, and after going out last night, he sensed that Rufina was truly different.
But it was already late. I splashed some water on my face and left the room again. There were still people in the hotel lobby, likely night staff. I needed Old Ray to come in and sniff around, to see what was really wrong.
Staring at the wide-eyed receptionist at the front desk, I had no choice but to step outside and find Old Ray. Once again, I had to become a ghost, slip into the man’s body, and let Old Ray in. The man collapsed as soon as Old Ray entered.
At the elevator doors on the sixth floor, Old Ray emerged, nose twitching as he sniffed around. After a long while, he nodded and crouched, looking up at me.
"There’s definitely her scent. It leads that way."
Old Ray spoke, walking and sniffing as he went.
"The trail’s gone."
At the window at the end of the corridor, I looked out and saw the Mason Village Residential Area where the villagers lived.
"Ethan, I don’t know why, but every time I try to go over there, I stop. It’s like some animal instinct holds me back, warning me not to get close. So I’ve just been circling nearby."