"Killing too many people can cause a ghost to evolve."
Jamie, who had just calmed down a little, immediately stiffened.
"Evolve?"
He stared at Lucien.
"What does that mean?"
Lucien paused for a moment, tapping his fingers lightly against the counter while considering how to explain it.
The complete explanation would be troublesome.
According to certain traditions, ghosts that harmed innocent people weren't simply free to kill endlessly. There were consequences. Heaven, earth, and humanity all imposed invisible restraints. Tribulations, punishment, rejection—countless barriers existed before a wandering spirit could truly transform into something far more dangerous.
But...
This was America.
A place where horror movie logic casually walked hand in hand with reality.
So after thinking for a second, Lucien chose the simplest explanation possible.
"Think of it as something far worse than Freddy."
Silence.
Jamie's expression froze.
Then he visibly shuddered.
"...You're joking."
Lucien looked at him.
He wasn't.
That alone answered everything.
Jamie swallowed hard.
Mary Shaw had nearly gotten him killed.
Freddy had invaded dreams.
And now Lucien was calmly describing something potentially stronger than both.
His face instantly turned ugly.
Lucien casually continued while flipping another page in the divination book resting on the counter.
"And there's another problem."
"If the spirit inside your apartment becomes stronger, people around it will slowly start leaving."
Jamie blinked.
"What?"
Lucien didn't even look up.
"Fear spreads."
"People notice strange things."
"They get uncomfortable."
"They move away."
"The fewer residents remain, the easier it becomes for something malicious to wander around unnoticed."
He finally lifted his eyes.
"So from the ghost's perspective, that's perfect."
"A quiet building."
"Fewer witnesses."
"More victims."
"A very efficient arrangement."
Jamie suddenly felt a chill crawl down his back.
Because—
it actually made sense.
Too much sense.
Lucien calmly added:
"So if the thing there could already kill people directly, it would've done it long ago."
"Instead it's hiding."
"Creating disturbances."
"Building fear."
"That means one thing."
Jamie stared at him.
Lucien closed the book.
"It's weak."
"Or at least weaker than you think."
A small notification quietly appeared in Lucien's mind:
[You are studying divination-related knowledge.]
[Divination Understanding +1]
Lucien ignored it entirely.
Recently he had become increasingly accustomed to those notifications.
Instead, he reached beneath the counter.
Jamie immediately straightened.
"Talismans?"
Lucien glanced at him.
"No."
Jamie froze.
Then Lucien pulled out several old books instead.
"I'm looking for something else."
He began searching through the stack.
Jamie stared blankly.
"Wait..."
"You aren't preparing anything?"
Lucien finally found what he wanted and placed two books on the table.
Then answered calmly:
"If you're scared, I'll give you talismans."
"But before that—"
Lucien looked directly at him.
"If you interfere, then you interfere completely."
"No halfway measures."
"No hesitation."
His expression became slightly more serious.
"If a suppression talisman activates, then whatever is inside must be destroyed completely."
"If outside interference contaminates the process..."
Lucien's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Then things become troublesome."
Jamie swallowed.
"Troublesome... how?"
Lucien leaned back.
"If something escapes after nearly being destroyed, it'll become more cautious."
"More vicious."
"And much harder to deal with."
He tapped the table.
"So if you use one—commit."
Jamie's face turned serious.
After several seconds he nodded heavily.
"I understand."
Only then did Lucien casually pull open a drawer.
Inside rested several yellow talismans.
He picked out two and handed them over.
"One protects you."
"One suppresses evil."
"If something unexpected happens, call me."
Jamie stared at the talismans.
He carefully accepted them as if holding fragile treasures.
Truthfully...
after everything that had happened with Mary Shaw, Jamie trusted these things more than guns.
At least bullets had almost gotten him killed.
Lucien's methods actually worked.
After putting away the talismans, Jamie finally relaxed slightly.
Meanwhile Lucien had already turned his attention elsewhere.
He looked toward the bookshelf left behind by his grandfather.
Earlier, Jamie's mention of destiny charts had unexpectedly reminded him of something.
Divination.
The thought had suddenly surfaced in his mind.
Meng Tou could warn him about danger.
But its warnings mostly focused on events in the immediate future.
If he combined instinctive supernatural perception with actual divination...
The accuracy might become absurd.
Lucien stood and walked toward the shelves.
Soon, he found two books.
He stared at them silently.
Plum Blossom Divination.
Six Lines Divination.
One specialized in flexibility.
Quick calculations.
Spontaneous readings.
Useful almost anywhere.
The other required coins and preparation.
Less convenient.
But significantly better for analyzing other people.
Lucien looked down at both books.
Then looked again.
Several seconds later—
he simply carried both back.
Children made choices.
Adults didn't.
Why choose one?
He wanted both.
Meanwhile—
Jamie had already left the shop and was driving back toward his apartment.
The farther he drove, the more nervous he became.
During the previous incidents, Lucien had always been nearby.
No matter how terrifying things became, Lucien somehow remained calm enough to make Jamie feel safe.
But tonight?
Tonight he was alone.
And in his pocket sat two pieces of paper that supposedly fought ghosts.
Jamie gripped the steering wheel harder.
Questions endlessly ran through his head.
Where should he place them?
How exactly did they work?
How long did suppression last?
Would the spirit attack immediately?
Would he know if it appeared?
The more he thought—
the more anxious he became.
Without realizing it, he had already reached the apartment building.
"Evening, Jamie."
The security guard near the entrance raised a hand.
Jamie forced a smile.
"Evening."
He really wasn't in the mood for conversation.
But before he could continue walking—
the guard stepped closer.
"Jamie."
"You okay?"
Jamie blinked.
Only then did he notice—
the security guard himself looked terrible.
Dark circles.
Sweaty forehead.
Constantly glancing around.
Like someone who hadn't slept properly in days.
The guard lowered his voice.
"You know Quinn's family?"
Jamie's heart skipped slightly.
Quinn.
The girl next door.
The one playing spirit summoning games.
"What about them?"
The guard looked around before leaning closer.
"Neighbors downstairs have been hearing screams."
"Late at night."
"Terrified screaming."
"Some people even thought her father was abusing her."
Jamie's expression changed.
"The community investigated."
"Nothing."
"No abuse."
"No family problems."
The guard rubbed his arms uneasily.
"Now people are saying strange things."
He lowered his voice even more.
"Some think something haunted moved in."
Silence.
Jamie suddenly felt the talismans inside his pocket becoming heavier.
The guard forced a laugh.
"Honestly?"
"If I were you, I'd stay somewhere else tonight."
"Night shifts already creep me out enough."
Jamie hesitated.
What could he say?
Tell him:
Don't worry.
I have supernatural anti-ghost paper given by an antique shop owner who casually fights evil spirits?
Yeah.
No one would believe that.
So he simply forced a smile.
"I've got things to do."
"I'll be okay."
Then he headed toward the elevator.
The metal doors slowly opened.
Jamie stepped inside.
Pressed the button.
Fourth floor.
The doors closed.
The elevator rose.
One.
Two.
Three.
Four.
Then—
warmth suddenly spread from inside his jacket.
Jamie's pupils shrank.
The talisman.
Before he could react—
Ding.
The doors slowly opened.
The hallway outside looked normal.
Too normal.
Quiet.
Empty.
No footsteps.
No television sounds.
No distant conversations.
Nothing.
Yet for some reason—
Jamie immediately felt it.
Cold.
Not ordinary cold.
Not air conditioning.
Not weather.
A freezing sensation seemed to crawl directly through his clothes and skin and sink into his bones.
His entire body stiffened.
Then—
warmth spread from his chest again.
The talisman.
This time the heat became stronger.
Instantly—
the cold receded.
Like invisible darkness had been pushed backward.
Jamie stood frozen for several seconds.
Then slowly looked down toward his pocket.
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Then—
very slowly—
he raised his head and looked toward the endless hallway ahead.
His heartbeat suddenly accelerated.
Because for the first time—
he realized something terrifying.
Lucien had been right.
Something was already here.