Ultimate Evolution I Became the Master of the World

"Are they gone?" Michael asked, staring out the window for what felt like forever.

He only relaxed when the eerie, gray Ghost Realm finally vanished.

Michael thought, 'Phew, it was just passing by. If it had stuck around, I would've had to bolt. Anyone who runs into a ghost like that is toast. But from what I saw, it looks like this ghost was somehow restrained, even if it wasn't locked up. Those crossed and pierced hands weren't just for show. The Ghost Handler must've figured out how it kills.'

'They used a golden candlestick to pin its hands together, limiting some of its powers.'

'But what was up with that candle on the candlestick?'

Michael frowned. 'The candle and the candlestick were one piece, both man-made and lit. Does it have some kind of restraining effect on the ghost? Or is it a marker, guiding the ghost somewhere?'

'There are still so many secrets in the world of Ghost Handlers. I bet they've figured out some effective ways to deal with ghosts.'

'Is it because I'm not high enough in the ranks to know, or are countries deliberately keeping this tech under wraps?'

'Even with a global catastrophe, do people still have to fight and oppose each other?' Michael mused.

He realized that to survive, he couldn't just be a lone wolf Ghost Handler. Ethan's way was wrong.

To make it, he had to climb the ranks, gain status, and power. Only then could he learn more secrets and info.

He didn't want to be left in the dark, waiting to die.

Thinking this, Michael glanced at the piece of human skin parchment under the golden box on the table. It seemed to hold all the secrets.

But it came at a high price; it wouldn't easily give up important info.

After a moment of thought, Michael knew what he had to do next.

He looked at Jane. "There was a ghost outside, but it's gone now. Did you bring my food? I need to eat and then crash."

"In the bag," Jane stammered, still nervous.

"Thanks." Michael acted like nothing had happened, his mental toughness way beyond that of ordinary folks.

He felt like he could eat even if a pile of corpses was laid out in front of him.

Seeing Michael chow down like there was no tomorrow, Jane finally felt safe. She let out a small sigh of relief and said softly, "I'm gonna take a shower. If anything happens, come save me, okay? I'll be good, I promise." "Don't worry. If something does happen, I'll cover your cremation costs," Michael said, still munching away.

Michael wasn't about to promise he'd save her. If a terrifying ghost showed up, he'd be out of there in a heartbeat.

At best, he'd wait for the ghost to leave and then call the cops.

"It's fine. Everything will be fine. I will survive," Jane kept telling herself, slapping her cheeks lightly as she stepped into the shower.

'I made it out of that creepy mall. What could be worse than that? I've seen ghosts before. As long as Michael's here, I'm not scared. He can handle those things. Even if he doesn't say it, I believe in him.'

'But first, I need to become his girlfriend. That way, he'll protect me. Or his lover,' Jane thought.

Even though it was all part of her plan, Jane still felt a bit shy about actually going through with it.

After her shower, she dried her hair in front of the mirror and tidied herself up a bit.

Her delicate face in the mirror had a hint of allure, and her mature body wrapped in a towel could ignite any man's desire.

Since she had been chased a lot in college, Jane was confident in her looks and figure.

But she was a smart woman and wouldn't be blinded by short-lived college romances. To her, a woman's love and marriage were investments.

She wanted to gain the greatest benefit, and Michael was the most suitable man for her.

"I'm out. Did you wait long?" Jane said with a hint of seduction, her face slightly red as she walked out of the bathroom.

But there was no response in the room.

Jane walked over, a bit confused, and saw the empty food container on the table.

Looking upstairs, she found that Michael had already gone to bed.

'Didn't even wait for me,' Jane thought as she went upstairs in her bathrobe.

She saw Michael lying spread-eagle on the bed, taking up the whole space.

"Michael, are you asleep?" Jane snuggled up next to him, resting her head on his chest and whispered.

"No," Michael opened his eyes.

Jane smiled, "I knew you weren't asleep. How long did you wait for me? Are you hungry now?"

"I'm not hungry. I already ate," Michael replied.

Jane wrapped her arms around his neck. "What's so good about food? Aren't I better than food?"

"Don't move. I'm not feeling well right now," Michael said, sweat beading on his forehead.

The side effects of dealing with the evil ghost were kicking in again. His body started to go limp, and he couldn't move. He could only feel the restless stirring of the demon's eyes hidden within him. "Where does it hurt? Mind if I take a look?" Jane said seductively, giving Michael a kiss on the cheek. "Does that feel a bit better?"

But just as she kissed him, a crack appeared on Michael's face, revealing a crimson eye that stared at her with a strange gaze.

Jane screamed and almost jumped out of bed.

"I told you not to move," Michael said calmly. "I can't control the ghost inside me right now. If it wants to do something to you, there's nothing I can do."

"How can this be?" Jane covered her mouth in shock.

Michael sighed. "The reason I can deal with Vengeful Ghosts is because I've become one myself. Otherwise, what do you think people like us rely on to interact with Vengeful Ghosts? Our brains? Our courage? Or do you think there's some kind of special ability in this world? Gaining the power of an evil spirit comes at a price. This is just one of them."

"Being too close to me does you no good. I'm only staying here temporarily. Once my business is done, I'll leave and won't affect your life or work," Michael said.

Jane hadn't expected this to be Michael's truth.

"Will you still help me in the future?" She hesitated for a long time, wanting to leave but unable to get off the bed.

Michael said directly, "No, I have no obligation to save you. Not just you, but anyone else. The mall incident was just your luck, running into me while I was solving a paranormal case for money."

"But I don't want to die. I want to live, to live well." Jane cautiously snuggled into Michael's arms.

"Ghosts will appear again, right?" she added.

"Yes, paranormal events will become more frequent." Michael didn't hide it. "Eventually, everyone in the world will know. Right now, most people are still in the dark. No one knows when they might die. It could be a phone call, a knock on the door, or in their sleep."

"If I sleep with you, will you help me?" Jane didn't dare look up at that eye.

"No," Michael said bluntly.

Jane asked, "What will it take for you to help me?"

"You need to be useful to me, help me handle some things, assist me in some work. Like in the mall, you helped me watch the surveillance footage. Then I'll protect you, make sure you don't get killed. It's a fair exchange," Michael said, turning his head slightly to look at her. "Saving people without reason will only get me killed."

"Then I can be your personal assistant. I'm an accountant, I know a lot of things," Jane quickly said.

"Finance, do you know that? Especially stocks?" Michael asked.

"Yes," Jane replied.

"Can you handle big clients?" he added.

"Yes, I have some high-quality client resources. If you want to do paranormal business, I can help you," Jane replied.

"I didn't expect you to be a corporate elite," Michael said, somewhat surprised.

He had to admit that this woman was indeed very capable, more than he had anticipated.

Of course, there was also the possibility of exaggeration.

"If you don't want to go back to work for now, you can work for me. I do have some things I need you to do. Besides a salary, I'll provide you with protection," Michael said seriously. He could try to build a team.

After all, if he became a detective in the future, he couldn't face these things alone.

"Really?" Jane looked up in surprise. It seemed Michael wasn't so intimidating after all.

"Just a trial. I don't have experience in this aspect," Michael said. "It's late. I'm going to sleep."

The paralysis in his body began to fade, which was much better than the last time.

It seemed the red paper was still working. But the mental exhaustion quickly put him to sleep.

Jane looked at Michael, lost in thought, and after a while, she also gradually fell asleep in his arms.

While Michael was sleeping, Mr. Rossi, who had just finished giving his statement at the police station, came out with a surviving assistant and the driver who hadn't entered the mall.

"It was really unlucky. We actually encountered a ghost. Without getting a coin and even lost a lot. I can't go back in a month and I have to report to the police station every day," Mr. Rossi said angrily. "Let's go find a hotel to sleep in," the assistant said.

On the way, the driver suddenly asked, "Why do you have a scar on your neck?"

Mr. Rossi's assistant touched his neck. It felt like the skin was peeling back, exposing the flesh underneath.

He said calmly, "Nothing, probably just a scratch."

"Well." The driver didn't ask further and went to start the car.

As the driver turned away, the assistant's eyes gradually lost their sparkle, becoming empty and numb. His face had turned pale, devoid of any color.