Chương 7: Is that a gangster?

In the grand, opulent mansion of the Miraka clan, a room of significant proportions stood as a testament to power and authority. Bathed in the soft glow of ambient lighting, the room's walls were adorned with intricate tapestries depicting the clan's rich history.

At the heart of this lavish space sat an enormous desk, polished to a mirror-like sheen. Behind it, an elderly gentleman with silver-gray hair commanded attention. His face bore a scar that cut a jagged path across his weathered features, a visible reminder of battles fought and victories won. This was Sayo, the formidable boss of the Miraka clan.

Seated in a plush leather couch nearby, Koji, a young man in his twenties, was engrossed in a game streaming on his phone. He appeared nonchalant, embodying a casual air that contrasted sharply with the gravity of his surroundings.

Sayo's voice, icy and commanding, pierced through the room as he held a phone to his ear, listening intently. Abruptly, he slammed the phone back onto its cradle, his displeasure palpable.

"I have a job for you, my son," Sayo declared, his voice laced with authority and frustration.

Koji glanced up from his phone, meeting his father's gaze. There was a hint of indifference in his eyes as he responded, "What's up, pops?"

Sayo's face tightened, his frustration evident. "Tarik didn't complete his assigned route," he said with controlled fury. "And as a result, we are hemorrhaging money."

Koji chuckled, seemingly amused by the predicament. "I hope someone popped that stupid head of his," he remarked, displaying a lack of concern.

A surge of anger washed over Sayo's face, his brows furrowing with disapproval. He pounded his hand on the desk, his voice filled with a mix of frustration and disappointment. "If they did, then we need to respond," he bellowed. "Otherwise, we will seem weak. When will you learn? How can I entrust my empire to you?"

Koji sat up, a touch of annoyance etched on his face. Attempting to pacify his father, he replied, "Okay, calm down, pop."

In a sudden display of fury, Sayo flung an object from the desk toward Koji. It sailed through the air, nearly hitting Koji. The room grew tense as Sayo's words struck like venom.

"He is twice the man that you are," Sayo declared, his voice filled with authority. "Find out what happened with Tarik and deal with it. Don't you dare fuck this up, too, because it's your last chance. Do you understand?"

Koji's expression transformed, his countenance shifting from nonchalance to seething anger. His eyes burned with a mixture of resentment and defiance, and a single tear threatened to escape the corners of his eyes. "Fuck. You!" he spat out, his voice trembling with rage.

Without another word, Koji bolted out of the room, his steps resonating through the vast halls of the mansion. Sayo slumped back into his chair, a heavy sigh escaping his lips.

****

Kiki darted through the bustling streets, her determination propelling her forward, while Tarik hurried to keep pace with her. As he closed the gap, Tarik couldn't help but notice the remnants of sadness lingering in Kiki's eyes.

"Now that your mourning has died down, perhaps you could enlighten me on what you meant earlier?" Tarik inquired.

Kiki sniffed, attempting to compose herself. "Would you ever stop mourning if your baby, the very thing you called a gadget, was taken away from you?" she responded, her voice trembling with a mixture of sorrow and frustration.

Tarik's gaze remained fixed on Kiki, his face a mask of contemplation and empathy, slowly comprehending the weight of her words.

"Okay, okay, I might have lied a little bit. I don't actually know the location," Kiki admitted, her voice carrying a tinge of resignation.

Tarik halted in his tracks, a hint of disappointment etched across his features, ready to turn away and walk in the opposite direction.

"Stop pouting," Kiki exclaimed, "I know someone who undoubtedly knows that location. That's where we're headed."

Tarik hesitated, the conflict within him evident. After a moment's pause, he reluctantly turned back to face Kiki, silently acknowledging the importance of this opportunity.

"This is your only and last chance, or else..." Tarik's voice trailed off, leaving the unspoken consequences hanging in the air.

Kiki's eyes narrowed, a defiant glimmer in her gaze. "Calm down. I can assure you that she knows the location. Besides, why are you so interested in that place?" she questioned, her curiosity piqued.

"It's personal," Tarik replied curtly, his guarded response hinting at the depths of his emotional investment.

"Personal?" Kiki scoffed, a mischievous smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "I've shown you my invention. No, I've even allowed you to use it. That's more personal than letting your boyfriend put it in your *ss," she added provocatively.

Tarik's brows furrowed in a mixture of annoyance and surprise. "Don't push it," he warned, "Just show me to the person who knows the location, and we'll be done."

"Not quite," Kiki interjected, "Because we agreed that you would help me catch a ghost, and we are still one ghost short on that."

"I agreed to catch a ghost, not to kill one," Tarik retorted firmly, his moral boundaries coming into play.

"Well, if you can come up with a better plan to accomplish that, then let me know," Kiki responded, her tone tinged with a challenge. As they continued their walk, Kiki abruptly halted, her gaze fixated on a scene unfolding before them.

Tarik followed her line of sight and spotted a group of individuals loading equipment into a van. The side of the van bore the name "Ghost Snatchers," prompting a disheartened sigh to escape Tarik's lips. "Not another one of those," he muttered under his breath.

"Wait here while I talk to them," Kiki instructed. With a burst of energy, she raced towards the van, leaving Tarik to observe from a distance.

Kiki approached the van with determined strides, her eyes fixed on a middle-aged woman who exuded an air of free-spiritedness. With flowers adorning her hair and a sizable crystal pendant dangling from her necklace, she possessed an ethereal quality that seemed to blend seamlessly with her surroundings. As Kiki drew closer, the woman tossed a box of equipment into the back of the van, her actions carrying a sense of purpose and familiarity.

"Hey Astral, how did it go?" Kiki called out, her voice filled with anticipation.

At the sound of Kiki's voice, Astral's head turned, her eyes lighting up with recognition. The two women, embraced with shrieks of delight, their excitement reverberating through the air like echoes of childhood memories.

"Oh, it's so good to see you, Kiki," Astral, exclaimed, her voice tinged with both affection and weariness. "The hunt was challenging, but this place holds much darkness that mere humans can't conquer," she continued, her tone shifting to one of solemnity.

"Oh... So you didn't find anything worthwhile?" Kiki asked, a hint of disappointment tainting her words.

Astral's demeanor shifted, "No. It was a false tip, Kiki. This place wasn't haunted as we had believed."

Kiki's expression softened, "I'm sorry about that, Astral. But you know me, I've brought something that will undoubtedly be worth your while," she declared, her gaze filled with mischief.

"Please, do tell," Astral urged, her curiosity piqued.

Kiki's gaze turned back to Tarik, who stood at a respectful distance behind them. Astral followed her line of sight, her eyes narrowing as she studied Tarik intently.

"Is that a gangster?" Astral questioned, a hint of intrigue lacing her voice.

"Not just any gangster, my dear girlfriend," Kiki proclaimed, her voice brimming with confidence. "He is a gangster who is searching for a loved one gone missing in a haunted place."

Astral's eyes widened in fascination, a mischievous smile forming on her lips. "Now that's a juicy story that could garner plenty of attention," she remarked.

"And it could be yours to tell if..." Kiki paused dramatically, her eyes glinting with mischief.

Astral's smile grew wider, amusement dancing in her eyes. "I know that look of yours, Kiki. You're up to something. If...?" she prompted, anticipation lacing her words.

"If you make it appear to him that ghosts are responsible for the disappearance," Kiki revealed, an evil smile dancing across her lips.