Chapter 74: Professional Team, Excellent After-Sales Service, Five-Star Review Please!
BANG! BANG!
Deafening gunshots exploded in the enclosed living room, accompanied by two dazzling silver streams of light. These weren't ordinary bullets—they were specially crafted rounds wrapped in Purification energy, the natural bane of vengeful spirits and demons.
The white-clad apparition rushing toward them let out a shriek so piercingly inhuman it could shatter eardrums and tear at souls.
However, no blood or gore followed.
Two bullets accurately pierced La Llorona's body but left no bullet holes.
Where the rounds passed through, her figure twisted and flickered violently, like an old TV with bad reception, emitting large clouds of black mist that reeked of decay and resentment.
"¡AHHHHH!"
She released a mournful wail filled with agony, her entire form freezing mid-air before dissolving like punctured smoke, disintegrating into water vapor and toxic black mist that dissipated into nothing.
Everything returned to calm.
Anna, collapsed on the floor, gasped for breath, her face still streaked with tears and terror.
She stared at the two absurdly large pistols in Edward's hands—now trailing wisps of smoke—then at the spot where the ghost had vanished. Her mind was completely blank.
"Is she... is she dead? Is it over?" Anna's voice trembled uncontrollably.
"No. Not yet." Edward holstered Ebony and Ivory, his tone flat as if critiquing a boring movie. "This is just round one. She retreated into her 'domain.'"
"Domain?" Anna was utterly lost.
Edward didn't elaborate. His gaze swept across the living room.
In the air, the cold, damp sensation hadn't diminished—it had intensified.
Drip.
A crisp sound of water droplets echoed in the silent room.
Not from where the ghost had disappeared, but... from the wall.
Drip. Drip. Drip...
The sound grew more frequent. Anna watched in horror as the surrounding wallpaper began darkening with moisture, and drops of murky, foul-smelling water continuously seeped from cracks in the wallpaper, corners of the ceiling, and even gaps in the hardwood floor beneath her!
The entire house seemed to transform into a giant sponge soaked with sewage, being wrung out.
"What... what's happening?" A sob crept into Anna's voice.
Edward's face showed a hint of curiosity.
He wanted to see how far a vengeful spirit—fed for centuries by legend and the fears of countless people—could push her powers.
No sooner had the thought formed than the seeping droplets coalesced into streams, and streams into waterfalls!
WHOOOOSH—!
Murky river water mixed with weeds and mud surged wildly into the living room from all directions! Windows, door cracks, walls—everywhere gushed water!
The water level rose at a visible, frantic pace. The icy river water quickly covered their ankles, then knees. Furniture floated and collided in the rising tide.
"Get upstairs! NOW!" Anna screamed, scrambling toward the stairs.
Too late.
A massive wave crashed down from the stairway direction, instantly submerging the entire living room!
The world lost all sound, leaving only endless murky cold.
Anna's mouth and nose filled with water. The agony of suffocation made her thrash frantically, vision rapidly blurring.
Just as she thought she was done for, a gentle but irresistible force enveloped her.
The water around her seemed pushed aside by an invisible hand, forming a spherical, waterless space about six feet in diameter, encompassing both her and Edward.
Anna lay on the waterlogged floor, coughing violently, expelling water from her lungs. She looked up in shock at everything around her.
They were inside a massive air bubble held open by telekinetic power. Beyond the barrier, turbulent murky river water filled the entire house. Broken furniture, children's toys, and family photos slowly floated and spun in the current, creating a bizarre apocalyptic aquarium.
And Edward, who'd created this sanctuary, simply stood there quietly, hands in his pockets, expression utterly calm. He looked like a tourist at SeaWorld, observing his surroundings with mild interest.
"Interesting," he murmured. "Dragging reality into her inner world to form a temporary reality marble. Crude, but impressive for a vengeful spirit."
At that moment, the chilling wail began again.
This time it came from all directions, piercing through water and echoing directly in their minds.
"Mis hijos... ¿Dónde están mis hijos?"
As the wailing continued, white figures began emerging in the murky water around them.
One, two, ten, a hundred... In seconds, countless La Lloronas appeared, completely surrounding their telekinetic shield.
All dressed in soaking white gowns with dripping black hair and black blood-tears streaming from hollow eye sockets.
Each identical to the one Edward had just shot.
Their movements synchronized perfectly as they slowly raised their heads, hundreds of hollow eyes "staring" at the two people inside the barrier.
Even protected within the safe space, Anna couldn't withstand this extreme terror. She took one look and screamed.
"Found you."
Edward's gaze pierced through layers of illusions, locking onto one inconspicuous figure. While all other illusions simulated venomous resentment and sorrow, only that one was the true emotional source.
The moment he locked onto the main body, all La Llorona illusions seemed to receive a command.
They simultaneously opened their mouths in silent shrieks, transforming into hundreds of white water streams, rushing from all directions like predatory sharks, slamming into Edward's telekinetic shield!
Anna squeezed her eyes shut in terror.
Now!
Edward didn't use flashy abilities or summon weapons.
He simply took a single step forward, body cutting straight through the water, right arm pulling back as muscles tensed instantly, gathering all his superhuman strength into one point.
The next second, a simple, unadorned straight punch launched!
This punch created no light effects, made no dramatic sound, but wherever his fist passed, murky water instantly evaporated, forming a brief vacuum tunnel.
The true La Llorona—targeted among hundreds of illusions—seemed completely unprepared for Edward to find her so precisely using such a brutally simple method.
For the first time, her face showed an expression resembling "shock."
Edward's fist rapidly grew larger in her hollow vision.
BOOM!
Anna sat stunned on the cold, damp floor, her brain nearly crashing from information overload.
Broken glass, soaked carpet, the room in complete disarray, and a faint lingering stench of blood and bone-chilling cold in the air.
But the white figure that had brought her endless fear—the sad and vengeful wailing ghost—had indeed vanished.
Destroyed by this young man, who looked barely eighteen, with a single punch... in a way she couldn't comprehend?
"Get up. It's not over yet." Edward's voice pulled her back to reality.
His tone remained calm, as if he'd just completed routine paperwork.
"There's... there's more?" Anna's voice trembled uncontrollably, her momentarily settled heart leaping back into her throat.
"Residual energy needs cleaning. I don't want my first client giving me a one-star review because of leftover haunting." Edward said, surveying the house steeped in malevolence like a Spirit Halloween store after hours.
Just then, a door opened upstairs, followed by children's crying.
"Mommy! Mommy!"
A little boy and girl in pajamas ran barefoot down the stairs.
Anna's son Chris and daughter Samantha.
They'd clearly been startled awake by the loud explosion and violent tremors, faces streaked with tears and filled with terror.
Seeing the destroyed living room and their soaking wet mother, they looked even more frightened and confused.
"Oh, my babies!" Anna snapped from her daze, scrambling to embrace both children tightly, tears streaming uncontrollably.
Edward watched the family of three embracing and crying after their ordeal, his expression neutral.
He raised his right hand, palm upward.
"Alright. Time for the after-sales service."
A gentle golden light illuminated from his palm.
Enhanced Holy Light activated.
Purification ability engaged.
Instantly, the entire living room was enveloped in warm, sacred golden radiance.
The light wasn't blinding—instead it carried comforting warmth.
Wherever the light touched, water stains on walls evaporated at visible speed, and the cold foul smell in the air was swept away, replaced by fresh scent like grass after rain.
Though broken windows couldn't be restored, the resentment and sorrow permeating every corner melted like snow under summer sun beneath Purification's pure power.
Anna and her children, bathed in golden light, felt warm current flow through their bodies. The bone-deep fear and chill were instantly dispelled. Nerves tense for days finally relaxed, like basking in gentle winter sunshine.
Both children stopped crying, opening their eyes wide with curiosity at the glowing "big brother" before them. Fear in their eyes gradually gave way to admiration and awe.
Seconds later, the light dissipated.
The entire house looked renewed. Physical damage remained, but the ominous "feeling" had completely vanished.
Edward's gaze fell on the spot where La Llorona dispersed. There, a tattered, damp white lace veil lay quietly on the floor—the only proof of the vengeful spirit's existence.
He walked over, bent down, and picked up the veil.
Cold to the touch and carrying faint trace of sadness, but the malevolence had been completely purified, leaving only pure spiritual remnant.
"Decent trophy," Edward mused, casually storing it in his inventory.
After finishing, he turned back to Anna.
"Alright, ma'am. Your house and family are now 'clean.'" He pulled over a relatively dry chair and sat down, crossing his legs in a business negotiation posture. "Let's discuss payment."
Anna paused, snapping out of the miraculous scene she'd just witnessed. She wiped away tears and quickly sent both children back to their room before walking somewhat awkwardly toward Edward.
"Mr. Connor, I... I really can't thank you enough! You saved me and my children! I—"
"No thanks necessary," Edward interrupted her gratitude calmly. "My office isn't a charity.
According to my fee schedule, handling an evil spirit of this level costs one hundred thousand dollars."
"One... one hundred thousand?" Anna's face instantly paled.
One hundred thousand dollars was astronomical for a single mother raising two kids alone.
Her husband's life insurance was nearly depleted, and as a CPS social worker, her salary wasn't high.
"I... I don't have that much money..." Her voice filled with helplessness and embarrassment. "All my savings combined might... might not even reach ten thousand..."
Edward watched her quietly, saying nothing.
Anna felt uneasy under his gaze, fearing this young man with god-like power would get angry because she couldn't pay.
She gritted her teeth and said urgently, "But... but I can repay you other ways! I can work extra shifts, pay in installments! Please believe me, I'll definitely pay it all back!"
Looking at her on the verge of tears, Edward remained unmoved.
Of course he knew she couldn't afford it. He'd set that price precisely to set up the upcoming "discount."
He extended one finger and gently shook it.
"Considering you're the first official client since my office opened, I'll give you a discount." He paused, then stated a new number. "Fifty thousand dollars."
Anna's expression froze. Fifty thousand, though half of one hundred thousand, was still an insurmountable mountain for her.
Edward seemed to read her thoughts and continued, "I know you can't produce it now. I'll give you time—one month to transfer the money to this account."
He materialized paper and pen, quickly wrote down a bank routing and account number, and handed it to Anna.
"Remember, I deal with 'supernatural' matters, so I expect my clients to pay their compensation in legitimate ways.
Pay on time, and we're square. If it's overdue..."
Edward didn't finish the sentence, but his calm gaze made Anna feel pressure even heavier than facing La Llorona.
She knew this young man absolutely wasn't joking.
"I... I understand." Anna's hands trembled as she took the slip of paper, nodding heavily. "Within a month, I will... I'll definitely get the money together!"
"Good." Edward nodded in satisfaction, standing from the chair. "Then my work here is done. Farewell."
He turned and walked toward a closet door in the corner of the living room.
Anna instinctively said, "Sir, the front door is over there..."
Edward didn't turn back, merely waving casually.
He grasped the closet doorknob, gently twisted it, and pulled the door open.
Behind the door was no longer a small space piled with winter coats and storage boxes, but the office filled with modern aesthetics and controlled chaos.
Edward glanced back at the stunned Anna, a mysterious smile playing on his lips, then stepped inside and closed the door.
As soon as the door closed, in Anna's view, it reverted to being an ordinary closet door. As if everything that just happened was merely hallucination...
Inside "Devil May Cry" Office
Edward returned to his own domain, feeling completely at ease. He walked to the giant trophy display case and retrieved the "Weeping Woman's Veil" from his inventory.
He examined it momentarily, then carefully hung it on a newly added pure silver stand.
"Another piece for the collection." Edward clapped his hands in satisfaction.
He walked to the heavy main door of the office, grasped the doorknob, and thought of his bedroom at home.
He pulled the door open.
Outside was his familiar room: desk, bed, wardrobe—everything exactly as he'd left it.
"This is ridiculously convenient," Edward couldn't help exclaiming.
This ability was practically top-tier spatial magic. Whether for surprise attacks, tactical retreats, or daily commuting, it was simply unbeatable.
He closed the door. The office entrance behind him vanished.
His stomach rumbled at this inopportune moment. High-intensity combat plus "academic research" had taken quite a toll on his physical energy.
Edward rubbed his stomach, walked out of the bedroom, and headed downstairs.
His father John was sitting in the living room reading the Los Angeles Times, while his mother Sarah was busy in the kitchen.
Seeing him descend, Sarah poked her head out, surprised. "Edward? When did you get back? I didn't even hear the door."
"Just got back a bit ago," Edward replied casually, then walked straight to the kitchen, peering inside. "Is there anything to eat? I'm starving."
Sarah rolled her eyes, wiped her hands on her apron, and pointed to the refrigerator.
"There's leftover Domino's and spaghetti with meatballs from last night in the fridge. Microwave it yourself."
Edward glanced around, shrugged, and secretly pulled some food from his Gourmet Tablecloth inventory instead.
Much better than day-old pizza.
[Author's Note: I've seen comments saying female character introductions are slow. You're right—it is deliberate. Each character has their own story arc and relationship development. I'm not into fast-food style romance; every character gets proper buildup and meaningful connections.]
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