Lin Gui was silent for two seconds, pointing to the spot on his forehead that was still throbbing.
“Then... what about the brick that knocked me out?”
At the mention of this, Troy immediately looked embarrassed.
Floating in the air, she anxiously wrung her translucent little hands.
“Well... when you first walked into my house...”
“I already saw my brother and Uncle Cluny.”
“I told them about myself... and about you, the kind messenger mage.”
She carefully watched Lin Gui's expression.
“Uncle Cluny... was a cleric when he was alive.”
“Even after becoming like this, he can still use a bit of power to affect physical things.”
“He... he was afraid you'd just walk away.”
“So that's why...”
Troy's voice grew quieter and quieter, her eyes filled with entreaty.
“Uncle Cluny really is a good uncle!”
“He usually takes great care of us 'little ghosts.'”
“He would take the time to teach us how to read, and he'd even guide talented kids in practicing breathing techniques.”
“Everyone likes him very much...”
She floated a little closer and said seriously,
“So, please don't be angry with him, okay?”
“And Uncle said...”
She mimicked a gruff voice:
“‘A mage who knows how to use Levitation is usually not simple!’”
“He thought that brick... would at most make you stumble.”
“Just enough to get your attention and make you stop to listen to our request.”
She looked at the red mark on Lin Gui's forehead that hadn't faded yet, her voice growing even weaker.
“He didn't expect...”
“That a single brick would...”
The corner of Lin Gui's mouth twitched violently.
“So...”
His tone was faint.
“It's my fault for being too weak?”
“Pfft—”
Eve, standing to the side, couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Under Lin Gui's speechless gaze, she pursed her lips, the lingering amusement still shining in her eyes.
“Squishy little mage,” she teased softly.
Lin Gui rolled his eyes at her and looked back at Troy.
“So, why did your uncle stop me?”
Troy immediately straightened up and said seriously,
“He wanted to ask you to help deliver a letter.”
“Just like you did for the residents of Avalon.”
Clutching the glass bead, she spun around in midair, then raised her finger to point firmly toward the north.
“And the place to deliver it isn't far!”
“Just to the north—”
“A small town you can reach by going through the Twilight Forest and following the Moonlight Creek.”
“Silverstream Town.”
She looked at Lin Gui, her eyes shining with earnest hope.
“Uncle Cluny wants to ask you to go check...”
“If his family is still there.”
“So, kind Lord Mage...”
Troy floated in front of Lin Gui, clasping her hands together in a pleading gesture.
Her translucent little face was full of anticipation.
“Can you help Uncle Cluny?”
“And... the other 'residents' of Blackwater City?”
Lin Gui looked at the ghost in front of him, who was clearly twenty-eight but had the appearance of a twelve-year-old.
He suddenly let out a soft chuckle.
“Just now... who was it that called me 'little brother'?”
“Uh...”
Troy instantly froze.
She blinked, then flashed a sickeningly sweet, placating smile.
“It was my fault...”
“Mage big brother?”
She deliberately dragged out the "brother" part, tilting her head.
She was trying to use her youthful face to get away with it.
Lin Gui raised an eyebrow. He didn't speak, but his expression clearly softened.
He seemed to... quite enjoy this form of address?
Standing aside, Eve watched this scene silently.
From her perspective—
A glass bead floated in midair in front of Lin Gui.
It bobbed up and down slightly, as if bowing and scraping.
Meanwhile, Lin Gui was facing thin air, wearing an almost "smug" expression.
This scene...
...was truly a bit surreal and bizarre.
While Lin Gui was enjoying that "big brother," he silently questioned the system in his mind.
Can letters from ghosts... also be included in the reward system?
【Ding!】
The system notification rang out quickly, its tone steady:
【Acceptable delivery intent detected.】
【Does the Host wish to begin scanning for pending letters within the 'Blackwater City' area?】
Lin Gui understood.
Since he could get rewards...
...then what reason was there to refuse?
Even if the clients were a bit unusual.
A bunch of ghosts.
He looked at Troy's large, sparkling eyes, which were filled with anticipation.
Helplessly, he pointed to his own eyes, which were still glowing with a gray light.
“But your uncle...”
“...seems to have been scared away by me.”
“He's hiding from me right now.”
“It's fine!”
Troy floated a bit higher, full of confidence.
“I have a way to make them believe you aren't a Netherworld messenger here to capture ghosts!”
Lin Gui was curious. “What way?”
Troy put her hands on her hips, looking extremely proud of her own cleverness.
“I'll just tell them about 'you making babies with an elf'!”
“To prove you're a living person with reproductive desires!”
Lin Gui's face instantly darkened.
“Wait! Come back here!”
Seeing Troy turning around, about to float away to "spread the word,"
Lin Gui acted quickly, grabbing the glass bead floating in midair in one swift motion!
“Whoa?!”
Troy's flight path came to an abrupt halt.
The entire bead trembled gently in Lin Gui's hand, like a small animal caught by the scruff of its neck.
“Think. Of. Another. Way.”
Lin Gui spoke one word at a time, his tone filled with unquestionable resolve.
“Don't even think about using that kind of 'way.'”
“Ugh...”
The bead quieted down in his hand, and Troy's troubled whimpers came from within.
“Then... then what should we do...”
“They really are terrified of your eyes...”
“Actually, I'm pretty scared too.”
Just then, Eve took a gentle step forward.
A look of understanding flashed in her purple eyes as she spoke in a warm voice:
“Troy, let me ask you a few questions.”
“Among the current 'residents' of Blackwater City...”
“...are there many who believed in the Holy Church of Light when they were alive?”
Troy blinked and thought about it.
“Quite a few. Uncle Cluny was a cleric.”
“And there are some aunties and grandpas who used to go to church often.”
Eve nodded and asked again,
“Are there... any actual priests among them?”
“Yes!” Troy said with certainty. “Not many, but there are several.”
Eve smiled slightly and turned to Lin Gui.
“In that case, this will be easy.”
Her voice was clear, carrying a touch of gentle yet firm power fitting for a Saintess.
“I can—”
“...in my capacity as the contemporary Holy Saintess of Light,”
“...personally bear witness to all the believers within Blackwater City.”
“To prove that you, Lin Gui, are absolutely not a Netherworld messenger.”
“But rather, a Messenger entrusted by them to help convey their thoughts...”
“...a Messenger.”
Rate on N.U.
