"Fraud! Total fraud!"
"Exactly! We came for an exorcism! You just sprinkle salt and give massages! Is this a foot spa?!"
"Don't open a Shadow Office if you can't exorcise anything! Scam!"
Hysterical curses rang out, thick with fury.
Kane wore a bitter smile as he watched the last customer slam the door behind him, flipping him a final, emphatic middle finger.
"Fraud? So what if I am? At least this fraud *tried*! Salt sprinkling, massages... you didn't even pay! You only call it fraud if you lose money! Since you didn't pay, what gives you the right to yell at me?!"
He grumbled internally, then opened his laptop to stare at the spreadsheet bleeding red ink.
"Another freeloader. D*mn it. Just this month's water and electricity bill set me back hundreds already. If I don't make some money soon... might as well switch to running a massage parlor. Actually, they seemed to like my massage skills. Maybe there's something there!"
Kane glanced out the window at the bustling shops, then back at his own Shadow Office – with its 100% bad review rate and a metal door practically beaten off its hinges by angry slams. A pang of envy twisted inside him.
Kane wasn't from this world. He'd been an ordinary university student whose only real passion was reading horror novels. The last thing he remembered was eating pizza while reading, getting scared by a particularly gruesome scene, jolting in fright, and choking on a huge piece of crust... and then... nothing.
He woke up in this godforsaken place. It wasn't much different from his old world, even the tech level was similar. And he wasn't special here either. His parents were both missing, leaving him only this dilapidated Shadow Office in an incredibly remote location. If he hadn't listed it on all the major apps, probably no one would ever find the place.
He'd thought, as a transmigrator, he'd get some overpowered golden finger, letting him conquer the world or wreak havoc. But Kane had been here almost a month now. Forget a golden finger, he didn't even have any *income*!
"Is there a transmigrator worse off than me? Supposed to be a Demon Hunter... but I only read horror novels! Do ghosts even really exist?!"
Kane slumped in his chair, staring despondently at the cobweb-strewn ceiling.
The original Kane of this world had at least been a small business owner, but his luck was uniquely terrible. Having no customers was bad enough, but apparently, the place also had terrible feng shui. The previous owner constantly encountered paranormal activity – sleep paralysis one night, ghost circles the next, several times a week. Combined with his own weak nerves, he'd finally buckled under the strain and dropped dead in the shop, giving *this* Kane a chance.
"No! I *have* to make money. If I don't make money soon... no, if I can't *scam* some money soon, I'm switching to a massage parlor! Feeding myself comes first!"
Kane swore silently. In this past month, seven or eight customers had shown up, all claiming to be haunted by evil spirits and wanting Kane to exorcise them. What they didn't know... was that Kane was more terrified than they were. He couldn't see anything! But the customers were all jumpy and weird, and the more he thought about it, the creepier it felt. He was just an ordinary guy. He hadn't even killed a chicken, let alone a ghost. If it weren't for needing to eat, he'd have run away faster than anyone!
Kane was just pondering how to leverage his 'Demon Hunter' title for some profitable trickery when the laptop in front of him – which wasn't even plugged in – suddenly lit up. He jumped a foot in the air.
"Mom! It's haunted!"
Already on edge from the spooky customers, this sudden scare caused the mighty 'Demon Hunter' Kane to literally throw himself backwards off his chair in fright. He landed hard on the floor, holding his breath as he stared at the laptop, half-expecting some female ghost to crawl out of the screen... though that thought wasn't entirely unpleasant?
But after waiting for what felt like ages, nothing happened. Heart pounding, Kane cautiously crawled closer. The screen showed no horrific images, just a simple pop-up window.
[Congratulations, User! Your first Special Client approaches. The Demon Hunter Squad APP has been activated. Recruit unique talents from far and wide to build your own exorcism team.]
[Missions: Inactive. Recruit your first squad member.]
[Lucky Draw: Inactive. Recruit your first squad member.]
[Spirit Codex: Inactive. Subdue or destroy your first spirit.]
"Huh? An APP? My golden finger? And it shows up *now*, after all this time?!"
Kane glared at the screen, a surge of anger rising. He'd been stuck in this hellhole for a month! His golden finger was hopelessly late! He'd already resigned himself to being a deadbeat! And now this weird APP pops up? Talk about messing with his head!
"And it's about exorcism? I'm just an ordinary guy! How am I supposed to exorcise anything? Talk them to death with jokes?!"
Kane felt like crying. How could his luck be this rotten? Choking to death on pizza was bad enough. Transmigrating into a broke loser was tolerable. But his golden finger wasn't just late, it was *ghost-related*! Was it trying to get him killed?!
Just as Kane was seriously considering smashing the laptop to pieces, a hesitant knock sounded at the door. He remembered the prompt about a 'Special Client'. For someone visiting a Shadow Office, 'special' rarely meant anything good.
"Um... is anyone there? I... I need your help..."
The voice outside sounded young and timid, a boy's voice, maybe twelve or thirteen. Just the tone screamed introvert.
"The special client? Already? What makes him so special?"
Kane braced himself like facing a formidable enemy. Normally, he'd be bowing and scraping to welcome a customer. But the computer had flagged this one as 'special'. It probably wasn't like the others. Might not even be human...
"Ahem. Enter."
Kane thought back to movies from his past life. He adopted an air of calm confidence and capability, sitting composedly behind his desk. He looked the part of a seasoned expert, though his real thought was that the desk was closest to the window – perfect for a quick escape if things went south.
"Excuse me..." The door opened to reveal a boy with a mushroom haircut. He was short, wearing a school uniform, his eyes darting nervously. He looked painfully shy.
"Hmm. Please, sit."
Kane maintained a dignified expression, elegantly taking a sip of water from a Disposable cup. In his month in this world, he hadn't mastered much, but faking expertise in front of clients? He was a pro.
"Um... I..."
"Shh. No need to speak. I know why you've come."
Kane wore an expression of profound insight. The boy, inexperienced as expected, was completely taken in, staring wide-eyed at this inscrutable master.
"Presumably, you seek my aid because of... unusual occurrences concerning yourself?"
Kane's voice boomed like thunder, each word striking deep into the boy's heart!
The boy nodded frantically, like a chicken pecking at grain. Kane offered a mysterious smile. *Obviously! Who the hell else would come to this dump of an exorcism shop if they* weren't *having weird problems?!* But the show had to go on.
"The world is vast. Finding your way to me was fortunate. Know this: among the countless souls, those capable of resolving your issue number no more than ten... no, *three*!"
Kane seemed to think ten was too many and revised it to three. The boy's face lit up with joy, as if celebrating his incredible luck.
"Yes! Master! I... I'm special. I can see strange things. And I have... strange powers. I haven't told anyone. I'm afraid I'll scare them. But I can't control it. I'm scared I'll hurt people, so I don't dare play with them..."
The boy's voice grew increasingly plaintive, as if on the verge of tears. But Kane was the one who truly felt like crying.
*"D*mn it! I just want to make some money and be a deadbeat in peace! Why does everything have to involve ghosts?! I'm just a normal guy! Can't you cut me some slack?!"*
Kane wailed internally, but his outward expression grew even more profound and enigmatic. He knew this boy was the 'Special Client' the computer mentioned. But hiring him? First, the kid was clearly underage. Hiring child labor would get the authorities knocking! Second... who the hell would want to keep someone so obviously *haunted* around?!
"Hmm. Just as I surmised. You... perceive the wandering spirits of this world, do you not?"
Kane fixed the boy with a piercing stare that made him squirm, feeling like something momentous was about to happen.
"Common enough. You and I are kindred spirits. I can aid you. But first, there is one crucial matter."
Seeing hope, the boy's eyes shone as he looked at Kane like a savior. But the practical adult before him swiftly crushed that dream.
"Do you have money?"
Kane's gaze burned into the boy. It wasn't that he had no shame... well, actually, it was. But it was understandable. He was practically starving. Even a student's money was fair game...
"I... I only brought five dollars..."
The boy fished out a crumpled five-dollar bill from his pocket, looking utterly dejected. It was his entire week's allowance. To Kane, it meant maybe another week of survival.
"Alas... I am a man who values fate above all. We have the fate to meet, but not the karmic bond for master and disciple."
Kane sighed deeply, feigning disappointment. The boy's head drooped lower, and he started to put the money away. Kane couldn't let that happen.
"Hey! Hold on. While the bond of mentorship eludes us, a chance encounter still merits guidance. I am not one to focus on material things. But know this: a few words can be worth a mountain of gold. If you could show me your sincerity..."
Kane's eyes slid meaningfully towards the five-dollar bill in the boy's hand.
The boy, eyeing Kane's shifty expression, hesitantly offered the bill again. Kane snatched it instantly.
"Excellent! A promising pupil!"
Kane pocketed the five dollars with satisfaction, cleared his throat, and began his 'guidance.'
"Child, understand this. Heaven is fair. Each person possesses unique talents. Some excel at song or painting, others at combat. We simply happen to possess... unusual abilities. It is nothing to boast about..."
Kane spoke with authority, spinning his words like a seasoned sage despite being utterly ordinary. He'd have made a great cult leader.
"You feel you cannot blend in with others? That is an illusion. The barrier lies within yourself. Do not view your gift as a badge of honor, but equally, do not see it as a burden. It is part of you. It *is* you. First, learn to accept yourself. Then, attempt to connect with others."
Kane tilted his head at a forty-five-degree angle, affecting a world-weary depth. His silhouette seemed profoundly lonely and noble. The boy watched him, growing more and more awestruck, the admiration plain in his eyes.
"I understand! You truly are a master, Uncle!"
The boy seemed genuinely enlightened, his shyness lessening slightly. Kane looked back at him with a proud, paternal expression.
"Understanding is the first step. Now, you should go. If you know others troubled by their own nature, send them to me. But remember: they must bring money."
Kane sat back down behind his desk, picked up his Disposable cup, and took another elegant sip of tap water.
"Yes! Uncle, you truly are a master. So mature, so composed."
The boy pushed the door open to leave, but paused and looked back into the shop, his face full of admiration.
"Even with monsters all around you, pressed right against your face... you can still drink tea so calmly. I will strive to be like you!"
With that, the boy closed the door. Kane dropped his cup. Water splashed across the floor.
"..."
Kane's enigmatic smile froze on his face. A chill shot down his spine, so intense he nearly wet himself. *So that's why the original Kane kept having paranormal encounters and finally dropped dead... This script suddenly feels very, very wrong.*