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Chapter: A Ghost!?
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As everyone dispersed and waved goodbye to Gan Fall, I left the place, ignoring the hostile looks of others. After finding a safe spot, I read the plan that the 'Past me' had prepared. As I continued to read the plan, a crazy grin formed beneath my mask.
I could feel my adrenaline surging as I read further. My heartbeat increased, reminiscent of when I prepared for extreme sports.
"This is gonna be fun," I grinned, looking at the first step of the plan, which had a map attached to it. I stealthily made my way towards the location marked 'secret stash' on the map.
There were similar maps with different labels that 'Past me' had prepared. Following the steps of the plan and using the maps, I could easily follow the plan in detail.
I knew that I wouldn't follow the instructions exactly, as it would ruin the fun. 'Past me' had only provided a rough layout of the plan, allowing me to get a general idea of the overall strategy. It also contained some instructions I MUST follow for the plan to succeed.
After reaching the location of the secret stash, I exclaimed, "Sweet!" upon discovering its contents. It held various Dials, a first-aid kit, bottles containing different liquids, and some prank tools.
I rubbed my hands together eagerly. "So, what should I take? What can I use today?" I wondered aloud, checking the labels on each item to understand their use. I took a backpack and filled it with heat dials, flame dials, water dials, and various miscellaneous dials.
The remaining items I placed in a sack and concealed it near the orphanage. I then checked the next step of the plan: 'Familiarize Yourself with the Area.' There was another map attached with specific places marked on it. I decided to follow this step and spent some time exploring Angel Island while perfecting the plan.
It was only around six in the evening when I returned to the orphanage, as instructed by the 'Take Rest' step in the plan to regain my energy. I woke up for dinner and had a hearty meal, paying no attention to the gloating looks of some individuals due to the trial.
Afterward, I left the orphanage again and retrieved the hidden sack, which contained breath dials and flavor dials labeled with uses like sleep gas, fog, tear gas, smoke, etc. "Tsk, tsk, tsk, 'Past me' seems to have concocted these using knowledge from the watch," I muttered, filling a sling bag with these dials.
"Oh, there are more. 'I' was quite busy..." I noted as I packed water dials, labeling dyes, paints, glues, laxatives, and other items into my sling bag.
I then concealed the sack again, this time wearing the filled sling bag. "Good thing there's no moon tonight; it'll help me avoid trouble," I remarked, considering the sky. I proceeded to hide the breath and flavor dials in various locations, following the map's markings, placing them in bushes, trees, alleyways, near windows of houses and shops, and other spots.
Eventually, I reached the port as per the next step: 'Acquire a Dial Boat.' I searched for a Dial Boat that met my criteria.
"Hmm, I need a small Dial Boat," I muttered, keeping an eye out. When I spotted a small Dial Boat with a swan as its crown head arriving at the dock, I took notice of the person getting off it.
"Well, well, well, isn't this the leader of the parents' group?" I sneered. "You've arrived at the perfect time," I trailed him discreetly.
He was fortunate that I didn't want to raise any alarms by taking any direct action against him. Stealing the key from him proved easy and went unnoticed.
Returning to the dock, I breathed heavily. "*Ha*... *hu*... *ha*. This kid's body is a pain in the ass," I grumbled, starting the Dial Boat. I scanned the area to ensure that the security hadn't returned after the distraction I'd caused and then drove the boat away.
"Angel Beach is near the orphanage," I mused.
"Let's head there. I need to return to the orphanage before curfew," I decided, stepping on the accelerator.
"Damn it! I can't reach the accelerator with my short legs," I complained, as I couldn't see the front while pressing it. In frustration, I picked up an oar from the boat and used it to engage the accelerator. I reached Angel Beach with some difficulty and carefully beached the boat on the shore. I surveyed the area, looking for a suitable hiding spot for the boat.
While searching for a spot, I heard a rustling sound from nearby bushes. "*Rustle* *rustle*." The sound startled me, and I thought to myself, 'Shit! If they show up, they'll find the boat, and me along with it.'
Prepared to deal with an intruder, I grabbed a breath dial labeled as 'sleeping gas.' I waited, and a small white figure suddenly rushed out of the bushes.
"AH! A Ghost!?" I screamed in surprise, but I quickly realized that the white figure was a cloud fox.
"Haha, just kidding," I said, scratching my head in embarrassment. 'It seems telling horror stories also affected me,' I thought, not willing to admit I'd been scared.
"You know? You will be perfect prank material for acting as a ghost," I changed the topic quickly, to which it rolled its eyes. I can somehow distinguish its facial expression thanks to the Mink Gene, I guess.
"Sue~ sue~," it cried, looking at the boat, then squinted at me.
"Okay, you got me." I raised my hand. "I'm doing some sneaky stuff, but I will hurt no one," I explained, "I think," I added, scratching my head.
It thought for a while and "sue~ su~" cried, nodding its head.
"Hey, you are SU, right? Conis's pe...*cough*… Friend. Yeah! friend," I asked as it widened its eyes in shock. "Su~ sue~" it shouted, waving its paw in a gesture.
"How do I know? You ask, right?" I guessed at its action, to which it nodded.
"It's not important how I know," I waved it off. 'I can't probably say I saw it in a book or anime, right?' I sweated thinking.
"Do you know who I am?" I asked the cloud fox, diverting the topic.
"Su~ sue~," it nodded, waving its paws with admiration in its eyes.
"Haha, what!? You not only know me but are also a fan of my work," I laughed proudly. "I've got my first fan for my pranks, hahaha," I laughed happily.
Then I looked at my little fan thoughtfully. "Hmm... Why don't you help me tonight?" I suggested it pointed its paw to itself in doubt "sue" to which I nodded positively.
It looked surprised at the answer, before eyeing me suspiciously "You know I'm going to forget it, and only you will remember it" I incited it.
"Think about all the fun we can have without any finding us" I goaded her, she finally agreed with a cunning glint in her eyes shouting "SUE".
"SU! Where are you?" a girl's voice called from a distance.
"It looks like Conis came looking for you," I told the fox before smirking.
"Go, before she turns you into a bug," I teased, to which the fox rolled its eyes.
"Come to the orphanage at midnight, bye-bye," I instructed before running back to the orphanage after hiding the boat.
"Man, it feels good talking to an animal for the first time," I said on the way.
"Maybe it'll get even better if I talk to more animals," I thought excitedly.
"*sigh* Who cares? I'll probably forget about it anyway," I shrugged in defeat.
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