If this ghost truly died unjustly, and considering I'm her fan, should I release her?
But I just heard Christoph say she was killed because the songs she sang were stolen from others. Is that true?
"You'd believe a ghost's words? Don't be stupid, kid." Suddenly Christoph, who had left, returned.
"I knew you'd try to manipulate people. Good thing I kept watch. If you dare spout nonsense again, I'll dissolve you." Christoph flicked the bamboo tube again, and this time the ghost inside didn't dare make another sound.
Christoph explained, "This ghost plagiarized others' work during her lifetime and used stolen talent to become famous. That's why she was killed."
"The poor may be pitiable, but she brought this on herself. Don't be soft-hearted, and don't trust what ghosts say."
Curious, I asked Christoph how he knew all this. He's just a crematorium worker, not a detective.
Christoph hemmed and hawed, saying you need certain skills to make money dealing with the dead, especially those who died early.
This old fox - his explanation explained nothing. Without saying more, he subdued the ghost and left again, repeatedly warning me not to trust ghosts' words or show them mercy.
I sighed. Seems I'd been a fan of the wrong person all along. After listening to her songs for years, I never expected she was a "thief." Maybe her death wasn't unjust after all.
Without further hesitation, I poured the bamboo tube's contents into the ink.
With the ink prepared, I was ready to give Harper the Ghosts Performing Opera tattoo. This tattoo doesn't have strict placement rules - it can go anywhere. But Harper, being a student, requested it somewhere discreet to avoid negative attention.
In that case, her back would work perfectly - invisible when clothed.
Harper proved quite shy. During the tattooing, she tightly clutched the cloth I gave her to cover her front, her face flushed red.
Such innocence is rare among college students nowadays. Some change multiple boyfriends during their studies - why would they blush over something like this?
I asked Harper if she'd ever been in love. She said no - her family upbringing was strict, and she believed academics should come first at this stage. She'd never been touched by a man until now.
I felt somewhat honored, though Harper's back was quite beautiful - fair skin, well-maintained. Few women keep such jade-like purity these days, especially combined with her good looks.
Time flew as we chatted and worked. Five hours later, I finally completed the Ghosts Performing Opera tattoo.
I brought a mirror to show Harper the finished tattoo on her back.
I saw that Harper's back now bore an opera performer tattoo. The figure had two faces - one a horrifying, ugly ghost face, the other a heavily made-up Peking Opera mask. The performer moved its hands as if singing an opera.
"Boss Roger, this ghost face is terrifying!" Harper shivered as she examined the protruding ghost face.
Indeed, that ghost face was frightening - several times creepier than the evil spirits shown on TV, especially now permanently inked on her body.
But this Yin-inspired tattoo has its own lore: the ghost face actually represents the normal singing face, appearing terrifying only because the makeup is too realistic, while the Peking Opera face is the true ghost face.
Regardless, Yin-inspired tattoos are inherently sinister. Some aspects defy explanation - even my grandfather couldn't account for everything. Since the Ghosts Performing Opera tattoo was on her back where Harper couldn't see it, at least she wouldn't be frightened by it. What mattered was its powerful effect.
After completing the tattoo, Harper dressed to leave, saying she looked forward to the results and hoped it wouldn't disappoint, considering the substantial 100,000-dollar price.
I remained silent. I'd warned Stella beforehand that this tattoo's effects weren't guaranteed, as Ghosts Performing Opera didn't perfectly match Harper's situation. Harper had vocal cord issues, while this Yin-inspired tattoo attracted ghosts through singing - potentially lethal!
I was attempting the impossible. If it failed, I'd refund the money and consider it wasted time.
As Harper left, I experienced another hallucination - something that had happened several times during tattooing, so I'd grown accustomed.
I thought I heard opera singing - the voice shrill, eerie, and unusually frightening.
Then I saw a figure in Peking Opera costume lying on Harper's back, making delicate hand gestures with "orchid fingers" as if performing. The singing came from this apparition.
The figure looked back at me with its dual faces - the horrifying ghost face and Peking Opera mask - which kept alternating as both smiled creepily at me until Harper disappeared through the doorway.
Was Harper... carrying a ghost now? I hoped Stella could protect her if anything happened! These sinister, supernatural phenomena often exceeded my control. I just prayed Harper wouldn't develop uncontrollable desires and could maintain her composure.
After Harper left, I called Stella to report that the Ghosts Performing Opera tattoo was complete but extremely sinister. I mentioned seeing Harper leave with a ghost on her back and urged Stella to watch over her carefully.
Stella reassured me she'd protect Harper well - otherwise she wouldn't have dared let me do this tattoo.
With Stella's assurance, I felt relieved. Just after hanging up, a group of people suddenly appeared outside.
Dressed in black suits, they all looked familiar - weren't they from the Dai family?
"What do you want? Don't cause trouble here, or I'll call the police," I warned.
The Dai family members clearly held grudges against me now. They approached aggressively, as if ready to tear down my shop.
As I spoke, the crowd suddenly parted, revealing Daphne standing at the back with her arms crossed, glaring coldly at me.
"Well, Roger? Do you like this clock?" Daphne asked icily.
Damn it - so she really was behind this. I'd guessed as much. Since coming to Vervecity, I'd made no enemies - who else could it be but her?
"What's the meaning of sending a funeral gift to my shop first thing in the morning? Looking for trouble?" I retorted angrily. This was clearly harassment! Just because I refused marriage doesn't mean you can curse me to death!
"I'm not causing trouble. This gift is to thank you for helping our Dai family," Daphne said while walking into my shop.
"If you consider a gift as provocation, then fine - take it as me picking a fight!" Daphne remained nonchalant. She sat down directly, continuing to stare at me coldly without expression - yet her gaze felt like an ice dagger poised at my throat.
Just how much does this woman hate me? Does she actually want me dead? Is this necessary? I'm not worthy of her anyway - shouldn't my refusal be what she wants?
"Whatever. I won't bother with you anymore. Let's call it even. Now leave and don't disrupt my business."
I knew continuing this confrontation would only escalate things. As the more mature one here, I shouldn't stoop to her level. I hastily tried to dismiss her.
"Hmph? Call it even? In your dreams." Daphne snorted coldly, clearly unwilling to let this go.
Damn it! What does she want? I already refused the marriage - making a scene won't change anything. My decision is final - no takebacks.