At that moment Elizabeth walks into the room. “Hey, what’s a ghost doing here? What happened?” She asks, her hand holding an ice cream cone.

Siyu looks at her and sighs. “And where have you been?” He asks in a monotone voice.

“I went to get some ice cream,” Elizabeth says before taking a little taste. "These things are pretty pricey. Usually requires an artifact to make, but it's pretty good." She says, satisfied.

“Never mind,” Siyu says with another sigh. “Go sit in the corner; we’re in the middle of an interrogation,” He says, shooing her away.

“Hmph! You’re not my dad.” Elizabeth says before going to the side and taking a seat. “Hmm, so cold!” She exclaims, but Siyu chooses to ignore it.

Master Shey puts on a teasing smile and says, “What a good girl."

Siyu turns his attention back to the ghostly form. “Explain the process of the murders,” He says, taking a moment to cross his legs.

“What about it? I forced them into a contract and they went back on their words; what else do I need to say?” The apparition says before becoming unable to help himself from continuing. “I do it the same way any predator does it; I observed my prey and caught them with their weaknesses. And the five who died in this city aren’t the only ones who I managed to prey on.” He says.

Siyu's gaze turns stern. “Who else did you kill?” He asks, ready to judge.

“Oh, I’ve killed many people, but that’s not what I meant. I’m just saying that my contracts usually don’t have what it takes to kill someone, but for those five… The power of their regret was enough to let me take whatever I wanted from them.” The apparition says before taking a moment to yawn.

“Regret? Exactly how did they regret?” Siyu asks somewhat confused. “I thought your power worked on trapping people in their casual statements?” He says, wondering aloud.

“Well, how can I say this? The emotions behind casual statements aren’t always so casual. For the boy in school, the wife of the guard, and the councilperson; it was that age-old story. Their casual words caused them to hurt the ones they loved.” The apparition explains.

Siyu raises an eyebrow and asks, “Even the councilperson?”

The apparition chuckles and says, “I was surprised about him too. The regret must have been building in him for a while; but in the end he couldn’t escape old habits.”

“The gambler must not have bought his kids breakfast, but what about the factory owner?” Siyu asks out of curiosity.

“Him? He told his daughter he would come home early that night. What a shame.” The ghostly form shakes his head as if he wasn’t the one who killed the man.

Siyu also shakes his head at the ghost’s shamelessness. “Enough about that. What do you propose we do with you?” He asks, curious as to which direction he should start walking in. “You killed a lot of people, and there must be a price to pay. Sentencing you to death would serve no one; so I ask you, what use are you? Or rather, how do you want to pay this price?” He asks.

“Sir, Divinator. Let me kill a few more people; then when I have a body, you’ll have a Grandmaster at your service. What do you say?” The ghostly form says enticingly.

“So you wish to serve through murder?” Siyu says, rubbing his chin. “It’s not impossible. Of course you must at least be willing to sign a contract. Are you sure this is how you wish to receive redemption?” He asks.

The apparition laughs. “Sir, Divinator. Only the heavens are sure; I am but a man. Specifically, a man without a body. I am willing to serve you as long as you move forward to help me gain a body, and if I get my body back, I am willing to serve you as long as you promise me one thing.” The man says, his voice growing solemn. “You must help me kill Axel the Faded.” He says, certain in his desire.

Siyu looks to the man before him and confirms, “I cannot promise that. But I can help you find him.”

The apparition laughs. “Of course, that is enough. This is a deed I will surely want to accomplish myself.” He says before Siyu feels a power binding him. Then, the feeling drifts away. This power would surely reappear if Siyu ever went back on his word.

…

…

“And who gave you the authority to take him with you?” Count Crey asks.

“He will be of no use to you Count Crey, and taking the life of a man without a body would surely benefit no one,” Siyu explains with a bowed head.

“And what makes you think it would be of benefit to set him free under your charge?” Count Crey continues, annoyance on his face.

“His cultivation path gains power by taking from people who go back on their words. If he goes back on his word to serve, his own power will damn him. As to what end he will serve; I can only apologize and ask you to give me the benefit of the doubt.” Siyu says with a solemn look.

“Ha! The benefit of the doubt! Since when did we live in that kind of world? But it matters not to me. All I care about is that the murders will end. As for the matter of this ghost serving you; I will leave that to Commander Reyle to decide. Dismissed.” Count Crey says, gesturing for Siyu to leave the room.