Afterlife Department

Imperial Calendar, Year 3031, fall.

The long road in the capital that was usually cleared and only the flying maglevs are traversing is now congested by the long line of people walking. However, they are no ordinary people since they are consisting of the military, politicians and the nobles. There are only few civilians that you will see walking along with them, and those civilians are the attendants of the noble people who had never walked for more than hour straight in their entire lifetime, yet was now forced to walk.

It was a funeral procession, and it was spearheaded by the emperor himself, along with the male empress. Next to His Majesty is the deceased's family, Mary Jackson – his mother, and Huo Jinghua – his adoptive father. Along with Gerard Jackson – the biological father, and Lewis Johnson. Then, his long-lost uncle, Jiang Ce, with Harry Walter – the empire's marshal.

Behind them are their relatives, followed by the politicians and aristocrats who attended the funeral for their personal interests by building up a connection with the family and relatives of the deceased, and then there's the entire army who was mobilized by the emperor to keep the peace and security of the funeral.

Dark, purple petals rained down on them from the trees lined up along the both sides of the road. You will never see one bit of a maglev car, nor a mech hovering above their heads and beneath the gray clouds overcast in the sky.. For one, Howee Jackson died because of his mecha, thus there are no mechas that can be seen during the procession. And two, Howee Jackson died due to human machinations, thus the emperor made everyone walk on their feet to express his feelings for his dear cousin's death.

The entire procession of the funeral is solemn but grand. Yi Bing can't help but sigh, full of emotions as he watched the entire road was filled from one end to another. It signifies the importance of the deceased to the livings' heart.

Meanwhile, Huo Ling marveled upon the grandeur of the funeral. "They are so rich!" he expressed. His voice was coming from the orange pendant of the necklace, and every time he speaks the pendant glows. "Rich as in wealthy, also rich in resources – people." He said. "However…"

"'however'?" Yi Bing said, prompting for him to speak.

"However, they don't need to waste time and too much resources on putting up a grand funeral." Huo Ling said as his soul, which had slightly recovered after a night's rest, appeared beside Yi Bing as a transparent phantom. His face is rigid as he stood in a military pose, his uniform giving him an ascetic appearance, as if he is an immortal who doesn't bother with worldly affairs. "There's no need for an elaborate memorial for someone already dead. The dead doesn't have a need for it, since they are already gone." He explained. His eyes as he looked upon the grand procession beneath them is cold and unfeeling.

Yi Bing was surprised to see such a different Huo Ling. This Huo Ling before him looked unapproachable and strict. He is so frigid. "A funeral is held to honor the dead, and to show regard to them." he said. "One dies only once in his life, and so his funeral is held also only once. For some, there's not even a funeral held for them, since their death wasn't even known to the others." He explained as he stared at Huo Ling whose expression didn't even change.

"What good is a funeral? The dead would later be forgotten by the living as time passed." Huo Ling said. "Their name, their appearance, their voice, their smile… and so are the memories the living has with them." he turned to Yi Bing. "Whether one died with or without regret, they already lost the chance for whatever they have to do, or if there is left for them to do. Once dead, that's the end." He said as he turned to look at the grand procession that's now disappearing from their sight before he returned to the pendant.

The pendant bounced as Huo Ling's soul hit it, and it hit Yi Bing's chest. The dull sound made by the pendant slowly snapped Yi Bing out of his daze.

He remembers. He clearly remembers, before he died with the planet Zerg queen, Huo Ling bade his farewell to his family, filled with tears from the fear of dying and the sorrow of being parted from his loved ones. He remembers, clearly, since he has been watching Huo Ling, closely. Yet, how can Huo Ling change so much? Why was his personality changed after he died?

It seemed like… Huo Ling became another person. Uh, no. Right now, he is a ghost –

Yi Bing shook his head as he watched the grand procession from afar disappeared in his sight. He didn't hear Huo Ling spoke again – maybe he is resting now. Thus, he didn't say anything. However, beneath his calm exterior is his heart that is in turmoil.

He is very well clear about Huo Ling: his life, his past experiences, as well as his personalities. These all, he knew in the premise before Huo Ling dies as Huo Ling's life was written in the Death Note as recorded by the Heaven. However, after Huo Ling died and reached his afterlife, Yi Bing does not know, then, since what Huo Ling is a ghost, Yi Bing wouldn't know since that will be their first meeting – again, and again, as Huo Ling reincarnates from one life to another.

However, based from what Yi Bing has observed of Huo Ling from the times they had been together from solving the mystery of Huo Ling's death, up to watching as the secrets of his family be unfold, Huo Ling didn't change much from when he was alive until his afterlife. His personality the same – alive or in afterlife, in a world.

But, that doesn't change the fact that Huo Ling, right now, from when he was alive and now he became a ghost, were like two different people.