Afterlife Department

"What should we do now?" Shi Jiu asked Yi Bing. 

They stayed for a little longer in the other side of the river and when they didn't find any more clues, they returned to their mansion they are staying. 

Yi Bing didn't immediately answer. "Currently, what we know is that the souls are disappearing." He started. "Humans are also missing, so the officials of the county ordered for an early curfew. The Pei family, the wealthiest family, ordered for it for the sake of the citizens, but also for their own selfish reasons." He frowned. 

The Pei family ordered for an early curfew to protect the remaining children in their family after Pei Tinghe went missing, and later found dead. 

"But, another person died, and it's Pei Tingting." Yi Bing continued.. "There's definitely dubious about her death after we saw that strange white ribbon that she used to hang herself with. Pei Tinghe's death is also dubious because his corpse appeared in many places, informing of his death." He said. "After this, the people became afraid of water and go near it, so they also created this 'rule', associating it with Pei Tinghe's death. We searched for more information and found out about 'possession', which might be actually a rebirth, but happening for a short amount of time that's why we didn't notice it." he took a deep breath. 

Huo Ling, Shi Jiu and Jiu Ye silently listened.

"There's also the issue of Pei Tinghe's and Pei Tingting's souls… why the former's soul took longer to be 'summoned' while the latter's is immediate?" he asked. "We have to find out when exactly did Pei Tinghe die, even if we can assume that the taking of his soul is really longer compared to the taking of Pei Tingting's soul." He finished. 

They all nodded while taking down notes on their communicators.

"Yi Bing." Shi Jiu called after a while. "Do you know when and how long does the 'possession' happen?" he asked. 

"I guess during when there is a full moon." Yi Bing answered. 

They were surprised. "A full moon? Why?" Huo Ling asked. 

"Full moon has always been associated with supernatural things like vampires, werewolves, witchcrafts and ghosts, making the full moon synonymous to a bad omen. So, it isn't surprising." Yi Bing answered. "Also, I have noticed that yesterday and until noon today, there has been a full moon." He added. 

Everyone looked outside and couldn't see the moon in the sky. It must have been obscured by the clouds. They remembered that Yi Bing has looked outside earlier. He must have been looking at the now concealed moon. 

"So, the rebirth happens when there is a full moon?" Shi Jiu asked. 

"And people would act like they were possessed." Jiu Ye muttered, then paused. His eyes widened and he stared at Yi Bing in horror when he realized something. "… are they aware of it?!" he asked. "Are they aware that they were reborn, or not?!" he stared at Yi Bing. 

"It's hard to say." Yi Bing frowned, obviously displeased with this matter. 

Shi Jiu sighed. "So many things we have yet to know…" he muttered and pursed his lips in irritation. Not only does he have to find the soul that escaped from his hands and accidentally was lost in this world. This soul has been tangled up with the undercurrent mess going on in this world. So tiring… he thought and closed his eyes to rest. 

Yi Bing ignored the shocked Jiu Ye and exhausted Shi Jiu. Instead, he turned to look at Huo Ling. "A penny for your thoughts?" he asked when he saw him concentrating on his notes. 

Huo Ling heard Yi Bing's voice but his fingers didn't stop tapping on the holographic keyboard. He didn't bother to hide what he's typed since Yi Bing is his superior, and that he's the leader of their group in this mission. On the contrary, he wanted to tell them his thoughts. 

But, Shi Jiu was tired and Jiu Ye was still digesting all the information he had heard today. So, he can only talk to Yi Bing. 

"I realized that since our enemy is time, that white ribbon that Pei Tingting used is also connected with what's currently happening." Huo Ling spoke. "It is a clue. It changing its appearance – color, texture and smell, it's because it's also undergoing with the change in time." He said. "And since the changes is directly acted upon the world, our devices definitely didn't work." He added. 

"Indeed." Yi Bing nodded in agreement. 

"But, this is just one of the side tasks." Huo Ling said. 

"'side tasks'?" Yi Bing looked at him. Then, he suddenly remembered that Jiu Ye seemed to whisper before to himself that Huo Ling is treating their mission as a game. 

Huo Ling didn't notice the strangeness in Yi Bing's tone. "Finding out when exactly Pei Tinghe died, and where and which is his real corpse are also a side task." He spoke, then paused. "Oh. As well as what exactly is going on with the Pei family." He muttered and added it to his notes. "Our main task is to find out where are the souls have gone to, why were they were being 'summoned', how where they 'summoned', and, most importantly, who is 'summoning' them – " He said. 

Since they have found the giant sundial, and that the matter of the rebirth, they can now safely assume that there is a mastermind behind all these. The question is – 

" – what is their objective?" Huo Ling looked at Yi Bing. "Not only for summoning the souls, but in general? What are they after? What exactly do they want to do?" he asked.

Yi Bing didn't answer, nor spoke, and just stared at Huo Ling for a long time. Before he met Huo Ling, he only knows him through the Death Note and, after reading Huo Ling's biography, there's only one thought that came to his mind: unfortunate and pitiful. Not only was he alone, and haven't received a formal education, but he has never had any friends or anyone around him. He also was never close to anyone after he lost his family. 

When he met him, it was when he's about to die. He thought he is hardworking, and casual. After he died, he discovered that he is whiny and sharp-tongued. But, after getting to know him more as they go through many worlds, his opinion of him took a turn. 

He found out that Huo Ling is not bad. No, he is good. Very good. "Mn." He muttered and looked away. 

… 'mn'? 'mn' what? What does that mean? Huo Ling thought as he quizzically looked at Yi Bing. But, seeing Yi Bing isn't saying anything, he just shrugged and continued typing on the holographic screen to type more notes in case he forgets them and then overlook them once they resume investigating. He already told Yi Bing what he thought about the current case anyway, and, to be more fastidious, he made a copy of the file of his notes and emailed it to Yi Bing. 

It's not that he is competing against Shi Jiu and Jiu Ye, since there's nothing to compete over. They aren't Yi Bing's subordinates, and a mission is a mission, not a competition to fight each other for. He just likes to finish his tasks as early as possible until he finally gets bored, then he'd resume doing them later. 

He's not being this efficient with his tasks because he has other things to do after. He's now a grim reaper, so what other things does he has to do aside from finding more tasks to work on? He's being efficient because he wants to spend his remaining time on some things that would unexpectedly come and needs to be worked on or finished. If there really is none, then he can just go and admire the nature. 

While Huo Ling is contemplating about his (after)life, Yi Bing has received Huo Ling's email. He opened it and read it before a smile appeared on his face. He turned to Huo Ling, who was hugging his knees as he sat on the sofa. His chin is resting on his knees while he gazed outside the window, admiring the beautiful and tranquil scenery of the ancient world. 

"Do you mind if I share this with Shi Jiu and Jiu Ye?" he asked him. 

"No." Huo Ling answered. "The more heads, the better." He said and yawned. 

Jiu Ye who was questioning life started when he heard what Yi Bing said. "'share'? What do you want to share?" he asked as he looked at the two. 

Shi Jiu who heard his younger brother's voice woke from his rest. 

"I'll send it to you." Yi Bing spoke and sent Huo Ling's notes to the two. 

"Wow! Senior Huo, you're so smart!" Jiu Ye exclaimed after he read Huo Ling's notes. 

"This is very comprehensive!" Shi Jiu nodded, agreeing to what Jiu Ye said. When he raised his head, however, he saw Yi Bing is smiling. 

Suddenly, he felt that they were fed dog food without them noticing. Why does he thinks Yi Bing is showing off Huo Ling to them?