Reincarnated as an Energy with a System

Chapter 1872: In the Gnome’s Car

Once Ning received more information about the gnome, he put on his outfit and jumped out the window. Within moments, he was a giant bat, flying through the dark evening sky, making his way to a certain location.

The gnome worked for the Two Sun Media conglomerate and was a host of one of their various news stations. He arrived outside the building where the station was located. As per Mira, the gnome would have a job hosting a news show for the next hour or so before he would leave for the night.

Ning thought of entering the building as his regular self, but then he remembered that Number 5 would likely have tapped into the cameras of the news station and would find him immediately.

So, Ning stayed away from the building for as long as he could, waiting instead on the other side of the road in the shadows above a building.

Ning sat around for a while before the gnome drove out. The gnome drove a red convertible with its roof down. That made things easier for Ning.

Ning watched the gnome drive away for a while before flying away. Once the gnome was at least 2 blocks away, Ning jumped into the car, quickly turning off the radio and pressing the button to pull the roof back over.

“Hey, what are you—”

The gnome was already reaching for the glove compartment, but Ning grabbed his hand, pushing him back against the seat. The gnome looked at him finally, realizing who it was.

“It’s you!”

“It’s me,” Ning said. “Now, keep driving and we’ll talk.”

“I have nothing to say,” the gnome said.

Ning smiled. “Do you really want to say that to me?” he asked. “You know how strong I am, do you not?”

“So? So what?” the gnome asked, trying to put confidence into his voice. “You won’t hurt me. I know about you.”

“I’m sure you do. Which is why I am here. How do you know about me?” Ning asked. “More important, who is Number 5?”

The gnome looked confused. “Number 5? What does that mean?”

“Okay. If you don’t know, just tell me why you asked me that question during the press conference today.”

The gnome remained silent.

Ning smiled and placed his palm on the dashboard, his fingers tapping rhythmically. “I don’t know. If I were you, I would start speaking right about now.”

His taps became louder, fingers digging into the plastic frame, leaving deep gouges. Each tap going deeper and deeper, destroying the dashboard.

The gnome watched in horror for a moment, even forgetting to look at the road for a second.

Ning grabbed the steering wheel and corrected his course before he lay his fingers on the gnome’s shoulder and started tapping.

“So, why did you ask that question?”

Each tap came with bated breath from the gnome, his tiny body straining to hold onto his words. Sweat covered the gnome’s forehead, dripping down the side of his face.

Ning’s fingers started digging into his shoulders.

“I was told to,” the man said. “I was promised a lot of money if I went to the press conference and asked that question.”

“Who did?”

“I don’t know. The message came in a letter. No address.”

“Did you receive the money?” Ning asked.

“I will, soon,” the man said.

“How much money will you be receiving?” Ning asked.

“12 thousand dollars for asking the question. An additional 20 if you accepted,” the gnome said. “I wasn’t the only one who got that offer. Many others did.”

Ning frowned slightly. Was that it? He had come here expecting the man to be different from the others because he hadn’t been paid off yet, but it seemed that he was just a little early.

He was going to get paid soon.

Ning lifted his palm away and sat on the passenger seat as thoughts went through his mind. He moved around a little in his seat, finding it a little uncomfortable to sit there.

Cars made for gnomes tended to have smaller seats in general, so Ning couldn’t fit as well. He had gotten used to the larger seats in those limos and this just wasn’t it.

Ning realized it was time to leave.

“Stop by that sign over there. I’ll get off.”

The gnome did as asked, and Ning got out. The gnome drove away in a hurry.

Ning walked into the shadows and climbed to the top of a roof. He sat on the ledge and called Mira. “Hey, you still there? Yeah, it didn’t work. He’s been paid as well.”

“Huh? I saw no transactions in his record.”

“No, he has yet to receive the money,” Ning explained. “But he still did it for the money.”

“Oh! I thought their powers only worked after they received the money. We’ll have to change our understanding of how Number 5’s power works,” Mira said, typing away at something.

“Yeah, we do. Here I thought I had gotten it too,” Ning said.

“Did you talk to him in the station?” Mira asked. “I warned you not to get too close.”

“I didn’t. I stayed outside. I didn’t want to get caught on camera.”

“Not just that,” Mira said on the other side. “They have power suppressors too. You would be helpless in that scenario.”

That wasn’t true for Ning’s case, but he understood.

“No, I didn’t go in. I waited outside for him to drive away and got into his car. We had a little talk there, I found out what I could, and I left. I’m not getting into that damn car again.”

“Why?” Mira’s amused voice came on the other side.

“The seats only fit a gnome. Not me.”

Mira laughed. “I didn’t see it necessary to mention the custom fit seats on his Herring.”

Ning froze. “What did you say?”

Mira paused as well, noticing the seriousness in his voice. “His car is custom fitted with—”

“No, the car.”

“Uhh… it’s a Herring 520 Model VT. Why?”

Ning stared down the road the car had left in, only now realizing that he had found what he was looking for.

His red herring.