Jason the Ruthless
Hearing this, Karl's face darkened.
However, Xu Mo's next words made him feel relieved.
"Lina seems to be studying photography. Let her help me shoot a video."
On the way here, Xu Mo had tried to gather information from Jason and learned about this detail.
"Uh… of course, but you'll need to ask her opinion," Karl replied helplessly.
Lina, standing behind them, naturally overheard the conversation. At first, when she heard Xu Mo's request, she felt a little happy. But when she realized it was just to shoot a video, her expression fell—though she quickly composed herself with a smile.
"Of course. I'll get the equipment from the car!"
Whenever she traveled, Lina always brought professional photography gear with her. The equipment was heavy, so she usually scouted locations first before bringing it along.
Since Xu Mo planned to turn Silent Hill into a haunted house attraction, proper publicity was essential. He wanted to shoot a short promotional video and post it online. With its authenticity, the place was bound to attract attention once the first tourists arrived. After all, no other haunted house had real ghosts serving as NPCs.
After a quick meal, Xu Mo took Lina back into the inner world.
At first, seeing the monstrous Pyramid Head looming nearby terrified her. But after Xu Mo explained and even commanded Pyramid Head to perform a ballet on the spot, Lina's fear dissolved instantly.
Things went smoothly after that.
The monsters were far more obedient than celebrities—making them pose, perform grotesque actions, even detach their arms on command.
Over the next two hours, Lina shot nearly twenty minutes of promotional footage. It featured monsters like acid creatures, Pyramid Head, butchers, scarabs, and faceless nurses. Combined with Silent Hill's eerie atmosphere, the footage rivaled a full-scale horror film.
Of course, the faceless nurses dominated the screen time. Their striking figures, despite their grotesque heads, resembled world-class supermodels—perfect for capturing attention.
By the time they finished, it was nearly dusk. Still, there was enough daylight to return to the nearby town before dark.
On the ride back, Jason sat in the passenger seat, visibly hesitant. Xu Mo noticed him fidgeting several times.
"What do you want to say? Just say it," Xu Mo prompted.
Jason looked embarrassed. "No, nothing… I just wanted to ask—are all the monsters in that world under your control now?"
Xu Mo nodded. "That's right."
Jason's face lit up. After a pause, he gritted his teeth and blurted out:
"Um, can I buy one of those nurses from you?"
The car swerved sharply, nearly colliding with the mountain wall. Xu Mo steadied the wheel, staring at Jason in disbelief.
Jason panicked and waved his hands. "Don't get me wrong! I plan to join my dad's biotech company after graduation. I just want to buy it… for research!"
Xu Mo raised an eyebrow. "Didn't you tell me yesterday you had no interest in your father's company and wanted to start your own business? Or did I hear wrong?"
Jason's face flushed red. "I… I changed my mind, okay?" he muttered stubbornly.
Xu Mo sighed. Birds of a feather flock together—Jason was proof of that.
In the end, he refused. The faceless nurses were born from Alyssa's resentment. Giving one away, even if Alyssa could create more, would be reckless. Who knew what kind of disaster Jason might bring upon himself?
When they returned to the hotel, Dina was still in bed, recovering from last night. As soon as Xu Mo walked in, she leapt up, clinging to him, her clothes slipping without a care.
"Honey, you're back!"
After a hot bath, Dina playfully suggested they act out a game of cops and robbers, donning a police uniform. Just as things were about to escalate, a knock came at the door.
Annoyed, Xu Mo set Dina aside and opened it.
Standing outside was Julie.
"Um, do you have time? Can we talk?" she asked softly.
Xu Mo wanted to refuse, but he thought about his Silent Hill project. Eventually, he nodded. If Silent Hill was to succeed, it would need a manager—and Alyssa, as a child, was hardly suitable. Julie, already familiar with spirits, was a promising candidate.
In a quiet café nearby, Xu Mo took a sip of coffee. "Alright, what's the matter?"
Julie met his gaze with burning determination. "I want to learn magic from you."
Xu Mo wasn't surprised. He'd already guessed her intentions. Anyone witnessing his abilities would want the same.
Still, he asked bluntly: "Why should I teach you? Give me a reason."
Julie didn't flinch. She wasn't naïve like others. She knew he wouldn't grant her power for nothing.
"I… I can be your woman," she said firmly. "No strings attached."
Before coming, she had researched Xu Mo. Back in school, he'd been nearly invisible—except for dating Dina, a wealthy beauty. Later, they broke up.
The one detail that stood out: Xu Mo was lustful.
Julie hesitated but decided to use herself as leverage. She was confident in her beauty and body. She had never even had a boyfriend before—offering herself in this way was no small gamble.
After saying her piece, she stared seriously at Xu Mo, waiting for his reaction.
Unexpectedly, Xu Mo remained calm.
"That's not enough," he said flatly.
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