Chapter 41 - A Ghost

Next day

A group of crowd wearing black as they stared at the young man who was lying inside the coffin.

As the priest started the ceremony, the solemn final farewell to the last member of the Valentine was conducted garnering a few sighs from his family's friends. The group was consisted from various forces that monitors him but were disguised blending among the crowd. Darcy and William was also there as well Heather and her parents and all people the family has helped. There are some representatives from the Hand and Hydra hiding among them as they witness Faust's passing. They couldn't help but have a tinged of regret for the potential young puppet they planned.

One by one, they started to offer flowers and put them inside while they wishing him to rest in peace.

After that, they closed the coffin and started to bring it down the pit. At the same time, the guests left one by one until no one was left behind.

Fury emerged from a distance as he approached the pit where Faust's coffin lay with Phil on his side.

He couldn't help but let out a sigh of regret of not being a able to recruit him. If succeeded, maybe he was still alive right now.

He couldn't believe what happened to his young friend who he anticipated with a bright future, yet fate seem to cut short of his destiny. He witnessed everything and confirmed that it was Faust who laid rest inside.

"I should've forcefully abducted him..sigh I'm a step too late."

"A pity indeed, sir."

"Carol's not gonna like this." Fury shook his head as he reminisce his memories with Faust.

"What are we going to do now, sir? Your proposed initiative should've started with him yet.."

"All hell will loose, it's time to start finding those motherfuckers who did this to him and his family."

"I'll start the investigation right away, sir." Phil said before leaving.

Fury stayed a bit longer before saying, "Farewell, my friend."

--

Next day after the Faust's funeral

It was midnight and heavy rain poured out in Texas.

The same place where Faust was buried, two men approached carrying a shovel and pickaxe with flashlight on their forehead.

One man said, "Let's hurry. This task is creeping me out."

The other man responded with nod, "Okay, let's start then. Good thing there's a heavy rain covering for us."

They wasted no time as they started digging Faust's grave which is next to his parents.

Half an hour later, they managed reach the coffin. They lifted the coffin back to the surface and opened it easily. There they saw Faust's body drenched in mud and rain.

"Carry him to the Van quickly. I'll recover the scene."

"Okay."

The taller man lifted Faust's body and placed him up in his shoulder as he walked back where they came from.

The man grunted and said, "He's quite heavy, Ugh."

"Go and don't forget to inject him with this." The other man said as he passed a syringe to the taller man.

"I know, I know.. I'll follow the plan, don't worry." The taller man scoffed.

The other man started to recover the scene professionally. In no time, the grave became the same look as it was before with no signs of being dug.

--

Sebastian was pacing back and forth. He couldn't help but remember the conversation he had with Faust before he left.

[Flashback]

"What do you think our current predicament, Sebastian?"

"It feels like we're being watched."

"Exactly! We're in the light and they are in the dark. I don't like it. You know that I don't like to be passive. It's time to turn the tables around."

"What should we do?"

"I'm gonna have to die."

"What?!"

"I need to die.. Only death can escape them."

Sebastian looked at Faust face with sheer determination so he nodded in understanding.

"I know you have a plan so please instruct me."

Faust fished out a test tube and a syringe.

"I accidentally created these things when I was in Virginia. This is a strong sedative that will make normal person enter a state of fake death once ingested. This state will last for two days. However, you'll have to administer an antidote within the two day duration otherwise, that person will be killed entering true death."

Faust gave Sebastian the syringe in his hand.

"I will ingest the liquid in this test tube after I've done everything here. You'll gonna have to entrust a few of your trusted men to dig me up from the grave and inject me with this syringe. Do you understand?"

"Understood, I will live up to your expectations Master Faust. I will pull you out from hell even if I have to."

"I trust you, Sebastian. With my life on the line. Don't fail me."

"I will not fail you."

[End of Flashback]

Sebastian woke up from his thoughts when his phone rang.

Ring

He answered the phone before saying, "Is it done?"

"It's done boss, we can confirm that he was now breathing. Though he was still unconscious. What should we do next?"

"I've arranged a safe house for him where all of his things were. I'll text you the address in code. After that, just leave him there and consider your mission complete. Five million each will be transferred to your account."

"Got it, boss. Wait for our good news."

"Mmm"

Sebastian put his phone down and heaved a sigh of relief. He was now in a small office in New York. He walked up to his desk and picked up the papers. It was another task assigned to him by Faust.

He read the paper and saw the mission to establish an orphanage and help Matilda and the kids to settle in. He put down the paper and walked towards the window watching the morning light. His appearance was quite terrifying and sophisticated at the same tine with one eye blind and a scar running down to his cheek. He usual gentle demeanor when he was around Faust was gone, replaced by dangerous glint in his eyes. He can't wait to make a move on their enemies yet he was waiting for Faust's order. After all, his mission is to establish a power in the underworld specializing in Intelligence and Arms.

He hummed the song Maneater by Daryl Hall

"Oh-oh here she comes.. watch out boy she'll chew you up."

--

Faust had a long boring dream. It was like the first time he died. Like he was in the void and the abyss staring straight to him yet he felt no danger. It was like he belong here from the very start.

Then suddenly he felt a jolt and he was like falling for a long long time. He didn't know how long but it must've been days or months until he saw the ground. When he finally slammed to the floor, he flinched and he suddenly woke up from his long sleep.

He couldn't help but squint his eyes from the brightness of the surroundings. He let his eyes get used to the light before sitting up from the bed.

He look around the room and saw it was the familiar safe house he arranged before executing his crazy plan. His clothes was still dirty full of mud stains and wet. His limbs was still stiff so he move them around to let the blood flow.

"Wew, good thing it worked well."

He look at the table at the side of the bed and he saw his belongings. His smartglass, his ring, the stack of bank cards and a set of clothes.

He stood up and decided to take a shower cause he smelled like death. After taking a shower, he changed his clothes and took his belongings.

He was starving and he felt weak so grabbed the stack of bank cards, put on a cap and went out to find something to eat.

As he was walking down the street, he wore his smartglass and ordered Alice to blurr his face on any camera that caught him.

"Understood, sir. On the other hand, Sebastian has started to move."

"MmmM."

He went to a supermarket and bought a lot of ingredients from chicken meat to beef. He figured that instead of going to the restaurant, it's much safer to eat inside the safe house as he was starving and he needed to eat a lot.

After returning to the safehouse, he went straight to the kitchen to cook a bunch of meal. It only took him half an hour to prepare a lavish meal good for 7 person and then he started eating like a hungry wolf.

Burp~

Faust face wore some satisfaction on the food he ate. A lot of them was his favorite and easy to cook that made it very convenient.

He rested for a bit before calling Sebastian who was in New York.

"Mast--"

"Uh-uh-uh don't call me by my name anymore. That person is already dead, do you understand?"

"Understood Master."

"Good, now that I'm officially a ghost. This will make it more convenient for our plans."

"Is there anything I can do for you, Master?"

"Yeah, I want you to hire someone who can teach me some killing techniques. My hands are itching with anticipation but I need to be prepared."

"I know someone and he was an old friend of mine. He still owe me a debt of favor and it so happens that he is now in New York. I will let you know once I find him as well as when and where you can begin your training. Give me three days at least."

"Very well, you are efficient as ever. Then I will wait for your good news. I can't wait to start the hunt."

"By the way, How's it going there? Have you already settled down?"

"Yes, the task you gave isn't easy since it's a bit of chaotic here but I can manage. We made our first customers for the intelligence with the help of Alice."

"Very good! Just remember to be vigilant at all times and be wary of a man named Wilson Fisk. He's not easy to handle."

"Understood."

Faust put down the phone after the conversation. He discovered that being a ghost gives him a lot freedom and free time which is an exhilarating feeling but somehow he wasn't used to it.

He went outside and decided to buy some training equipment so he could install it inside the safehouse. His aim was to condition himself for the upcoming training. He figured it would be hellish as it was what he needed right now. The pain to remind him of his goal and his determination to do any method possible to achieve it.