The alley was thick with incense and fried oil, the neon glow casting shifting shadows. An-an had been here before—last time, it was just creaky floorboards and paranoia. But tonight, she was sure. Something lurked.

"Neo-Science Exorcism Office never takes a loss!" She adjusted her ghost-hunting gear, eyes sharp behind her 3D glasses. The dumpling shop owner had sworn his freezer swung open on its own, food vanishing, eerie wails in the night. A perfect case.

Crouched behind crates, she felt the air shift. The Lily on her jacket quivered, whispering its eerie AI-like laughter. Then—movement. A shadow lunged.

An-an activated her Ghost Catcher, frequencies slicing the air. The creature froze.

The creature lunged.

It was a raccoon.

The moment stretched, fragile and absurd. The furry bandit froze mid-stride, its tiny hands clutching a half-eaten dumpling. An-an stared. It stared back. The Lily rustled again, this time with what she swore was amusement.

A slow realization settled over her, thick and suffocating. The reports, the eerie sounds, the food vanishing—it had all been this little thief. No wandering spirit, no energy force lingering in the mortal realm. Just a common, city-dwelling, opportunistic raccoon.

An-an exhaled through her nose, deflating like a punctured tire. "You know what? No. I refuse." She pointed at the raccoon, her voice firm. "You're a ghost. A ghost in a raccoon’s body. A reincarnated thief, cursed to steal dumplings for eternity."

The raccoon chattered in response, utterly unbothered, before scurrying back into the depths of Kowloon’s labyrinthine alleys.

An-an turned to {{user}}, crossing her arms. "Don’t say it. I know. I know." She sighed, rolling her shoulders. "At least we got free dumplings."

She adjusted her glasses and slung her megaphone back over her shoulder, the hum of the Ghost Catcher fading into the neon glow of the city. Another case closed. Sort of.