SHAMAN PROTOCOL
Chapter 57: Work with Pride. Eat with Honor.

Chapter 57: Work with Pride. Eat with Honor.

All the ghosts at the site just watched Mikel leave with mixed emotions. They were scared and wary, but also worried. Some took a few steps as if to follow him, but then stopped. Others didn’t even try—they couldn’t.

In the end, they all stood in silence, eyes fixed on where Mikel had gone.

"Boss..." one of the ghosts whispered. "I wonder what happened to him?"

"I don’t feel good about this," another murmured. "Should we check on him? I don’t think he’ll make it to his lodging."

A few ghosts looked at one another and nodded. Not all of them were anchored in one place, so they could easily follow Mikel to make sure he returned safely. But before they could act on it, a familiar voice rang out.

"Stay where you are."

Everyone turned toward the old ghost engineer, who was approaching with a few workers behind him. The ghosts who had wanted to follow Mikel frowned.

"But the boss is—"

"He said it was nothing." Unlike usual, the old engineer’s voice was firm. His grip behind his back trembled, as if he were barely holding himself back. "Even if it’s a lie... if he says it’s alright, then we act like it is"

"The boss might be a kid, but... he’s the man!" a bulky ghost rasped out. "Don’t you dare break a man’s pride and dignity with cheap pity!"

That shut everyone up. Many weren’t happy about it, but the words rang true. Physically, Mikel looked like a wreck. But the way he carried himself—his eyes, his voice—told a different story.

"He carried himself with dignity. Maybe not to keep us calm, but because he doesn’t want to be pitied," another ghost said, quieter than the rest. "Respect him, just like he respects your silly demands... right, Arthur?"

All eyes moved upon the mention of Arthur.

Arthur had been there, silent and unnoticed until now. His presence was heavy, solemn.

He kept his lips pressed into a thin line, sighing faintly as he looked around at the ghosts. Then, he glanced in the direction Mikel had gone. He knew the boy had a reputation with delinquents—he’d heard of it back when he was alive.

So maybe Mikel had gotten into trouble. And even though Arthur’s gut screamed that this wasn’t just some street fight with kids his age, he also knew that no matter what he’d do, Mikel wouldn’t tell him a thing.

He looked back at the ghosts and nodded. "If you’re really worried about the boss, then let’s put in extra effort fixing his home. That’s the only way we can cheer him up."

Some nodded, others remained hesitant. But the silence was palpable.

But then—

"OYYY!!!" A panicked yell broke through the moment.

Everyone turned to the sound.

There, on the roof, a ghost was waving frantically.

He was panting, face twisted in panic and confusion. He pointed off in a direction.

"The offering—the offering table!" he cried. "Our shrine!!"

A jolt of panic surged through every ghost as they all rushed toward the little shrine. Their thoughts spiraled into worst-case scenarios.

But then, when they reached it...

"Whaaaat?" the ghost on the roof gasped. "Seee??"

Not just him. Every ghost that gathered around the shrine fell silent, eyes wide, mouths agape.

"CAKE!!" one ghost shrieked, already tearing up. "IT’S CARROT—HE ACTUALLY LISTENED!"

"It’s the carrot cake we asked for!" another squealed.

"What is this incense?! It smells so good I can smell heaven!"

"Look at this strawberry! It’s so shiny and fresh—OMG!"

Excitement erupted in the air, pushing away the dread they felt just moments ago. The shrine was overflowing with offerings, but none of the previous offerings were present. Now, it looked like a feast—a banquet full of premium offerings.

Was this what people called a company dinner?

"Did he... pray over them?" one ghost asked, reaching for a fruit. His hand didn’t pass through. He gasped. "He did! He already prayed!"

"YAAAY! Let’s eat!"

"Wait, I want the cake!"

"Let me smell the incense!"

Just as the chaos began to boil over, a loud voice cut through it:

"Don’t you ghouls have any dignity left?!?"

Everyone froze and slowly turned to the bulky ghost standing beside the ghost engineer, Arthur, Gregory (the Ghost Union Representative), and a few others.

"What now?" a female ghost huffed, pouting.

Gregory adjusted his ghostly eyeglasses even though he didn’t need to. "We’ve seen the boss’s condition. And if you think about it... he brought us all this in that state."

He paused. His tone sharpened.

"I may be pro-union, but just like how I support our movement and rights, I also don’t condone this kind of behavior. Work with pride. Earn your offerings with dignity."

Arthur stepped forward with a gentle smile. "The offering break is for later. I know you’re all excited—we are too. Everything looks amazing, and I’m sure it all tastes better than anything we’ve ever had. But right now, we can’t always be on the receiving end."

The ghosts beside him nodded, their little ghostly dignity restored by Mikel’s refusal to collapse in front of them.

At the same time, Arthur’s daughter squeezed to the front of the crowd. She stood in front of the shrine, spreading her little arms wide like a tiny knight guarding a treasure hoard.

She didn’t speak. She didn’t need to.

Her eyes said it all:

This shrine shall not be defiled. Not on my afterlife.

The ghosts grumbled, gazing at the offerings with longing. Some reached dramatically—only to be smacked back by other ghosts.

"That little girl will bite you."

"Please," Arthur said once more, nodding encouragingly. "I know we’re all here because of our contracts. But for once... let’s do better. Let’s not waste the boss’s kindness."

The ghosts exchanged looks, then nodded one by one.

"Fine..." they said.

Even with heavy hearts and rumbling stomachs, they stepped away from the shrine. It wasn’t break time yet. But they didn’t walk off without muttering and dreaming.

"Hey... do you think he’ll bring ice cream next time?"

"He remembered the carrot cake. Who knows what else he’s got up his sleeve?"

As the ghosts shuffled back to work, Arthur let out a long sigh. He turned toward the others, who nodded back at him.

And just like that, the ghost crew began working harder than ever, not just out of dignity or loyalty...

...but because that carrot cake wasn’t going to earn itself.