I Became a Ghostbuster

Walter was shocked to see the revered man's actions and gaped at him in wonder. Not just him, but his entire family was baffled and they looked at each other questioningly.

"Where did you get this painting? How did you find it?" Rufus ignored their expressions and asked excitedly, admiring the painting to his heart's content.

"Rufus, what's wrong? Why are you this agitated?" Walter's father, Jack asked in concern and took a good look at the painting.

The painting looked good. The artist had done a great job of capturing the power the king held while he ascended the throne. The colors were vibrant, and the strokes were deep. However, the blemish on the edges, which had turned yellow, showed that it wasn't new. 

The painting was brilliant and even he, who had taken just a mere glance, felt an aura he couldn't fathom. But he couldn't decipher who the artist was. It didn't seem familiar.

"Jack, this is... this is..." Rufus' lips trembled as he tried to remain calm. "This is King Salathiel's last painting. It was said to have been painted by him personally. You have no idea how priceless this is."

King Salathiel? The man in the painting was King Salathiel?

Walter's eyes almost popped out of their sockets and he examined the painting again. His heart picked up speed while he held his breath.

Who didn't know King Salathiel? He was the man who had fought hard for his kingdom in the seventeenth century. He was the man who had protected and ruled over their ancestors. He was the man they worshipped.

It was said that only one painting of him was ever drawn when he was alive and...

'Is this the one?'

"Elder Abernathy, is this that painting?" Walter didn't ask explicitly, but Rufus understood, and he nodded.

"Yes. Where did you find it, son?" Rufus stared at him as if he was a divine being. "Will you sell it to me? I'll buy it for a hundred thousand dollars."

"A hundred thousand dollars?" Walter's head spun and his legs turned jelly instantly.

"Is it not enough? How about two hundred thousand?"

Walter's heart almost leaped out of his chest at the offer. He was tempted. He had paid merely two hundred and fifty for it and was now being offered a hundred and fifty thousand. He didn't know how to react for a long time.

"Old Rufus, who are you trying to fool here?" Jack stood up and glared at his friend before looking at the painting with star-struck eyes.

"My son might not know the value of this painting, but I do. And I know its worth isn't anything less than a million dollars. Don't try to trick us?"

"A million dollars?" Walter felt as if he wasn't even on this planet. It was like a dream.

"Yes, son. Where did you buy it?" Jack nodded, breaking into a toothy grin. Although he wanted to hold the painting and cherish it until his last breath, he didn't dare snatch it from Rufus. What if he ended up tearing it?

Jack broke into a cold sweat and shook his head. He waited impatiently, silently urging Rufus through his gaze to hand over the painting.

"Dad..." Walter hesitated, embarrassed to even think about how he had stumbled on the painting. It wasn't even he who had found it in the first place.

Walter's eyes shone and his gratitude towards Lionel increased. He now held the young man on a high pedestal.

"I bought it at the ancient market." Walter stopped at that. He didn't reveal anything else, while he waited to take a good look at the painting. 

"Rufus, I think it's time you returned the painting to me," Jack said sternly, his patience running thin.

"But..."

"And we would not be selling it." Jack remained adamant and didn't succumb to Rufus' pleas, leaving him no choice.

Rufus stared at the painting as if it were his child as he returned to Jack. He was close to crying and his dispirited expression made Walter praise Lionel once more.

The young man had not just saved him from being looted, he had even helped him obtain a treasure worth millions. A deep sense of regret filled when he realized how he had behaved after buying the painting. He hadn't been that enthusiastic and even doubted Lionel for a moment.

Walter felt like smacking his head for his foolishness. 'If only I hadn't been stupid...'

Jack admired the painting for a few seconds before he placed it back into the scroll case. He then secured it inside his study while all Rufus could do was stare at him in envy.

It was only when Rufus departed after an hour or so that Jack raised the topic, holding his son captive beside him. "Son, how did you find the painting? Be honest with me."

Jack hadn't missed the strange expression on his son's face previously and he more or less had an inkling that Walter hadn't chanced upon it himself. He wasn't that knowledgeable about paintings, nor was he lucky.

Walter knew he couldn't hide the truth from his father. So, he revealed all that had transpired at the ancient market while his family listened to him. Even his son who was usually indifferent to such things was intrigued.

"I knew it!" Jack smacked his thigh loudly and Walter jumped in shock. "Someone must have helped you. Do you know who he is? What does he do?"

"Dad, all I know is his name. Lionel."

Jack's blood boiled at his son's foolishness and he looked at him as if he was dead meat. "Don't you have other information about him? What does he do? Where does he live?"

"Dad, it's my first time meeting him." Walter didn't know if he should laugh or cry. As far as he remembered, his father had never lost his cool. But now...

Well, he was electrified too. So, he didn't blame his old man.

"You are hopeless. I am going back to my painting."

"Umm...Dad, I bought it," Walter pointed.

"Wasn't it a gift for me?" Jack deadpanned and returned to his study, leaving his son helpless.

"Grandpa, wait for me." Walter's son, Kalvin ran behind him leaving the couple in the living room.

"Why were you so careless?" His wife, Martha slapped his hand lightly and sighed deeply. 

Walter just raised his hand helplessly. 

"If you find him next time, thank him sincerely. He did us a huge favor."

"Definitely. We owe him. I will not be careless and stupid next time." Walter said in resolve, making up his mind to visit the ancient market a few times, hoping to meet him soon.