"Please, Aiden, no! I'll do anything you ask—call you master, teacher, or even sensei—but please, not this. Don't use my money. It represents two years of painstaking savings, every penny collected with diligence. It will all be gone. Please, I implore you, don't proceed," Rey pleaded, his voice rising in desperation. Aiden, however, remained unmoved by Rey's pleas and calmly guided him to sit in front of the computer.
Aiden began to search a black-market website that sold weapons and specialized equipment—everything from grenades and machine guns to historical swords, spears, daggers, and bows. The site catered to a rare breed of martial artists, those who wielded weapons for the express purpose of killing. Though they were few in number, their existence was an open secret, particularly among the powerful families that chose to remain hidden in the shadows of society.
How Aiden had discovered this site and its contents remained a mystery, known only to him.
"So, we have approximately 8500 Dracins at our disposal, setting aside 40 Dracins for acts of mercy. With this amount, we can... hold on, let me find the right item. We need to assess the quality of the weapon, considering its potential in combat and the likelihood of fatalities," Aiden muttered, tallying the coins before continuing his search.
After a thorough search, Aiden stretched out Rey's limbs as if he had just finished a long shift.
"Alright, we have the suit and the mask, essential for concealing your identity and protecting your face from dagger attacks. The suit is bulletproof, though a bit heavy and imperfect—exactly why it was affordable. Otherwise, we would have spent our entire budget," Aiden explained as he prepared to complete the order.
"Wait, why did you buy this black coat? It doesn't offer any protection, and it doesn't even have a practical purpose—it's just for looks," Rey pointed out, eyeing the final item that cost 300 Dracins purely for its appearance.
"Indeed, I bought it for its sleek appeal. As your host, you must present a certain level of sophistication—not look like a military grunt. That's why I chose it. But let's move on. To recap: the Protective Suit costs 5800 Dracins, the mask is 900 Dracins, and the Black Coat is 300 Dracins. We're still under budget, and we can search for a weapon. I suspect we won't find anything too impressive, but let's see what we can afford." Aiden reviewed the listed products, searching for a defensive weapon, though deep down, he knew it would likely be used offensively. A hunch gnawed at him—this adventure would change Rey's personality, for better or worse. If things went south, Aiden knew he'd have to intervene. He didn't want to turn an innocent kid into a cold-blooded killer.
Little did he know, this incident would irreversibly alter Rey's life.
"Alright, it's settled. Our order is complete. I've found a decent dagger called 'Scorpion Fang' for 1300 Dracins. It's secondhand, but it's in good condition, which is all we need. We'll also need to pay an extra 200 Dracins for expedited delivery, arriving tomorrow at 4:15 p.m.," Aiden explained, finalizing the order and casting a glance at Rey, who looked visibly disheartened.
"My money..." Rey muttered, staring at the diminishing savings. He paused, glancing at the clock, before dashing out of the room.
"What's going on now?" Aiden wondered, fading back into his body.
"I'm late for work again. The manager's going to kill me," Rey muttered under his breath as he hurried out of the house.
Meanwhile, Evan sat on his bed, poring over the search history on his old laptop. He had been looking for something very specific—a site similar to the one Aiden and Rey had explored for weapons.
"Found it," Evan muttered to himself, clicking into the site after a few minutes of scrolling. There, he found an array of weapons and surveillance tools, but he stayed focused on his goal: a hidden blade that could be concealed on his body and activated with a button. After a quick search, he found it for the lowest price—800 Dracins.
"Let me check my balance..." Evan muttered, quickly scanning his account. He had 927 Dracins saved, just enough for this purchase, which he had been reserving for something important. "Good thing I've saved enough. Otherwise, I'd have to ask them for help. But I don't want to rely on them."
"Ah, and there's a slot for tomorrow's delivery. I'd rather not waste time with additional charges," Evan added after placing the order and heading out to buy food with his remaining funds. He wanted to be in a good condition for the mission ahead.
As he walked to the store, Evan reflected on his situation. "They'll try to kidnap me on Wednesday and trade us to a big family. That's when I need to make my move and find the relic that could help me escape."
"But if I don't get what those ten people are looking for, I'm as good as dead. I can enter that place, but survival depends on that item's power. It has to be there—or I'm doomed."
After buying some cup noodles and canned food, he returned to his apartment, preparing for the next day that would bring him one step closer to his mission's success.
__
Do you think the object Evan desires is the same as what Rey seeks? What happens next will remain a mystery that time will slowly unravel.