"Aarg! What a headache..."
When he opened his eyes, Evan found himself in a small dark room, with only one lantern keeping the place lit.
When he woke up, he realized his hands and feet were tied, while he was stuck to a chair.
Looking around, he heard footsteps approaching.
"You sure took your time to wake up, Lupo."
The man said in a monotone voice.
Noticing the mask the man wore, similar to a beetle, Evan quickly assumed that figure was none other than Scarabeo, the person he was supposed to meet.
"I-I think this wasn't the best way to meet me..."
Evan said in a mocking tone.
"Everything as a precaution, kid... Come on, I don't have much time to waste here."
Realizing how strict Scarabeo was, Evan simply decided to accept the man's attitude.
Scarabeo cut the ropes tying Evan up and handed him a piece of paper that had been inside his overcoat pocket.
The moment Evan grabbed the paper, his eyes widened as he read what was written on it.
"W-what?"
Letting out a light chuckle, Scarabeo couldn't help but notice Evan's expression, since he was without his mask.
"You're not scared, are you? I guess when you joined the organization, you didn't imagine we played with dolls?"
The man provoked.
On the paper, there was a photo of a man, with his name right below it: Edward Roberts.
'Assassination...'
"That man owes a huge amount to the Chief. It's been a few months since we sent some men after him, but they never came back."
"For some reason, the Chief seems to trust you, kid. Don't disappoint us... There are more instructions on the back of the paper."
The man finished, leaving Evan alone in the room.
Evan was still frozen as he stared at the man's photo on that paper.
Ever since he woke up in Etherea, Evan still hadn't been placed in a situation where he needed to take someone else's life.
'Shit! I don't have a choice...'
On the back of the paper, there was the location of the man's residence, along with the number of guards and the time the man usually stayed there.
Completion Deadline – TOMORROW BY NIGHTFALL
It was written in bold. Evan put the paper inside his suit, as another question came to his mind.
"How the hell did that bastard find me if I wasn't wearing the mask?"
The boy asked himself while touching his own face.
Leaving the place, Evan realized that all this time he had been inside the lighthouse.
'So this is where he was watching me from.'
...
'Damn it, damn it... how the hell am I supposed to kill this guy?'
At that moment, Evan didn't even have a single ability that allowed him to attack from a distance, much less a weapon.
The only weapon he had was an old sword that somehow survived in pieces when he returned from the Fehil Zone.
'Eh... I guess I'll need to do some shopping first...'
One of the main benefits Last Hope students had was the possibility of taking loans in markets within the empire's territory.
Meaning Evan could buy something and pay it off during the time he was still in the academy.
'Now I understand why most of those brats are so arrogant.'
Near the academy, there was a place known as the Big Market. It was one of the most popular areas among academy students, with countless items available across hundreds of stalls and small shops.
'Too bad I can't use those loans in the underworld...'
Evan believed he could find valuable items there at a low cost, but unfortunately, that benefit only applied to the legalized market, where the empire held power.
Walking between the many stalls, Evan spotted a rather curious establishment. The front was simple, with nothing but a completely rusted sign.
'Various Items'
Guided by pure intuition, Evan entered the place. As he pushed the door open, he could hear the scraping sound of rust grinding against rust.
"What are you looking for, young man?"
A voice came from behind the counter. It was an older man with a frail appearance, small strands of white hair, and eyes that expressed complete exhaustion.
The man wore a lab coat completely covered in dust.
"I'm looking for a weapon."
Evan replied. Immediately, the man pointed toward one of the shelves in the shop.
"Take a good look around, and let me know if you like anything."
The man said with a smile on his face.
'Why do I feel such a warm sensation coming from this man?'
Leaving the old man aside, Evan carefully observed the variety of weapons displayed on those shelves.
Several daggers, pocket knives, swords, and even spears.
But it was a seemingly simple blade that caught Evan's attention.
"That weapon is an odachi, kid. It's a great choice."
The old man suggested.
Its base was black, with small reddish kanjis engraved into it. The blade itself had a silver tone that seemed to reflect the very light around it.
Taking the sword off the shelf, Evan immediately felt its weight. Even though it looked fragile, the odachi was actually quite heavy.
"I'll take this one."
Walking up to the counter, Evan placed what remained of the Litidium he had obtained.
"I don't have any money with me. For now, I can only pay you with these stones."
Since he wasn't wearing the academy uniform, Evan assumed the man might not believe he was a student.
The shop owner stared at the Litidium for a moment.
"Hahaha... where did you get this, kid? These stones could buy even 100 of those swords."
Hearing that, Evan immediately began to suspect the man's true identity. In theory, only Evan and the members of Requiem should recognize the true value of that ore.
Yet a mere shopkeeper instantly understood its worth.
"B-but... are you sure, sir? I promise I'll pay you properly when I can."
Evan tried to ease the situation, only to be surprised once again by the man.
"Young man, with the experience I have, I know how to tell a jewel from trash. These ores you brought... they're true jewels."
"... That alone already pays for the sword. I assume you're one of those academy boys, right?"
With every passing second, Evan grew more and more shocked by that man's power of deduction.
But he couldn't help but feel grateful. Holding the odachi, Evan thanked the man as he left the shop.
'That man... he was definitely someone important.'