[Past]
Frank looked around in confusion.
"Where am I...?"
"What is this place?"
Suddenly, a memory from three days earlier resurfaced.
Three days ago...
Frank's father stood near the door before leaving.
Frank's Dad: "Frank, before I leave, I have something to tell you. Here... take these."
He handed Frank three coins.
They looked exactly like ordinary Ritna coins.
Frank: "Why are you giving me these?"
Frank's Dad: "Listen carefully. What I'm about to tell you... you'll understand later."
He looked directly into Frank's eyes.
Frank's Dad: "Repeat after me..."
Frank repeated every sentence until his father was satisfied that he had memorized the code.
With a relieved smile, his father continued.
Frank's Dad: "Go to Greetword 4 Alley and find a beggar."
"Say the first code sentence."
"Only after that will he ask you questions."
"Answer every question correctly."
"And only then... give him one of the coins."
His father placed his hand on the doorknob.
Frank's Dad: "Remember... only use the coin after you're mentally stable and capable of sensing whether someone is following you."
He opened the door.
Before leaving, he smiled.
Frank's Dad: "Time for training. Frank, I'll be back tonight."
The door slowly closed.
Back to the present...
Frank lowered his head.
He finally understood the meaning behind the letter his father had left.
"If time desires... we may meet again."
Now he knew.
His father had never expected to return.
Frank still didn't know why his father had made such a decision.
He had never understood the meaning behind it.
He only wondered...
"Why is this world so cruel?"
The elevator finally stopped.
A mechanical voice echoed through the cabin.
"Phox-18... Sector C."
The doors opened.
Frank stepped outside.
People filled the streets.
But something felt wrong.
No one smiled.
No one chatted casually.
Whenever people spoke to one another, their conversations were serious and brief.
The atmosphere was cold.
Frank walked through the crowd before approaching a stranger.
Frank: "Sir, could you tell me where I should go?"
The man glanced at him.
Man: "Need directions?"
"Pay me."
Frank was stunned.
Frank: "Sir... I don't have any money."
The man scoffed.
Man: "Then get lost."
Frank quietly walked away.
"How can a place like this exist?" he wondered.
"No trust."
"No kindness."
"No unity."
Then he reached his own conclusion.
"The only reason these people stay together..."
"Is because they all share one goal—bringing down the Neutral Kingdom."
"But what happens after the Neutral Kingdom falls?"
He lowered his gaze.
"An internal war..."
"It's inevitable."
Just then—
A calm voice called out behind him.
???: "Hey, kid."
"Come here for a second."
Frank turned around.
The speaker was a handsome young man dressed in dark clothing.
His black hair matched his cold expression.
Frank: "Yes, sir?"
The man frowned.
Man: "Don't call people 'sir' here."
"It makes you look like prey."
"If you want to survive in this place..."
"Be the predator."
The man stepped closer and whispered into Frank's ear.
Man: "You're James' descendant... aren't you?"
Frank's eyes widened.
Frank: "What?"
[End of chapter]
