Unexpected Visitor

...✦    ‧₊˚ ⋅⋆｡ ﾟ☁︎｡ ⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡ ⋆.𖥔 ݁ ˖   ✦   ...

...THREE YEARS AGO...

...☁︎☁︎☁︎...

...The rhythmic chirping of crickets and the crackle of a nearby fire formed a comforting backdrop to the scene....

...A tall figure, cloaked and hooded, their face obscured by shadow, stood before the merchant’s stall....

...The merchant, however, didn’t seem visibly surprised by the unexpected visitor. ...

...The night, he knew, often brought unusual guests....

...“hey there, customer!...

...I’ve got quite a few things ...

...that might interest you....

...Take a look,” ...

...he offered, ...

...his voice a smooth invitation....

...The cloaked figure grunted, it's gaze sweeping over the merchant’s wares....

...The merchant gave a wary,...

...yet somehow practiced, ...

...smile and a slight nod.  ...

...He held up a worn leather-bound book....

...“This here book,”...

...the merchant began, his voice low and conspiratorial,...

...“contains a very detailed guide on Shadows – how to navigate them, ...

...their strengths and weaknesses....

...I tell you, it’s got all sorts of useful information inside.”...

...The cloaked figure barely glanced at the offered book before tossing it aside with a careless flick of the wrist. ...

...The book landed with a dull thud, dislodging other items from the meticulously arranged display....

...  Silver coins scattered across the dusty ground, their metallic clang echoing in the quiet night....

...“Hey! Careful with my things!”...

...the merchant exclaimed,...

...his voice sharper now, ...

...laced with annoyance. ...

...He glared at the mysterious figure. ...

...“Do you know how much these things cost?!”...

...The cloaked figure remained unmoved, seemingly unconcerned by the merchant's outburst.  ...

...Their attention drifted to other items, ...

...a gloved hand reaching out to examine a tarnished silver locket, ...

...then a strangely carved wooden box....

...The merchant watched, ...

...a mixture of apprehension and a hint ...

...of grudging fascination in his eyes, ...

...as the stranger continued their seemingly random exploration of his wares....

...  The night,...

...it seemed, ...

...would hold more surprises than just this unusual customer....

...  A glint of something metallic, ...

...caught in the firelight,...

...revealed a small, intricately designed dagger and a tucked into the stranger's belt. ...

...The merchant’s concern grew, ...

...a chill settling beneath his practiced composure. ...

...The cricket's song faded slightly, overshadowed now by the tension hanging thick in the night air....

...The stranger paused, ...

...their gloved hand lingering over a seemingly insignificant piece of dark cloth.  ...

...What secrets did it hold?...

...What secrets did the stranger seek?...

...“Hey, come here....

...I’ve got something else you might like!”...

...The merchant’s voice,...

...though still smooth, held a note...

...of urgency....

...The cloaked figure, ...

...their face still obscured by shadow, turned and slowly approached the counter....

...The merchant, ...

...with a flourish, produced a thick, ...

...golden key, its surface gleaming in the firelight. ...

...“Here,”...

...he said, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper,...

...“how about this?...

...It opens a special safe… ...

...you know, ...

...the typical pirate’s chest… ...

...the kind filled with enough gold to make a king envious!” ...

...He winked,...

...a mischievous glint in his eye, ...

...and then produced...

...a rolled-up parchment, ...

...its edges frayed and stained. ...

...“And look! ...

...I’ve also got the map to find it!  ...

...Only 35 gold pieces for the map…”...

...He held up the golden key, a smirk playing on his lips.  ...

...“And the key… well, it usually costs 50 gold pieces, but… I’m giving you a 10% discount!”...

...  He paused,...

...leaning forward expectantly, ...

...the firelight dancing in his eyes....

...The cloaked figure remained ...

...silent for a long moment,...

...their stillness unnerving. ...

...Then,...

...a low scoff escaped their lips—a sound that sliced through the night's quiet...

...like a knife....

...The merchant’s smile faltered,...

...replaced by a look of puzzled confusion.  ...

...His jovial façade crumbled, revealing the underlying anxiety.  ...

...What was wrong with this person?...

...The merchant was offering them an incredible opportunity! ...

...He’d practically thrown himself into the deal! ...

...The silence stretched, thick with unspoken tension. ...

...The merchant swallowed,...

...a tight feeling in his chest....

..."No?" ...

...he finally asked,...

...the question hanging heavily in the air, a hint of desperation coloring his usually confident tone. ...

...He watched the cloaked figure, ...

...his expression a mixture of disappointment and a growing sense ...

...of unease. ...

...The fire crackled,...

...casting flickering shadows...

...that danced and writhed, ...

...mirroring the turmoil within...

...the merchant’s heart. ...

...The night, ...

...once comforting,...

...now seemed to close in,...

...heavy with unspoken possibilities ...

...and unanswered questions....

...The merchant narrowed his eyes,...

...a flicker of irritation crossing his face. ...

...“You’re quite picky, aren’t you?” ...

...he muttered,...

...his voice losing some of its earlier charm....

...He held up a strange-looking ring, ...

...its surface etched with unfamiliar symbols. ...

...“Here, how about this then?...

...This ring protects you from...

...every status effect. ...

...No matter what your enemies throw...

...at you – poisons, curses, paralyzing spells – you’ll be unaffected....

...  It keeps your mind clear,...

...your body strong!”...

...The cloaked figure, however, showed no interest. ...

...They turned to leave, ...

...their departure emphasizing the merchant’s growing frustration....

...The merchant,...

...his patience wearing thin, clenched his teeth. ...

...His annoyance was palpable,...

...a visible tension in his shoulders ...

...and the set of his jaw. ...

...He snatched up a heavy,...

...ornate necklace, its pendant a dark, swirling stone. ...

...“How about this then, you picky bastard?”...

...he snapped,...

...his voice edged with barely...

...controlled anger....

...“This doubles all the damage ...

...you deal in battle!  ...

...You’ll be hitting ...

...every shadow weakness ...

...with this bad boy – guaranteed!”...

...The cloaked figure paused, ...

...their back already halfway...

...turned toward the exit. ...

...Slowly, deliberately,...

...they turned around,...

...their shadowed face giving ...

...nothing away....

...“No,”...

...the response was deep, low, ...

...and chillingly calm,...

...a stark contrast to the merchant’s rising agitation.  ...

...It silenced the merchant’s further attempts at persuasion,...

...leaving him speechless,...

...his carefully crafted sales pitch dissolving into frustrated silence....

...The cloaked figure resumed...

...their earlier examination ...

...of the merchant’s wares,...

...their seemingly random selection of items continuing to infuriate the frustrated merchant....

...The merchant's frustration finally boiled over. ...

...“Oi!” ...

...he roared, his voice echoing in the relative quiet of the night....

...  “You can’t just go through...

...the wares all willy-nilly like that! ...

...What do you think you’re doing? ...

...This isn't some shadow-infested dungeon you can loot without consequences!...

...  Show some respect!” ...

...His voice cracked with barely controlled rage. ...

...He watched, ...

...his hands trembling slightly,...

...as the enigmatic figure continued their seemingly casual examination...

...of the merchandise, ...

...a storm brewing within the merchant’s increasingly agitated heart. ...

...The rhythmic chirping of crickets seemed to mock his mounting fury....

...The cloaked figure paused before ...

...their earliest desire, ...

...their gaze lingering on the black cloth draped over a small, wooden stand.  ...

...The cloaked man stared at it for a moment, a flicker of something dark passing through their eyes....

...  Then,...

...with a swift, ...

...decisive movement,...

...they pulled the cloth away,...

...revealing the object hidden beneath. ...

...they snatched it up without hesitation, their fingers curling around the cold metal....

...They grunted,...

...their voice rough and low, ...

..."How much is this?"...

...The cloaked figure held aloft a kusarigama,...

...a formidable weapon consisting of two obsidian blades attached at either end of a heavy chain. ...

...The swords gleamed menacingly in the dim light, ...

...their sharp edges promising swift and brutal death....

...  It was said that these swords had once claimed countless innocent lives,...

...their victims' souls...

...clinging to the metal, ...

...cursing anyone who dared to wield them....

...The merchant's face drained of color as he realized what the cloaked figure had grabbed....

...  His voice trembled slightly as he spoke,...

..."That's a kusarigama, made from a special type of very high-quality steel. Costs a pretty penny....

...  So you better put that cursed sword back down and stop touching my wares if you can't buy it, 'ya hear me?"...

...The merchant's words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken fear and a hint of desperate pleading. ...

...The figure,...

...however, ...

...remained unmoved. ...

...They continued to examine...

...the kusarigama,...

...their fingers tracing ...

...the sharp edges of the blades, ...

...their gaze fixed on the gleaming metal. ...

...They seemed oblivious...

...to the merchant's warning...

..., their focus solely on the weapon...

...in their hands. ...

...The air crackled with unspoken tension, the silence punctuated only by the rhythmic clinking of the chain as the figure moved the kusarigama,...

...testing its weight and balance....

...The merchant watched,...

...his heart pounding in his chest, ...

...unsure of what to do next.  ...

...He knew this figure was...

...no ordinary customer.  ...

...There was something dangerous, something almost feral about them....

...  He could feel the weight ...

...of the curse clinging to the kusarigama,...

...a chilling reminder of the darkness that lay hidden within its cold metal....

..."I got money," ...

...the figure stated, ...

...a slow,...

...predatory grin spreading ...

...across it's face....

...  Their eyes,...

...dark and intense,...

...held a glint of something dangerous, something that sent a shiver down the merchant's spine....

...The merchant raised a dubious eyebrow....

...  He was a businessman, after all, ...

...and a sale was a sale.  ...

...But there was something...

...unsettling about this figure,...

...something that made him wary....

...  "How much you got on ya then?...

...Don't try and swindle me....

...I know what it's worth," ...

...he said, his voice laced with a hint of skepticism....

..."Just name your price," ...

...the figure said, their voice full of confidence. ...

...There was an air of authority about them, a quiet power that made the merchant hesitate....

...“45,000 yen....

...But, if I know you’re good for it...

...and you return to buy stuff again,...

...I’ll even give you a first-time buyers discount. Only 40,000,” ...

...the merchant said, trying to sound confident....

...The figure had gone quiet, ...

...replaced by a scoff. ...

..."Is that even a discount?"...

...“Are you trying to get a better deal? That’s already a generous discount...

...for a weapon of that caliber. ...

...Normally it’s worth 50,000,” ...

...the merchant retorted,...

...his voice rising slightly in agitation....

...The merchant sighed, ...

...his patience wearing thin....

...“Are you going to buy something...

...or just annoy me to death?”...

...The figure...

...  took a step towards the merchant,...

...their movements slow and deliberate, like a hungry wolf stalking its prey. ...

...The merchant, feeling trapped, backed away, his unease growing.  ...

...He could feel a dangerous aura radiating from the them, a palpable sense of menace....

...The figure slowly creeping towards something under the merchant's stall....

..."W-What are you getting so close for..."...

...the merchant stammered, ...

...his voice barely a whisper....

...thug! ...

...The figure slammed it's fist on the counter, the sound echoing through the small shop....

...The merchant nearly jumped out of his skin. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and his heart pounded in his chest. ...

..."W-woah, hey!...

...There's no need for violence! ...

...W-what do you want?!"...

..."I got 85 gold in this bag,"...

...the figure said, a chuckle escaping it's lips as they pulled a heavy bag from his pocket. ...

..."Didn't mean to scare ya."...

...The merchant's eyes widened at the sight of the bag....

..."Did you say gold-?...

...Why didn't you say so ...

...in the first place?...

...Let me see it."...

...The merchant quickly opened the bag and checked some of the coins inside, testing them for authenticity....

...  His eyes widened even further as he realized the gold was real....

...  This was more than enough to cover the weapon....

..."This is... real gold. ...

...This is more than enough to cover that weapon you're so hellbent on buying," ...

...the merchant said, his voice now laced with a mix of excitement and caution....

...His expression shifted to one of concern....

..."A-Are you sure you want to part ...

...with that sword?"...

...The figure swung the right sword,...

...the chain clinking ominously. ...

..."Yes, but if this is fake, I'll come back—" ...

...it's voice became a low growl, ...

...a hint of warning in it's tone. ...

..."—And hunt you down."...

...The merchant quickly held up his hands in protest....

..."N-no no, it's not fake! ...

...It's real high-quality sword. ...

...You can tell just by the markings. Please, I swear on my own life, ...

...it's real!"...

...The figure grinned, pulling his hoodie down to his head then taking his Devil's mask horned out....

..."The name's......

...Night Owl....

...Remember that."...

...He turned and left, ...

...The merchant stood there,...

...his face pale, his body cold....

...  He knew who this man was. ...

...Night Owl. ...

...The most wanted lone man in the land.  ...

...The merchant's heart ...

...hammered in his chest, ...

...a chilling reminder of the danger...

...he had just encountered....

...The merchant had never interacted with someone so notorious in his life....

...His legs felt wobbly,...

...and he clutched onto one of the stall's bars to keep his knees from buckling....

...  He was still reeling from the encounter, ...

...the chilling memory of Night Owl's chilling words echoing in his ears....

..."N-night... Owl... a-at least he paid fairly..." ...

...he muttered to himself,...

...his voice trembling with shock.  ...

...He couldn't believe he had just dealt with one of the most wanted criminals in the land....

...Slowly, the merchant's hand reached for the bag of gold. ...

...He opened it again, ...

...his fingers fumbling with the clasp....

...  To his utter astonishment, ...

...the gold was gone!...

...The merchant's face turned pale,...

...his eyes widening in disbelief....

...  He searched the bag frantically,...

...his fingers tracing the lining, ...

...desperately hoping to find...

...a single gold coin. ...

...There was a small hole in the bag,...

...a tear barely visible, but it was enough....

...The merchant went down on his knees, his hands frantically searching the floor beneath the stall....

...  He looked around, his gaze sweeping across the shop, but there was no trace of the gold.  ...

...It was as if it had vanished into thin air....

..."No... no, no, no, no, NO!!!" ...

...he cried out, his voice filled with despair.  ...

...He fell to his knees, ...

...clutching his head, his mind racing....

..."DAMN YOU NIGHT OWL!!!" ...

...The merchant roared, the sound echoing through the empty shop....

...High above the horizon, a dark figure soared through the night sky. ...

...Night Owl, transformed into a massive black owl, his wings beating silently against the wind. ...

...He was heading towards a distant kingdom, his mind already plotting his next move......

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