While Raydon was speed-running his fourth match and setting new records, a figure dressed in all black was slowly making his way out of the shadows and into the light of the neighborhood, murmuring something.
'I shouldn't sneak around; if that high-ranking item holder is nearby and suspects me of being hostile, I'll be dead before I even know how. ' Then, cautiously but openly, he started to make his way over to Raydon's house across the street.
'Why did the master assign me such a task? I'm definitely going to die of a heart attack, even if that high-rank doesn't kill me. '' He pondered this as he approached the entrance to Raydon's apartment building and made his way up the front steps. He was trembling and looking around him with each step.
This was the shadow messenger that Fang had previously asked to investigate Raydon's family background. And now he had sent him to Raydon's house to deliver a message.
Normally, Fang could simply wait and speak to Raydon at the item shop where he regularly goes to sell his items, but since he believed Raydon to be the apprentice of a high-rank, he decided it would be best to formally send a message to him.
If he secretly requested Raydon's assistance, it would be disrespectful to the high-ranking individual behind him, and Fang didn't want this misunderstanding to occur. He also couldn't ignore his own reputation by coming here personally because, although he wasn't a high-rank himself, he was also very close to being one. So he decided to send a shadow messenger in the hopes of getting the attention of that imaginary high-rank item holder and, if possible, using Raydon as an intermediary to meet with him.
The shadow messenger cautiously ascended the steps and approached Raydon's front door.
'Man, I haven't knocked on doors as a shadow messenger in a very long time. I'll always carry this shame with me. '
The shadow messenger sighed and knocked on Raydon's door in shame, knowing that he was always operating in the shadows where no one would ever suspect his presence.
''Hm? He's not at home? Should I wait? '' After knocking on the door several times and receiving no response, he thought to himself.
The Shadow messenger was standing still and contemplating when he was suddenly alerted by his senses; he spun around and caught the knife that had been hurled at his head with two fingers.
''Who are you and why are you attacking me? '' He yelled at the young man with the red hair who was standing in the middle of the street just in front of Raydon's apartment.
'The knife was thrown at me before I even knew he was there. Despite his youthful appearance, he has excellent concealment skills. '
The Shadow Messenger pondered. Even though he saw the tattoo on his hand that read "2" in gray color and knew that he was actually much weaker than he appeared, the fact that he could approach and attack him so stealthily was impressive.
'He is not the man my master instructed me to deliver the message to. Why is there another item holder here?' Shadow Messenger had not expected to come across another item holder in this region besides Raydon and the High-Rank behind him.
'From what I can see, I think he lives around here. He's probably one of those who got lucky and became an item holder by accident. ' Shadow messenger thought.
He could tell he wasn't a member of a family or organization based on the clothes he was wearing and the fact that he didn't have any items on him.
Aside from those who normally awaken by learning the techniques that big families and organizations hold in their hands, it was an extremely rare event for a person to awaken their potential and become an item holder, but it was not impossible. Experiences such as coming face to face with death may allow people to discover and awaken their inner potential.
'A very impressive young man. I believe I can take him to the master. He can join the Trade Organization if he demonstrates his worth.'
In the split second it took the shadow messenger to process all of this, the young man looked at him, grimacing, having watched as he caught the knife he threw with all his strength. ''Who are you? What are you doing there? ''
"I'm just here to deliver a message, I'm not here to cause any trouble. " Shadow Messenger spoke the truth. Even though he was aware that this young man was a weak item holder, he still didn't want to stir up trouble in this vicinity.
''You are not here to cause any trouble? So tell me, what are you doing outside that door, masked and dressed in all black? Do you think I'm stupid? '' Dan let out another loud shout.
Yes, this red-haired young man was Dan, who had recently become an item holder thanks to Raydon and had just completed his first match and reached level 2.
After Herman's death and what happened at the factory, Dan and the others declared Raydon a god and began to address him as master. Further, they misunderstood Raydon's true nature and believed that he was a hero fighting for good against evil organizations, so they were willing to do anything for him.
Not knowing how to help him, the first thing that came to mind was to find Raydon's house and stand guard around it, ensuring that the neighborhood was safe and that no one would interfere with Raydon's life.
And as a result of all of this, even though Dan didn't exactly know where Raydon's house was, he still acted right away when he saw a man in all black and wearing a mask standing in front of one of the houses' doors.
Dan thought that this person was definitely not normal. 'He is unquestionably an item holder and probably much more powerful than I am. Did he come here to assassinate the master? '