chapter 19: The shadows in the market

Chapter 19: Shadows in the Market

The market was a filthy maze of broken stalls, moldy food, and desperate merchants hawking their half-rotten goods. Rin stepped through the muddy streets, his boots sinking slightly with every step. The Down World was always like this—unkempt, chaotic, and utterly unforgiving. The air reeked of sweat, overused oil, and decay.

He glanced around at the so-called 'food' available. The meat had a greenish tint, the fruit was half-eaten by insects, and the bread looked like it had been chewed on by rats. He had learned to adapt since being thrown down here, but even now, the sight of it made his stomach churn.

As he handed over a few worn coins for a dried meat stick, he felt it—a presence.

A woman, cloaked and moving through the crowd with calculated steps, never lingering too long at any stall, never drawing too much attention. But she had already caught his attention. The way she moved was too precise, too trained. Not a common merchant, not a beggar.

He took a step toward her, appearing beside her in the narrow street.

"You know," he said, voice low but edged with something sharp. "I can't forget an aura once I've sensed it."

The woman froze for a fraction of a second. Then—she struck.

Her palm shot toward his ribs. Rin reacted instantly, deflecting with his forearm. But before he could counter, she used the force of the block to push herself away and dart into the crowd.

"Damn."

Without hesitation, Rin took off after her.

She was fast—too fast. She weaved through the crowd like she had rehearsed this escape a thousand times before, ducking under carts, twisting around beggars, vaulting over low barriers with minimal effort. But Rin had chased before. And he knew how to hunt.

He cut through alleys, took shortcuts, forced her to change directions. Step by step, he closed the distance.

Then, something whistled past his ear.

Rin's instincts screamed. He threw himself sideways as a needle-thin dart sliced through the space where his throat had been.

Two figures landed silently on nearby rooftops.

Their cloaks shimmered—then they disappeared.

"Shit—assassins."

They weren't after him. They were after her.

The woman skidded to a stop, realizing the same thing. "Damn it."

A second dart came from nowhere. She twisted at the last second, barely dodging.

The assassins moved like ghosts, flickering in and out of visibility as they activated their stealth modules. Their invisible coats blended them seamlessly into the environment. Their strikes were silent, their blades nearly impossible to predict.

A dagger sliced across Rin's arm. He hadn't even seen the attacker.

The woman wasn't faring much better. A deep cut bloomed across her leg as an unseen blade tore through her flesh.

They were surrounded, outmatched, and bleeding.

"Truce?" Rin muttered.

She hesitated—then nodded. "Truce."

With no other option, they sprinted toward the nearest building—a dimly lit bar at the edge of the market.

The moment they stepped inside, the noise of the outside world dulled. The bar was filled with low murmurs, the clinking of glasses, and the slow strumming of a musician in the corner. The smell of cheap liquor and damp wood filled the air.

The assassins entered soon after, but they didn't strike. Not yet. They took seats at different tables, their presence unsettling.

Rin's eyes flicked toward the woman. "Who the hell are they?"

She took a slow breath. "Sand Blade Knights."

The words made Rin pause.

He had heard of them by there rankings.

Knight Core—basic foundation.

Sand Blade Knights—elite warriors with stealth and speed.

Sword Master—rare, powerful, almost unmatched in skill.

Sword Monarch—a missing legend.

Sword God—a myth whispered among warriors.

"And?" Rin pressed.

She exhaled. "They rank at A-C Class in every level. And I am at a disadvantage."

Before Rin could question her further, she tapped her wrist. A device activated.

A sudden hiss filled the bar.

Steam erupted from the floor, burning hot.

The assassins flinched, backing away.

Rin's eyes narrowed as the woman smirked.

"The Lighthouse Project," she muttered. "My master's ultimate invention."

The assassins recovered quickly, even as the scorching steam filled the bar. One of them spoke for the first time.

"We are not after you." His voice was smooth, emotionless. "We are after that project."

The woman's face darkened. "You're too late."

Rin's mind worked quickly. They wanted the Lighthouse Project. But why?

The assassins didn't wait.

The one on the right flicked his wrist. A thin wire shot toward the woman's neck.

She dodged—but barely. The wire cut into her arm, blood dripping onto the wooden floor.

Rin didn't give the second assassin time to move. He kicked a table, flipping it over to create a barrier.

The woman reached into her coat, pulling out a chain-like tool. She swung it, wrapping it around a support beam and launching herself upward.

Rin smirked. "Not bad."

But the assassins weren't done.

"they had to finish this as fast as possible the lighthouse steam increases by a twenty degrees rate each passing minute till it reaches a hundred they had to end this quick after all the heat already has already put their knives to no use because of it's metal property. lupin the 1st created this lighthouse as a hideout located at the center of this world so it can reach any location at the same time boilt the blood of the first king for killing his lover only for him to pass it into his disciple such a world treasure cannot be handled by a child."

Even without their tech, their speed was overwhelming. Within seconds, one of them was on the woman, knocking her hard into the bar counter. Bottles shattered as she crumpled to the ground.

"Shit—"

Rin grabbed the nearest object—a glass bottle—and smashed it against the assassin's face. The man barely flinched before kicking Rin in the ribs, sending him sprawling.

He coughed, struggling to his feet. "We're screwed."

The assassins stepped forward, daggers glinting—

PSSHHH!

A tear gas canister hit the floor, releasing a thick white cloud.

Rin moved first. He grabbed the woman's arm and hauled her toward the exit.

She wasn't unconscious, but she was dazed.

"Move!" Rin barked.

She snapped out of it, flicking her wrist to activate her chain again. It wrapped around a beam, and she swung them both toward a window.

The glass shattered as they crashed into the alley outside.

Panting, Rin turned to her.

"You could've told me about those bastards."

She sighed, pulling down her hood—revealing a much younger face than he expected.

Not a woman. A kid.

Rin blinked. "You're a damn child?"

The boy smirked. "I studied the art of disguise."

Rin exhaled. His head was still spinning from the last ten minutes.

"And what do you want from me?"

Rin tilted his head. "I won't kill you… if you join my team."

Rin's eyebrow twitched. "I don't even know your name."

"Silas." The kid's grin widened. "And we need someone like you."

Rin stared at him for a long moment.

Then, finally, he sighed.

"Fine. But if you try anything, I'll kill you first."

Silas just laughed. "You can try."

Together, they disappeared into the night, heading toward the Guiild.

The Guild was alive with movement. Fighters, mercenaries, and informants exchanged news, weapons, and money.

As Rin and Silas stepped inside, someone called out—

"Why the hell are you late?"

Rin didn't bother answering.

He had far too much on his mind.