Past]
Frank walked through the streets of Phox-18.
As he walked, one question kept lingering in his mind.
"Why did the beggar in the alley require such a valuable coin just to let me enter this place?"
His thoughts shifted to Franico.
"Who is she?"
"I wonder how she became trapped in this cruel fate of being a truth-knower."
Then his mind drifted to Kermish.
"That man has connections with my father."
"I never imagined my father had such influence in the dark side of this world."
"I've always wondered why he never told me his real name."
"He even bought me such a powerful sword."
Frank looked down at the violet-reddish katana in his hand.
"Even with my basic sensing ability, I can clearly feel the aura flowing from it."
"If I carry it around like this, someone might attack me for it."
"I need to coat it with my aura."
He immediately tried.
Aura flowed from his body toward the katana.
But no matter how hard he tried...
It wouldn't cover the blade.
Frank frowned.
Just then, he noticed a small pouch attached to the sword's sheath.
He opened it.
Inside was a glowing blue orb.
There was also a neatly folded note.
He unfolded it and read:
"Coat it with this while thinking about a glove.
May time favor you with love.
— Dad"
Frank smiled faintly.
"Thank you, Dad."
"I'll use it carefully."
He held the blue orb in his hand.
Following the instructions, he infused it with aura while imagining a glove.
The orb dissolved into countless blue particles.
In an instant—
The katana disappeared.
A plain black glove appeared on Frank's hand instead.
From the outside, it looked like nothing more than an ordinary glove.
Frank clenched his fist.
"Amazing..."
Without another word, he continued walking.
His journey through the hidden city of Phox-18 had only just begun.
[End of chapter]