As dawn broke after a lengthy night, the sun began its ascent in the sky, and two individuals eagerly awaited the arrival of their orders. Rey and Evan were the duo in question, both waiting with bated breath. However, Rey's situation was unique; coerced into waiting by Aiden, with all his money on the line, he couldn't afford to lose his patience.
Having informed his mother and teacher of his illness that day, Rey was granted leave. However, his mother had instructed his younger sister to monitor him, preventing any chance of escape. After a bit of negotiation and offering some of his sister's favorite snacks, she reluctantly agreed to let him leave for an hour, which was precisely what Rey needed.
At exactly 1:00 pm, Rey left the house and arrived at the location where he knew the delivery was to take place.
"Are you sure he'll show up, Aiden? What if we get scammed and I lose my money?" Rey expressed his concerns, worry evident in his voice as he spoke to Aiden. Meanwhile, Aiden surveyed the surroundings with a keen eye, anticipating the arrival of the person who would deliver their much-anticipated goods.
"Quiet, you crybaby. Don't fret. From what I've seen, I doubt the website will bail on us. Relax and give me a moment," Aiden replied, scanning the area.
"It's 1:09 pm. I reckon they'll be here in a few more minutes," Rey responded, glancing at his wristwatch.
"Quick, put on your mask, boy. Two people are heading this way from different directions. We're either surrounded, or there's another customer who bought the same product," Aiden warned.
Rey swiftly donned his mask and pulled the hood over his head, concealing his identity. He continued to wait until 1:15 pm.
The first person arrived with two items: a large suitcase and a small box resting atop the suitcase. He stood there for a few minutes until another figure arrived and approached him.
"Are you 'Dragon Knight 0x0'?" The delivery man asked, pushing the larger bag toward him, but the other man remained stationary, staring at him.
"No, I am the 'Cosmic Warrior,' and I only have one product, which isn't very large, so I believe the smaller one is mine, not this one," Evan replied as he approached from the other side. He handed over 800 Dracins, took the package, opened it, and discovered a modified blade attached to a wristband. The blade could be extended with a single button on the band's surface. After inspecting the product, he nodded in approval and walked away.
After Evan had left, Rey stepped forward to meet the delivery man.
Upon seeing Rey, the delivery man smiled, as though he had found a long-lost friend, and eagerly approached him.
'Ah, sh*t... How am I supposed to talk to him now? I can't speak with Aiden in front of him,' Rey thought, nervously glancing at Aiden.
"I can hear your words, boy, so listen up and only say what I tell you," Aiden's voice echoed, his presence now floating beside Rey.
"Sir, are you 'Dragon Knight 0x0,' the owner of this suitcase?" The delivery man asked.
{A/N: The lines spoken by Rey will be the responses Aiden gives to the delivery person.}
"Yes, I am the one. Here are 8500 Dracins. Now, please hand over my items, as I am in a hurry," Rey repeated Aiden's words, his tone firm.
"Of course, sir, as you wish. I prefer to conduct business without unnecessary pleasantries," the delivery man replied, trying to flatter Rey despite his intimidating appearance—hooded with his face obscured.
"Let's dispense with the small talk and proceed with the transaction," Rey said, his voice emotionless.
"Certainly, sir," the man responded, sliding the suitcase toward Rey. After Rey accepted the money, the delivery man verified the amount and stepped back, allowing Rey to inspect the contents. Once satisfied, Rey secured the case and departed.
"Sir, please wait. Could you listen to me for a moment?" The man called after him, attempting to halt Rey's departure.
Rey stopped and turned, his irritation mounting. "What is it now?" he asked, his voice tinged with annoyance.
"My apologies for the interruption, sir, but may I inquire about your plans for these items?" The man asked, his voice measured and cautious.
"I believe your policy prohibits interference with customer privacy, so what the hell are you doing right now?" Rey shot back, his tone growing louder.
"Apologies, sir, but I have a proposal. I can help you with this, and you just need to give me about 10% of the profit in exchange." The man smirked, his eyes gleaming with the prospect of a substantial reward.
'With these items, I doubt he'll settle for small fry. If I manage to grab just 10%, that could be a hundred thousand, maybe even millions of Dracins,' the man mused inwardly, his smile unwavering.
"No, I don't need your help. Don't bother me again, or you'll regret it," Rey said, his voice now laced with menace. With that, he walked away, leaving the man stunned and speechless.
After leaving the area, Rey found a quiet spot to settle. He pulled down the cap of his hoodie and removed the mask, exhaling deeply in relief. He had walked away unscathed, but he remained on edge, aware that danger could still lurk behind him.
"You did well today," Aiden remarked. "Your act was so convincing, I couldn't tell if it was you or someone else."
Rey didn't respond, and after their brief exchange, they returned home by 1:46 pm. Following a short rest, Rey left again at 2:30 pm, heading to his workplace to put in extra hours for some additional earnings.
As for what the future holds, only time would tell. The uncertainty of what came next loomed on the horizon, known only to fate itself.