The outskirts had never been a safe place, even for those who had been living there for their lifetime.
But as bad as that place was, it was still a place where people could sleep under the roof. At the very least, they wouldn't have to worry about anything other than thinking about how to survive for tomorrow. Being under the protection of the Sanctuary allowed them to do that.
Crime was a common occurrence in that place that they grew dull of them. Kidnapping, stealing, murder, and more, they turned a blind eye to them.
One day, unrest began to swell in that place when a similar, small crime was happening as usual.
The reason? There was no culprit.
A tall man in a gray coat walked down the outskirts' marketplace.
His ash skin garnered attention from the people, but none of them could stare at him for more than three seconds.
The marketplace, once filled with cacophony, was now silent.
Beside him walked a woman half a head shorter. Her cloak was a shade darker, concealing the rest of her silver hair.
After living on the outskirts for a long time, they instinctively knew that the two were bad news. So they moved aside and distanced themselves from the two figures.
Spotting an empty stall, they approached the unlucky merchant, who not only had no customers but also had to deal with whatever the two required from them.
Swallowing his saliva and nervousness, the unlucky merchant rubbed his palms and asked, "C-can I help you… good sir and good lady…?"
The woman adjusted her hood, slightly revealing her face that instantly captivated the merchant.
"O-oh…" the merchant gasped.
"We're from the city," she said, holding a silver badge. "I need you to answer our questions regarding the reports we have received from you people about the 'Ghost.' First, when did this first happen?"
"Around a week ago… I think."
The woman checked the watch-like device wrapped around her wrist.
It was something that the people from the outskirts couldn't get their hands on. A valuable treasure that would turn their life over. Unfortunately, the merchant was too focused on the city agent's face to notice the treasure.
"In the reports we've received, it's said that ever since this Ghost appeared here, they've only been involved in minor crimes such as stealing goods and money. Can you tell us more about this?"
"Of course! So…"
A week ago, several unnatural crimes occurred around the marketplace.
Merchants had their goods decreasing even though they hadn't sold anything for the day. Customers lost items they just purchased without knowing why and who stole them; most testimonies said that they were just walking when suddenly they realized their hands were empty.
There was also a case when a trader visited and sold their own items to the jewelry store, but they had no memories of doing so. Because of that, the store owner, suspected to be the culprit, was attacked by the others.
However, even when the store had closed and its owner was murdered, the stealing was still happening.
At that point, they believed it was the store owner's spirit doing. But since they couldn't deal with the supernatural, the only thing they could do was file a report to the city.
They didn't expect a response from the city, especially when it was something silly like this.
But, there they were… two city agents whose presence screamed danger.
While his partner interrogated the poor merchant, the man in a gray coat was observing the surroundings. His red eyes tirelessly moved from one side to another, capturing every detail that no ordinary eyes could do.
As if finding his objective, his gaze lingered on a certain fruit stall to the west of him.
He observed the only customer on that stall.
After buying the fruits, the man walked away. At first, there was nothing unusual about him. But when he passed a small alleyway on the edge of the marketplace, he suddenly stopped, turned back, and entered the alleyway.
When he returned to the main road, his hand was already devoid of weight. The plastic bag filled with red fruits had gone.
Then, several steps ahead, the man stopped again and noticed the missing fruits. He stomped the ground and looked around with red ears.
The agent's mouth twitched.
"Found you."
Catching her partner's voice that sounded almost like a whisper, the female agent glanced at him.
"Did you find him?"
Without responding to her, the male agent strode toward the alleyway.
"..."
Her face was devoid of any emotion while staring at the tall man. Then, she followed him after muttering words under her breath.
On the alleyway, hidden between two trash cans, sat a young man with dirty silver hair and a grin far too relaxed for the poor condition he suffered. Ragged and skinny, with several patches and visible wounds from blunt objects covering his body.
Opening his eyes, Alain stood up full of vigor. He picked up the plastic bags from the pile of cardboard. Inside, a few seemingly fresh red fruits made his stomach rumble.
Taking one, he examined the fruit's condition before eating it. But when he was about to have a bite, an ominous shadow appeared.
"Are you the Ghost?"
The voice sounded deep and weary, but there was something indescribable that made Alain feel a chill running through his back.
Alain's head snapped sideways, finding a tall figure with glowing red eyes standing before him. His shadow covered him, and Alain felt like it was trying to swallow him.
His eyes met the agent's chilling gaze. He was frozen for a moment. But then, he grinned wider.
"Oh," he said aloud, voice carrying confidence and playfulness despite cracking. "Do you want some, mister?"
Alain chuckled and offered the man the fruit.
The agent did not move an inch. Only his gaze lowered for a while to examine the fruit.
"..."
"By the way, what did you say earlier? Ghost? I'm not a ghost. Don't you see that my body is solid?"
His survival instinct told him that this man was dangerous. Super dangerous. Alain couldn't bring himself to stare the man in the eyes, nor could he walk away as if he didn't exist.
But he couldn't stay there forever when the man was threatening him.
Other people might not see it. Alain also might not see it.
But he could feel it.
Alain could feel hundreds of sharp blades surrounding him right at that moment. The blades that would harm him, even with the slightest hint of withdrawal.
As he pondered hard, footsteps approached from behind the red-gazed man.
"Stop it, Ash. You're scaring him."
As soon as the silver-haired woman came into Alain's view, the threat suddenly vanished, allowing him to relax and catch a breath.
But it was not for long. Soon, a different type of threat manifested from the prettiest woman he had ever seen in his life.
Unlike the red-gazed man who appeared ragged and looked like he belonged to the outskirts, she was like a diamond amongst the rocks.
Alain was mesmerized by her beauty. However, he snapped back to reality when he heard a voice in his head.
"(It feels wrong to use this on a kid.)"
"Oof," Alain said under his breath. "What just…?"
"Oh?"
Amused, the woman smiled sweetly. Meanwhile, the man's mouth almost formed a smirk before concealing it immediately.
"What do you think he is, Ash?"
"...a brat"
"..."
Squatting, the woman talked to Alain, who looked confused.
"What's your name?"
"(Alain. An orphan who grew up here. And… he just turned 17 a week ago, the same time as when the first Ghost incident first appeared.)"
When the woman spoke, simultaneously, he also heard the same voice ringing inside his head.
"Wha?"
Looking at Alain, her smile grew wide. She opened her mouth, but there was no voice coming out of her. Instead, it echoed directly inside his head again.
"(Can you hear me? We're from the city. Here to retrieve you, a clueless greenhorn.)"