As Kim took his place on the stage, a murmur rippled through the crowd. Hushed voices carried fragments of conversation across the plaza.
"Is that... Shadow?"
"The one always seen with the White Lotus?"
"I thought he was just a hanger-on..."
"Did he actually join their guild?"
Kim — or Shadow, as he was known to the world — stood quietly, allowing the whispers to wash over him.
His stance was relaxed, yet there was an undeniable aura of power emanating from him.
Beside him, Thorn Princess exuded a similar air of quiet confidence.
Choi, still visibly flustered, attempted to regain control of the situation.
"Well," he said, his voice lacking its earlier bravado, "now that you're here, perhaps you'd like to address the concerns I've raised about the increasing gate activity?".
Shadow's lips curved into a small, enigmatic smile.
He glanced at Thorn Princess, a silent communication passing between them.
