Raiden followed the man through the winding streets of the island, his stomach growling with hunger. The two walked in silence until Raiden spotted two men standing by the corner of a building, speaking in hushed tones.
"Did you hear about it? The sacred jewel," one of them said, his voice barely audible.
"Yeah," the other replied, looking around nervously. "One billion talons. Imagine what we could do with that kind of money."
Raiden's ears perked up. A billion talons? He exchanged a quick glance with his guide, who seemed unfazed by the conversation.
"What's this sacred jewel they're talking about?" Raiden asked as they continued walking.
The man glanced at him but didn't stop moving. "You really don't know, do you?"
Raiden shook his head.
The man sighed. "It's said to be an ancient treasure, the stuff of legends. They call it the Infinite Potential Catalyst. Its power is said to be beyond imagination, capable of bringing out the true essence of whatever—or whoever—possesses it. That what the rikoru said"
Raiden's eyes narrowed. "And the Rikoru... What do they want with it?"
The man stopped, his expression suddenly serious. "The Rikoru issued an order not too long ago. Anyone who finds the jewel and hands it over to them will be rewarded one billion talons. No one in their right mind would refuse such an offer. But... you'd have to be mad to go after it."
"Why?" Raiden asked, his tone sharp.
"Because it's suicide," the man replied. "The Rikoru are no ordinary group. They're the ones who control everything—slavery, politics, the economy. People don't defy them because they're not just powerful—they're monsters. No one who challenges them ever survives."
Raiden remained quiet for a moment, his fists clenching at his sides. He could feel his anger rising. The very idea of people being enslaved, of a group like the Rikoru holding such power, made his blood boil.
"Well," Raiden finally said, his voice steady, "I guess it's a good thing I'm not like most people."
The man stared at him, a mix of confusion and concern in his eyes. "Kid, you don't understand. The Rikoru don't just punish their enemies—they erase them."
Raiden smirked, his determination unwavering. "Then they better get ready. I'm not about to let anyone hold the world in chains."
The man shook his head but couldn't hide a small smile. "You're crazy, kid. But who knows? Maybe crazy is exactly what we need."
With that, the two continued toward the hotel, leaving the whispers of the sacred jewel behind—but not forgotten.