Chapter 2: The First Clue
The glow from the diary dimmed, leaving Adam Chue sitting in stunned silence. His hands trembled as he turned the pages, half-expecting more words to appear. But the diary stayed blank, its cryptic message already seared into his mind: "Seek the red, for it holds the power you need."
"What power?" Adam muttered aloud. "And why me?"
The questions hung unanswered in the stale air of his apartment. He glanced back at the map floating in his vision. The blue point that had guided him to the diary was gone, but countless others remained. Most were distant—dots scattered across continents—but one red point flickered faintly on the edges of the map, just within reach.
Adam focused on it, and the map responded, zooming in until the point marked a specific location: an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the city.
His stomach churned. The pendant, the diary, the map—they were all too surreal. But there was no denying the pull he felt, a strange compulsion that urged him forward.
"Alright," Adam muttered, standing and grabbing his jacket. "One more trip. If this turns out to be a wild goose chase, I'm done."
The warehouse loomed like a forgotten giant, its rusted frame and broken windows casting eerie shadows under the moonlight. Adam approached cautiously, his footsteps crunching against the gravel. The map pulsed faintly in his vision, guiding him toward a side entrance where the door hung slightly ajar.
Inside, the air was thick with the smell of dust and decay. Stacks of broken crates and rusted machinery cluttered the space, their shapes distorted in the dim light filtering through cracks in the ceiling.
The red point on the map grew brighter as Adam moved deeper into the building. It led him to a small office tucked away in the corner, its door hanging off one hinge.
Pushing it open, Adam's eyes locked onto a desk in the center of the room. The map pulsed wildly, and he knew instinctively that this was the spot. On the desk sat an ornate box, its surface carved with intricate patterns that mirrored the designs on the jade pendant.
Heart pounding, Adam reached for the box. It felt heavy, its weight grounding him in the surreal moment. With a deep breath, he lifted the lid.
Inside was a golden coin, its surface gleaming even in the dim light. Strange symbols were etched around its edges, and the moment Adam touched it, a wave of energy coursed through him.
The map in his vision flared, and a new voice filled his mind: "The power of appraisal now flows through you. See the truth hidden within all things."
Adam stumbled back, clutching the coin. The room seemed to warp around him, his senses overwhelmed by a flood of new information. The objects in the office shimmered with faint auras, each radiating a different color.
"What… what is this?" Adam whispered, his eyes darting around the room.
His gaze landed on a rusted crowbar leaning against the wall. A faint blue aura surrounded it, and as Adam focused, words appeared in his vision: "Standard tool. Broken but repairable. No historical or supernatural value."
He blinked, the words fading. His heart raced as he looked at another object—a shattered clock on the desk. This one had no aura, no words, nothing.
"This… this is insane."
The coin in his hand seemed to hum, its power resonating with the map. Adam realized what the voice had meant: he could now appraise objects, discerning their worth and significance.
A thrill shot through him. This was no ordinary treasure. This was a tool, a weapon—something that could change everything.
Adam's excitement was short-lived. As he turned to leave the office, a faint sound reached his ears: footsteps.
His blood ran cold. Someone else was here.
He ducked behind the desk, clutching the coin tightly. Peeking out, he saw a group of men entering the warehouse, their movements calculated and deliberate. Each was armed, their faces hidden behind masks.
One of them spoke, his voice low and commanding. "The signal came from this area. Spread out and find it."
Adam's heart sank. These weren't random thugs—they were looking for something specific. The map? The coin? Whatever it was, he couldn't let them find him.
He glanced around, searching for an escape route. The office had no other exits, and the footsteps were getting closer. Desperation clawed at him as he weighed his options.
Then, he remembered the coin's ability. Appraisal. Could it help him now?
Focusing on the room, Adam scanned the objects around him. Most were junk, but one crate near the far wall glowed faintly. Words appeared in his vision: "Hidden passage beneath. Unlockable with force."
Adam's pulse quickened. He grabbed the rusted crowbar he'd appraised earlier and sprinted for the crate. The men shouted behind him, their voices growing louder, but he didn't stop.
Reaching the crate, he wedged the crowbar underneath and heaved. The wood splintered, revealing a narrow trapdoor beneath. Without hesitation, Adam dropped through, landing hard on a dirt floor below.
Darkness enveloped him, but the map's faint glow provided just enough light to see. He stumbled forward, the sound of his pursuers fading as he moved deeper into the underground passage.
When he finally emerged, he found himself in a dense forest on the outskirts of the city. The cool night air was a welcome relief, and Adam leaned against a tree, catching his breath.
The coin in his hand felt heavier now, its power humming softly. He stared at it, a mix of awe and fear swirling in his chest.
This wasn't just some lucky find. This was something bigger—something dangerous. And if those men were any indication, he wasn't the only one who wanted it.
Adam clenched his fist around the coin, a new determination settling over him. Whatever this map was, whatever it led to, he was in it now.
And he wasn't backing down.