Ryan ran with all his might until he escaped the perimeter of the tycoon's villa barrier, stepping onto the familiar asphalt road and sensing the flow of the bustling crowd. Only then did his taut nerves finally relax. His back was already soaked with cold sweat; the chill wind raised goosebumps. The pain in his knee also sharpened, aching with every step, pulling at his muscles. He dared not look back, afraid Marcus's ferocious face might suddenly appear behind him. Hunched over, he weaved through the crowd, heading quickly towards his rented apartment.
His place was in an old, dilapidated residential building in Newstar City's old district. The hallway reeked of damp mildew mixed with food odors. The walls were covered in mottled stains; the stair railing was rusted through. Ryan took out his key, hand trembling as he inserted it into the lock, trying several times before the door clicked open. With a thud, he closed the door, leaning against it, gasping for air. His heart still pounded wildly in his chest. The fear of being hunted earlier washed over his mind like relentless waves.
After recovering for a while, Ryan leaned against the wall and made his way to the living room, collapsing onto the worn-out sofa. He took off his mud-and-grass-stained jacket, revealing the torn shirt underneath. A shallow cut on his shoulder oozed tiny beads of blood. He got up, found a bandage to cover it, then poured a glass of room-temperature water, gulping it down. The cool water flowing down his throat helped clear his chaotic thoughts a little.
"System?" Ryan tentatively called out in his mind. He still couldn't quite believe he had actually bound a system from a supernatural world. The events in the villa felt like an absurd dream, but the wounds on his body and that lingering sinister aura reminded him it was all real.
"Greetings, host. The Shadow Pawn System is at your service at any time." The cold mechanical voice sounded promptly in his mind, somewhat reassuring him.
As the system's voice rang out, a semi-transparent blue screen suddenly appeared before Ryan's eyes. The screen clearly displayed his personal information: Host: Ryan; Level: 0; Shadow Points: 0; Unlocked Skills: True Sight (Elementary); Possessed Items: Faint Invisibility Spell (Cooling down, 23 minutes remaining), Beginner's Magic Manual (Not claimed). On the right side of the screen was an entry for "Exchange Shop," and below that, an option for "Mission Center."
Ryan's eyes were drawn to the words "Shadow Points." He asked curiously in his mind, "How do you get Shadow Points? What are they for?"
"Shadow Points can be obtained by completing Main Story Missions and Side Missions issued by the system, or by pawning supernatural items, absorbing dark magical energy, and other methods," the system explained mechanically. "Shadow Points can be used to exchange for magical skills, magical artifacts, physique-enhancing potions, and other items in the Exchange Shop. They are the core resource for the host to enhance their strength."
Ryan nodded, understanding. So Shadow Points were the "hard currency" of this world. To survive in this dangerous supernatural world, he must continuously acquire Shadow Points and improve his abilities. His gaze turned to the "Exchange Shop." With a thought, the screen instantly switched to the exchange interface.
The Exchange Shop was filled with a dazzling array of items, divided into three major categories: Skills, Artifacts, and Potions. The Skills section contained basic magical skills like Fireball, Bind, Heal, as well as enhanced skills like advanced versions of Invisibility and True Sight, priced from tens to thousands of Shadow Points. The Artifacts section had practical tools like Magic Jammers, Dispelling Talismans, Protective Amulets. The Potions section featured various potions for enhancing physique and restoring energy.
Looking at these powerful skills and artifacts, Ryan's eyes lit up. What he lacked most now was self-defense capability. If he could exchange for a few practical skills, next time he encountered a dark magic user like Marcus, he wouldn't be as helpless as today. Unfortunately, his Shadow Points were currently zero; he could only window-shop.
"It seems I must acquire Shadow Points as soon as possible," Ryan resolved privately. His gaze turned to the "Mission Center" on the screen. With a thought, the interface switched again. The Mission Center had only one mission, labeled "Main Story Mission."
Main Story Mission: Investigate the Truth of the Tycoon's Disappearance.
Mission Description: Tycoon Linden of Newstar City has mysteriously disappeared from his home. The scene bears strange dark magic symbols, hinting at an unknown supernatural conspiracy behind it. The host must ascertain the true cause of Linden's disappearance, find Linden's whereabouts (dead or alive), and reveal the identity of the mastermind behind the scenes.
Mission Reward: 100 Shadow Points + Basic Magic Manual.
Mission Time Limit: None.
As the mission information displayed, the system's prompt sounded again: "Main Story Mission has been issued. Please complete the mission promptly, enhance your own strength, and prepare for subsequent unknown dangers."
Ryan's mood grew heavy. Investigating a tycoon's disappearance sounded simple, but it involved dark magic users and possibly even more powerful supernatural forces. Marcus's strength already far exceeded an ordinary person's several times over. If the mastermind behind was stronger than Marcus, he stood no chance.
But he had no choice. On one hand, this was the system's main story mission; only by completing it could he obtain Shadow Points and improve his strength. On the other hand, Marcus already knew of his existence and wouldn't let him go easily. If he didn't uncover the truth and find the mastermind, he would likely be silenced sooner or later.
"I must find clues quickly," Ryan thought, frowning. He recalled his experience in the villa: the tattoo on Marcus's wrist was identical to the eerie symbol on the wardrobe, clearly indicating a close connection. Also, Marcus had mentioned a scientist named "Caron." Could this Caron be the mastermind?
Besides that, he thought of Old Grey, the boss of the Gray Hawk Detective Agency. Before sending him to follow Marcus, Old Grey had whispered a warning: "Be careful. This case isn't simple." At the time, he hadn't paid much mind. Now it seemed Old Grey probably knew Marcus was suspicious and might even have known about the existence of the supernatural world.
"Maybe I can ask Old Grey for help," the idea surfaced in Ryan's mind. After all, Old Grey was the agency's boss, had been in Newstar City for many years, and surely had many connections and sources of information. Moreover, since he warned him, it indicated he meant no harm.
With this in mind, Ryan decided to go to the detective agency to find Old Grey first thing tomorrow. He got up, walked to the window, and drew back the curtain, looking at the bustling city nightscape outside. Streetlights illuminated the roads; vehicles streamed by; pedestrians passed continuously. Who would have thought that beneath this seemingly peaceful city lurked such a dangerous supernatural world?
His gaze returned to his personal info panel. With a thought, he claimed the unclaimed Beginner's Magic Manual. A virtual book emitting a faint blue light appeared on the screen. Ryan reached out to touch it, and the book instantly transformed into a blue streak of light, entering his mind. Countless pieces of knowledge about basic magic flooded his consciousness: the origins of magic, recognition of basic elements, methods of using magical energy, etc., giving him a deeper understanding of the supernatural world.
Ryan closed his eyes, beginning to digest the magical knowledge in his mind. Unknowingly, an hour passed. He opened his eyes, now holding more determination. Although his current strength was still weak, as long as he kept learning and improving, he could eventually establish himself in this supernatural world.
Just then, he suddenly sensed a familiar, sinister aura coming from outside the window. This aura was identical to the dark magic aura on Marcus, only much fainter, as if someone was watching him from a distance. Ryan's heart tightened. He immediately activated True Sight, looking towards the direction of the aura.
In True Sight's vision, on the rooftop of the building opposite, a faint wisp of black mist was slowly moving. The shape of the black mist was unclear, but Ryan could distinctly feel that the "gaze" of that mist was firmly locked onto his apartment.
"An accomplice of Marcus?" Ryan's heart leaped to his throat. Instinctively, he took a step back, hiding behind the curtain, peeking through a slit to observe the opposite rooftop. The black mist lingered on the rooftop for a few minutes, then slowly dissipated into the night, the sinister aura vanishing along with it.
Ryan sighed in relief, but the unease in his heart grew stronger. He knew he was now marked by dark forces. Marcus was just a minor player; behind him must be a larger organization. This surveillance might just be a warning; more dangers likely awaited him.
He clenched his fist, his gaze growing firmer. Regardless of how many dangers lay ahead, he had to face them head-on. Tomorrow, he must find Old Grey at the agency and ask for more clues about the supernatural world and this disappearance case. He must quickly improve his strength and uncover the truth to truly escape danger and protect himself.
Night deepened. Ryan lay in bed but felt no sleepiness. The events of the day replayed in his mind; the system's screen flickered before his eyes. He knew that from the moment he bound the Shadow Pawn System, his life had changed completely. He was no longer the ordinary intern who could only fetch tea and water; he had stepped into a completely new world full of unknowns and dangers, yet also full of opportunities. And investigating the truth behind the tycoon's disappearance was his first trial in this new world.