In a corner beside Dandelun City's central square, sunlight dappled the ground through the leaves. Pedestrians hurried along the street, completely unaware that a man's back had brushed past them.
The wind stirred in the silence. The man's movements were calm and orderly.
Dusk spread evenly across the Blue Stone Slab streets. The lush green leaves rustled gently in the breeze, but as the wind gradually picked up speed, the harmony and tranquility were instantly shattered.
The people on the street were reflected in the glass windows. A figure moved slowly through the crowd, yet vanished in a flash.
The rhythm of the wind grew faster and tenser. Newspapers fluttered along the roadside, dogs suddenly began barking, and birds took flight from the treetops in the distance.
Only when the figure appeared clearly again, standing at the entrance of an inn, did the deep bass of the air current intensify. The sky darkened slightly, and gray clouds seemed ready to descend. The man slowly took an exquisite pocket watch from his pocket and checked the time.
As the sky began to dim, the man pushed open the inn's door.
Whenever the door opened, the fireplace flames swayed, partially obscured by an indescribable chill, and the colors in the lobby grew slightly dimmer.
His gray suit was tailored close to his body, the collar of his shirt exposed just enough to reveal a silver metal tie clip. His tall frame was somewhat slender, his nose straight, and his thin lips tightly pressed together. His short silver-gray hair formed a harmonious yet contrasting beauty with the dark gray suit he wore.
The man walked to the counter and looked at the receptionist.
"Good afternoon, sir. Would you like to check in?"
The receptionist gave a slight bow and asked the customer before