The Thing He Had His Eye On (2/5)

The shopping street bustled with a steady stream of people.

Franklin was powerfully built, and at nearly 2.2 meters tall, he stood out in the crowd. The scars on his face made him look even more intimidating.

Without exception, pedestrians coming toward him looked frightened and instinctively moved away.

The result was a strange, moving pocket of empty space around Franklin.

Beep—

The phone in his pocket vibrated faintly.

Franklin took it out and glanced at it.

On the tiny screen, dwarfed by his enormous hand, was a text message: "Turn right."

"..."

Franklin put his phone away. Following the message, he turned right a few meters ahead and entered an alley lined with parked motorcycles.

Among the haphazardly parked bikes, a tall, thin man leaned against the wall. He turned his head toward Franklin as he entered the alley.

The man had blond hair and handsome features, but his face was gaunt and pale, with a faint scar at the corner of his mouth.

His name was Rice Edwin, member number eight of the Phantom Troupe.

"Rice."

Franklin looked at the blond man.

Rice smiled and spread his hands. "Franklin, did you... notice anything just now?"

"A boy?"

Franklin's expression did not change.

Back on the pedestrian street, countless people had looked at him, but he had still noticed Moyu's gaze.

The reason was simple: most passersby glanced at him and immediately looked away. Moyu alone had watched him for a few moments longer.

Franklin had sensed no hostility in that gaze, but it had been enough to draw his attention to Moyu.

Noticing him was one thing. Caring was another.

Since he had sensed no hostility, Franklin had paid it no mind.

But now that Rice had brought it up, Franklin understood why he had asked him to