Reiji stood motionless on the rooftop of an abandoned building on the outskirts of Cloudy City for several long minutes.
The cool night breeze brushed against the oversized hoodie he wore, carrying with it the faint metallic tang of the nearby industrial district.
Below, the city's lights stretched out like a scattered sea of stars, noticeably less dense and overwhelming than the glittering chaos of Plush City. He adjusted the hood lower over his masked face, his eyes scanning the horizon.
'This distance should be enough to reduce the risk. Fewer patrols, fewer eyes on every Gate,' Reiji thought to himself.
The decision to come here hadn't been made lightly.
Back home, after finishing the daily quest and cooking for Vel, Reiji had spent time carefully studying the digital map on his phone before deleting all traces.
