A lit room. The city skyline stretched behind the tall windows, its flickering lights barely reaching inside. The air felt heavy, almost suffocating. A slow, rhythmic tapping echoed through the silence—Vincent's fingers drumming against the polished wooden armrest of his chair. His expression unreadable. Waiting. Calculating.
The phone should have rung hours ago. It hadn't.
Until now.
[Phone rings.]
Without hesitation, he picked it up, pressing it to his ear.
Vincent: "Yamato." His voice was sharp, precise. "Why isn't the job done yet?"
On the other end, Yamato exhaled shakily. There was exhaustion in his voice. Disbelief. And something else—fear.
Yamato: "Vincent… it's not that simple. Things got out of control."
The tapping stopped. Vincent's grip on the phone tightened slightly.
Vincent: "Out of control?"
His voice remained calm, but the weight in it had shifted. He could feel it—something was wrong.
Yamato: "I was this close to dying. And the worst part? Ethan is still alive."
Silence.
For a brief moment, Vincent didn't respond. His usual composed demeanor faltered as an unfamiliar sensation crept in. The room suddenly felt colder. His pulse quickened—but his expression remained neutral.
Vincent: "Ethan… is still alive?"
Yamato: (Lowering his voice.) "Yeah. And Vincent… he's not human anymore."
Vincent leaned back in his chair, exhaling slowly. He had suspected something was off, but this? This was beyond his expectations.
Vincent: "Explain."
Yamato: (Swallows hard.) "We had everything planned. Twenty of our best guys. Trained. Armed. Ready. We surrounded him. And then..."
He paused, as if struggling to find the right words.
Yamato: "He tore through them like they were nothing. No hesitation. No struggle. It wasn't a fight—it was a massacre."
Vincent's jaw tightened.
Vincent: "You're telling me twenty men—trained men—were taken down by one person?"
Yamato: "No. Not a person. Not anymore."
Vincent remained silent, his mind racing.
Yamato: "There was something in his eyes, Vincent. Something… hollow. Dead. He wasn't angry. He wasn't enjoying it. He just… destroyed them. Like it was the most natural thing in the world. Like he didn't even need to try."
Vincent's fingers tapped the desk again. Slower. More deliberate this time.
Vincent: "And you? How did you get out?"
Yamato: (Laughs bitterly.) "Luck. If I had been one second slower, I wouldn't be talking to you right now."
Vincent exhaled, rubbing his temple. His gaze shifted toward the window, where the city stretched endlessly beneath him. He knew now—Ethan wasn't just a loose end. He was a threat. A threat that had spiraled beyond control.
Vincent: (Slowly, carefully.) "Then why… are you still alive?"
Yamato swallowed, his breath shaky. He knew Vincent wasn't asking out of concern. He was analyzing. Calculating whether keeping Yamato alive was even worth it.
Yamato: "There were… people on our side there. Someone I knew. I also knew that Ethan doesn't kill without reason. He never acts without understanding the situation first. So I took a risk—I just wanted to see him. See what kind of monster he's become."
Vincent's grip on the phone tightened.
Vincent: "And?"
Yamato: (Exhales deeply.) "And I saw exactly what I needed to see. Ethan isn't just a dangerous gangster anymore. He's something else entirely. Something beyond us."
Vincent remained silent for a moment. The air in his office felt heavier. The dim light casting long shadows on the walls. He leaned back in his chair, fingers resting against his chin, processing this unsettling revelation.
Vincent: "You're telling me… that the man I ordered dead, the man who should have been wiped out long ago, is still walking freely? And that you, after witnessing what he is, decided to simply walk away?"
Yamato flinched at the sharpness in Vincent's tone.
Yamato: "I didn't have a choice. If I had made a single wrong move, I wouldn't be talking to you right now."
Vincent let out a slow breath. His gaze locked onto the skyline. The city was vast, endless. And yet, somewhere out there, Ethan was still breathing. Walking. Existing.
Unacceptable.
Vincent: "Find him. Watch him. Learn his weaknesses. And this time, don't come back until the job is done."
Yamato hesitated. His fingers clenched into a fist.
Yamato: "I said… he has no weaknesses."
Vincent smirked slightly, shaking his head.
Vincent: "I said he has a weakness. And I think I know what it is."
Yamato frowned.
Yamato: "You're wrong. I saw him, Vincent. There was nothing. No expression. No emotion. Not even the slightest laugh or reaction to anything. I heard it from Kaito too."
Vincent's smirk faded. His eyes sharpened at the name.
Vincent: (Voice suddenly cold and sharp.) "Kaito? Who the hell is Kaito?"
Yamato sighed.
Yamato: "Didn't I already say? He's one of ours."
Vincent remained silent for a few seconds. Then, slowly, he turned his chair, staring out at the dark city skyline. His mind was moving fast, connecting pieces, calculating outcomes.
Vincent: (Finally, in a low voice.) "Fine. Then if Ethan has no weaknesses… we'll give him one."
---
Scene Shift – A Restaurant
The warm ambiance of the restaurant hummed with soft conversations and the clinking of cutlery. Ethan walked inside, his steps silent, his gaze scanning the room without much interest. Alex walked beside him, both of them heading toward their reserved table. The moment was quiet, uneventful.
They ordered their meal. Ate in silence. And then, as they stood to leave…
A sudden, unintended collision.
A man—Eden—bumped into Alex. The slight impact made him stumble, and instinctively, Ethan turned his head.
His sharp eyes locked onto Eden's face for a brief moment. But there was nothing. No recognition. Just a fleeting, indifferent stare.
Then, without a word, Ethan lifted a hand slightly—just a small, dismissive gesture.
And he walked away.
Eden, at first, didn't react. But then… something felt off. A strange familiarity crept in. His mind raced, trying to process it. Who was that?
His breath hitched as realization struck him like a lightning bolt.
Eden: (Muttering to himself.) "Was that… Ethan?"
His pulse quickened. He spun around, eyes frantically searching the crowd. But it was too late. Ethan was gone.
Eden swallowed hard, standing frozen in place.
Eden: (Whispering to himself.) "Maybe… it's just my mind playing tricks on me."
But deep down, he wasn't so sure.
Scene: Eden's First Day in Hellfire Gang
The next day, Eden walks into the Hellfire headquarters. The room is filled with members talking, some leaning against walls, others sitting lazily. Rafael stands in the center, as if awaiting Eden's arrival. The chatter dies down as Rafael calls everyone's attention.
Rafael: "Alright, listen up! Here's our new recruit. Meet the fresh meat—Eden Thompson!"
Eden steps forward, trying to hide the nerves under his cool exterior. He looks around at the other members but keeps his eyes fixed on Snake, determined to fix things.
Eden: "Snake, I know I messed up before. I didn't mean to disrespect you. I'm here to make things right."
Snake glances at him without saying a word, turning away and dismissing him without a second glance. Eden clenches his fists, frustration boiling under his calm façade.
Eden strides onto the stage, facing the gang. He clears his throat, his voice loud and full of conviction.
Eden: "I'm Eden Thompson. New member of Hellfire, Third Tier, and soon to be the best member you've ever seen. I'll rise to the top of this gang, and one day, I'll be the President of Hellfire."
The room falls silent. Some members exchange looks, others just stare at him with surprise. Rafael laughs, a cocky grin spreading across his face as he steps forward.
Rafael: "You think you're just gonna waltz in here and claim that? You've got guts, kid. But Hellfire's not a place for dreams. You've got no idea what you're up against."
Eden doesn't back down. His eyes burn with determination. The anger of his past gives him the fire he needs.
Eden: "I'm not just a kid. I've seen the world for what it is. Power isn't given, it's taken. And when I'm President, no one will dare challenge me."
Joshua, standing off to the side, shakes his head with a smirk, clearly amused but also a little skeptical.
Joshua: "I like his fire. But he's either too stupid or too crazy to realize he's in over his head."
Butler, watching from the back, eyes Eden carefully. His expression is unreadable, but there's a flicker of intrigue. He whispers to himself, barely audible.
Butler: "The kid's got potential… but I wonder how long it'll take before he burns out."
Eden glances back at the group, his words sharp and full of confidence as he looks directly at Rafael.
Eden: "I'm not here to play games. I'll tear through anyone who stands in my way. And you'll all see who I am, whether you like it or not."
Rafael steps forward, his face darkening with the challenge.
Rafael: "You're telling me you're gonna take down all of us? You've got no clue what you're dealing with."
Eden's voice drops lower, his words heavy with intent.
Eden: "You don't need to tell me. I already know. I'm not afraid."
Alex looks over at Butler, catching a shift in his expression. Butler's eyes narrow, concerned yet impressed by Eden's boldness.
Alex: "Butler, what do you think? Why are you looking at him like that?"
Butler: "Because he's dangerous. He thinks he can take on Hellfire, and he might just do it. If he's serious about it, we'll have to keep an eye on him."
Eden stands tall, his gaze unwavering. He looks back at the gang, determination etched on his face.
Eden: "You'll all see. I'll be the President. No one will be able to touch me."
The gang members look around, some uneasy, others intrigued. A few are still skeptical. The tension hangs thick in the air as Rafael steps forward once again.
Rafael: "You've got guts, kid. But let me make one thing clear: Hellfire's not a place for your dreams. You'll need more than just words to survive here."
Eden smiles confidently, unfazed by Rafael's challenge.
Eden: "Then I'll prove it. I'll show you all just how wrong you are."
The room falls into an awkward silence as everyone takes in Eden's bold declaration. Then, from the back of the room, Ryan speaks up with a scoff.
Ryan: "A kid who thinks he can conquer Hellfire? This is gonna be fun to watch."
Eden shoots Ryan a sharp glance, his anger flaring momentarily, but he keeps it in check, his eyes cold as he turns back to face the gang.
Eden: "You'll see. I'm not like the rest of you. I'll take this gang to places you never thought possible."
Butler, still watching Eden closely, mutters under his breath.
Butler: "He's either going to rise to the top or fall hard. But either way, he'll be an interesting problem to deal with."
With one final, resolute glance at the gang, Eden steps down from the stage, his eyes locking with each member as he walks out, the weight of his words hanging heavily in the air.
---
End of chapter 12