[Location: Hikaru's Home Country]
[Rimuro's Apartment]
The living room was wrapped in a heavy silence.
The soft ticking of the wall clock echoed through the room while the distant hum of the city filtered faintly through the apartment windows. The warm light from the ceiling lamp cast long shadows across the furniture, giving the room an oddly tense atmosphere.
Kio sat lazily on the sofa, one arm resting over the backrest while Recardo stood nearby with his usual unreadable expression. Across from them, Rimuro sat calmly in his chair, his cane resting beside him.
After a long moment, Rimuro finally broke the silence.
A hint of concern lingered beneath his otherwise casual tone.
"You both already know why I called you this late."
His fingers lightly tapped the armrest.
"The number of S.A.O purges has jumped above forty-eight percent in just a few days."
The room seemed to grow quieter.
"If this continues, the organization will collapse."
Rimuro paused briefly before continuing.
"And it won't just be an economic collapse. S.A.O supervises countless killers, murderers, and dangerous individuals. Without that supervision, these people will begin searching for contracts on their own. There will be nobody left to monitor them."
His expression darkened slightly.
"That kind of chaos would spread throughout society faster than anyone realizes."
Kio's usual carefree attitude faded.
This time, seriousness could clearly be heard in his voice.
"More importantly, these groups of rats are targeting the command centers and coordination centers of S.A.O....To the best of my understanding, they're trying to completely destroy our communication and coordination network."
He leaned forward slightly.
"And just a few hours ago, someone hijacked the advertisement screens on the City Tower."
Even Recardo shifted his gaze toward him.
Kio continued.
"The guy killed two politicians and a businessman live on broadcast."
The words hung heavily in the air.
"Before disappearing, he announced that he wanted to bring a revolution."
Kio let out a low chuckle devoid of amusement.
"The man didn't reveal his real identity."
A dangerous glint appeared in his eyes.
"He called himself... Jester."
For a moment, only silence answered him.
Then Recardo spoke.
"According to reports from S.A.O informants and investigation centers, during one of the invasions on a command center, a boy and a girl were seen participating in the attack."
His flat voice somehow made the information sound even more serious.
"Only the two of them nearly eliminated the entire security force of the building."
He folded his arms.
"So we cannot assume they're weak."
Recardo paused before adding another piece of information.
"And we have further proof of that."
Recardo continued.
"They survived a clash with Ghost."
The atmosphere instantly grew heavier.
Even Kio's expression became more serious than before.
Rimuro slowly nodded.
"Then let's gather a meeting next week with all the members of the Council."
His voice carried authority despite its calmness.
"We have to do something."
His blind eyes remained hidden behind his sunglasses.
"Otherwise those rats will destroy everything S.A.O had spent decades building."
Kio suddenly let out a dry laugh.
"Huh."
His grin slowly widened.
"Those bastards really managed to outsmart us."
Crack.
The armrest beneath his hand splintered slightly from the pressure of his grip.
"If they ever fall into my hands, I swear I'll rip their heads off."
The killing intent hidden behind his smile was enough to make the room feel colder.
Recardo glanced at him before speaking in his usual flat voice.
"Why do you always get so excited and violent in situations like this?"
He sighed.
"You psycho."
Kio immediately pointed at himself in disbelief.
"Me? A psycho?"
"Yes."
"That's offensive."
"It wasn't meant to be."
"See? This is why nobody likes you."
"Good."
"That's not something you're supposed to be proud of."
The tension in the room eased slightly, but only for a moment.
Because all three of them understood the same thing.
For the first time in years—
Someone was openly challenging the S.A.O.
And so far...
They were winning.
While the discussion continued inside Rimuro's apartment, somewhere else in the city a very different scene was unfolding.
A vast grassy field stretched beneath the moonlit sky, its surface glistening faintly under the pale silver light. At its center stood a massive modern mansion, its architecture blending luxury with authority. The structure towered over the surrounding landscape like a fortress disguised as a residence.
The entire property was enclosed by towering walls reinforced with steel, while a giant security gate stood at the entrance.
Guards were stationed throughout the estate.
Dressed in black suits reinforced with armor resembling modern military equipment, they carried rifles and sidearms while continuously patrolling the grounds. Some monitored cameras while others stood at strategic positions around the perimeter. Their sharp eyes constantly scanned the surroundings, years of experience evident in every movement.
Nothing escaped their attention.
Or so they believed.
Inside the mansion, on the second floor, a large conference room buzzed with activity.
A round table occupied the center of the room, surrounded by influential figures. Politicians, bureaucrats, businessmen, and advisors sat in expensive chairs, their faces illuminated by the glow of digital screens displaying reports and security updates.
The room was filled with overlapping voices.
Arguments.
Concerns.
The warning broadcasted earlier on the City Tower had become the center of discussion.
"This so-called Jester is nothing more than a terrorist."
"We should increase security immediately."
"What if this is an attack against government officials?"
"The public is already beginning to panic."
Voices rose and collided with one another as tensions continued
Yet despite all their discussions—
None of them were aware of the danger rapidly approaching.
Far above the city...
A helicopter roared through the night sky
Its rotating blades sliced through the cold air, generating powerful gusts of wind that rippled across the clouds beneath it. The dark aircraft moved silently compared to its size, heading directly toward its destination.
Inside the dimly lit cabin sat three individuals.
The atmosphere within felt entirely different from the tension below.
Relaxed.
Excited.
Dangerous.
One of them leaned comfortably against his seat.
His mismatched eyes—one blue and one crimson—glinted beneath the cabin lights. A wide grin stretched across his face, unable to hide the excitement overflowing from him.
He looked toward the other two passengers.
His voice practically vibrated with anticipation.
"It's gonna be so fun."
The grin widened further.
"Aren't you excited, boys?"
It was Jester.
He wore a crimson-red and dark-blue vertically striped overcoat, with a deep red shirt beneath it. Black cargo pants and slippers completed his outfit. His silky, unkempt red hair flowed gently as the wind entered through the helicopter's window, shifting loose strands across his face.
Seated with him were the other two passengers—Mike and Deva.
Deva sat quietly, his face completely expressionless. Stitches ran across his neck and wrists, the threads catching the dim cabin light with a faint shine. A low-brimmed hat shadowed part of his face while his dark hair remained still beneath it. He wore a green shirt covered by a dark overcoat and trousers, his feet planted firmly in a pair of slippers.
Beside him sat Mike.
He wore a dark hoodie, cargo pants, and boots. His black curly hair rested beneath the hood as he held a tetsubo in his hand. The metallic hexagonal shaft reflected the dim light inside the helicopter, revealing the rows of small hexagonal spikes protruding from its surface.
The three sat inside the roaring helicopter as it continued through the night sky.