The Next Day
The following day arrived and as arranged, Tristan had contacted Rin, asking him to meet at an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the city.
Satomi—the very man who had helped Tristan settle in this city—had found him a place to live and even secured him a job. Unfortunately, that job had been lost after the Fauvism targeted Tristan. Satomi's support had meant everything… and now he was gone.
Rin stepped into the dim warehouse. Tristan was already there, He was standing near something covered in a sheet on the ground. Those were the bodies of the people who killed Satomi, Rin's brother, but Tristan hadn't told him yet.
As Rin approached, the two exchanged a brief handshake.
Rin: "I don't mean to be rude, but what's under that blanket on the ground?"
Tristan: "Those are the bodies of the ones who killed Satomi."
"What are you saying, you bastard? Didn't you promise to bring them to me alive?"
"Sorry, my friends and I killed them unintentionally during the battle."
"So you and your friends got your revenge instead of me? How wonderful!"
"Sorry again."
"Show them to me. I want to see their damn faces at least."
"Fine."
Tristan pulled back the blanket, revealing to Ren the bodies of Ivan, Boomer, and Kane.
Ren felt nauseous and closed his eyes.
Tristan approached him, gently placing a hand on his shoulder, and asked, "Are you alright? You've never seen a dead body before?"
"Yes, I have, because I work in the military, you idiot. But I didn't expect this. I wanted to kill them myself."
"A lot of things happen that we don't expect," Tristan murmured. "You asked before—about Kaos Team. Yes, this is what it's like. Danger, wounds, death... These aren't exceptions. They're the norm. This is what it means to fight the Fauvism . It's the fate of anyone who stands against them."
"Sorry for bringing it up," Rin whispered.
"It's okay."
No… things hadn't gone the way Rin had hoped. The justice he wanted felt like it had been stolen from him. It was bloody. Ugly. Final. But somewhere deep inside, he felt a flicker of satisfaction.
The murderers of Satomi—his beloved brother, were dead. Satomi had played with him when they were kids, had guided him, protected him, inspired him
Now, his memory played vividly in both Rin and Tristan's minds as they exited the warehouse, each going their separate way.
Elsewhere...
Far from Tristan, in a quiet building on the other side of town, Rafael sat in his small apartment with his roommat
A knock came at the door.
Rafael opened it to find someone he hadn't seen in years—Jayden.
Flashback : Three Years Ago
It was years earlier, in the town where Jayden once lived.
The first time he had met Rafael, the man had offered him a place in a gang—called ( The Shadow Phantom )
"You really think I'd join some gang?" Jayden scoffed. "I'm an executioner. I work for the court."
"We know, Durbin," Rafael said calmly. "But you need to ask yourself—what good is that job really doing?"
Jayden folded his arms. "Executioners punish criminals. We keep order. That's useful."
"But what if that system stops working?" Rafael asked. "Since Chizal died, haven't you noticed how crime's risen? He was the last fair judge in this place. He refused bribes and ruled with conscience. But now? Look at the new judges—they take bribes and let criminals walk free. That's why crime is thriving."
Jayden went quiet.
"Our gang—the Shadow Phantom—we operate freely now," Rafael continued. "You want proof? I'm standing here, talking to you. No one's stopping me."
Jayden : " Give me one good reason I should join you."
"Revenge."
"Revenge?"
"Yes. Don't you want to avenge Judge Chizal ?"
"Of course I do. But why would you help me?"
"Because that's who we are, Durbin. We're not the villains people think. Since day one, our mission has been helping those who've lost loved ones to injustice. You're not the only one. So many have watched the guilty walk free. We help them take justice into their own hands."
"An eye for an eye, huh?"
"Exactly. It's not legal—but it is justice."
Jayden frowned. "What about the drugs? Gambling? The thefts?"
"We steal only from corrupt judges. That's how we fund our operations—we need expensive tools to make sure our missions leave no trace. As for the drugs and gambling... those are just the vices of certain foolish members. It's not our mission."
Jayden was silent.
"You're free to choose," Rafael said at last. "But think about it. I'm giving you a powerful offer. I'll wait three days. If you agree… meet me at the train station."
And with that, Rafael walked away, leaving Jayden alone in his thoughts.
He thought for three days—and in the end, he chose to join.
Tracking the man who framed Chizal had proven nearly impossible. But two months after joining the gang, Jayden became an heir to a wonder stone—and began intense training under a close friend of his father, who died soon afterward.
Eventually, they discovered the location of the man Jayden sought. Using his lightning-based powers, Jayden sabotaged the electrical system in the man's house and electrocuted him.
He never told the others about the wonder stone. He pretended he had built a custom bomb to eliminate his target.
But when his mother found out what he had become—a gang member—she left him. No matter how much he pleaded, she wouldn't stay.
Her absence broke him for a long time but he managed to recover. He took over his father's bakery. But something had changed in him.
Or rather… something had died.
The idea of justice had perished in his heart the day Chizal was murdered. Watching corrupt judges take bribes and free monsters only deepened that wound.
He realized the truth: the world wasn't just. People weren't good. Most were selfish, cruel and corrupt—willing to sell lives for their own gain.
Jayden had grown powerful in the Shadow Phantom. The others admired him. But the one who disturbed him most was Rafael.
He had changed. Once kind, Rafael had become manipulative, hurting others under the name of the gang.
Jayden hated that.
Within a year, Jayden had risen from ordinary member to commander.
One day, during a mission with Stern and Rafael, they defended a hideout from four attackers. Rafael's face was badly burned in the fight.
The others saved him and rushed him to a hospital—but their local clinic lacked proper equipment, so he was transferred elsewhere for surgery.
After that, Rafael vanished.
Jayden became leader of the gang and renamed it The Iron Phantom. He moved to a new town—his current home.
Because of the surgery, Jayden hadn't recognized Rafael right away when they met again.
Back to the Present
Without hesitation, Jayden threw Rafael to the ground, grabbed his shirt and pulled him close.
"Miss me, old friend?" he growled.
Rafael's roommate, rushed forward, but Rafael stopped him.
" Don't interfere."
"But Raph—he's going to hurt you!"
"No. He won't. We're just playing a fun little game. And this time, we're going to finish it."
" Are you..."
"Just get out " Rafael insisted. "He won't kill me, I promise. Don't call the police either."
"…Fine," The man muttered before slipping out of the room.
Once they were alone, Rafael asked, "So, what brings you here in such a... passionate mood?"
"I want to know," Jayden snapped, "are you back for good—or for evil? Ever since your return, my life has gone to hell."
"I heard," Rafael said. "You stepped down as leader of Iron Phantom. Your house burned down but I had nothing to do with any of it."
"Why should I believe you? You're my top suspect."
"I'm not the one but I do have an idea who might be."
"Who?"
"Someone came asking about your location recently."
"And you told him, didn't you? You bastard!"
"No! I didn't. But I think he already knew where you lived."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"He came to me right after I visited you. Coincidence? I doubt it. He must have followed me and learned where you live. Then he came asking again, maybe to test if he could trust me."
"To see if you'd betray me… if he could use you to hurt me."
"Exactly . You catch on fast."
"I was in a gang. Of course I catch on."
Jayden stepped back, ready to leave.
"If you ever need help, Jayden," Rafael said quietly, "call me."
"I won't."
"Come on… let's forget the past. Be friends again."
Jayden shot him a scathing look. "Keep what dignity you have left—and stay the hell out of my life."
With that, he walked out, heading back to the Kaos Team's headquarters, where he now lived.
There, he lay in bed, eyes open, waiting for the next day to come.