It was a sunny morning in Brickville.
Dew covered the vegetation, and the wind splattered gently against the streets. Milo, wearing a red-and-white jacket with black jeans, walked with his hands buried in his pockets. Wireless earphones were in his ears, and his thoughts drifted to the plan he and Ross had discussed the night before in Ross's room.
FLASHBACK
"Where can we start?!" Ross asked. "We need more information about the killer, but most of it is locked away. Only the higher-ups know the password… including the chairman!"
"We could just break into his apartment and kick him in the nuts until he tells us!" Ross suggested.
"On your level right now? Hah! You wouldn't stand a chance—he's Barrivion," Milo replied.
"Do you think there's a better way?"
"Yeah… I could talk to him and find out what he knows!"
"You tried that before. What makes you think it'll work now?"
"You! I just have to tell him about you!"
"Try your way, then. But mine's better!"
And so, they agreed—though the pairing of a man with little virtue and a man with too many principles didn't seem promising at all.
NOW
Milo stopped in front of a building. It was wide but not tall, designed similarly to the central bank, with a golden sun symbol gleaming on top. Ambassadors crowded the area; some waved, others saluted. Though he didn't feel like responding, he returned the gestures anyway.
Inside, he crossed paths with Conor. In a flat, bored tone, Milo muttered as he passed, "I don't have time for you."
"So you forgive me?" Conor asked.
"Yeah… a little bit," Milo replied before moving toward the receptionist's desk.
"I want to see the chairman," Milo said.
"Not even a good morning? This has got to be serious," the receptionist replied, typing Milo's information into the system.
Milo was a well-known and respected Ambassador, admired for his kindness and fieldwork. The receptionist, also an Ambassador, wore the same standard suit, with the identical back insignia—but on her shoulders rested a miniature hand symbol, marking her as a First Form. Her desk held a computer, a gavel, a white sound block, and a vase of flowers in the corner.
"Yeah… it kinda is," Milo said.
Finishing the input, she murmured with a hint of compromise in her voice, "You know what to do," clearly hoping for a longer chat.
To get to the chairman's office, one required his direct approval. The only way in was to strike the gavel against the sound block—instantly transporting you to the door outside his office.
Gu! Gu!
Milo slammed it down. In a flash, he was at the door. After a few deep breaths, he knocked.
"Come in," the chairman's voice called.
Milo entered and sat down.
"You're early today," the chairman remarked. "Got a date or something?"
"No. I just have some information I think you'd find interesting," Milo began.
"Alright… I'm all ears."
"I found out about the ornaments."
The chairman's light mood vanished.
"About Ross… and everything that happened over a hundred years ago."
Silence filled the room. This was the very information the chairman had been hiding—at least part of it.
Then, a slow smile spread across the chairman's face. "I'm proud of you, my boy."
Milo's mind raced. Is this a trick? Is this real?
"I knew you could find the truth," the chairman continued.
"What do you mean?"
The chairman leaned back and explained. He had known, ever since the murders of Milo's father and the other six, that the killings were tied to the ornaments. He also knew Ross had work up, but could never locate him.
"Ross was declared dead by the Second Barrivion—but it was all a ruse to protect his body. His true whereabouts were a closely guarded secret, one the officials carried to their graves. Some within their ranks had darker ambitions, wishing to use him for unholy experiments."
Then Milo had sensed Ross's Kyoku—something no one in the past two generations had done. That, combined with Milo's elemental abilities, gave him the highest odds of finding Ross. As the investigation secretly progressed, traces of Genki involvement emerged. It seemed they were attempting some plan to revive the First Generation.
The higher-ups agreed to keep all information hidden, fearing widespread panic.
"I never told you," the chairman admitted, "because it would have made you too easy to read. The first two Barrivions could sense Ross's Kyoku. Since then, no one has. You know what that means, right?"
"Fate."
They went back and forth until the chairman told Milo about an information merchant in Desert Valley City who might know more. He had always wanted to approach the merchant himself, but trusted no one less than a stranger.
"A leader asking an outsider for sensitive Genki information?" Milo said. "The higher-ups would know in seconds. But if you send Ross, they'd have no idea who he is."
"There's a mission in Treecon City," the chairman explained. "Take it, finish it early, then go to the merchant. That way, you'll be harder to track."
He handed Milo an envelope marked with the Ambassador's seal.
"Thank you, sir."
"You're welcome, kid."
BLANTYRE CITY
The afternoon sun poured over Blantyre City. A stream of customers entered the main bank, unaware of the horrors lurking at the top floor—where a notorious group of Genki still resided.
Close to the bank was a food store, separated by a long, dark alley—perfect for criminals.
Among the customers was a short man carrying a briefcase. He had just withdrawn his savings.
I finally sold our house, he thought, smiling at the receipt.
WELCOME TO BLANTYRE CITY BANK
Where Your Dreams Come Alive
NAME: Benjamin Scissor
DEPOSITED: $00
WITHDRAWING: $400
TAX: $20
WITHDRAWN AMOUNT: $380
REFERENCE CODE: U63911061696
He remembered the promise he had made to his children: toys, food, and new clothes after the sale. Half the money would go to the loan sharks, but the rest could start a new life.
Then—
"Do as I tell you," a chilling voice said behind him.
Benjamin froze.
"If you scream, I'll kill you and take the money anyway," the voice added.
Fear spread through him. He had no weapon, no training in Kyoku—just years spent struggling to feed his family.
"O… okay," he stammered.
The thug pushed him into the alley.
"Nice and easy," the man growled.
Another voice emerged from the darkness, carrying a butcher's knife. "We don't plan on hurting you—just give us the money, and you'll be alright."
But Benjamin's love for his family outweighed his fear. "I can't have it all… but please, can I keep a little for food? My family hasn't eaten in so long."
"What?! I told you this fool wasn't going to pay the boss back," one thug spat.
"He sent you?" Benjamin asked weakly.
"Yeah, and he sends his regards."
They kicked him to the ground. Benjamin clutched the briefcase, protecting his family's future.
"I only owe $200—why take it all?" he murmured.
"Consider the rest a hunting fee," they sneered.
Three months ago, Benjamin had borrowed money to start a small produce business. For a while, it thrived—until his shop was robbed bare. Since then, hunger and fear had been constant. Selling the house was their last hope.
But the thugs weren't stopping.
Then—
"I'd like to join in on the fun," a voice echoed.
The thugs turned. "Who's there?"
"Behind you, silly."
Name: Booster
Rank: Number 5
Kyoku Element: Lightning
Another man entered from the alley's mouth.
Name: Rockster
Rank: Number 7
Kyoku Element: Stone
"All my life," Booster said, his voice thick with bloodlust, "I've heard that humans are peaceful and Genki love destruction. At first, I rejected it. But now I know—it's how God made us. So I accept it."
"It makes us sad," Rockster added, "when humans do our job."
"Don't do anything stupid, or I'll shoot!" the gunman barked.
"You want me to be afraid?" Booster smirked.
The thug fired—Phoh! Phoh!—but Booster tilted his head, dodging easily.
"Shoot the big one!"
Two bullets flew toward Rockster. One hand caught them both.
"That's not nice," Booster said.
In the next instant, the gunman's arm was severed—then his head split in two, lightning crackling in the air.
The other thug tried to run, but the ground rose beneath him and the alley walls slammed together, crushing him into a mangled corpse.
Blood drenched the alley.
Benjamin, trembling, waited for the killing blow.
But Booster said, "We're not going to kill you."
"What?"
"Go on—you're no fun to kill."
Benjamin fled, clutching his briefcase. His family's future had been saved—ironically, not by Ambassadors, but by two Genki.
CODED AREA 18 – UNDISCLOSED LOCATION
It was dark. Too dark. An underground chamber with twelve high windows, each hidden by curtains.
A single spotlight illuminated a lone man, his face bowed in shadow. One by one, the curtains were drawn, revealing silhouetted figures beyond the windows.
"What's so important it couldn't wait?" a chubby voice demanded.
"And make it quick. I've got my daughter's birthday," another said.
"Don't worry—this won't take long," the man in the spotlight replied.
"Remember him?"
A hologram filled the chamber—showing a boy with black hair, a spiky fringe, and a katana slung over his back.
"What in the name of the King of Earth is that?!"
"Ross is alive."
Murmurs exploded.
"But the records say he died in his sleep!"
"If news of this gets out—"
"We'll lose influence!"
"And that's not the worst part," the man continued. "My birds say he's already met Milo."
"What?!"
"There's only one solution," another voice said coldly. "Get more information. And if they threatenn our integrity… shut them up forever."
The man bowed. "I will, my lords."
As he raised his head, the light caught his face—revealing Conor. He had been tasked with spying on Milo.