Lawrence gave a long sigh.
He leaned back slightly as he responded,
> "What a story... Hakimi, what information did you get?"
Hakimi stood up, a smirk playing at the corner of his lips.
> "Well, you guys won't believe what I found out."
He chuckled, his tone filled with pride.
> "As the brilliant hacker I am, and genius in infiltration, and the best in this little organization, and—"
Everyone in the room groaned in unison.
> "We get it."
"Can't you stop glazing yourself?"
"Geez, this guy..."
Hakimi chuckled again.
> "Sorry, sorry. Okay, now to what I found out."
He looked around the room, his smirk fading into seriousness.
> "Each and every one of us was trained, raised, experimented on, and tortured by the CODE."
—Silence fell like a blanket.
Everyone's breath was held. Even Lawrence sat upright, eyes focused.
Hakimi continued.
> "With the sole purpose of going against the Hero Association and being the government's tools."
The air in the room grew heavier. People murmured in disbelief.
> "Is this what you found out, Mr. Genius?"
Hakimi chuckled.
> "In the Hero Association database, I stumbled on classified information showing that the military and heroes aren't in good terms—despite the fact they act buddy-buddy in public."
He threw a small sphere forward.
—Click.
—Fwoosh.
The sphere burst open, revealing a hologram filled with photos and classified documents.
Lawrence narrowed his eyes.
> "And what are these?"
Hakimi smirked.
> "These are classified documents and information the government's been keeping from the world about CODE's real operations and objectives."
Someone spoke up, confused.
> "Wait, I thought you hacked the Hero Association database, not the government?"
Another muttered, "You had to ask him…"
Hakimi grinned proudly.
> "An intelligent mind like me—who's good in the field of hacking and computer wizardry—it was practically easy for me to bridge into the government system through the Hero Association's computers. Even if it's just a branch of their HQ."
Sonia leaned forward, reading one of the documents displayed.
> "Dubs and Ravels?"
Hakimi nodded.
> "Yes. This is what I was talking about."
He pulled up a document showing one of the top heroes—Jaguar.
> "Jaguar is a tamer who can control multiple beasts and monsters. The CODE made sure to create someone that matches him."
He pointed upward at Spark, seated above.
Spark froze.
> "Me?"
Hakimi replied,
> "Yes. You're the dub of Jaguar. If you realize it, you're a tamer—you can use the power of the beasts you tame. And let's not talk about how you're just sixteen and have already tamed fifty Slay Beasts."
He shook his head, correcting himself.
> "In fact, fifty-something Slay Beasts are under your control. That isn't normal. CODE pushed you beyond your normal capabilities—but in the end, you're still a failed project."
Spark frowned.
> "Hey, you don't have to mention the 'failed' part."
Hakimi continued, calling out others.
> "War's supposed to be Beatriz's dub. Winner is a perfect dub for Jet—but she lacks in battle aspect."
He pointed across the room.
> "MK3's dub is you, Killer."
Immediately, documents of MK3 flashed across the hologram.
> "Wild Card 6—you're the top twelve hero dub, Verse."
Then he turned again.
> "And V40 is K20's dub... wait—where is she?"
Someone answered,
> "She's gone out."
Sonia's tone sharpened.
> "So, you're saying we were supposed to be weapons used against the heroes when necessary?"
Hakimi nodded.
> "Yes. In fact, we were supposed to be beyond the Hero Association. But CODE thought we were unstable—uncontrollable."
Edge frowned.
> "Then why let us live outside CODE for three years as normal kids and still send us missions?"
Lawrence's eyes darkened.
> "Simple. They wanted to test how we'd act in the normal world."
Rex added,
> "Or just wanted to make us feel safe around them."
Juice's face was unreadable.
> "So, they also decided to play with our feelings. You know... I felt happy with our trainers. It felt normal—even after the years of hell."
Lawrence's gaze fell on Juice. He thought to himself:
> "Damn... so he really felt messed up when Mr. and Mrs. Benson died. Hiding it all with a smile."
Sonia suddenly spoke up.
> "Hakimi, if I'm correct about what you're saying... does that mean the government knows the truth about CODE and everything that happened to us?"
Hakimi's smile faded. He nodded.
Betty spoke out.
> "In that case, it means the government's against us. But the question remains—"
Hakimi finished for her.
> "Why haven't they responded?"
Ray muttered.
> "Well, I guess we aren't a threat to them."
Winner spoke next, pausing her video.
> "Well, after our last operation... we might be on their radar."
The room filled with murmurs.
> "God... no way."
"So what now?"
"C'mon, we didn't come this far to chicken out."
"Let's take down the government!"
"Are you crazy? That's a bad idea!"
"Hey, you guys chill!"
"I can't believe this bullshit."
Suddenly—
—Ha...
—Ha...ha...
Lawrence's low chuckle broke through the noise.
Everyone froze.
Then his laughter grew louder—dark, unrestrained.
> "Damn, this is perfect."
The room tensed.
> "If my calculations are right, the GLDs are the major organization in the world."
He rubbed his head, scattering his hair as he continued.
> "The government might also be backing them up... no—they are being backed up."
He spread his hands wide.
> "That's why Divenchy stood no chance. He was practically going against an entire system the world follows."
He looked at the tattoo on his palm. The mark shifted into a shadowy smile.
Lawrence muttered,
> "You damn devils... shut up. I know my move."
Everyone stared at him—his tone almost manic.
Juice smirked darkly.
> "Damn, he's lost it again. Means he's cooking again."
Lawrence's breathing deepened—thump... thump... thump...—his aura turning pitch black.
> "I'm breaking my limit... I'm going to go beyond the unknown. But while doing that—"
He turned toward the exit.
> "I think I need to lay low."
—Tap... tap... tap...
His footsteps echoed through the silent hall.
He turned back briefly, his eyes sharp.
> "Fufu... omoshiroi janai ka..."
He looked at Hakimi.
> "Hey. To confirm my thoughts—tell me when Divenchy dies, and who killed him."
Then he faced everyone.
> "For now, can you guys do me a favor? Lay low in whatever you're doing... and try to get stronger, okay?"
With that, he walked out.
—Door creaks.
—Thud.
The room fell into silence.
> "What just happened?"
"Was it me, or did he just act like he lost his mind?"
"his really going with that Japanese? I thought he was Black American!"
Juice scratched his head with a grin.
> "Well... I was the one who taught him English."
Everyone yelled in shock.
> "WAIT, WHAT!?"
Winner's eyes sparkled with excitement.
"He's cooler than I thought," she whispered to herself.
Sonia, however, sat still—watching the door.
"How far is he going to go...? What's driving him?"
—Heartbeat... thump... thump... thump... fade.