Yuki kept on remembering. Not just the fragments, but the whole weight of it—the past of William. No, it was his past. His and that man's. The man named Carl Huxley.
Every incident was carved deep in him, from the memorable victories to the smallest details.
It began the day they agreed to become family. Both of them were alone, both of them had nothing, so they forged something together.
Carl didn't hesitate. He brought William into his home and called a meeting. A gathering of the entire mafia family. No excuses were allowed, every member had to be present. The air was thick with smoke and greed, the long table stretching like a stage for judgment.
When Carl introduced William as his adopted son and heir, the silence was broken by murmurs, then sharp words. Some objected outright. Some only sneered in silence. But the ones who voiced opposition—William marked them. He saw it in their eyes: ambition. Hunger. The kind of men who weren't against him for who he was, but because they wanted Carl's throne.
Carl let the protests hang, his sharp gaze sweeping the room. Then he turned toward William, as if saying, "Your move." His expression was unreadable, but William knew—it was a test. A test to see how far he could stand on his own.
William rose from his seat, calm, steady, as if the weight of their hostility didn't touch him. His words cut through the noise:
"Give me a year. If I can't bring results, I will not only step down as heir, but also withdraw completely from all operations of this organization."
The silence that followed was heavy, but different. Shocked gasps rippled. Even the ringleader of the opposition, the deadliest of schemers, faltered. William's confidence was unshakable, his voice carrying a weight that silenced men who had killed more times than they could count.
But that ringleader—William remembered him well. A man of cunning, a predator in human skin. For a while, William respected him. Even thought of sparing him. But in the end, he was too dangerous, too ruthless. He had to die.
And William killed him. With his own hands.
Carl didn't stop him. In fact, Carl supported him in everything—even when William plotted, even when he ordered the deaths of dozens within the organization. With each move, Carl only stood back, watching, proud.
Before the year had even ended, William had already surpassed every expectation. He succeeded Carl, becoming the undisputed king of the underworld. His name spread in whispers and fear: King Yama.
Carl stepped away then, withdrawing from mafia matters. But William never forgot Aoi. Even in blood and smoke, he guarded her, announcing to the entire underworld: she is my woman.
When rival groups tried to kidnap her, thinking she was his weakness, they learned otherwise. William had already stationed his elites around her, rotating shifts so she was never unguarded. The attempt failed. And the very next day, the entire group responsible ceased to exist—wiped out in a single night. Their wealth, their power, their history—all erased. News stations reported their "extinction," but the world knew the truth.
Carl also made sure William's education never stopped. But it was William who chose the school—Aoi's school. An expensive institution where money opened every gate. Carl didn't even hesitate; he paid the fees, he even donated, ensuring William would have every advantage.
At school, William shadowed Aoi quietly at first. He soon realized her adoptive family didn't care for her as they pretended. They pampered her only to trade her off in marriage, treating her as currency. Aoi knew it too, but she bore it in silence.
When girls tried to bully her, William stepped in. They backed down only to send delinquents after him. In the schoolyard behind the gym, six of them surrounded him.
The first charged with a metal pipe, swinging recklessly. William side-stepped, caught the boy's wrist, and twisted sharply. The crack of bone echoed, followed by a scream. Another rushed from the side, fists raised. William drove an elbow into his ribs, feeling them cave under the force, before slamming his forehead into the boy's nose. Blood sprayed, the boy crumpled.
The rest hesitated. William smirked.
"Come. If you dare."
Anger overcame fear, and they lunged together. He moved like a shadow, every strike precise: a knee to the gut, a fist across the jaw, a low sweep that sent one sprawling. By the end, they were all on the ground, groaning, some barely conscious.
They ended up in the infirmary. A few were even hospitalized. Word spread quickly.
When Aoi heard, she was shaken at first. But relief came when she realized William was unharmed. That day, she looked at him differently.
"Wow," she said softly. "You're very strong. You're also handsome… and you have connections, hmmm…"
William froze. For a moment, he thought she was about to confess. But then she smiled playfully and added—
"Let's be friends, hehehe."
Her laughter was bright, genuine, and it caught him off guard. He found himself mesmerized, lost in it, before he regained his composure. From then, they became close. They spent more time together, hung out after classes, and gradually learned about each other. She even discovered they were from the same orphanage.
After graduation, they finally began dating. But before they did, Aoi spoke with sadness in her eyes.
"Will… I'm sorry. Even if we start dating, we can never marry. My family already arranged it. It's my fate."
She lowered her head, guilt weighing her down.
"Although I'm being selfish, I'll understand if you don't want this. Even if you want to end our friendship… I'll try to accept it."
William pulled her into an embrace. His words whispered into her ear:
"Don't despair. I'll try my best to save you. Don't forget—I'm strong. I'm handsome. And I have connections."
Her tension eased slightly, but there was something else in her eyes. A longing for words he hadn't yet spoken. William knew what she wanted to hear, and so, for the first time, he considered revealing everything.
"I've told you, you don't need to worry. There's a secret I must tell you. I only ask that you not be afraid…" He looked directly into her eyes. "Didn't I say I was adopted by a well-to-do family? In fact—"
But Aoi pressed a finger to his lips, silencing him.
"Don't worry," she said softly. "I already know."
William blinked, startled.
"You're the adopted son of Carl Huxley. The heir of the Huxley family. The new King of the Underworld. The man they call King Yama—the one who carries the blood of thousands, the one who can end ten thousand lives with a single command. Right?"
Her tone was calm. Almost playful.
William froze. She had known all along.
"How?" His voice broke, his usual composure shaken. "Ai… you have to believe me. I never had ulterior motives. I just didn't want to scare you. I—I'm sorry."
She laughed softly.
"I know. I know you're different. Unlike the others, you don't come to me with hidden intentions. That's why I trust you. As for how… come on, Will. Obviously, it's because of the Norton family."
The Norton family. Her adoptive parents. Connections ran deep there. It should have been obvious.
William exhaled, caught between relief and unease.
…
Yuki snapped back into himself, a grin stretched across his face, unstoppable. The memories filled him with a warmth he hadn't felt in what seemed like forever.
But as he smiled, something darker stirred ahead. Beyond the bliss of the past, something waited. Something he deeply regretted. One of his greatest demons.
And Yuki knew—he would have to face it.