The van rolled slowly through the streets of Gormon City.
Gian Kayne sat in the back, cuffed, silent. He thought about everything that had happened in the last few days: the thug's warning at the bar…
"The one you trust will kill you."
The rooftop ambush, the masked men, the sniper who killed the witness. The red letter from the black-robed man in the warehouse… every shadow, every warning, every trap… it had led here.
And now the city itself seemed to rise against him.
Outside, screens flashed his face everywhere:
"Gormon City's Hero Accused – The Demon Angel Exposed?"
"Monster or Protector?"
Crowds gathered, shouting, waving signs. Some cried for justice for the woman. Some cheered his name, holding images of Gian saving the streets.
Rico ran alongside the van when it stopped at a checkpoint. His face was pale, eyes darting nervously.
"Boss! Look!" he whispered.
Through the tinted windows, Gian saw chaos. Cameras recorded every movement. Reporters shouted into microphones. People were taking sides, some pointing fingers, some raising fists. The city that once cheered him was now a storm of doubt and anger.
Gian's mind raced. The thug, the sniper, the black-robed man… Someone had orchestrated all of this. But who?
Rico glanced down the street. For a heartbeat, Gian thought he saw a figure in black robes watching from the shadows. Then the figure vanished, like a whisper.
"They're controlling the story," Rico said. "The city, the media… someone powerful wants everyone to turn against you."
Gian clenched his fists. "If the city believes lies, it doesn't matter how many I've saved. I survive… no matter what."
The van moved again. Sirens, cameras, shouting—everything blurred. Gian stared out the window.
The Demon Angel had fallen from the rooftop, survived the ambush, endured the red letter… and now faced the greatest fight of all: a city that wanted him judged before he even had a chance to speak in court.
Somewhere in the distance, in the darkness between the buildings, plans were unfolding. Gian didn't know it yet, but the trial, the traps, and the chaos were only beginning.
And Gian Kayne made a silent vow to himself: He would survive. No matter what.