Three years ago
when Jayden still worked as an executioner, a young convict was brought in for punishment. The boy was about Jayden's age, caught stealing. His name was Tristan.
Tristan had been waiting in his prison cell for the executioner to arrive. That executioner was Jayden.
When Jayden finally entered the dimly lit cell, he found Tristan hunched near the wall, his finger bleeding as he wrote something on the stone in blood, looking completely deranged.
Jayden frowned.
"What are you doing?" he asked, his tone curt.
Tristan looked up, face eerily calm.
"This is a message," he said. "For the ones who'll come after me."
Jayden's eyes flicked to the bloodied words on the wall:
| Screw you, idiot. |
Jayden read it, then raised an eyebrow.
"A charming message. Anyway, it's time. I brought shackles. Put them on."
"You're asking me to shackle myself?" Tristan scoffed. "You think that's funny?"
"No. There's a reason I'm asking you to do it."
Tristan eyed the shackles for a moment, then slipped them over his wrists with a resigned sigh.
"I deserve to be punished, anyway. Go ahead. I don't care."
"But I care," Jayden said quietly.
"You just want your paycheck. Do your job."
"That's not what I meant."
"Then what do you mean?"
"I care about justice," Jayden replied. "I care about knowing who has a conscience and who doesn't. You put the shackles on yourself and admitted you deserve punishment. That tells me you weren't happy when you committed the theft."
"My feelings don't matter. I was reckless, that's all. I didn't intend harm but that doesn't change the fact—I must pay the price."
"Then yes," Jayden nodded. "If you truly want to atone, accept your punishment."
"That's actually... wise," Tristan murmured.
"It's not my saying," Jayden said, his voice softening. "It belongs to someone I look up to."
---
The Present
"Wait… do you two know each other?" Yuna asked, glancing between Jayden and Tristan.
"But didn't you say you'd never met Tristan before, Jayden?" Luna added.
Jayden sighed, scratching the back of his neck.
"I did say that… but it seems I was mistaken. We met a long time ago."
"Three years ago, to be exact," Tristan said.
"So you do remember,"
Luna : "Can you explain what kind of relationship you had?"
Tristan raised his arm, showing faint scars. "Jayden gave me these lashes… for my own good."
Jayden : "I guess you could call me his teacher,"
"Don't get ahead of yourself," Tristan muttered.
"I don't really get it," Luna said, frowning. "But I suppose you met once and it was… intense."
"That's all there is to it," Jayden said with a shrug. "Though back then, Tristan's hair was longer."
Tristan : "You too but not as long as mine."
"Anyway, I never expected you'd be an heir to wonder stone."
"Neither did I. The stone's power didn't awaken in me until a year after I met you."
"That makes sense. When a stone's heir dies without children, its power passes on to someone new."
Jayden and Tristan shook hands then the four of them continued their conversation together.
"Now that Tristan's identity has been exposed," Jayden said, turning serious, "you two are likely next. You've both survived two kidnapping attempts by the most dangerous criminal organization and you were seen on television with Tristan during the theme park explosion."
"We're not afraid for ourselves, Jayden," Luna replied. "We're afraid for our families and loved ones. But the problem is—we don't know anything about these bastards."
"Don't worry," Yuna said. "We'll interrogate that guy Jayden knocked out."
"And what if he says nothing?"
"There's always a way," she said with a smirk. "Don't worry."
"You'd better be right," Luna muttered.
---
The captured man groaned awake, eyes fluttering open to a horrifying realization—he had no hands or feet. Panic gripped him. Most people wouldn't survive something like this and yet… he was alive. He didn't know that Yuna had healed him just enough to keep him that way.
He lay on a makeshift bed when Luna appeared beside him with a sudden, unsettling smile.
"Hello, chubby," she said brightly.
He blinked in terror, recalling what happened to his partner when she used her powers.
"W…who are you?" he stammered.
"Relax, fatty. I won't hurt you—unless you try to hurt me first."
"R-Really?"
"Yes. I hate being mistaken for a criminal. Just tell me your name, who you work for, your partner's name, your hideout, your system, and your plans."
"In your dreams, bitch."
The man opened his mouth, charging a bolt of electricity and launched it at her. Luna didn't even flinch. She sighed, raised a hand and neutralized the attack with a wave of sonic energy.
Jayden smacked the man over the head, knocking him out cold again.
"I might've overwhelmed him with all the questions," Luna admitted.
"He's not going to talk willingly," Jayden said. "We'll need to use more… persuasive methods."
"You two handle that," Luna said, brushing dust off her sleeves. "I'm done with this filthy basement."
"We've got it covered," Tristan assured her.
Luna left to join Yuna and together they began watching a movie they had downloaded earlier. Sometime later, Jayden and Tristan emerged from the basement, a notebook in hand.
"They're watching a movie at a time like this?" Jayden whispered.
"I know," Tristan replied. "But I think they've faced worse. It explains how calm they are."
"How do you know that?"
"Just a hunch."
When Luna and Yuna saw them, they paused the film and approached.
"What's in the notebook?" Yuna asked.
"We recorded everything we got from that scumbag," Jayden said.
"You got him to talk?"
"Yep," Tristan nodded.
"So quickly? How?"
"We tickled him."
"…What?"
Jayden : "Yep. Turns out he's very ticklish. We used it as a weak point."
Luna : "Well at least he died laughing."
"Yeah."
"Alright, guys," Yuna said. "Time to share that info with the rest of the team."
Tristan : "Yes, This stuff is too important to keep to ourselves."
The three of them contacted the rest of Team Kaos and arranged a meeting for the following day.
According to the information Tristan had uncovered, the Fauvism Gang consisted of ten different squads, each made up of two or more members who were heirs to wonder stones. Alongside them were their subordinates—non-heirs—who were rigorously trained and in some cases, chosen to receive transferred powers from fallen heirs via conduits known as ( the connector )
The gang's mysterious leader operated out of three separate headquarters, rotating between them monthly. Every gang member carried a recording device to transmit critical information to their comrades in case they were defeated in battle. In some operations, the Fauvism even collaborated with other criminal gangs to further their own dark agenda.
This information had been compiled in Tristan's notebook, which he read aloud to the full team during the meeting.
Merrick frowned. "So this means the Fauvism has more members than all of us combined."
Salvador nodded. "Yeah… unfortunately. But let's not forget—experience matters. They've only recently resurfaced. There's a good chance their members lack the skill and professionalism to go toe-to-toe with fighters like us."
"Perhaps," Jayden replied. "But let's not assume that. We should always prepare for the worst."
"I agree," Sony said. "It's better to stay on guard than to let our defenses drop."
Merrick looked around the room. "Listen up. We need to be ready at all times and I don't want to hear about anyone doing anything reckless. And you, Tristan—you need to go into hiding for now."
"What? Why?" Tristan asked, surprised.
"Because the two operatives sent to capture you are dead. That means the gang will send others. Stronger ones. They'll come for you again."
Merrick turned to Ribwan twins then added "And you two… You've already drawn attention. There's mounting evidence that you're both heirs to wonder stones. If the enemy learns you're the heirs of tominako Reed Stone, they'll be desperate to take you down."
Luna raised a hand. "Wait… does that mean we can't steal sweets anymore?"
"Exactly."
"Damn."
After the meeting, everyone returned to their homes—except for Tristan, who remained behind in the Kaos headquarters, just as Merrick advised
Their base was located in a hidden area, known only to the team. No one could contact anyone from the outside; no signal reached this place. But despite the secrecy, Tristan felt uneasy.
His thoughts wandered to Satomi. Ever since the theme park incident, Satomi hadn't returned or even reached out. The silence made Tristan anxious. Had Satomi started to suspect that Tristan was involved in something terrible… like terrorism?
Tristan sighed. At least he wasn't completely alone—Badwin, his dog was with him. They spent time together in the garden, playing fetch with a flying disc. Badwin would leap, catch it mid-air and proudly bring it back.
Suddenly, Luna appeared, interrupting the peace.
"Well, well. Hiding boy! How's the undercover life treating you?"
Tristan groaned. "Still alive… No calls, no TV, no internet. This place is so boring I could scream."
"Oh, come on. What did you expect? A theme park?" she teased. "This place is for mission briefings and survival, not amusement."
"I know, I know. But it's driving me crazy."
"Well, I have news for you."
"Good or bad?"
"I think you'll like it. Your friend Satomi stopped by our house yesterday."
Tristan's eyes widened. "What?!"
"He recognized us from before and asked about you. I told him you had an accident and… died."
"WHAT?!"
She burst out laughing. "Relax, I'm kidding. I told him you had to disappear for a while due to personal circumstances. He might try to contact you if he finds a way."
Tristan exhaled in relief. "Thank you… really."
Luna winked. "Just make sure you do contact him, alright? Don't make me look like a fool."
"I will. I promise."
Meanwhile, Jayden was at home when his phone rang . It was the man who replaced Rossi
He answered. "What now?"
"Mr. Jayden… we're having a problem. Coordination is falling apart."
Jayden sighed. "This is the fourth time you've called to tell me that."
"But sir… ever since you left the new leader wasn't good as you , our strength has declined. We can't hold—"
"Listen to me, I told you all back in that final meeting: I'm retired. I've stepped away from this life—not because I don't care but because I made a decision and I'm not going back."
"But sir, we need you. Please…"
Jayden's voice hardened. "Stop. You already know my answer. Don't throw your dignity away by begging. Don't call me again."
He ended the call and sank into bed, trying to rest. He hadn't expected leaving his gang to weigh so heavily on him but he still cherished his friendship with Rossi, whom he visited from time to time. These days, Jayden devoted his abilities to doing good—like when he traveled abroad to help build an orphanage, just as the twins had encouraged him.
Eventually, he managed to sleep. The next morning, he came downstairs and decided to walk to the bakery.
As he waited at a crosswalk, he suddenly felt something unmistakable. The aura of another stone heir.
He turned and saw a group of people across the street but couldn't pinpoint which one it was. Then, one of them quietly stepped back and slipped into an alley.
Jayden followed.
The young man stood waiting in the shadows, clearly expecting Jayden to come. His hair was jet-black, his eyes a piercing blue. His skin was somewhere between light and tan. They stared at one another for a long moment.
Then the stranger spoke.
"You didn't attack me. That means… you're not one of them."
"I'm not part of the Fauvism, no," Jayden replied cautiously. "But how do I know you're not pretending just to lure me into a trap?"
"I'm not. You can verify that for yourself."
"Oh yeah? How?"
The young man stepped forward and handed him a water bottle connected to a strange device.
Jayden frowned. "What am I supposed to do? Drink your water and trust you?"
"No. This water comes from my personal reservoir. The device is a lie detector."
"And I'm just supposed to believe you?"
"You can test the device at any lab you like."
Jayden said nothing, still evaluating him. The boy continued.
"Ask me anything while I hold it. If the alarm sounds, I'm lying. If it doesn't, I'm telling the truth."
"Alright then," Jayden said. "Let's start with your name."
"My name is ( Christopher Heday ) but just call me Chris."