The chapter begins...
After the flashback ends…
Night had fallen.
Ten and his brother walked through a narrow alley.
Ten's eyes still burned with anger and resentment.
On either side of the street, houses were lined up. On every door, a tied bag containing candy and flowers. On every rooftop, a burning incense stick glowing in the dark.
Ten still didn't trust his brother.
As for the brother, he was calm—cold and composed.
---
We shift to a new flashback…
Morning broke.
Ten returned home… to find his mother weeping bitterly.
He rushed to her, confused and panicked.
Ten (frantic):
"Why are you crying?!"
Mother (sobbing):
"Your brother… he ran away… took the money…"
Ten froze.
His mouth opened in shock.
Ten:
"A-are you… are you serious?"
Mother (handing him a paper with her left hand):
"Look… if you don't believe me."
He took the paper and began to read.
The letter read:
> Mom, sis, little brother… I'm sorry I took the money.
I feel nothing but shame… I stole the money meant for our sister's treatment.
I wish I was never born. I've caused you all so much pain. I hope she recovers…
Ever since I got involved with them… I've regretted everything.
Ten gripped the paper tightly with his right hand.
His jaw clenched. His face twisted with rage.
His arm began to tremble.
Ten (angrily):
"I'll never forgive you… brother…"
Days passed…
And his sister died.
A heavy cloud of sorrow and despair loomed over him.
In Ten's eyes, his brother was to blame.
After burying her, his mother fell into deep depression.
At just eight years old, Ten began working in markets and construction sites, chasing a living.
His mother never recovered from her daughter's death.
One day, Ten returned home smiling—thinking he'd made enough money—
Only to find his mother dead on the floor.
He buried her with his own hands.
Later, their wooden house was demolished for violating "nature's laws."
But Ten found the old home his uncle had left for him.
---
Back to the present…
Ten (with eyes boiling with suspicion):
"Where are you taking me?"
They arrived at a massive residential building, surrounded by a tall black fence.
At the center of the fence—an iron gate.
The merchant opened it.
Ten (seriously, in disbelief):
"This… is your house?"
Merchant:
"Yes."
Ten (sternly):
"How… did you get the money for this?"
Merchant (calmly):
"Come inside. I'll explain everything."
---
Cut to the Lightning Village Chief's palace.
A yellow gate surrounded by a wall, leading to a green garden blooming with red flowers and roses.
The palace was massive, full of windows, with a grand wooden door.
Inside the chief's office…
We see Harn, 30 years old.
His blond hair tied back, green eyes, wearing a luxurious red outfit that shimmered in the light.
Kazuma, Rin, and Harry stood before his desk.
Harn placed his hands on the table.
Harn (with a strange smile):
"Welcome to our beautiful village."
Kazuma (tense, lips tight):
"Thank you, sir."
Harn (calmly):
"You know why Nelson sent you here."
Rin:
"Yes. It's about a secret box."
Harn (relaxing in his chair):
"Exactly."
Kazuma:
"What's inside that box?"
Harn (coldly, directly):
"I'm the village chief… and I never opened it."
Harry (gruff voice):
"Why not?"
Harn (seriously):
"You should know… Wilson bought the box from us."
Kazuma:
"We were going to ask… why sell it to him?"
Harn (narrowing his eyes):
"Our village is watched day and night."
Rin (shaking as if in shock):
"Who's watching you? Do we know them?"
Harn:
"We know nothing about them.
They watch everyone who comes and goes.
We only want to protect our village. That's why we sold the books to Nelson."
Harn (stern warning):
"We heard their leader is terrifyingly powerful…
He wiped out an entire clan without mercy."
Harry (shocked):
"Did you at least find out who he is?"
Harn:
"No… Unknown. We don't know what he wants."
Harn opened a drawer and placed a letter on the desk.
Kazuma, Rin, and Harry stepped closer to read it.
Harn:
"This letter… is from their leader."
The letter read:
> If you don't remove your books from the village, we'll begin immediately.
I am the danger itself. Mock me, and remember—
I erased an entire clan without mercy.
Kazuma (eyes wide):
"Who wrote this…?"
Rin:
"My brain… can't process this."
Harry (warned):
"He's truly dangerous…"
Kazuma (raising his hand):
"I have a question."
Harn:
"Go ahead."
Kazuma:
"How did you obtain what's inside the box?"
Harn (confidently):
"Alright… I'll tell you."
---
Flashback: Two months ago…
A scientist in a white coat entered Harn's office, panting.
Harn was writing at his desk.
Harn (calmly):
"You didn't knock."
Scientist (bowing):
"Sorry, sir—it's urgent."
Scientist (anxiously):
"We found a strange box…"
Harn (unbothered):
"And…?"
Scientist:
"The terrifying part… is that it was placed in front of the lab's door."
---
Flashback within a flashback:
A huge lab with a metal dome and a green door.
In front of the door… a medium-sized black box.
On top—a sealed envelope.
The scientist stepped out and stared in shock.
Scientist (looking to the left):
"Huh? What's this box?"
He approached and took the envelope.
Inside the letter:
> A man like a father to me gave me this box.
But we fought… I wronged him, and I know he's angry.
The box isn't mine—I was entrusted to deliver it to someone specific.
This box will bring trouble… but no matter what, don't give it to the wrong person.
Inside is a blade… but I won't give it to you.
That blade is with someone dear to me… still angry with me.
---
Back to the present.
Harn:
"Since the box arrived, we've been watched.
So I sold it to Nelson."
Kazuma (stunned):
"This… is truly terrifying."
Harn:
"I don't care what's inside.
All I care about… is protecting my village."
---
Elsewhere…
Ten returned from his meeting with his brother—
But we don't know what was said.
Ten now stood in a torch-lit street on both sides.
He sat on a curb, holding the blade his uncle gave him.
He stared at it silently.
---
A new flashback begins:
When Ten and his brother arrived at the house,
The door opened into a neat wooden hallway, warmly lit.
To the left… a wooden staircase.
Then… the merchant's wife appeared.
Ten stared at her, his pupils shrinking in shock.
Brother:
"Please, come in."
Ten stepped forward and bent to take off his shoes.
Wife (gently):
"Welcome."
Ten said nothing.
Brother:
"Come on."
They passed the stairs and entered a room on the right.
They sat on the couch.
Brother:
"Would you like something to drink?"
Ten (firmly, with a sharp gaze):
"No. Just tell me what you have to say."
His brother looked up at the ceiling… and began his story.
---
Flashback within a flashback:
The merchant was twenty-five.
He met a man in the street—a friend who became like a brother.
One day… this friend offered him a job in drug trafficking.
He hesitated at first.
But when he came home, he found his mother and Ten hungry… and his sister still sick.
Guilt overwhelmed him.
And he decided to do it.
From that moment, he entered the drug trade.
He began making money. He smuggled drugs to the Fire Village.
Nelson's father was the main dealer—trading drugs for goods.
Brother:
"I used to hide the money so you wouldn't see it.
I was about to become rich."
He worked for two years… until he turned twenty-seven.
Then he met the woman he would come to love.
Later… he fell out with the leader and his men.
Brother:
"Nelson's father—a tall, dark-skinned man with black hair—
threatened to kill me if I didn't return all the money."
Brother:
"I found out I'd spent part of it.
He said: if I didn't repay, I'd lose the ones I love."
So he mixed it with the money for his sister's treatment.
He waited for that rainy night—when Ten was with his uncle—
And ran away after their mother slept.
Brother:
"I gave the money to Nelson's father.
He told me: don't come back, or we all die."
Later… he met Tami—his uncle's close friend.
A 35-year-old man, black hair, dark eyes, plain appearance.
Tami (standing in an empty street):
"You're a disgrace to your family…"
His brother said nothing and walked away.
Tami (shouting):
"You're the reason my friends are dead!
If not for your drugs… they'd be alive!"
The rain poured heavily.
The brother cried… in silence.
He fled with the woman he loved to the Fire Village.
Opened a butcher shop.
Two years passed.
One day… the uncle returned—and the brother was shocked.
Brother:
"Uncle! I missed you!"
They hugged. But the uncle was serious.
Uncle:
"I need to speak with you."
He pulled a black box from his bag—
It bore the same symbol as Ten's blade.
Brother (raising eyebrows):
"What's this?"
Uncle:
"Don't try to understand it. Deliver it to Ten."
He pulled out a circular blade.
Uncle (firmly and quickly):
"Keep it… but don't give it to him until he's ready."
Uncle (in a low voice):
"Don't show it to anyone. Please…
This box… is the heart of this world."
Brother:
"The heart of the world…?"
Uncle (shouting):
"Don't try to understand! Just let me rely on you!"
The uncle left, looking left and right—
As if being followed.
The brother stood stunned… then returned to his shop.
Years passed. He turned fifty.
One day… he found a letter from the uncle at his door.
The letter:
> Hurry. Deliver the box to the Fire Village.
They'll search your house. Move now.
Nelson is hunting the box. If he learns the truth,
he'll keep it for himself.
I'm counting on you—give it to the Fire Village leader.
Nelson… once a leader's son—is now just a ruler.
But he's determined to uncover the box's secrets.
If he succeeds… the world will stay asleep, never knowing what happened.
Merchant (placing his right hand to his temple, sighing):
"I tried running from trouble… and ended up in the heart of it."
Then he walked to put on his brown shoes, followed by his brown coat.
Brother (calling out):
"I'm heading out… need anything?"
Wife (from the kitchen):
"Safe travels… I'm good."
The man walked steadily, holding a black bag with the box inside.
Man (speaking deeply):
"Trouble loves me…
No matter how far I run, it sticks to me."
On a wide, empty street… the scientist lab stood shut, topped by a massive blue-painted dome.
Man (raising his head to the sky, murmuring):
"Is what I'm doing… right?"
He continued walking.
Brother (with certainty):
"I'll drop it quickly… then vanish."
He tiptoed, trying not to be heard or seen.
He placed the envelope inside the b
ag, then sprinted off.
---
Back to the first flashback…
Brother (pulling out the blade the uncle had shown him):
"This… your uncle left it for you."
Ten (eyes filled with shock):
"I remember this pendant… he showed it to me before he vanished."
Brother:
"Then take it… he asked me to give it to you."
Ten reached out and took it, then stood up slowly and walked past his brother.
Merchant (softly):
"Will you… forgive me now?"
Ten (turning his head, eyes sharp):
"I don't know."
The scene ends.