Inside SARS Headquarters, 5th Division meeting room.
A long table filled with Division members and in the signature white-and-red coat, At the head sat Chief Henderson, with a projection screen behind him. Among them was Jonah Greyson.
Henderson said, "Welcome to the 5th Division, Jonah Greyson."
Members muttered to each other. "Is he really joining us?"
"I don't get it. What's the greatest lawyer doing here?"
Jonah adjusted his glasses, his sharp glare silencing the whispers. "Chief, I'm only here temporarily. You already know why."
Henderson nodded. "Yes. You joined for your own reasons. I understand."
The door opened. James entered with Ceaser Bathan.
James said, "Apologies for being late, but I've brought Mr. Bathan."
Henderson smiled. "It's all right. Well done, James."
James glanced at Jonah. "Oh? Jonah, you finally came?"
Jonah gave a small smile. "Yeah, brother—ah, I mean, Vice Chief." He adjusted his glasses again.
James walked over, dropping into a chair beside him. "Vice Chief? What's with the formality? Just call me brother."
He threw an arm over Jonah's shoulder.
From across the table, Captain Mathew of 1st Unit said, "He's only temporary with us, Vice Chief."
James grinned. "Really, Mathew? That's still great."
Henderson turned toward Ceaser with a warm smile. "It's been a while, hasn't it… Master?"
Ceaser returned the smile. "Yes, ten years."
Gasps filled the room.
Mathew's eyes widened. "Chief… Master?"
Henderson stood, his tone proud. "Let me introduce the former 3rd Division Chief—my master, the one who taught me everything. Ceaser Bathan."
Mathew's jaw dropped. "You're… the Ceaser Bathan?"
James chuckled. "I knew it. Chief always spoke about you, Mr. Bathan."
Henderson motioned for everyone to sit. "We have several matters to discuss. First, Topbrass Becker Sento. His drugs supply has increased heavily. As you've seen, people are already protesting."
The projection lit up with video of chaos in the streets.
James leaned forward. "The men we captured tied Becker to this. Thanks to Jonah's help, it was proven. That's why he's joined us—for now, at least." He smirked at Jonah.
Jonah coughed lightly. "Y-yeah. That's right."
Henderson continued. "Second, the Crystal Gang. They've been running wild. Though we're the Anti-Ruling-Syndicate, their involvement with them can't be ignored."
James nodded. "We've got intel the Syndicate and Crystal Gang are fighting over turfs. We can use that to our advantage."
Henderson's eyes narrowed. "And lastly—the fugitive Adrian Bathan. The Syndicate's hand is all over this case."
He looked directly at Ceaser. "You haven't seen Adrian, have you, Master?"
Ceaser sighed. "Not for a month."
Henderson leaned forward, resting his hands on the table. "With your help, we can reach Adrian. So… are you willing to help us?"
Ceaser answered firmly. "That's why I'm here."
James suddenly spoke up. "Oh right, Chief. I heard the 3rd Division's also taking Adrian's case? Funny, I hadn't heard that."
Henderson's tone hardened. "Yes. Which means we have to find Adrian before they do."
James tilted his head, his grin never fading. "Find him… or kill him?"
Henderson's voice dropped. "If it's confirmed he's joined the Syndicate, then yes—kill him."
James muttered under his breath. "I'll think about that… when the time comes."
Three days after Adrian joined
Shadows…
SARS had already begun tightening its grip. Police stood at every corner, checking vehicles, dragging off anyone who looked even slightly suspicious.
Public announcements warned citizens not to leave their homes without a strong reason. The city felt caged, eyes of SARS watching everywhere — especially on the Ruling Syndicate.
At a roadblock, officers waved cars to the side, checking one after another.
A sedan rolled forward. The window slid down, revealing five inside: Finn at the wheel, Leo riding shotgun, and in the backseat Rian, Adrian, and Ripley.
"Papers," the officer demanded.
Finn handed over the documents. The officer glanced at them, then narrowed his eyes. "Reason for being out?"
"My wife just had a baby. We're heading to the hospital," Finn answered calmly.
The officer's gaze dropped to Finn's T-shirt. Bold letters read: I am not suspicious.
"You look suspicious, man," the officer muttered.
Finn stammered. "N-no, sir, we're not with the Ruling Syndicate—"
Leo smacked his forehead. "He's just scared of you. Nothing else."
The officer stared for a moment, then sighed. "Fine. But when you return, I want proof your wife's really at the hospital."
"Of course," Finn nodded, driving on.
Once they were clear, Leo shot Finn a glare. "I told you not to wear that T-shirt."
Finn grinned nervously. "Relax, Leo. You worry too much."
From the back, Adrian adjusted his fake beard, cape, and glasses. "Well… at least the fake documents worked."
"Told you they would," Finn replied.
Adrian leaned forward. "Now seriously—where are we going in the middle of all this danger?"
Leo's eyes flicked to the rearview mirror. "To get Shadows' hacker and information digger. Freya."
Adrian thought to himself, Freya, huh…
But why the hell am I stuck in the middle seat between these lunatics? On either side, Rian and Ripley sat silently, eyes out the windows.
The car finally stopped outside an apartment building. They climbed the stairs to door 115.
"Yeah, this is the one," Finn said.
Leo pushed the door open. Inside, darkness.
Adrian stumbled over something. "Hey, there's something here—"
Rian flicked the lights on.
Blood stained the floor. A body lay twisted and cold.
Adrian's breath caught. "A… a body?"
Ripley knelt briefly, indifferent. "Looks like she's dead."
Leo bent down, flipped the body over, and exhaled in relief. "Thank God. It's not Freya."
Ripley grunted. "Hmph."
Adrian muttered to Finn, "Then… does this have something to do with Freya?"
Finn shrugged. "Don't ask me. You can ask her yourself."
Ripley's sharp eyes turned to Adrian. "What are you whispering about?"
Rian ignored them. "Call her. Where is she?"
Leo pulled out his phone, dialed, and waited. "Freya? Yeah, it's me. …What? You're at a café? There's a body in your apartment. …Alright, we're coming." He hung up.
Ripley crossed his arms. "So? Now what?"
Leo pocketed the phone. "We go to her. She's waiting."
As they left, Adrian looked back at the body one last time. "Hey, aren't we going to… do something about this?"
Finn waved it off. "Leave it. Not like we're coming back."
Adrian clenched his fists, uneasy. What the hell is going on? How are they so calm about this…?
The car stopped outside the café. They stepped out and walked in, scanning the room.
Leo spotted her and muttered, "There she is."
At a corner table sat a woman in her late twenties, short black hair to the neck with a headband. She wore a tank top and shorts, sipping coffee while typing on a laptop.
Leo walked straight to her and shut the laptop screen down. Freya looked up, her eyes widening before she stood and hugged him.
"What was that—Leo, you're here?"
Leo gasped "Cut it. Tell me what happened."
Freya's gaze shifted across the group, then she squealed, "Ripleyyy, you're here too, cutie!" She tried hugging her.
Ripley shoved her away, cheeks tinted red. "S-stop clinging to me."
Finn grinned. "I'm here too, Freya."
She ignored him completely. "Let's sit and talk."
Everyone settled at the table. Freya pointed at each one, calling their names like a teacher taking attendance. "Leo, Finn, Rian, Ripley, and… who?"
Leo introduced him. "Adrian."
"Nice to meet you," Adrian said cautiously.
Freya smirked. "ahh! So you're Adrian.
You're pretty cute… like Ripley."
Adrian stuttered, "W-what are you—"
Ripley snapped, "Don't compare me with this idiot."
"Are you jealous because I called him cute instead of you?" Freya teased.
Ripley hissed "W-why would I be? Hmph."
Rian sighed, his voice sharp. "Cut the nonsense. Get to the point."
"Oh right, I forgot you were even here." Freya giggled.
Leo leaned forward. "Why was there a dead body in your apartment?"
Freya said, "The Crystal Gang got to my place this morning. I was sleeping, but thanks to the security system I set up on the main entrance, I got the alert and slipped out the back window with a rope."
She tugged at her clothes. "That's why I'm dressed like this. Don't judge, okay?" She winked at Adrian.
He looked away, flustered.
"And the body?" Leo pressed.
"My neighbor. She used to be kind, but later she ratted me out to the Crystal Gang. When they saw I wasn't there, they killed her."
Adrian frowned. "Crystal Gang…?"
Freya tilted her head. "You guys didn't tell him anything? Ethan really is an irresponsible leader."
Leo gave a half-smile. "That, I can't deny."
Freya leaned back in her chair. "The Crystal Gang is rumored to have four to five hundred members across the city. They're the only independent gang powerful enough to rival the Ruling Syndicate in the potential future. For the past year, they've been running wild—fighting Syndicate turf wars, smuggling drugs, leaking intel to SARS, and pulling everything from extortion to assassinations. In short, they're our enemies."
Leo added, "Three days ago, orders came down from the top brass. We're to wipe them out completely. That's why Freya's been digging into their intel. But then… this happened."
Adrian clenched his fists under the table. Exterminate… orders from above… Crystal Gang? Are we really going to kill them…?
Before he could process it, the café doors burst open. Four masked men in jackets strode inside.
Leo muttered under his breath, "Rian, Finn…"
The masked men reached into their pockets.
"Nowww!" Leo roared.
The men whipped out pistols. In the same instant, Rian and Finn shoved their hands under the table, flipping it upright like a shield.
Gunfire erupted. Bullets shredded wood. Screams filled the café as people scattered in chaos.
Behind the overturned table, Adrian's heart pounded. "W-what the hell is going on!?"
Leo's voice was sharp, unwavering. "They're here… the Crystal Gang."