Pitaya Village: A Year Ago

A man stood at the balcony watching the bustling town he had created. His dream had finally come to an end.

Twenty five years ago, he could still remember, when this was nothing more than a barren piece of land cursed with poverty and disease. He knew that pain for he, himself, was brought up in this environment. He had promised himself that he would one day turn this place into a paradise.

It was exactly fifteen years ago when he returned to this land after completing his studies. Nothing had changed in those ten years. Poverty, hunger, thirst, disease. It was the same.

But that day, that person's step changed the state of the village forever. Despite all the challenges, that person kept on enduring. A year, two years, three years. Change was seen for the first time. People who didn't believe that man's words, his efforts earlier, now voluntarily joined in the revolution he brought.

And now, fifteen years later, the small village had turned into a majestic town who was on its way to become the richest town in all of East Blue.

That man was Eran Mason.

"It's a beautiful day, isn't it sir?" the assistant called. He was a large man seemingly unfit for the role of an assistant and more like a bodyguard but he was very punctual and discrete with his work which made him the best canditate for the post.

"Oh! Babon. You are back early. Have you submitted the circular for printing?"

"Yes, it is done. But sir, do you think it is a good idea to create five new seats in the council? Wouldn't it just dilute the power you hold?"

Mr Mason looked gently at the town below. To him, the town was like a child he had raised with love and care.

"There are no more crisis and things have become stable. But it doesn't mean, it will the same in future. More complicated issues may turn up. The more people involved in the administration, the better will be its efficiency. And we may be able to tackle any problem if we work together. Then again, it's not like the town is my property. It is everyone's. They too should have a say in what is right and wrong for the town."

"Yes, sir" the assistant nodded "By the way, sir, there has been another complaint against Razor. He had beaten five persons at the restaurant Jake's Muffins."

Mr Mason held his head. This was one of the problems he couldn't solve over the years. No matter how much he tried, things have just changed from bad to worse.

"What is that stupid son of mine doing with his life?" he muttered. Maybe in his journey to change the town, he had neglected his son, the reason why he is now like this. He had tried teaching him economics, bussiness, marketing and other financial and administrative subjects but the boy simply had no interest whatsoever. And now, he was 20 with no job or goal in life. What's more, he has grown up to become a top concern of the town, beating, pummeling someone everyday. As his father, even he had no answer to this problem.

-:- Scene Change -:-

A little away from the town, in midst of the forest, a group of pirates had set a camp and were enjoying.

A single man walked towards them.

A few pirates approached him questioning, "Who are you and what do you want here?"

The man looked at the pirates, "I want to meet your captain."

"Do you think anyone can meet our cap-!!"

He was sent flying. A punch was all it took to knock out the pirate.

The man walked past others like nothing had happened.

Even the captain was stupefied.

How dare that guy beat his sub-ordinates?

Pirates surrounded the man, but the man didn't even flinch like the numbers didn't matter.

Even if there are a hundred or thousand ants, they could never kill an elephant.

The pirates attacked but the man caught the first pirate by the neck, twisting it, throwing him onto the other pirates. On the other side, he held the hand of a pirate, snatching away his club and Smash! Hit another pirate on the head.

Smash! Smash! Smash!

The group fell onto the ground squirming and twitching.

Other pirates arrived but they too met the same fate.

Smash! Smash! Smash!

By the end, the club had broken in two and he threw it away.

Now no pirate, not even the captain had the guts to challenge the man.

The man approached the captain and asked "You used force to buy things at half the price, did you not? At gunpoint, bought sugar and lime. Do you think this your turf? This area is mine and anyone who dares to show their power will have to answer to me. To Razor, remember this."

The captain was too afraid to utter anything. He simply nodded his head like a child trying to avoid being punished by his teacher.

"Order your men to send those back. And yeah, leave the town and never come back here again."

The captain simply nodded and did as he was ordered.

-:- Scene Change -:-

In another place, far from the town, a person sat on a tree branch waiting for the message that was supposed to arrive.

Adorned in black clothes like a ninja and a painted mask of an oni, not a single body part could be seen.

Who this person was or why this person was here, the town didn't know but the person will forever be etched into the hearts of this town after tonight.

Dark Shadow.

A name that brings fear to whoever hears it. A killing machine that had killed more people than days in a year.

A pigeon sat on the branch next to that person.

The message was delivered.

Picking up the letter, Dark Shadow read.

"Everything is ready. The meeting will start at the first bell after sunset. Operation will go on as planned."

Dark Shadow tore the paper and burned it away.

The mission was planned months, no, years ago. It had to be success. No matter the number of deaths.