Beginning of an New Era

The sharp blare of an alarm clock shattered the silence.

Souta Jung groaned.

Ryouma Jung swatted blindly at the nightstand, knocking the alarm clock onto the floor with a loud clack.

Neither of them moved.

They stared at the ceiling, exhaustion still gripping their bodies.

Then it hit them.

They had school.

Ryouma sighed deeply.

Ryouma: "You ever just wake up and realize your mother's a mass murderer, your father's dead, and you still have to go to high school like it's any other day?"

Souta turned her head to him, expression deadpan.

Souta: "No, Ryouma, that's just you."

Mio's voice rang through the apartment.

Mio: "Get up, brats! Your breakfast is getting cold!"

The siblings exchanged a look before dragging themselves out of bed.

The scent of freshly cooked rice, eggs, and grilled fish filled the air.

Mio stood at the stove, dressed in a silk robe, expertly flipping food in a pan like she was competing on a cooking show.

Ren sat at the kitchen counter, sipping black coffee and squinting at the morning newspaper like an old man.

Souta and Ryouma stumbled in, still half-asleep.

Mio placed two plates in front of them and raised a brow.

Mio: "You two look like hell."

Ryouma grabbed a piece of fish with his chopsticks.

Ryouma: "We've been through hell."

Mio smirked, tapping his forehead with the back of her spoon.

Mio: "And yet, here you are. Eating my cooking. Lucky brats."

Ren's phone buzzed.

He checked the screen and sighed before answering.

Ren: "Yes, honey, I'm alive. No, I didn't get kidnapped. Yes, Mio is fine. No, she didn't get arrested."

A faint shouting voice came from the other end.

Souta raised a brow.

Souta: "Is that your wife?"

Ren rubbed his temple.

Ren: "Yeah. Katarina's losing her mind because I didn't check in last night."

The sound of angry, Korean cursing erupted from the phone.

Ren immediately held it away from his ear.

Mio snorted.

Mio: "You married the chief of Seoul's Police Force and didn't think she'd be paranoid?"

Ren groaned.

Ren: "I was hoping love would soften her."

Ryouma smirked.

Ryouma: "You married a cop. That's like trying to hug a guard dog and being surprised when it bites."

Mio clapped her hands together, grinning.

Mio: "Speaking of cops, you two should hurry up. School starts in an hour."

Souta and Ryouma froze mid-bite.

Then, in perfect sync, they turned to look at her.

Souta: "…Do we have to?"

Mio: "Unless you wanna drop out and become delinquents like our dear sister, yes."

Silence.

Then, Souta and Ryouma slowly turned to each other.

Ryouma smirked.

Ryouma: "You ever just wake up and realize—"

Souta: "Shut up and eat your damn breakfast."

As Souta and Ryouma finished their breakfast, the warm morning atmosphere was suddenly interrupted by the shrill ring of Mio's phone.

She pulled it out of her robe pocket, glanced at the name on the screen, and smirked.

Mio: "Speak of the devil."

Ren raised a brow.

Ren: "Who?"

Mio answered the call and put it on speaker.

A smooth, slightly exasperated male voice immediately filled the room.

Icarus: "Mio, where the hell have you been? You do realize I woke up to an 'urgent inquiry' from my dear sister-in-law asking if you were 'off the grid' again? She was two seconds from putting your face on a damn missing persons list."

Mio laughed.

Mio: "Relax, chef-boy, I'm fine. I've just been hanging with my little brother."

Icarus sighed through the phone.

Icarus: "Ren, tell me she hasn't been causing trouble."

Ren sipped his coffee, pretending to think.

Ren: "Depends. If keeping me awake with late-night painting rants counts as trouble, then yes."

Mio grinned.

Mio: "Oh, don't be dramatic. That was one night."

Souta and Ryouma exchanged amused looks.

Ryouma: "So… this is our uncle?"

Souta: "Yeah, and from the sound of it, he married into the family fully aware of the chaos."

Icarus huffed.

Icarus: "Kids, let me give you some life advice: never marry an artist. They disappear for days, drink an unhealthy amount of wine, and start talking about the 'existential depth of colors' at 3 AM."

Mio gasped, mock-offended.

Mio: "You love me."

Icarus: "…Unfortunately, yes."

Ren chuckled, finishing his coffee.

Ren: "Alright, lovebirds, wrap it up. These two have school."

Mio turned back to her niece and nephew.

Mio: "You two finished?"

Souta and Ryouma both nodded reluctantly as they got up.

Ryouma stretched.

Ryouma: "Can't wait to be forced into a boring classroom while dealing with unresolved trauma. Truly, a great way to start the day."

Souta snorted.

Souta: "Just don't start quoting Nietzsche again. The last time you did, the teacher looked two seconds from quitting."

Ryouma grinned.

Ryouma: "Not my fault these people can't handle a little existentialism."

Mio and Ren both watched them grab their bags and head toward the door.

Mio: "Try not to get into fights."

Ryouma: "No promises."

Souta: "We'll be fine. Probably."

And with that, the two left.

Mio sighed, shaking her head.

Mio: "Teenagers."

Ren leaned back in his chair.

Ren: "You were worse."

Mio smirked.

Mio: "And yet, here I am. Thriving."

Icarus's voice came back through the phone.

Icarus: "You painted an entire mural on our bedroom ceiling last week, Mio."

Mio grinned.

Mio: "And it looks amazing."

Icarus sighed, defeated.

Icarus: "This is my life."

…

The morning air was crisp as Souta and Ryouma strolled through the bustling streets of Mapo District, Seoul, heading toward their school, Haneul High.

They were in no rush—until a familiar face emerged from a dark alleyway up ahead.

A grimy, lanky thug in a torn jacket and scuffed sneakers staggered onto the sidewalk, rubbing his jaw like he still remembered their last encounter. His name? Choi Tae-gon—a small-time crook who had once tried (and failed miserably) to mug them.

He glared at the twins with pure irritation.

Choi Tae-gon: "You two little punks again…"

Souta sighed dramatically.

Souta: "Ugh. Him again?"

Ryouma: "Bro's persistent, I'll give him that."

Tae-gon cracked his knuckles.

Choi Tae-gon: "Listen up, brats. I ain't playin' this time. Hand over your cash, or things get ugly."

Souta and Ryouma exchanged a glance.

Then, without a hint of concern, they both burst out laughing.

Souta: "Bro, we're literally on our way to school. Do we look like we have cash?"

Ryouma: "Yeah, man, we barely even had enough for breakfast. Maybe go rob a banker or something."

Tae-gon's eye twitched.

Choi Tae-gon: "You little—stop messing around!"

Souta tilted her head.

Souta: "Wait, hold on… this is actually kinda sad."

Ryouma: "Yeah, second time getting clowned by high schoolers? Tragic."

Souta: "We should be charging him rent for this comedy show."

The mocking was relentless, and Tae-gon's face turned red with rage.

With a furious yell, he lunged forward.

But he barely got one step before—

BAM!

Souta ducked low, sweeping his legs out from under him. At the same time, Ryouma grabbed him mid-fall and slammed him against the pavement.

The thug's breath left his lungs in a wheeze.

Choi Tae-gon: "Hrk—!"

He tried to move, but Ryouma twisted his arm behind his back, pinning him down effortlessly.

Ryouma: "Souta, you got this?"

Souta: "Already dialing."

She pulled out a payphone token, sprinted to the nearest phone booth, and dialed the police.

After a few rings—

Female Officer: "Seoul Metropolitan Police, Officer Kwon Ji-ae speaking."

Souta: "Hey, Ji-ae-unnie! We got a guy trying to mug us again. Could you send someone to pick him up?"

Officer Kwon sighed.

Officer Kwon Ji-ae: "…Again? You two attract criminals like flies."

Souta: "What can I say? We're just that popular."

Officer Kwon Ji-ae: "Where?"

Souta: "Near Hapjeong Station, Mapo District."

Officer Kwon Ji-ae: "Alright, sit tight. We'll send someone."

A few minutes later, a police patrol car pulled up, and two officers stepped out—Officer Kwon Ji-ae and her partner, Officer Nam Do-hyun.

As they approached, Ji-ae gave the twins a tired look.

Officer Kwon Ji-ae: "At this rate, we should just assign you two your own patrol squad."

Souta: "We'd make great honorary cops, don't you think?"

Ryouma: "No pay, though? Pass."

Officer Nam chuckled before flipping Tae-gon onto his feet and slapping handcuffs on him.

Officer Nam Do-hyun: "Alright, let's go, Tae-gon. You're really out here trying to rob high schoolers?"

Choi Tae-gon: "…I hate these kids."

Souta and Ryouma waved mockingly as the officers dragged him away.

Then—

Souta: "Oh crap, the time!"

They looked at the clock on a nearby store window.

They were two minutes from being late.

Ryouma: "RUN!"

And with insane finesse, the twins sprinted through the streets, weaving between crowds, vaulting over obstacles, and barely making it as they reached Haneul High's gates just as the bell rang.

As they stepped into their classroom, a strict-looking teacher turned to them. Ms. Kang Min-seo, their homeroom teacher, adjusted her glasses.

Ms. Kang Min-seo: "Barely made it, I see."

Souta: "We thrive under pressure."

The teacher sighed.

Ms. Kang Min-seo: "Sit down."

As they took their seats, a substitute teacher-student worker walked in—a college student named Baek Hye-jin.

She looked at the class and smiled.

Baek Hye-jin: "Good morning, everyone! I'll be assisting today."

Souta and Ryouma exchanged a glance.

Souta: "…This is gonna be an interesting day."

Ryouma: "Yup."

Souta and Ryouma grinned as they strolled into the classroom, barely settling into their seats before the usual morning chaos began.

Ryouma's eyes immediately locked onto a certain someone—Ji Eun-ha, the prettiest girl in class. She was standing by the windows with her friends, flipping her hair and laughing like she was in a commercial for expensive shampoo.

Ryouma, being the smooth criminal he thought he was, leaned over on his desk and watched her with that classic 'I'm-cool-but-also-totally-panicking' look.

Souta, however, was having none of it.

Souta: "Bro, you're staring so hard, I can hear your heartbeat from here."

Ryouma: "Shut up, I'm observing."

Souta: "Observing? Man, you look like you're waiting for the ice cream truck."

Before Ryouma could fire back, a guy from Eun-ha's group strolled up to them. Park Jae-min—one of those wannabe tough guys who thought he was Korea's next action star. He had the rolled-up sleeves, slicked-back hair, and an attitude bigger than his GPA.

Jae-min looked Ryouma up and down.

Park Jae-min: "You got a staring problem, pretty boy?"

Ryouma, completely unfazed, leaned back in his chair.

Ryouma: "Nah, but it sounds like you got a 'main character syndrome' problem."

Jae-min's eye twitched.

Park Jae-min: "You tryna start something?"

Souta smirked.

Souta: "Damn, Jae-min, you always this mad before lunch? Ain't even noon yet, and you're already on edge."

Ryouma grinned, adding fuel to the fire.

Ryouma: "Must be rough waking up every morning knowing you peaked in middle school."

A few students nearby snickered. Even Eun-ha's friends were covering their mouths, fighting back laughter.

Jae-min's nostrils flared.

Park Jae-min: "Watch it, punk."

Ryouma tilted his head.

Ryouma: "Or what? You gonna slick your hair back even harder?"

Souta pretended to gasp.

Souta: "Oh no, Ryouma, be careful! If he uses one more comb stroke, he might level up."

Eun-ha herself laughed, trying to hide it behind her hand.

Jae-min's face went red.

Before he could say anything else, the classroom door slammed open.

Ms. Kang Min-seo: "Alright, take your seats! And Park Jae-min, sit down before I fail you out of pure spite."

Jae-min, clearly fuming, turned away and grumbled something under his breath before stomping back to his seat.

Souta and Ryouma fist-bumped.

Ryouma: "That was too easy."

Souta: "Man was serving his ego on a silver platter, we just took a bite."

As they got ready for class, Ryouma stole one last glance at Eun-ha—who, to his complete shock, actually winked at him.

His brain short-circuited.

Souta: "Oh my god, she WINKED. Bro, are you breathing?"

Ryouma, still stunned:

Ryouma: "…I'm in love."

The classroom was one step away from a crime scene.

Not because of any actual violence—but because Mr. Choi Ji-hwan, their history teacher, was two seconds from committing murder.

And the intended victim?

Ryouma.

Mr. Choi had made the monumental mistake of letting Ryouma get into a debate about historical events.

And now? Regret. Just pure regret.

Mr. Choi: "So, as I was saying, the conflict escalated due to political—"

Ryouma: "—But wouldn't you say it was more of an economic push than a political one?"

Mr. Choi stiffened.

Mr. Choi: "No, because the governing parties at the time—"

Ryouma: "—Had already shown signs of financial desperation, which directly led to—"

Mr. Choi: "—Ryouma, do you plan on letting me finish a sentence today?"

Ryouma: "Depends. Are you planning on saying something worth listening to?"

The class erupted.

Souta, who had been half asleep five minutes ago, was now banging her fist on the desk laughing.

Souta: "Ryouma, you're gonna get us all killed, I swear!"

Mr. Choi, gripping his chalk like it owed him money, took a deep breath.

Mr. Choi: "Ryouma."

Ryouma: "Yes, Sensei?"

Mr. Choi: "If you interrupt me again, I'm giving you extra homework."

Ryouma grinned.

Ryouma: "Jokes on you, I don't do my homework anyway."

Mr. Choi almost threw the textbook at his face.

The bell rang, saving the teacher from potential manslaughter charges.

As the class got up to leave, Souta slapped Ryouma on the back.

Souta: "You are actually insane. Dude looked like he was gonna break his own neck from stress."

Ryouma: "It's called intellectual dominance."

Souta: "Nah, it's called being a pain in the ass."

The two left the classroom, still laughing as the scene shifted.

The air reeked of blood.

Inside a grand mansion built with her own two hands, Kairi sat at a polished wooden table, a wine glass in one hand.

The bodies beside her? Still warm.

Her expression? Cold. Unfeeling.

She slowly swirled the wine, watching the dark liquid move like blood in the candlelight.

One of her subordinates—Jung Min-ho, a young man who had pledged his loyalty to her—stood nearby, clearly disturbed by the scene.

Jung Min-ho: "Boss, you… you didn't have to kill them so brutally."

Kairi tilted her head, amused.

Kairi: "Oh? Did their screams upset you?"

Min-ho swallowed hard.

Jung Min-ho: "…I just mean, maybe there was another way."

Kairi set her glass down and stood, walking over to him. Her steps were slow, deliberate.

Then, in an instant—she grabbed him by the jaw, forcing him to look at the corpses.

Kairi: "If you want mercy, you're in the wrong business."

Min-ho tensed, his breath shaky.

She released him, patting his cheek lightly.

Kairi: "Clean this up. And bring me their replacements."

As Min-ho hurried off, Kairi sat back down, picking up her wine glass.

She gazed out the large window, watching the flames of the fireplace flicker against the night sky.

She had become something far worse than she ever imagined.

And she loved it.

The crackling fire in the hearth cast an eerie glow over the blood-soaked floor, where bodies lay in twisted, unnatural positions. The smell of gunpowder and death lingered in the air like a permanent curse.

Kairi sat on a grand leather chair, her eyes distant, sipping her soju as if the carnage around her was nothing more than an unremarkable evening.

Her mind wandered—not to the people she had just executed but to the ones who once stood beside her.

Phantom Veil.

Jin. Dead.

Unknown. Dead.

Aiko, Rin, Celeste, Kasumi. Gone.

At one point, they were her everything. Now? Just names. Echoes lost in the abyss.

Jin had been her first crush. A foolish thing, love. She had felt something when he died—rage, vengeance. But now? Nothing.

Unknown was more of a mystery than a friend. His loyalty was absolute, and his death was inevitable. Everyone who follows her dies.

And the others? Cowards. Survivors. A past that meant nothing now.

Her grip tightened around the glass, the reflection of her own, soulless gaze staring back.

Sentimentality is a disease.

And she refused to be infected.

She stood, stepping over the fresh corpses as she exited onto the grand balcony, looking down at the city below.

Dark clouds loomed, a storm creeping in.

Beneath her, life continued as if she hadn't just executed an entire family and a group of powerful elites in cold blood.

She turned on her heel, motioning for her men.

Kairi: "Burn the bodies. And bring me someone new to kill. I'm getting bored."

Seoul, 1980 – After School

Souta and Ryouma walked side by side, their school bags slung lazily over their shoulders as they strolled through the narrow streets of Jung-gu, the sun beginning to set behind the skyline.

Souta: "Hey, don't look now, but I think we've got a fan club."

Ryouma smirked, shoving his hands in his pockets.

Ryouma: "You sure? Maybe they just wanna confess their undying love to me."

Souta scoffed.

Souta: "Yeah, love letters that come with knives, maybe."

Behind them, three men dressed in ragged leather jackets and scuffed military boots were walking with an unnatural rhythm—casual, but too calculated.

They weren't just walking.

They were hunting.

Souta: "Alright, play it cool. I'll go left, you go right—"

Ryouma: "Or… we just piss them off and take a different route?"

Souta: "…You mean, just walk away?"

Ryouma: "Yeah. Mess with 'em a little."

They didn't speed up. They didn't panic.

Instead, they turned into the nearest alley—one that looped in a circle.

The three men followed.

Then, after a few minutes—

Souta and Ryouma suddenly reappeared behind them.

Souta: "You guys lost or something?"

The thugs turned, startled.

Ryouma leaned in with an easygoing grin.

Ryouma: "You were following us first. Kinda weird, don't you think?"

The leader of the group—a scar-faced man with a broken nose—scowled.

Thug Leader: "The hell you brats tryin' to pull?"

Souta sighed dramatically, shaking her head.

Souta: "Look, I get it. You see two kids walking home, you think easy money. But lemme tell ya—"

Ryouma (grinning): "—you bet on the wrong damn horses."

The thug leader barely had time to react before Souta grabbed his wrist, twisted it, and slammed her elbow into his face— sending him reeling backward with a spray of blood and shattered teeth.

The fight was instant.

The second thug lunged at Ryouma, but Ryouma ducked, drove a knee into his stomach, and sent him crashing into a pile of trash cans.

The third guy? He didn't even get a chance. Souta stomped on his knee, sending him howling to the ground before smashing his face into the pavement.

Silence.

The only sound was the groaning thugs, curled up like beaten dogs.

Souta dusted off her hands.

Souta: "So, uh… you guys still wanna follow us, or…?"

The thug leader, bloodied and humiliated, growled through broken teeth.

Thug Leader: "You little… I'll kill you—"

Ryouma: "No, you won't." (casually pulling out a police badge) "Y'see, our aunt is the chief of police. And, well… we just recorded this entire thing."

Souta held up a small cassette recorder with a mocking grin.

Souta: "Whoops."

Within minutes, sirens wailed in the distance.

By the time the police arrived, the thugs were barely conscious, handcuffed, and ready to be thrown into the nearest jail cell.

As Souta and Ryouma walked away, Souta smirked.

Souta: "Y'know, school's kinda boring compared to this."

Ryouma stretched, cracking his knuckles.

Ryouma: "Yeah, but you know what's more fun?"

Souta: "What?"

Ryouma: "Not having to explain to our aunt why we just got into a street fight."

Souta: "…Shit."

With that, they sprinted the rest of the way home.

Meanwhile…

From the rooftop of a nearby building, a lone figure watched them go.

Dressed in dark clothing, his face was hidden beneath a hood, but his eyes gleamed with something unreadable.

He pulled out a radio, pressing a button.

Unknown Voice: "Yeah. It's them. Just like the boss said."

A crackled response came through.

Unknown Voice 2: "Good. Keep watching. And don't let them out of your sight."

As the sun set over Seoul, the hunt had begun.

…

(End of Season One)