The Disappearance and the return

The floating city was in utter chaos. On what was supposed to be a day of celebration—the engagement of the beloved princess of the Howard family—the kingdom had instead been thrown into disarray. The princess had vanished without a trace. No one knew where she had gone, and the only clue she left behind was a handwritten letter.

Her father, a powerful figure both politically and militarily, was incensed. He had summoned the full strength of the city's enforcement units. Flying cars patrolled the skies while high-powered bikes zipped below the floating platforms. Tunnel checkpoints were activated, and surveillance systems scanned every corner. The city was effectively on lockdown, yet the princess remained missing.

Jean Hutton, her fiancé and a respected noble, took the disappearance personally. His pride had been wounded. The engagement was supposed to elevate his family's standing further, and now he stood disgraced. To him, the situation was not just a political blow—it was a public humiliation. The entire royal family was in disarray, and Jean's fury added more fuel to the flames.

Meanwhile, far away from the tension of the floating city, a cloaked figure fought her way out of a dark forest known as the Wolves' Den. Her clothes were torn, her skin bore the marks of battle, and her body showed signs of fatigue. Yet her eyes were fierce and determined. The bruises meant nothing to her. She had escaped—alone, and by sheer will.

Two days later, she arrived at a sprawling metropolis in Orange County. With trembling relief, she took her first real breath in days. Though she had made it out of the den, she knew danger was far from over. Her pursuers would find her sooner or later. She checked into a cheap hotel under a false name and began collecting information about the area. She needed to plan her next move carefully.

---

At the same time, in a towering glass building overlooking Orange City, a young man named Gyan sat in his corner office, scanning documents and mission reports. Around him were high-ranking subordinates, including his long-time friend and ally, Jordan.

"Has everything been arranged for my flight tomorrow?" Gyan asked, not looking up.

Jordan nodded. "Yes. Everything is in place. We've also received intel on the location of one of the targets. Will you be joining the raid tonight?"

Gyan didn't answer immediately. He stood and walked toward the large window, staring out at the distant skyline.

"Who's the target?"

"It's one of the high-level informants linked to the Black Chamber. Possibly tied to the royal case."

Gyan exhaled slowly. His once calm and gentle demeanor had shifted dramatically over the years. Now, he carried himself with cold precision, every step filled with purpose and quiet danger. The air around him seemed heavier—a stark contrast to who he used to be. He had ascended beyond mere talent and was now regarded as someone at the pinnacle of the grandmaster tier.

Jordan studied him closely. Gyan's transformation had not gone unnoticed.

"You've really changed," Jordan said.

"Change is inevitable," Gyan replied flatly. "If you can't keep up, you fall behind."

Jordan chuckled lightly. "You used to get excited over these kinds of missions. Now you look bored."

Before Gyan could respond, another voice entered the room—Lucas, their ever-reliable companion.

"If you run into someone you can't handle, feel free to call on Ryan ," Gyan said, breaking the silence. "He owes me. Might as well make himself useful."

Without waiting for a reply, Gyan exited the room.

Jordan gave him a thumbs-up as he left. "You've grown up, man."

Lucas scoffed. "He didn't just grow up. He's become something else entirely."

Orange County had many feared figures, but few were as respected—or as feared—as Gyan. Despite being only in his teens, he was already at the top of the most-wanted list, known not only for his power but also his strategic mind and ruthless execution. He rarely showed his face, making him all the more enigmatic.

"It's been ten years," Gyan had once said. "You didn't expect me to stay the same, did you?"

Lucas had laughed at the time, but now the weight behind those words was becoming clearer.

---

That evening, the three friends met again in the same room, memories from the past surfacing.

"You still remember that time you were tricked into peeking at master's daughter while she was bathing?" Gyan teased.

Lucas groaned. "Don't remind me. I couldn't sit properly for a month."

"You should blame Jordan," Gyan added with a smirk. "He's the one who handed you the spyglass."

Jordan burst into laughter. "I also recall someone adding salt to your wounds while pretending to apply medicine. Wasn't that you, Gyan?"

Lucas's expression darkened. "You—You—You…" he stuttered.

"What?" Jordan asked, confused.

"You were the one who added salt to my wounds! I'll make you pay!" Lucas lunged at him.

Jordan, laughing hysterically, hid behind Gyan. The room echoed with their banter, a rare light moment in the midst of the chaos that now defined their lives.

Later, as the three stood in the elevator, Lucas's voice softened.

"It's been many years already... I'm surprised you still remember all that."

Gyan didn't respond immediately. His gaze was fixed forward.

"You should stop holding onto the past," Lucas added.

But Gyan's silence was telling.

Jordan, too, noticed. "He hasn't let it go. Not even a little."

Gyan had once lost both his mentor and his elder sister in a tragic incident that had shaken the foundation of their bond. The culprits had escaped justice, hidden behind royal protection and political power. But Gyan had never stopped searching. Each mission, each calculated move—everything was building toward something greater. Revenge.

"He's changed," Jordan said. "Used to be that we were stronger than him. Now… I think I fear him."

Lucas nodded solemnly. "He's become cold. Detached. I'm not sure if I can even recognize the old Gyan anymore."

But even as they spoke, there was respect in their voices. Gyan had survived what would've broken many others. And though he now moved with icy resolve, they knew he was still driven by pain. The burden he carried was heavy, but he bore it alone.

They arrived at their next destination—a secure underground base. Gyan led the way, his presence commanding immediate attention.

"He hides behind a weak identity," Lucas whispered to Jordan. "Plays the fool to lure the tiger. But deep down, he's far from weak. He's just been biding his time."

Jordan nodded. "I just hope he doesn't destroy himself in the process."

"We'll help him," Lucas said. "As long as he gets his revenge, he'll be okay."

They stepped into the lift, the doors closing behind them, sealing them once again in the quiet intensity of the mission ahead.

Meanwhile, in a dark alley across the city, the princess removed her hood. Her eyes shimmered in the moonlight—not with fear, but with fire. She had overheard whispers of the trio: the legendary Gyan, the lighthearted but dangerous Jordan, and the ever-witty Lucas.

She wasn't just running anymore.

She was planning.

She was remembering.

And soon, she would return—not as a fugitive princess, but as a force of her own.