Back in Tokyo, it was around 4 p.m.
Hinata, Yuki, and the other Evolvers sat in the meeting room. The air was quiet—tense. Both Hinata and Yuki had been treated. Bandages wrapped around their wounds, hidden under their uniforms, but the weight of the battle still clung to them.
Asahi leaned forward slightly, breaking the silence.
"I wanna ask something… Was killing them really the right move, Vice President?"
Yuki looked at him—then slowly glanced at the rest of the room. Her gaze was sharp.
"What did you expect me to do? Let them live?" she said coldly. "They didn't just break the law in one country. It was dozens. If I didn't kill them, someone else eventually would."
"Sure, boss… as you say," Asahi replied with a light nod. But then, his eyes shifted toward Hinata. "But… who was that person you fought, Chief?"
The mood changed instantly.
The room went silent. Every Evolver there turned their eyes to Hinata. It wasn't just curiosity—it was shock. For the first time, they'd seen their President return injured… almost defeated. Even Yuki, who had fought alongside her, didn't know the identity of the woman.
Hinata leaned back in her chair, her eyes staring at the ceiling for a moment. Then she spoke—soft, but clear.
"…It was the Water Princess."
As soon as the name left her lips, the entire room froze.
Expressions shifted—some wide-eyed, some stunned, others exchanging silent glances. A heavy silence fell again, and no one dared to speak.
The silence in the room was shattered as the door burst open. Haru stood there, breathless, clearly having sprinted up from the lower floors.
"What happened?" Hinata asked, not even turning her head.
Haru bent over, catching his breath before speaking. "Chief… it's an emergency. A sudden fight broke out in Odaiba park."
Hinata raised an eyebrow. "Then send some Evolvers. Why are you calling it an emergency?"
Without another word, a few A-Rank Evolvers in the room stood up and began preparing to head out.
"It's Kido Ryuto… he's fighting two unknown men. And the thing is…" Haru paused, glancing at Hinata, realizing too late that she hated when people didn't get straight to the point. He took a deep breath. "Hana and Kaizen… they're there too."
At that, both Hinata and Yuki's expressions shifted—tightening with a mix of anger and sudden dread.
Yuki instantly pulled out her phone and called a number saved under the name Hubby.
As the line connected, she didn't waste a second. "What are you doing there with Kaizen? Hana's there too!" Her voice was laced with worry.
"Whoa, slow down," came a calm voice from the other end. It was Shun, sitting casually at a café table with Jin beside him. Both had controllers in their hands, fully absorbed in a game.
"Now tell me what are you talking about." Shun said softly.
Yuki's voice cracked with frustration. "dont act like you didn't know anything. I heard kaizen and hana are in Odaiba park. There's a fight going on between high-ranking Evolvers!"
She stood up sharply, grabbing her jacket as she and Hinata headed out with the others.
"Calm down, what are you talking about they're with me and Jin," Shun replied softly. "No need to panic. I'll call you later, sweetheart. It's a ranked match going here. Love you." With that, he hung up.
As the call ended, a cracking sound Yuki had crushed her phone in her hand, fury boiling in her eyes.
"That stupid man… playing games at a time like this. I'll definitely take his class tonight," she muttered through clenched teeth, her frustration spilling over as she stormed out.
She broke into a run, or at least tried to. Both she and Hinata were still nursing fresh wounds, and it quickly became clear they couldn't move at their usual speed.
Hinata clicked her tongue. "Just go and secure every single civilian. We'll catch up later," she ordered the other Evolvers.
Everyone nodded without question and immediately rushed ahead, disappearing down the hallway.
[Let's go back some hours back to understand what is happening.]
In front of the internet café, Ryuto stepped out of his car.
"You called me, boss?" he said softly.
In front of him stood Jin and Shun, with two kids beside them—Hana and Kaizen.
"Take care of them for a few hours. We've got some rank-pushing to do," Jin said gently.
"Sure," Ryuto replied, his eyes shifting to Hana and Kaizen. "So, where do you two want to go?"
"Hello," both kids said softly.
"Ask her. I'm fine with anywhere," Kaizen said as he looked at Hana.
Ryuto turned his attention to her, waiting patiently.
"Park," Hana said with sparkling eyes, her big brown gaze full of excitement.
"Then let's go to ," Ryuto said with a small smile. He gently held their hands, guided them into the back seat, then got behind the wheel and drove off.
As the car pulled away, Shun glanced at Jin.
"You better keep up with me," he said as they both headed inside the internet café.
"We could've just played at home. Why come all the way here?" Jin asked as he slid into a chair in front of a PC.
"You still haven't bought a new PC or console since your house turned to dust," Shun replied, slipping on his headphones. "And my wife checks my screen time every day. I can't risk it."
He launched the game, his expression calm and focused.
---
As Ryuto, Kaizen, and Hana entered Odaiba Park, the sunlight bounced off the colorful rides and food stalls around them. Hana looked around with wide, excited eyes, taking in everything—the spinning rides, the laughter of kids, and the playful sounds filling the air.
Both Kaizen and Hana held Ryuto's hands tightly. Kaizen stayed quiet, scanning the area calmly, while Hana's steps were quick and eager, her head turning in every direction.
After an hour of running around and playing, Hana and Kaizen were finally sitting at a small table, catching their breath. Their cheeks were red from excitement, and their clothes slightly messy from the indoor playground.
Ryuto walked over with a gentle smile, holding two ice cream cones—one in each hand. He sat down beside them and handed them the cones.
"Here you go," he said softly. "So, did you two have fun?"
Both kids nodded eagerly as they started licking their ice cream, too focused on the treat to talk much. Ryuto chuckled quietly, watching them with a soft look in his eyes.
"Are you Kido Ryuto?"
A cold voice echoed from nearby.
Ryuto turned his head, eyes narrowing as he spotted two men standing just a few meters away. One of them casually held a pair of green daggers, their edges gleaming even in the soft afternoon light—as if carrying weapons like that in public was the most normal thing.
The other had long, sharpened nails—like a woman's, but twisted and unnaturally dangerous. They curved slightly at the tips, glinting like blades. There was nothing friendly in their presence. Their eyes were locked on Ryuto, and the tension in the air shifted instantly.
Ryuto's relaxed expression faded. He stood up slowly, placing himself between the two men and the kids behind him.
"And what do you want? Scratch that—who the hell are you?" Ryuto asked in a serious tone, stepping forward just enough to block Hana and Kaizen from view.
"I'm Rei," the man with the green daggers said with a twisted grin.
"I'm Ren," the long-nailed one added coldly. "And we're here for your head."
Ryuto's eyes narrowed. He didn't flinch. Instead, he calmly took out his phone, dialed a number, and as soon as it connected, he gave a single command:
"Evacuate every civilian from Odaiba Park. Now."
He hung up without waiting for a response.
He looked back at the two men. "You do realize this is Japan, right? If a fight breaks out and people die—he will know." Ryuto's voice was soft, but his words held weight.
Rei chuckled darkly. "Really? You're using him as a warning?"
Ren stepped forward, nails gleaming under the sunlight. "It's been over ten years. Not a word, not a whisper. If he was alive, forget Japan—no one in the world would've dared to touch innocent people. But now?" He smirked. "After we kill you, we'll take down the rest of Japan's strongest. That should send a clear message—'The Strongest' is gone. And when the world hears that…" His grin widened. "That thin thread of fear his name held around the world will snap. Chaos will follow."
Ryuto turned toward Kaizen and Hana, crouching slightly to meet their eyes.
"Go. Somewhere safe—just for a few minutes. Someone will come to get you, I promise," he said gently, but firmly.
Hana stood frozen, clutching his hand. "We... we stay will you, uncle Lyuto," she said in a soft, trembling voice.
Ryuto's expression faltered for a moment, but before he could say anything—
"Don't be stupid, you idiot," Kaizen snapped, though his voice cracked. He grabbed Hana's hand tightly. "Take care of yourself, Uncle Ryuto."
Without waiting, Kaizen pulled Hana away, both of them disappearing into the growing crowd.
Suddenly—
"Attention! An emergency has been detected. Please evacuate the area immediately. I repeat—this is an emergency. All visitors must leave the park at once!"
A loud, automated voice echoed through hidden speakers, accompanied by flashing red lights along the paths and buildings.
The peaceful hum of the park shattered.
Parents grabbed their children.
Vendors abandoned their stalls.
The air filled with the sound of running footsteps, panicked shouts, and confusion.
Ryuto watched as Kaizen firmly took Hana's hand and led her away through the panicking crowd.
"Are they really the same age?" he muttered to himself, a faint smile flashing across his face for just a second.
Then his expression turned cold.
His hand reached for his waist—unbuckling his belt.
Ren scoffed, eyes narrowing. "What, you gonna fight us with your belt?"
But before he could laugh again, the belt shimmered—it's form twisting and reshaping. In seconds, it extended into a sleek, one-edged sword glowing faintly crimson.
Ren's eyes lit up. "Now that's interesting," he said with a crooked grin, raising both his green daggers as he stepped forward, ready to clash.
[Chapter 17 end]