INT. BANK – DAY
Chaos lingered in the air. Shards of glass crunched under Levi's boots as he stepped into the ransacked bank. Papers littered the floor, desks overturned, the acrid tang of smoke still clinging to the room. A handful of frightened employees huddled in the corner, eyes wide with shock.
Levi scanned the wreckage with sharp eyes. "Too late," he muttered to Lily.
She swept the debris with a cool gaze as Levi crouched near the vault, its heavy steel door blown clean off its hinges.
"Explosives," he noted. "Industrial grade. Not the kind you buy from a general store."
"Mining compound," Lily said flatly, already piecing it together.
Levi gave a small nod. "Exactly."
INT. COMMAND CENTER – NIGHT
Hours later, maps and blueprints sprawled across the briefing table. Red markers circled old mining shafts and abandoned caves north of town. For weeks, Levi and his team combed through the caverns, hunting for the trail.
Until one day—
EXT. MINES – TWILIGHT
Gunfire cracked through the air. Dust clouds filled the tunnels as Levi's squad exchanged shots with bandits entrenched in the rocks. The fight was short, brutal, decisive.
When the last shot faded, Levi stood with arms crossed, watching his men cuff the subdued criminals. He let out a sigh.
"Small-timers," he muttered. "Barely worth the effort. What's the point of having power if I never get to use it?"
Lily shot him a look.
"What?" Levi said with mock innocence. "Don't glare at me. I'm not bloodthirsty—I just thought there'd be more action and less paperwork when I took this job."
"Peace isn't a bad thing," Lily replied evenly.
"Tch. Yeah, yeah, I know."
They walked side by side down the dusty trail, the last light of dusk painting the horizon.
"You know," Levi began, his voice quieter now, "this town wasn't always like this."
Lily glanced at him. "What do you mean?"
"You don't know the real reason this station needed a lieutenant, do you?"
"I was told you were shorthanded. HQ sent me to fill the gap."
Levi chuckled bitterly. "Not exactly. We didn't need a second-in-command… until he showed up."
"Who?"
Levi's gaze drifted toward the darkening sky.
"The man in black. Six years ago, a drifter came to town. Unhinged, raving about some 'darkness coming.' Folks tried to calm him down, but the moment they touched him, he snapped. Killed a man—pulled him into a void of pure shadow. Bullets passed right through him like smoke."
Lily's eyes narrowed. "I've heard stories. They called him—"
Together, their voices overlapped: "The Phantom."
"What happened?" she asked.
"Captain Stone stepped in. And that's when the stories stopped being stories."
"Are you referring to Captain Stone, the war hero from the early days of 5 Point?"
"Not a hero, the man was war itself, cloaked in lightning. I had never seen anything like it, but it still wasn't enough. The captain was quick, but each hit took a greater toll on him. In the end, he was left with only one choice."
Levi's head dropped.
"Stone saved many lives that day, but it ultimately cost him his own. Since then, the thugs came crawling out of the cracks. That day showed me—without a strong leader, Leone would crumble. So I've spent six years preparing. Six years waiting for my chance to honor Stone's legacy."
Silence fell between them as the weight of his words lingered.
Lily placed a steady hand on his shoulder. "Let's head back to the station."
INT. STATION – LATER
The bandits were processed into custody. Levi was praised for his leadership, the mayor sent a letter of thanks, and townsfolk brought food in gratitude. A quiet victory—but Levi never celebrated victories.
That evening, with the station calm and lanterns flickering low, Lily approached.
"Levi, can I talk to you?"
"Of course. What's on your mind?"
"I've noticed your methods are… unconventional. It's not always bad, but we do need to stick closer to protocol. And honestly—you've been slacking on paperwork."
Levi groaned.
"I know, I know. But you're right. We're a team. If we're going to keep Leone safe, we need to stay sharp in the field and on the reports."
He gave a small smirk. "I'll try harder, but no promises. It's good having someone who keeps me grounded."
Lily smiled. "Anytime, Captain."
Levi stretched with a grin. "So… ready to tackle that mountain of forms?"
Her deadpan reply came quick: "I'd rather fight another Phantom."
They both laughed, stepping out into the quiet night. For the first time in years, Levi felt something rare settle over him.
Peace.
For now.