The underground streets of Velvet were silent—too silent. Not a whisper, not a footstep. Only two shadows moved, creeping deeper into the city's forbidden veins.
Inside a dark bunker, the silence was broken by screams. A thousand people crowded around, each taking turns to beat a single man. His face was no longer human—swollen, smeared with blood, jaw broken, nose shattered, teeth scattered on the floor.
And watching from a chair, relaxed, amused, sat a man marked by a scar running from his forehead to his lips. Eno-Kai.
"Stop. Don't kill him yet," Eno ordered lazily, rising from his seat. He walked over to the broken man, leaned close, and whispered, his voice low and venomous.
"As I told you… I don't care if you're royal blood from Doer. I don't care about your crown, your palace, or your kings. I fear no nation. No throne. Because…" He grinned wide, madness twisting his face. "…I am the King of Velvet's Night."
He burst into laughter, unsheathing his sword. The crowd roared as he raised the blade high, ready to sever the boy's head.
Slash!
A heavy sound echoed. A drop fell. Something rolled across the floor.
The boy blinked, dazed. "Am I… still alive?" His trembling hand searched his neck. The blood wasn't his. Slowly, he looked up.
A figure stood before him—cloaked entirely in black, face hidden. Behind him the moonlight poured in, cutting through the night like silver fire.
The figure spoke, voice calm yet thunderous:
"My name is Rui Yamazaki. And I am the King of Velvet."
Another voice echoed from behind Rui. Lucas stepped forward, laughter spilling out as he clutched his stomach.
"Oh man, what a joker! 'King of the Night'? Rui, you should've let him live a little longer—slowed down the show."
Rui glanced sideways. "You wanted him alive?"
"At least strike his arms, not his head!" Lucas grinned. Then shrugged. "Well, whatever."
The battered boy at Rui's feet looked up, eyes brimming with tears. Crawling forward, he clutched Rui's boots.
"I… I know now why people love you. I came here despising you. I thought I could bring you down by supplying these monsters with resources. But in the end, they brought me down. I deserve it."
Rui's eyes narrowed. "Your name."
"Montak Monaco… from Doer's royal family. I'm… sixteen."
A tense silence fell.
But the quiet broke with a roar. The horde of thugs, watching their boss beheaded, charged forward. Weapons flew through the air, aimed at Rui.
Montak screamed. "No! Nooo!" He shut his eyes tight, expecting Rui's death.
Then—silence.
When Montak opened his eyes, he froze. Rui stood untouched, hands calmly folded behind his back.
Around them, the floor was drenched in blood. A thousand corpses lay scattered, their own weapons driven through their hearts.
And standing atop the mountain of bodies, wiping blood not his own, was a man searching for his shoes.
Montak's breath caught. His eyes widened.
"L… Lucas Campo. The Hand of the Sword."
"No… first of all, I hate this bullshit Title. 'Hand of the Sword'—what the hell does that even mean?"
"No," Montak said, crawling from Rui's feet to Lucas's, eyes shining with an almost embarrassing excitement. "It's… it's a cool title."
"Okay, okay, boy," Lucas said, his left brow raised, sweat dripping from his face in pure embarrassment. "I… I believe you."
Rui grabbed Montak by the back of the collar, lifting him into the air. "Now tell me, boy… will you work for us? Will you help bring this evil down?"
"Will you remove your sins… by striking at the root of all this corruption?"
"If your answer is yes, then tell me what I ask of you."
According to that guy, he must be here.
"Yes, but I'm a little skeptical… are you sure w—"
"Yes, we are, and that's it," Rui said, his voice sharp, eyes cold.
"Al… alright then."
2 days ago
"Tell us where the resources are going. Who is operating this little gang?"
"I… I don't know. I haven't been here long; I came here just two months ago. But… but I've heard about a name, too much from my sources. (It's him—Hem Dacker.)"
"Hem Dacker, is it?"
"Yes. I heard about this man from my sources, and that's it."
"Don't worry. You just have to do one thing for us."
"One thing? Please… I—I don't want to get involved."
"Listen, Montak, I'm not here to put you in danger. Just follow my words, and I promise you a safe return home. I'll grant you resources beyond your imagination."
The man swallowed hard. Rui said, with a final and cold tone, "Is it yes or not?"
"Yes… yes. Alright, I'll do it."
"So, we are here. Do you think, Rui, that boy has done his job?"
"Yes, I'm pretty sure."
"Well then… why don't we step forward?"
Both moved toward a house—a huge mansion in the underground—and advanced in silence.
Inside the mansion, Montak sat trembling and sweating with a man whose dark and blue eyes, sharp square jaw, and well-defined facial features were complemented by blonde hair and partial beard and mustache. On his left hand, he wore a glowing code ring on his front finger.
"So… what do you say? Shall we talk?" the man asked.
"Listen, I beg you," Montak said, voice trembling, fear dripping from his face, tears falling from his cheeks. "I beg… I beg of you."
"Ooh, why… why are you crying?" the man said, his voice sweaty, almost teasing.
"It was not my fault—they got annihilated (Eno got annihilated). I was and am here only for business, so please… forgive me."
"Tell me… mmm… what's your name? Ooh, Montak Monaco. Why should I forgive you when you haven't even done anything?"
The man burst into laughter. "Look, the boy! Look at the boy," he said. "He got scared… sorry, so sorry."
"Yes… I just… just…"
"You see, Monaco, I know you're feeling anxious, so I will, for your sake, let you go for now. And yeah… our job is done. You are free from now on."
Montak looked at the door, then back at the man, confused.
"Go," the man said, sweatily.
Montak walked toward the gate, but…
"Ooooh, I remember. Before you leave," the man said, "a present for you. Bring him here."
"What?" Montak thought, his body trembling.
"Why are you trembling? It's just my man, my servant. You know how it is—offering, you know, don't you?"
"Yes… yes, of… of course."
"Bring me my sword," the man ordered his people.
A person brought the sword—a shiny metal sword, its handle beautifully carved, perfect for showcasing rather than use, its blade so sharp and smooth it seemed to cut even water drops.
The man grabbed it. "Ooh, man, this is what I'm talking about. This… this is my child."
He grabbed the servant's head.
"Master… please forgive me, I'm sorry," the servant begged.
"Forgive? Ooh no… I'm going to give you heaven."
He stabbed his sword straight through the servant's throat. Blood flowed like a waterfall. The servant's body now lay dead.
Montak, seeing this, sweat pouring from him, widened his eyes, though an awkward smile appeared on his face.
Keep this smile, Montak… or it could be you next, he thought to himself.
"Now you can go," the man said. "And remember… be free from here and out."
Montak finally turned and walked toward the gate, his mind now resolved. I have done my job. Rui… my work is done. My love is waiting for me… now I can…
He opened the door, but before he could—a slash.
A head fell.
Rui and Lucas had also arrived, disguised.
"Rui… look!"
Rui and Lucas watched, eyes widening.
It was Montak's head.
"I don't forgive," the man said, cleaning the blood from his sword with the boy's clothes. "I don't forgive," he repeated, stabbing continuously into the dead body.
Rui's eyes turned red. Lucas grinding his teeth.
Rui lashed out, but Lucas grabbed his hand. "Stop… stop, Rui," he whispered in a low voice. "Montak… in the end, he was a good man. He told me… before he…" Lucas sighed. "He told me to tell you that."
Flashback:
"This is embarrassing… see…" he sighed. "I hated you for a long, long time. I'm sorry if it's too rude, but when you saved my life that day—even if it was by luck—I'm grateful. After Two days… maybe I will be here alive, maybe I will be dead… who knows. It is not an easy task, to be honest. But if I died… I'm sorry, Rui. I entrust my blind mother and my love—who was to be my wife's protection—to you. You see," Montak said with a wide and saddened smile, "I love them. Take care of yourself and them."*
Rui calmed, eyes darkening, face frustrated. He clenched his fist so hard that blood dripped from his hand.
Lucas's voice cracked. "Look… his eyes are watery, but he keeps it together. Look… we have to do it."
"Yes," Rui replied. "We will do it."
---
There are three main areas in the nation of Velvet:
1. Maal – Land reserved for the high-class people (elites, nobles, etc.), almost 10% of Velvet's population.
2. Zammen – Land where normal people live: poor and middle-class, almost 60% of the population.
3. Naar – Land for people of evil deeds or those who have chosen themselves; no one else can go there.
In Velvet, there are three rules for maintaining peace and balance, and it is believed that all three must be obeyed to survive:
1. Even a king must bow in Velvet. (A king's value is seen as that of a normal person in front of Velvet's king.)
2. A king must be a king: listen to the people, offer salvation, address their state of affairs, and handle the nation with all might and power.
3. A king mustn't interfere in the underground of Velvet. (What happens in the underground—including resources or deaths—remains there.)