The bright hall of the Spiral Vertue Villa glimmered under the golden chandeliers.
Marble floors reflected the soft glow of the afternoon sun streaming through tall glass windows.
Johnrey walked through the endless corridor, his eyes wide with awe and disbelief.
> "This… this is insane," he whispered. "I've only ever seen places like this in movies."
Everywhere he looked, there were paintings of men in suits—faces stern, eyes full of power. Each bore the same mark: a ring, shining with different symbols.
He could barely process it all. Yesterday, he was just a clumsy high schooler who couldn't even pass an exam. Now, he was standing in a mafia mansion.
The scent of luxury—expensive perfume, polished wood, faint cigar smoke—made him feel out of place.
He scratched the back of his neck nervously. "Maybe I should've just gone home after meeting that old man…"
He sighed and kept walking until—
BUMP.
Something hard and heavy collided with his shoulder. Johnrey stumbled back, almost falling.
Standing before him was a tall, broad-shouldered man, with a crimson cape flowing behind him like fire.
His neck gleamed with a golden chain, and on his fingers shone ten golden rings—each one different, each one screaming authority.
Behind him stood two other teenagers, both around Johnrey's age, but with sharper eyes and dangerous grins.
Johnrey blinked. "Ah—uh—sorry about that! I didn't see you there—"
The man's eyes narrowed. "Who the hell are you?" His tone was sharp, his presence suffocating. "What's a peasant like you doing here in my father's house?"
The words hit Johnrey like a slap.
"P-Peasant?" he stammered. "I-I'm not— I was just—"
One of the lackeys smirked. "Boss, I think this loser just scuffed your cape."
The other cracked his knuckles. "Maybe we should teach him a lesson. You can't just touch the young master of Spiral Vertue and walk away."
Johnrey's heartbeat pounded in his ears. He took a step back, raising his hands. "W-wait! I didn't mean—"
But the leader's eyes suddenly caught something—the Fire Ring on Johnrey's finger.
His expression darkened.
He grabbed Johnrey's hand tightly, his grip crushing.
> "Where did you get this ring!?" he demanded, voice rising.
Johnrey winced in pain. "I—I don't know! It was given to me!"
"Given?" the man sneered. "Don't lie to me! You stole it!"
The lackeys closed in, cracking their fists.
"Let's teach the thief a lesson, boss!"
The leader grinned. "Yeah. Let's see how long he lasts."
Before Johnrey could react, one of them kicked him in the gut, sending him sprawling across the marble floor.
He gasped for air, clutching his stomach. Another punch hit his cheek. Then a kick slammed into his ribs.
Pain flooded every nerve in his body.
> "S-stop—please—" he coughed.
They didn't listen. They were enjoying it.
Each blow made his vision blur, red mixing with white marble.
Finally, one fist struck his jaw so hard that blood splattered on the floor.
The leader stepped forward, towering over him with a cruel smile.
> "You look pathetic," he spat. "You think someone like you can wear that ring?"
Johnrey tried to speak, but all that came out was a choked gasp.
He could barely lift his head when a heavy kick struck his face, throwing him to the side.
He lay there—bruised, bleeding, helpless.
The world around him spun, his ears ringing. He could hear them laughing.
> "This is what happens when trash walks into our world," one of them mocked.
"You should've stayed in the gutter."
Then—
"ENOUGH!"
A deep, commanding voice echoed across the courtyard.
The laughter stopped. Everyone froze.
Johnrey forced his swollen eyes open.
Standing at the edge of the courtyard was Kaito, dressed in a black suit, his sharp eyes burning with fury.
> "STOP THAT, YOU THREE!" he barked.
The leader turned, clicking his tongue.
> "But Father—this guy snuck into our house and stole the Fire Ring! We should kill him!"
The guards nearby flinched at the tension.
Johnrey blinked in confusion.
> "Father…?" he whispered weakly.
Kaito's voice lowered, calm yet terrifying.
> "No… we will not kill him, Karlo."
Karlo clenched his fists. "Why not!? He doesn't belong here!"
Kaito's gaze hardened. He hesitated for a moment—thinking fast.
He couldn't reveal that Johnrey was chosen as the next boss, not yet. If Karlo knew, he'd kill him instantly.
> "Because," Kaito said finally, "he will become your brother. I have decided to adopt him."
The words hit everyone like thunder.
> "WHAT!?" Karlo's eyes widened. "You're joking, right!? You want this weakling to be my brother!?"
Kaito didn't flinch. "That's right."
> "Tch." Karlo glared at Johnrey, hatred burning in his eyes. "Don't make me laugh. I don't need a weak brother. And you—" he pointed at Johnrey—"you better stay out of my way."
"Boss," one of the lackeys whispered, "should we take the ring—?"
Kaito's voice boomed. "DON'T TOUCH THAT RING!"
Silence. Even the wind seemed to stop.
Karlo grit his teeth. "Tch. Whatever. Let's go, James. Zane."
They left without another word, slamming the villa door behind them.
Johnrey coughed, blood dripping from his lip. Kaito rushed to his side.
> "Someone get the medics—now!" Kaito ordered. "Take him to the infirmary!"
---
The sound of soft beeping filled the room.
Johnrey's eyes opened slowly. The ceiling above him was white, and the faint scent of medicine filled the air.
He groaned, trying to move, but pain shot through his ribs.
> "W-where am I…?"
Kaito's voice came from nearby. "You're in the medical room. Don't move."
Johnrey blinked. Kaito was sitting beside his bed, arms crossed, his face calm but heavy with guilt.
> "What happened?" Johnrey whispered.
"Who were those guys that beat me up?"
Kaito sighed. "Those three are my son, Karlo, and his friends—James and Zane."
Johnrey's eyes widened. "You have a son? Then why—why aren't you choosing him to be the next boss?"
Kaito didn't answer right away. He stood, walking toward the large window.
Moonlight poured in, reflecting on his glasses.
> "Even I ask myself that," he said quietly. "But when I look into Karlo's eyes… I see something dark. Something that burns, not with warmth—but with hatred."
Johnrey frowned weakly. "You mean… the ring?"
Kaito nodded slowly.
> "When Karlo was nine, I placed that Fire Ring on his finger. For a moment, I thought it accepted him."
His voice grew distant, haunted. "But instead of warmth, he screamed. His whole body ignited with black flames. His skin burned, and the ring nearly consumed him alive. I barely took it off in time."
Johnrey's eyes widened. "Black flames…?"
Kaito nodded. "Yes. Flames that devour light itself. That day, I lied to him. I told him he was chosen, but he only needed more strength to control it."
He exhaled, running a hand through his silver hair. "But deep down, I knew… he wasn't the one."
Johnrey tried to sit up, wincing from the pain.
> "Then… what makes you think I am?"
Kaito looked at him. "When you helped me on the street, even after being beaten bloody—you smiled. You said you were 'used to it.' You reminded me of something I lost long ago… kindness."
He smiled faintly. "That's the fire the ring responded to, Johnrey. Not hatred. Compassion."
Johnrey lowered his gaze. "But I'm not strong. I'm not brave. I'm just… me."
Kaito chuckled softly. "Strength isn't about never being scared. It's about standing up, even when you are."
He placed a hand on Johnrey's shoulder.
> "Rest for now. You've been through enough."
Johnrey tried to protest. "I—I have to go back home. Mrs. Kathryn… she asked me to guard the apartment."
Kaito shook his head. "You can't even stand properly."
"I can!" Johnrey pushed himself up, but coughed violently, covering his mouth.
Blood trickled down his palm. His breathing grew shallow.
Kaito sighed and gently eased him back onto the bed. "See? You're not ready."
Johnrey's voice was weak. "Please… I promised her…"
Kaito gave a small smile. "Then I'll send some of my guards to watch over it. Don't worry, no one will touch your home."
Johnrey's eyes softened. "...Thank you."
"Rest now, Ignis."
Kaito's tone carried both warmth and sorrow. "Your real journey is only beginning."
As Johnrey's eyes slowly closed, the Fire Ring on his finger shimmered faintly under the moonlight—its crimson glow pulsing softly like a heartbeat.
Outside the window, far in the distance, Karlo stood on the balcony, watching the medical room's light.
His jaw tightened. His eyes gleamed with hate.
> "Enjoy it while you can, brother," he muttered coldly. "Because next time… I'll burn that ring—and you—with my own hands."