As Anton stepped out of the building, the warm afternoon air barely touched his skin before flashing sirens drowned it out.
"Hands where we can see them!"
Police surrounded him before he could even breathe. Rough hands searched his coat and pockets, then came the words that froze his blood.
"Illegal substances found."
He protested instantly, voice trembling but sharp. "I was framed! Sean can vouch for me!"
But even as he spoke, his mind raced "when… when did Dani plant it?" Then he caught the faint curve of a smile on one of the officers' lips.
And that's when it clicked…
In his thought;
Dani's hands were too clean for something this dirty. Wickedly brutal, yes but he'd never stoop so low as framing. That wasn't his style.
His gut twisted. It's her.
Candice. Rank 3 among Cebu City's top battle mages. Born from a family of crime and charm alike she had the face of an angel, and the pulse of a predator. Of course it was her.
Then came the shout that shattered the street's silence:
"He has cast a spell that endangers the public! As per city law we will begin neutralization!"
Even though Anton wasn't casting.
The crowd gasped. Magic circles began to form around the officers' wrists and deadly spells were ready to fire.
But before they could release them, a loud voice boomed over the chaos.
"This is live now, my Dawners! Brutality in public!"
All eyes turned…
The glow of a live camera cut through the crowd first.
There he stood, James Dawn Lopez, camera in hand, the Hero of Cebu City, the man set to represent Filipinos on the world stage.
"We're just doing our duty as public servants!" shouted by the commanding officer. "Do not interfere with our affairs…"
James cut him off mid-sentence. "Duty? We caught you planting the evidence, officer. It's all in my recording."
The air thickened. The crowd pressed closer. The officers' spells faltered. One of them leaned in to whisper something to James… but when their eyes met, the man's words died in his throat. That stare told him everything: this wasn't someone you can intimidate.
"Fine," the officer muttered. "We were just following orders."
They withdrew. James smiled faintly and calmly, but triumphant.
Jabbari exhaled beside him. "Dawners, really? You're calling your three viewers Dawners?"
--- Dawners Chat Board ---
Bentog: Not his fan
Upo: Just passing by
Lala: left the stream
Malaya laughed as she saw James's mana board flicker with chat messages. Amid the absurdity of it all, Anton approached, voice low.
"Thanks… What are you doing here?"
James blinked, surprised by his casual tone. Before he could answer, Jabbari spoke up. "You're one of the survivors from the Master-Class Lich, right?"
Anton nodded. "Yeah. I tried donating to help you guys from saving us and how are you related to Leon from the Lindberg Tragedy?"
James hesitated, a flicker of realization hitting him. "Oh, right, my HeyFriend ID still uses my past life's name. How could I be that careless?"
Words tumbled out as he tried to cover it up. "Oh… I'm his… his…" Think, James, think. "I'm the brother of his ex-girlfriend."
Anton raised an eyebrow but let it slide. "Right… well, come on. I own a restaurant nearby. You and your friends look starved."
James's eyes widened. "You're serious?" His throat tightened as he smiled, nearly tearing up. "You are a true mage… thank you."
---
Back in the building
Candice stood by the window, her reflection faintly merging with the glass as she watched the police retreat without arresting Anton.
Her lips curved slightly. "Is that the Hero? Was he planning on entering the building? A new member of our clan, perhaps?"
Dani wanted to tell her, to reveal that the so-called Hero was actually the Dungeon Boss of the Ammolite-ranked dungeon. But the memory of last night's chaos burned too freshly in his mind. He clenched his jaw and decided to keep it a secret… for now.
Sean's voice cut through the air like a blade. "Was it you who did that? Calling the police after planting those illegal substances? What's the purpose behind your action?"
Candice's laugh was sharp, echoing with mockery. "You think you're innocent? After taking those substances yourself?"
Sean's eyes dimmed. His voice cracked with guilt. "I didn't… I was just under a lot of pressure, being a father, a husband, and a man of service."
Candice, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Right. Blame your situation. Being a good father and a good serviceman."
Sean's patience snapped. Magic flickered across his arms like static before a storm, violent and ready to burst. Dani quickly stepped in, placing a firm hand on his shoulder, reminding him with a single look that translates to your daughter.
Sean's rage faltered. He exhaled, lowering his hand.
Dani turned toward the others, his tone commanding. "Joshua, Miguel go and watch James. Every move, every word. Report everything to me. And I mean everything."
Confusion rippled between them. What did the Dungeon have to do with the Hero of Cebu City?
Sean's brows furrowed. He had seen James only once, yet even at a glance, he could feel the weight of his strength. A quiet power that humiliated even Dani. And for the first time in years… Sean smiled.
Everyone noticed.
Dani's eyes narrowed. He knew that smile was the look of a man recalling last night. His voice darkened. "Will you still keep that smile… if you found out your daughter's arm got severed?"
The smile vanished. Sean froze, then lowered his head in shame. "I'm sorry."
Across the room, Candice watched the silent tension twist between the three men. James, Sean, and Dani. Her curiosity sparked like fire behind her eyes.
"Interesting," she whispered to herself.
Candice crossed her arms, her tone laced with mockery. "By the way, you didn't inform us you were raising a secret weapon? What kind of clan leader keeps something like that hidden…" referring to James.
Before she could finish, Dani's eyes snapped toward her cold, sharp and unblinking. The air itself seemed to freeze.
"You seem to forget who I am," he said, voice low and cutting. "Should I remind you why you submitted to me willingly? Stop being nosy, Number Three."
Candice's smile didn't falter, it deepened. "How could I forget?" she replied softly. "You're the man who killed my fiancé who's a former Region Island Kings of Visayas."
The silence that followed was heavy, almost suffocating.
Miguel and Joshua exchanged uneasy glances; the pressure between the two leaders was unbearable. Without a word, they stepped out. Sean followed soon after and finally, Candice turned away, her heels echoing down the hall as the door shut behind her.
The room remained still… cold… and charged with the weight of unspoken history.
---
PhilNation Media Live — Flash News
"Good afternoon, everyone! This is Anna, your primetime journalist, coming to you live with today's hottest scoop.
Just this morning, Anton was reportedly framed by police officers. But before the story could be buried, James the Hero of Cebu City went live, exposing the brutal conduct on-scene.
Thanks to his quick action, the officers involved were immediately apprehended and placed under investigation.
And James," Anna turned to the camera with a grin, "we owe you yet again! You may be short, but you're doing big things!"
"Additionally" Anna said "A camera was stolen…
The screen cut to black.
Somewhere inside the building, Candice's lips curved upward.
"Interesting," she whispered. "So this is the Hero…"