CYRUS'S POV

"Blag."

I let go of the glass of water I was holding.

"Ever since she came, you've been anxious. Who is she in your life? Do you have a hidden desire for her?"

I looked at Carl sitting on the sofa with his legs crossed, holding a cup of tea and raising his pinky finger. Why do I feel like he is a rich mother who is willing to pay me any amount as long as I let his daughter go?

I shook my head to clear my mind and then sat in the chair next to him. I began telling him how I met Hyra.

"I met her last year in Osaka during an auction. She bought a painting that I liked the most, not because of what was painted on it, but because of who painted it. My late mother painted it." I saw him flinch, but I ignored that and kept talking. "Because it was so important to me, I raised my bid, and I didn't expect her to raise hers as well. She eventually got the painting."

"And then?"

"I talked to her and offered to pay her triple for the painting, but she didn't agree. Instead, she gave me the painting for free, without compensation."

"So you had a hidden desire for her?"

"Yeah! Wait... what?"

"I noticed you were stunned when you saw her, and your eyes were shining." Huh? Since when did Carl learn these corny words?

"I just want to pay her back for her kindness. That painting is the last of my mother's property that I have, so I wanted to thank her. Since that day, I often invited her for coffee, and we had little conversations. That's when I found out she was Nathan's sister."

That same day, I called Nathan to confirm if he really had a sister, and it was true. He was also surprised I met his sister. He asked me a lot about her, such as what she looked like, and if she was in good condition. That's when I found out they hadn't talked in a long time.

I tried to get Nathan to talk to Hyra, but Hyra refused, and since then, she has not come out with me.

"So you have no hidden desire for her?"

"Why do you keep asking that?" I was getting a little annoyed with him.

"Nothing, I just want to know so that if I get her out of here, no one will be hurt."

"You hate her that much?"

"I don't know, but I don't have a good feeling about her."

Carl's really weird, actually. How did he come to suspect such an innocent woman?

"Bogshhh."

The door opened loudly. I felt the wall shake for a moment due to the impact.

"Oh! Dear, my apologies, may tao pala."

Hyra came in and looked around as if searching for someone.

"Who let you in?" Carl's voice was both calm and authoritative. He glared at Hyra, who also glared back at him.

"Your voice is starting to annoy me. Alam mo ba 'yon? Is it that bad to enter here?" Hyra asked again, crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow at Carl.

We were in a special room that only the elite could enter, and it was strictly forbidden for non-elite students to enter. She could be punished if the elders found out.

"Don't be cocky just because you're Nathan's sister. You won't be accepted here."

"Don't be cocky either. Just because you're an elite student doesn't mean I'll be afraid of you. What can you do?"

I didn't have a good feeling about this, so I mediated between the two who were arguing.

"Tch!" Carl looked at me, clicked his tongue, and left as if Hyra didn't exist in front of him.

"He's kinda boring to deal with," Hyra growled, then turned to face me. She looked deeply into my eyes as if examining something, then left without saying anything.

"What was that?"

-

"Where have you been?" Jared whispered to me as I sat in my chair.

"Diarrhea," I whispered back, then caressed his face. I saw his reaction change, then he slapped my hand away.

"You're disgusting," he said tearfully.

I chuckled and turned my attention back to the front where our young professor was standing.

"Okay, class, you have a new classmate, and I'm sure you already know her," said Mr. Fonancier. He signaled outside, and soon someone came in that I did not expect.

"Hi, can you introduce yourself?" Mr. Fonancier smiled at her.

"Hyra Demonise Fukushima," Hyra introduced herself in a bored tone.

"WHAT? WHY IS SHE HERE?" Agatha complained. I remembered she didn't get along with Hyra.

"What is this, Mr. Fonancier? Don't they need our consent first before accepting a student into the elite?"

Like Agatha, Carl didn't like Hyra either.

"You're right, Mr. Perez. But Mr. Maniego's consent seems to be your consent as well," said Mr. Fonancier.

Huh? We all turned to the back where Master was sitting. His head rested on his hand as he looked outside as if waiting for the bell to ring. He wondered why we were staring at him.

"Mr. Maniego consented to Ms. Fukushima's elite status," said Mr. Fonancier.

"What the heck, Master, why did you do that? You know I don't like her," Agatha asked Master tearfully.

"Why not? The more the merrier, isn't it? And she's still Nathan's sister. It would be embarrassing for Nathan if we didn't treat his sister well." Master had a different plan as to why he agreed to make Hyra an elite.

Others who did not know Hyra's true identity were shocked. They did not expect Nathan to have a sister.

"Are you done with your little discussion? Can I sit down now?" Hyra asked.

"You can sit next to Mr. Jared Monteverde," said Mr. Fonancier.

HYRA'S POV

"1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10... Hmmm, kulang." I climbed the railings on the rooftop and opened my hand to feel the wind. I like this place. From here, I can see them all, and they look small in my sight.

"At first, I didn't believe him that you were here, but now that you're standing in front of me, I believe it."

I got off the railing and faced him.

"Long time no see, Cristopher Salvador. Did you miss me?"

His serious face hadn't changed, so I rolled my eyes. It's hard to get through to this one.

I took a step closer to him, the wind blowing my hair across my face. Cristopher remained motionless, his intense gaze fixed on me.

"Why are you here, Hyra?" he asked, his voice low and steady.

"I could ask you the same thing," I replied, crossing my arms. "What are you doing at this school?"

He frowned, clearly not expecting the question to be turned back on him. "I'm here to ensure certain individuals remain safe," he said cryptically.

"Still playing the guardian angel, I see," I teased. "Well, don't worry about me. I can handle myself."

"I'm not worried about you," he retorted. "I'm worried about the chaos you bring."

I smirked. "Chaos? You give me too much credit."

He took a step closer, closing the distance between us. "Hyra, you have a talent for attracting trouble. And I won't let anyone get hurt because of you."

I tilted my head, studying him. "Why do you care so much, Cristopher? What's in it for you?"

He hesitated, his eyes flickering with something I couldn't quite read. "Let's just say I owe someone."

I raised an eyebrow. "Owe someone? Interesting. Well, I won't keep you from your noble mission."

I turned to leave, but he grabbed my arm, stopping me. "Hyra, stay out of trouble," he warned.

I looked down at his hand on my arm and then back up at him. "No promises," I said, pulling my arm free. "Let's just say I have a little project that requires your particular set of skills," I said, stepping closer to him. "Are you in?"

Cristopher studied me for a moment, his eyes searching mine. Finally, he sighed. "Fine. But this better not be one of your wild goose chases, Hyra."

I grinned. "Oh, it's anything but that. Trust me."

I walked away, leaving Cristopher standing there, watching me with that same serious expression.

As I descended the stairs, I couldn't help but smile. It was always amusing to see him so worked up. Little did he know, I had my own reasons for being here, and I wasn't about to let anyone, not even Cristopher Salvador, get in my way.

CYRUS'S POV

After class, I told Master that I would go home early. I wasn't in the mood today to play. A lot had happened, one of which was Hyra's sudden elevation to elite status. I didn't mind her becoming an elite, but I knew others did.

I was about to open my car door when I saw someone familiar. I got in the car and looked at her. She was standing beside a BMW X2 M35i, her arms crossed, looking like she was waiting for someone.

She looked stunning.

"Did I make you wait?" A man approached her and gently grabbed her by the waist. The way he held Hyra's waist was very gentle.

"Not at all," Hyra replied, then got into the car.

The man held Hyra's head so it wouldn't bump into the car door. Then he walked around to the driver's seat, and that's when I saw his face.

"Cristopher Salvador? Do they know each other?"

After they left, I also drove off. What is the connection between those two? I wanted to know.

As I drove, my mind kept drifting back to Hyra and Cristopher. There was something about their interaction that piqued my curiosity. They seemed comfortable with each other, which was unusual for Hyra. She wasn't the type to let people get close to her easily.

I decided to take a detour and head to a café I frequented. I needed to clear my head and think. The café was a quiet place, perfect for contemplation. As I sat down with my coffee, I pulled out my phone and searched for information on Cristopher Salvador. There wasn't much, but I knew he had a reputation for being involved in some high-stakes business deals.

What was he doing with Hyra?

Lost in thought, I didn't notice someone approaching my table until they spoke.

"Cyrus, you're deep in thought. Mind if I join you?"

I looked up and saw Carl standing there, his usual smirk in place. I nodded, and he sat down across from me.

"You seem troubled," Carl observed, taking a sip of his own coffee. "Is it about Hyra?"

I sighed. "Partly. I saw her with Cristopher Salvador today. They seemed... close."

Carl raised an eyebrow. "Cristopher Salvador? That's unexpected. He's not the type to get involved with just anyone."

"Exactly," I said, leaning back in my chair. "I don't know what to make of it."

Carl tapped his fingers on the table, thinking. "Maybe she's more than she seems. People have layers, Cyrus. And Hyra might have a few more than most."

I nodded slowly. "Yeah, you're right. But it still doesn't explain their connection."

Carl shrugged. "Maybe it doesn't need to be explained right now. Just keep an eye on things. Sometimes, the truth reveals itself when you least expect it."

We sat in silence for a while, both lost in our own thoughts. Eventually, Carl stood up.

"Well, I've got to run. Take care, Cyrus. Don't let this eat you up too much."

I watched him leave, feeling a little more settled. Carl was right. I couldn't let this consume me. I had to focus on what I could control and let the rest unfold naturally.

As I finished my coffee, I made a decision. I would keep an eye on Hyra and Cristopher, but I wouldn't let it drive me crazy. For now, I had to trust that the truth would come out in its own time.

THIRD PERSON POV

"What's the problem with that black Lamborghini? I noticed it's been following us for a long time," Hyra asked, glancing at the car in the rearview mirror.

Cristopher gave a quick glance at Hyra before returning his gaze to the road. "That car belongs to Cyrus Park. Looks like he saw us together. Buckle up, and we'll fly."

Hyra's smile seemed to light up at Cristopher's words. She hurriedly fastened her seatbelt and held on tight.

"Let's go!"

-

"Fuck!"

Cyrus cursed out of annoyance and slammed his hand on the steering wheel. He was frustrated because he had lost sight of Hyra's car.

He clicked his tongue in frustration and decided to head straight to his district. He hadn't visited there in a long time.

-

Cyrus felt a mix of excitement and nostalgia as he approached his district, but that excitement quickly vanished when he saw the state of the place.

His underlings were scrambling for help, thick smoke filled the air, and the area was chaotic. It looked like a terrorist attack had taken place.

"What happened here? Who did this?" Cyrus demanded from one of his underlings.

"A masked woman came here looking for her mask. She did all this. She was alone, but we couldn't handle her," the underling explained.

Cyrus frowned, trying to recall any masked woman he knew.

"D-Demon!" another underling stammered.

"Huh?" Cyrus turned to him. "What did you say?"

"Demon is the one who attacked here. She's here to take your mask," the underling clarified.

Cyrus clenched his fist. "Demon is the owner of thirteen masks."

"Did someone say my name?" a voice called out.

Cyrus looked up to see a woman sitting in a tree, wearing a mask and white hoodies. Her presence was both ethereal and menacing.

"Are you the one who did this?" Cyrus asked, his tone dripping with hatred.

"It's me!" the woman known as Demon replied happily. "And I am here to take back what was supposed to be mine." Her demeanor shifted from cheerful to deadly serious. She pulled out a bow and arrow, aiming it at Cyrus. "Now die."

Cyrus narrowed his eyes, ready for a fight. "You're not taking anything from me," he growled, drawing his own weapon.

Before Demon could release her arrow, Cyrus lunged forward, knocking the bow out of her hand. She quickly regained her balance and somersaulted off the tree, landing gracefully a few feet away from him.

"I see you haven't lost your touch," Demon said with a smirk, retrieving a knife from her belt.

"And I see you're still as reckless as ever," Cyrus shot back.

They circled each other, both waiting for the other to make a move. The air was thick with tension. Cyrus's underlings watched anxiously, knowing they were no match for Demon.

"You think you can take me down?" Demon taunted, making a feint towards Cyrus.

"I know I can," he replied, dodging her move and countering with a swift strike.

The two clashed in a flurry of blows, each testing the other's strength and skill. Demon was agile and cunning, but Cyrus was strong and determined. Their fight was intense, neither willing to give an inch.

Finally, Cyrus managed to disarm her, sending her knife flying into the bushes. He pinned her against a tree, holding his blade to her throat.

"Yield," he commanded.

Demon laughed, a chilling sound. "This isn't over, Cyrus. Not by a long shot." With a sudden burst of strength, she pushed him away and disappeared into the shadows, leaving Cyrus breathing heavily and watching his back.

He turned to his underlings, who were slowly recovering from the attack. "Double the security. We can't let her come back and cause more damage."

They nodded, scrambling to carry out his orders. As Cyrus watched them go, his mind was racing. Who exactly was Demon, and why was she so determined to take his mask? The questions lingered, but one thing was clear: he needed to find answers before she struck again.

CYRUS'S POV

"Is he dead yet?"

"He died a virgin."

"Master, now that he's dead, can I take his underlings? I still need some."

The noise made my eyes widen, and the first thing that popped into my mind was Jared's face. I wished at that moment that I didn't have to wake up right away.

"GISING NA SIYA!" Jared shouted loudly. Why is he shouting? He was just next to the others.

"What happened to you?"

"Who did this to you?"

"Are you okay?"

They all asked at the same time, and I couldn't make sense of what they were saying.

"Where am I?" I asked, my voice groggy.

"You're in Master's district. We brought you here right away when we heard what happened in your district," Stanley said, handing me a drink.

"What group did this? They must not be ordinary if they managed to get inside your district," Spring asked calmly.

"It wasn't a group, just one person did it."

"WHAT?" they exclaimed in unison, except for Nathan, Master, and Carl.

"Demon is responsible for the attack on my district."

Blag! Everyone's gaze shifted to Master as he dropped the vase he was holding.

"Why did Demon come to you? What does she need?" Master asked.

"My mask is her goal. She said she was here to get the masks."

"Who is Demon?" Jared asked.

"Demon rules the central part of the Underground. She is surrounded by four rulers, but none of them have attempted to seize Demon's territory. Demon is the real owner of thirteen masks," Carl explained, looking at us one by one. "We are in danger, so be alert. Report anything suspicious immediately."

"Demon is dangerous. She is ranked number one and is known for her brutal fighting," Nathan whispered to the side. "Stanley and Carl, you will take care of security in the Caribbean. Demon can't get in there."

"Your father, Cyrus, is outside. We're leaving now. Be careful, and call one of us if anything happens," Master said, leading the others out of the room.

As they left, my father entered, his face as serious as always.

"Dad-"

"I heard what happened, and I'm disappointed in you. You couldn't catch Demon even though she was alone? Demon is a criminal in and out of the Underground, and you are a Yakuza prince. Will you let her defeat you?" I could see the veins on his face bulging every time he mentioned the name Demon. "I sacrificed a lot to get you where you are today. Don't waste that sacrifice. Kill Demon the next time you see her. Don't think twice." He turned and left without giving me a chance to explain.

Ahhh... He didn't even let me speak.

Demon is not a joke. I can't handle her alone.

I sat down and reached for my mask. Is the sacrifice Dad mentioned the lives of my mom and older brother? Did he sacrifice two lives for this mask?

I am not the one who should be here. My brother is the real owner of this mask. He was Dad's illegitimate child, but Mom and I got close to him, and Dad didn't like that, especially when he found out that my brother had the third mask. He couldn't allow his illegitimate son to be a district leader.

He couldn't accept it, so he ordered his men to kill my brother, but they didn't succeed because my brother was protected by Lord Vladimir.

One night, while we were sleeping soundly, about a hundred men entered our house. Mom and I were taken hostage to force my brother to show up, and because he loved us, he did.

"Let them go. I'm the one you need, right?" he said.

"No, my son, you should run away from here," my mom cried.

"Thank you so much for everything you did. Even though I am not your real child, you still consider me family. Thank you, Mom, and thank you too, Cyrus. I had fun with you," my brother said, then whispered to me, "Use the mask in a good way."

Then he walked away from us.

Hundreds of guns were pointed at him.

"NOOOOOOOOOOO!"

"BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!"

Mom ran towards my brother to shield him, but they were both hit by bullets.

My brother died to protect us, and Mom died to protect him. I did nothing but watch them die. They were killed by my father's men.

That same day, I was made the new owner of the third mask also the day I lost the two most important people in my life.

From that moment on, I promised myself that I would use the mask for good, just as my brother wanted. I wouldn't let Demon take it. She would have to kill me first before she could get this mask.

THIRD PERSON POV

Meanwhile, Demon was preparing for her next move. She stood in a dimly lit room, surrounded by maps and plans. Her eyes were cold and calculating.

"They won't know what hit them," she murmured to herself.

One of her underlings approached, bowing low. "Everything is in place, Mistress."

"Good," Demon said, her lips curling into a sinister smile. "It's time to show them the true power of the thirteen masks."

As she walked out of the room, her mind was already plotting her next attack. She was determined to reclaim what was rightfully hers, no matter the cost. And anyone who stood in her way would face her wrath.

CYRUS PARK (STORM)