[Let's go back in time to understand the previous chapter.]
[Morning, the same day before the incident.]
Hina came out of the bedroom after getting ready for work. As she entered the living room, she saw her husband, Jin, making breakfast in the kitchen. The rich aroma of sizzling food filled the air, mingling with the faint scent of coffee.
Jin was a househusband who worked as an artist and stayed at home, while Hina was an Evolver officer, the head of Tokyo Headquarters.
She walked into the kitchen and climbed onto Jin's back, wrapping her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist. Her body pressed against him as she leaned in, resting her chin on his shoulder from behind.
"I'm hungry, dear. When will breakfast be ready?" she murmured softly, her tone playful and childlike.
Her warm breath brushed against his skin as she clung to him, swaying slightly in his hold. The scent of his familiar cologne mixed with the comforting smell of breakfast, making the moment feel even cozier.
Jin continued to cook, completely used to Hina clinging to him. The warmth of her body against his back was familiar, almost second nature by now. He flipped the last pancake onto a plate, the golden-brown surface glistening slightly with butter. The scent of freshly cooked food filled the air.
"Oh, it's almost ready. Sit at the table, and I'll serve breakfast," he said gently, his voice calm and soothing.
Hina sighed softly before climbing down from him, her feet touching the cool floor. She stretched her arms briefly, then made her way to the dining table, pulling out a chair and sitting down. Her eyes followed Jin as he moved around the kitchen with practiced ease, arranging the plates and pouring a cup of coffee for her.
A moment later, he brought the food to the table, setting it down in front of her before taking his seat. The meal was simple but comforting—warm pancakes, eggs, and a side of fruit.
They began eating together, the quiet sounds of clinking utensils filling the room. The morning air was peaceful, making it feel like a perfect, ordinary start to the day.
After breakfast, Hina got up, grabbed her long black coat, and slipped it on before putting on her shoes, preparing to leave for work.
"I'll be going then, dear. Bye," she said softly, leaning in to place a gentle kiss on Jin's lips.
As they pulled back from the kiss, Jin looked at her with a calm expression. "When will you be back? I'll make dinner around that time," he said gently, reaching out to pet her head.
Hina let out a small breath, feeling the warmth of his hand. "Oh, eat alone tonight. I'll be late. I'm going to Osaka—there's a sea monster problem," she replied softly.
"Osaka… Why? Aren't there Evolvers there?" he asked gently, his tone curious but calm.
"There are, but it's a big problem. They need someone stronger. Since the head of Osaka is in China for a meeting, she asked me for help," Hina explained. "Bye then, see you tonight." She wrapped her arms around him in a brief hug before turning to leave.
"Bye, take care," Jin said gently, watching as the door closed behind her. He stood still for a moment before turning back to continue the house chores.
As the hours passed, Hina remained in Osaka, the sky now a shade of deepening orange as the sun sank toward the horizon. It was 4 p.m., and she stood at the port, her arms crossed as she stared out at the sea.
Beside her, a small group of Evolvers and port officials watched in silence. The ocean stretched endlessly before them, its surface eerily calm. Not a single sea monster had appeared today—not even a minor disturbance. It was strange. Unsettling. Normally, these waters were a hotspot for attacks, yet now, the waves lapped gently against the docks, reflecting the dim glow of the port lights as if nothing was wrong.
Something didn't sit right with her. But since the cheif of the Osaka was arriving in some hours she don't see the point of staying there.
After exchanging a few words with the others and giving instructions, Hina finally left the port. She slipped into her black car, started the engine, and pulled onto the road, heading back to Tokyo.
Four Hours Later – 8 p.m.
The once bright sky had faded into darkness, the roads illuminated only by streetlights and the occasional passing car. She had been driving for hours, her focus locked on the highway ahead. By now, she was at least 80 km away from Tokyo, the city still a distant glow on the horizon.
The rhythmic hum of the car engine and the faint whooshing of the wind against the windows filled the silence—until suddenly, her phone rang.
The sharp sound made her flinch slightly. With one hand still on the wheel, she reached for her phone, glancing at the screen. Haru.
A bad feeling crept into her chest.
She pressed the button to answer. "What is it, Haru?" she asked, her tone calm but firm.
There was a brief crackle on the other end, followed by Haru's voice—uneven, nervous.
"The thing is… that…" His words wavered, cutting in and out.
Hina's brows furrowed. "Haru, just say it already! What is it?"
Her sharp tone filled the car. She wasn't in the mood for hesitation, and Haru's nervousness only made her frustration grow.
"The thing is…" Haru hesitated, taking a sharp breath before finally saying it. "Someone put a bounty on Mr. Jin's head."
Hina's grip on the steering wheel tightened, her heart skipping a beat. Her foot instinctively hit the brakes, the tires screeching slightly as the car came to a halt on the side of the road.
She froze.
Her mind raced, but she forced her voice to stay steady. "What the hell do you mean by that?" she demanded, frustration laced with rising anger.
"I don't know who did it or why, but I'll find out!" Haru said, his nervousness clear through the phone.
Without another word, she cut the call and restarted the engine, slamming her foot on the accelerator. The car roared forward at full speed. Luckily, the road was clear—no traffic, no delays.
Time felt painfully slow as she drove. Every second mattered.
Minutes Later – 40 km from Tokyo
Hina had been pushing the car to its limits, the city lights now visible in the distance. Just then, her phone rang again.
She glanced at the screen—Haru.
Still gripping the wheel with one hand, she answered. "What is it now?" she snapped, her frustration barely contained.
"They raised the bounty… and now it's gone," Haru said, his voice laced with urgency.
Her breath caught.
The bounty was gone. That meant someone had taken it.
In this world, once a bounty was placed, it wasn't easy to erase. Someone had already accepted the job. That realization made her stomach twist.
Her fingers clenched around the wheel. She pressed the gas harder.
"Send every available Evolver to my house—now!" she ordered, her voice sharp with desperation.
She didn't wait for a response. She cut the call and immediately dialed Jin.
Still off.
It had been off for hours. She had tried multiple times.
Her hands trembled slightly as she gritted her teeth. The longer it stayed off, the worse her gut feeling became.
She wasn't just frustrated anymore.
She was scared.
[After that what happen was already in chapter 1 but to clear things more let's see what happen on Jin side]
After Hina left for Osaka in the morning, Jin went about his day as usual, following his daily routine with quiet ease.
Now, it was 9 p.m. The house was peaceful, the faint hum of the stove filling the kitchen as he chopped vegetables with practiced movements. He had assumed Hina would be back in about an hour or so, so he decided to start cooking dinner.
Earlier in the day, while working on a painting, a few drops of paint had accidentally spilled onto his phone, causing it to shut off. He had set it aside, planning to clean it later.
Jin stood at the counter, wearing a simple black apron over his clothes, the soft scraping sound of the knife against the cutting board the only noise in the room.
Then—the sharp crash of glass shattered the silence.
His hand paused mid-cut. His brown eyes lifted from the cutting board, shifting toward the living room.
Three men stood there, shards of broken glass at their feet.
Jin took in the scene with a glance—the cold expressions, the way they carried themselves. Uninvited guests, and judging by their entrance, they weren't here for a friendly visit.
Yet, his expression remained calm.
He didn't flinch. He didn't show even the slightest hint of concern.
Instead, he casually continued cutting the vegetables, his voice as gentle as ever.
"You know," he said, as if making small talk, "you could've just used the front door. I just cleaned the house."
The blade of his knife glided smoothly through the vegetables, as if nothing had changed at all.
One of the three men stepped forward, a creepy smile stretching across his face. His red hair was messy, and his flat tone carried an unsettling edge.
"Do you know why we're here? Or who we are?" he asked, his grin never fading.
Jin glanced up, his brown eyes meeting the man's for a brief moment before returning to his cooking.
"Hmm… maybe thieves?" he said gently, slicing through another vegetable as if nothing was out of the ordinary.
The red-haired man let out a chuckle, but it lacked amusement.
"That's too low, you know."
Another man, this one with yellow hair, scoffed and crossed his arms. "We're professional bounty hunters."
Jin's hand paused for a fraction of a second before resuming. "Bounty hunters?" he repeated, his voice still calm but carrying a hint of mild surprise.
"Looks like you've got the wrong house," he said gently. "I don't have any bounty on me."
The third man, with green hair, leaned against the counter, his eyes watching Jin carefully. "No, we're at the right place. You're Riyozaki Jin, right? The one with a 100 million USD bounty on his head."
Jin finally stopped, setting the knife down. He wiped his hands on a nearby cloth, then turned slightly to face them.
"I am Riyozaki Jin," he admitted, his voice still as soft and unshaken as before. "But I don't have a bounty on me."
A brief silence filled the room before he spoke again, his expression unreadable.
"And even if I did… how exactly do you three plan to split it?" His gaze moved between them, sharp yet strangely amused. "Since I can tell—you don't work together."
For the first time since entering, the three men exchanged glances.
"Oh, you don't need to worry about that. We'll each take 33 million and donate 1 million," the red-haired man said casually, his creepy grin never fading.
Jin let out a soft chuckle, shaking his head. "Donate? What kind-hearted killers you all are." His voice was gentle, yet laced with quiet amusement.
Before anyone could respond, the green-haired man suddenly raised his left hand, pointing it straight at Jin.
"We're not here for chit-chat," he said coldly.
A second later, water swirled around his palm, rapidly forming into bullet-like shapes.
Then—he flicked his index finger.
A barrage of water bullets fired toward Jin with incredible speed, tearing through the kitchen.
CRASH! The impact shattered cabinets, sent dishes flying, and ripped through the walls, leaving holes in the once-pristine kitchen.
But when the dust settled—Jin was gone.
The green-haired man's sharp eyes scanned the wreckage. No sign of him.
Then—
"You know…"
A gentle voice came from right behind him.
"It cost me a lot to make that kitchen look beautiful. And now you've ruined it."
The green-haired man's body stiffened. Cold sweat ran down his neck.
Before he could react, he whipped around and unleashed another wave of water bullets—over a hundred of them—
BOOM! The attack tore through the room, leaving the house in complete chaos.
But Jin?
He was nowhere to be seen.
Out of nowhere, Jin appeared right in front of the green-haired man.
His golden eyes, usually warm, were now ice-cold.
"You just destroyed my wedding photo."
His voice was no longer gentle. No warmth. No amusement. Only a cold, quiet rage.
Before the man could react—
SLASH.
Jin's kitchen knife tore through his arm.
Then—
SLASH. SLASH. SLASH.
One after another, Jin's blade danced, cutting through flesh at terrifying speed.
The green-haired man couldn't even scream.
In just seconds, Jin had slashed him over a hundred times.
Blood splattered across the kitchen, across Jin's black apron, across the ruined walls.
Then—THUD.
The green-haired man collapsed.
His body twitched, drenched in red.
Jin stood over him, the kitchen knife dripping.
His expression?
Still calm.
But now—deadly.
As the green-haired man collapsed, the expressions of the remaining two men turned deadly serious.
No hesitation.
They rushed at Jin at the same time.
The red-haired man lunged forward, his body suddenly engulfed in flames.
With fire coiling around his fist, he threw a devastating punch straight at Jin's face.
Just inches away—
Jin caught his arm.
With one swift motion, he twisted his grip and hurled the red-haired man across the house.
CRASH!
The man's body tore through the walls, smashing through one after another.
BOOM!
He finally landed outside, crashing into a large tree in the garden.
The force bent the entire trunk.
Blood trickled from his mouth, his body slumped against the bark.
The red-haired man was sent flying, but his partner didn't hesitate.
The yellow-haired man ducked low, his body moving like a shadow as he threw a devastating punch toward Jin's stomach.
SNAP—
Jin caught his fist.
A flicker of shock crossed the yellow-haired man's face, but he didn't stop.
He launched another punch—
Caught.
Another— Caught.
Faster. More ferocious. Blow after blow.
But Jin's hands were like steel traps, catching every single attack with precision.
Their movements blurred, too fast for an ordinary human to even perceive.
Then— Jin countered.
CRACK—
A sharp, crushing punch to the man's wrist.
CRACK—
Another to the opposite wrist.
POP! CRACK! SNAP!
Jin dismantled his guard, breaking through his arms like they were nothing.
The yellow-haired man let out a choked gasp, his body betraying him.
He had no defense left.
Jin moved in.
BOOM— A fist slammed into his chest.
BOOM— Another to the stomach.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Jin's punches landed like gunfire, tearing through him.
His opponent staggered back, coughing up blood. His body shook violently.
Then— he screamed.
With a desperate roar, he threw his broken arms outward.
The air around them exploded.
WHOOSH—
A furious storm erupted, spiraling outward like a hurricane.
The entire house trembled, walls splitting, windows shattering.
Then—
BOOOOOOM!
The house was ripped apart, reduced to nothing but debris and dust.
"You really destroyed the house... What will I tell my wife now?" Jin's voice was cold, stripped of all warmth.
The yellow-haired man barely had a second to react before—
BOOM!
Jin was already in front of him.
WHOOSH!
His right leg shot up— fast, sharp, unstoppable.
BAM!
It came crashing down.
CRACK!
The yellow-haired man's face slammed into the ground, the sheer force splitting the floor apart. Debris and dust blasted into the air as the entire house shook from the impact.
He didn't move. His body twitched, half-buried in the shattered ground, his breathing ragged.
Jin stepped back, looking at the wreckage around him. His eyes were cold.
"Tch... What a pain."
Suddenly—
FWOOOSH!
A massive blaze erupted from the garden. Flames roared as a figure emerged, stepping through the fire.
It was the red-haired man.
His hands burned with raging flames, his eyes locked onto Jin with fierce determination.
Then—
BOOM!
He launched forward, his entire body propelled by a fiery explosion. The air shimmered from the heat as he flew straight at Jin, closing the distance in an instant.
With both hands raised high, he prepared to smash Jin down with a fire-fueled strike—
THWACK!
Jin's fist met his face first.
The impact was brutal.
BAM!
The red-haired man's body whipped backward, slamming into the ground with a thunderous crash. The flames around his hands flickered, and smoke curled from where he lay, motionless.
Now, Jin was standing covered in the blood of these men.
Then, Hina arrived, covered in sweat and breathing heavily since she had run over 20 km in a few minutes.
[Chapter 2 end]
Author's Note:
This chapter concludes the previous events and brings clarity to the current situation.
In the next chapter, I'll introduce Evolvers, their powers, and the world they live in.
After that, the story will continue!