A Man Beneath The Mask

Chapter: 1. The Mask Man.

Manila
9 P.M.

On a frigid night in Manila, near Pasig River, a homeless man rummaged through a trash bin in search of food. With rain falling on him, he found nothing but empty containers and scraps of rotten food. Just as he was about to surrender, a man with an umbrella approached him. His voice was cold, yet his actions were kindness itself.

-Are you searching for something to consume? (the man with an umbrella asked.)

The homeless man looked at the elegant brown shoes that the man wore, and he knew that he was in front of someone wealthy. "I haven't eaten in days. I only have enough energy left to get up from my knees," he said, sounding desperate. "If you have anything to feed me, I will be grateful to you," the homeless man continued, his voice heavy with the weight of hunger and suffering. The Man helps the homeless to get up on his feet. While holding the bum, the man offered the homeless a deal that he couldn't refuse:

-If you come with me, I will give you not just food, but also a job to help you change your life.

Confused and intrigued at the same time, the bum asked
"A job, sir? But how? I don't have any Identification with me... I don't even have a resume"

-I don't recall asking for any of that. (The rich man's confident answer)

Despite not knowing who the man was or where he was going, the homeless man accepted the offer without hesitation. He couldn't resist the promise of food, and even more, a job that would lift him out of his miserable situation. After all, the man seemed like a good person, and there was something about him that instilled confidence in the homeless.

It was dark that night, and the rich man was unrecognizable due to the dark surroundings, but it seemed like something was covering the rich man's face - a mask. As the masked man led the homeless person to his car, which was parked nearby, the light from its headlights shone on the masked man's face. The homeless person froze in shock at what he saw. The masked man's head was covered from the neck down to the hair. In addition, he had a black wig on, and a white mask sat upon his face, adorned with a gold cross. The bum is shocked and almost backs out, but the masked man assures him that he is in good hands.

-MaskMan: Relax, you are in good hands. (the masked man told him, seeing his frightened expression.)

Meanwhile:
Place: Shelter
10:30 P.M. 

In a small corner of Quezon City, there was a homeless shelter occupying an area of 60,000 square feet and enclosed by a wall 30 feet high, and the gate stood 15 feet tall, with a smaller gate perfect for people to pass through. Within the shelter's perimeter stood five buildings, each serving a specific purpose. Building 1 housed the offices where the recruits worked, standing five floors tall. In Building 2, there was a gym, library, video game room, sports area, and various other entertainment options, on the third floor, stood the shelter's church with three floors in total. Both buildings 3 and 4 were the largest ones, each measuring an area of 5,500 square feet and standing 10 floors tall. Each floor consisted of five rooms suitable for accommodating 20 to 30 people. This served as the main sleeping quarters for the recruits, and all buildings 1,2,3, and 4 had their canteen to prevent the people from moving between buildings when it was time to eat. The final building was the personal quarters of Maskman and his trusted personnel, and no one was allowed access without proper authorization. It was off-limits to everyone except the authorized personnel.

This shelter was a place of refuge for those who had fallen in hard times, a sanctuary for those who had been forgotten by society. But this was more than just a shelter for the oppressed; it was a beacon of hope for those who had lost their way and a chance for a brighter future for those who had been dealt a bad hand. The shelter was a second chance for those who had been discarded by life. It was founded by the mysterious Maskman. No one knew why he had decided to build it, nor did anyone know that he was the one who created it in the first place, no one bothered to ask. The only thing that mattered to the homeless people was the second chance that destiny had granted them.