Dark Knight

The Search Begins

It had been a few days since Rin Nanase departed from Canada on a private jet bound for Japan. His destination-Tokyo.

Upon arrival, Rin spent the following days settling into a quiet apartment while conducting his search for the organization known as Yubiwa. Despite his efforts, there were no sightings, no whispers-no trace of the elusive group.

One early evening, as the neon lights of Tokyo flickered to life, Rin walked through the crowded streets in his black trench coat. The city buzzed around him-cars honking, chatter filling the air-when suddenly, he bumped into a man walking in the opposite direction.

The stranger dropped his wallet. Both men halted. Their eyes met for a moment before the man crouched to retrieve it. As his jacket sleeve slid up, Rin's gaze froze-there, inked into the man's forearm, was a tattoo.

An insignia.
The same one that belonged to Yubiwa.

Rin's heart tightened. The man rose, slipping the wallet back into his pocket. He glanced over his shoulder once, suspicion flickering in his eyes, before continuing down the street.

Rin followed.

Blending into the crowd, he shadowed the man through the bustling city until they reached a dark, narrow alleyway. The man turned into a side passage, meeting with three others-three men and one woman dressed revealingly.

Rin pressed himself against the wall, peering around the corner. They spoke in Japanese, voices low but clear enough for him to catch fragments: money, women, alcohol, drugs, theft. Street scum, but connected.

As he crouched to listen, his foot brushed against an empty bottle.

It clattered across the pavement.

The entire group turned.

"Hey! Who's there?" one of the men barked. "Show yourself!"

Rin exhaled slowly and stepped into the open, his face calm and unreadable.

"Wait," one of them said, squinting. "I remember you-you're the guy who bumped into me earlier!" He pointed accusingly. "You look familiar... who are you?"

"He kinda looks like the CEO of Nanase Corporations," another murmured.

"Rin Nanase? No way!" the third exclaimed, eyes wide.

"No doubt," the woman said softly. "It's actually him."

Rin's cold gaze swept across the group.
"So you know who I am," he said. "Then you must also know the Yubiwa organization. Am I right?"

The alley fell silent. The men exchanged wary glances but said nothing.

Rin took a step closer. "Then you must know Yuusuke Nanase. Where is he?"

The leader sneered. "Who the hell do you think you are?"

"If you refuse to tell me," Rin replied, his voice hardening, "I'll have no choice but to force it out of you."

"Why, you-" the man lunged forward, pulling a pocket knife from his jacket and swinging it toward Rin's throat.

Rin's arm shot up, catching the attacker's wrist mid-swing. With a swift motion, he struck the man in the stomach, then followed with a hard punch to the face, sending him stumbling backward.

The remaining three charged in at once. The woman retreated against the wall, wide-eyed as the fight broke out.

Rin ducked beneath an incoming punch, grabbing the attacker's arm and twisting it before landing a brutal strike to his face. But a sudden kick slammed into Rin's torso, sending him staggering back. The second man pressed the attack, throwing a flurry of punches. Rin blocked each blow, retaliating with two sharp strikes to the man's jaw.

He turned-just in time to catch another kick aimed at his head. It sent him off balance, but before the next attacker could stomp down on him, Rin caught the man's leg with both hands and kicked his other foot out from under him. The man fell hard.

Rin mounted him and drove a fist into his face. "Where is he?!" he shouted, grabbing the man by his collar and lifting him slightly off the ground.

Then-a sound.
Footsteps.

A voice echoed down the alleyway. "Well, well, well... I never thought I'd see Rin Nanase appear in person."

Rin turned his head. A man in his early forties stepped into view-dark brown hair, gray trench coat, and the sharp eyes of someone who'd seen far too much. His posture was calm, confident.

Rin rose slowly, fists clenched. "You're next if you don't tell me where he is."

The man smiled faintly. "It's admirable-your determination to hunt down the one who slaughtered your family. You've got skill, I'll give you that. But I wonder..." He stepped closer. "Can you defeat me?"

Rin said nothing. He lunged.

His fist shot forward, but the man caught it effortlessly and countered with a heavy blow to Rin's side. Rin grunted, twisted free, and swung again-right, then left-but both strikes were deflected.

The man moved like water, fluid and precise. He grabbed Rin's forearm, only for Rin to elbow his arm sharply, breaking free and spinning around to deliver a backfist. The man blocked it and drove another punch into Rin's ribs.

The pain radiated through Rin's body, but he refused to yield. He attacked again-punches, kicks, feints-but the man countered every move, striking back with equal power and precision.

Finally, a kick sent Rin crashing to the ground. He hit the pavement hard, breathing heavily, sweat and exhaustion clouding his vision.

The man approached, kneeling beside him. "You're quite skilled, young man," he said calmly. "But not skilled enough."

Rin stared up at him, too drained to reply.

"I'll tell you what," the man continued, his tone softening. "I can help you get stronger-and find Yuusuke. Seek out an individual named Arban in Khüiten Peak, Mongolia. You'll find what you're looking for there."

He gently patted Rin's chest, then stood. With a gesture, he signaled for the others to leave. The woman followed them, glancing once more at Rin before disappearing into the night.

Rin lay there for a long moment, catching his breath under the dim light of the alleyway. Then, slowly, he pushed himself to his feet.

Mongolia... Arban...

He had his next lead.

Rin Nanase would not stop-not until Yuusuke paid in full.

And so, with the fire of vengeance burning once again, Rin left Japan and set his course for Mongolia-toward the next step in his long, merciless hunt.