Two weeks had passed since the battle in Toronto.
Rin Nanase spent his days recovering at home, his body wrapped in bandages and his mind haunted by the memories of that night. Chizuru stayed by his side, tending to his wounds and offering quiet comfort. Sebastian, meanwhile, spent his days buried in calls—handling Nanase Corporation’s issues.
That morning, Rin sat in the kitchen, eating eggs and toast as the television played softly in the background. The news anchor spoke with reverence, displaying images of the destroyed skyline and a mysterious silver figure.
"The city continues to rebuild after the Hallucinator’s attack. Many now hail the Dark Knight as a hero—the masked savior who risked his life to save Toronto.”
Rin stared at the screen quietly.
“Seems like more and more people are accepting you as the hero who saved the city,” Chizuru said as she walked past him. She stopped behind his chair, wrapping her arms gently around his neck.
Rin gave a faint smile. “Technically, they’re accepting the Dark Knight as the hero. Me, on the other hand… a lot of people still disapprove of how I didn’t see the Yubiwa infiltrating my company.”
“Cheer up,” she said, rubbing her cheek softly against his. “You made it clear you’re cleaning up Nanase Corporation. People will trust you again.”
He sighed lightly. “Yeah… maybe.”
Chizuru patted his shoulder and stepped back. “Come on, you’ve got a conference meeting to attend.”
---
By late morning, the grand hall at Nanase Tower buzzed with reporters and flashing cameras. Rin stood on stage, wearing a sharp suit, his arm still in a sling. Hundreds filled the room—press, employees, and executives—all waiting for the CEO’s first public appearance since the attack.
“Mister Nanase,” one reporter began, “how are you feeling? You’ve been absent for two weeks since the incident. What happened?”
“I was injured during the outbreak that night,” Rin replied calmly. “I needed time to recover.”
Another reporter spoke up. “Is it true that the Yubiwa organization was behind the attack? Why didn’t you act sooner?”
“At Nanase Corporation, we do everything possible to ensure the right people work with us,” Rin said. “Unfortunately, our systems were compromised. But I can assure you, after that night, the RCMP are actively tracking everyone connected to the Yubiwa.”
"What about Olsen Enterprise which was in partnership with Nanase Corporations?" The reporter asked.
"I figured that company was also just as unaware as I was, but we will be actively working together to filter out the Yubiwa from our companies."
“And what about Kevin Wei—the man known as the Hallucinator?”
Rin smirked faintly. “He’s been… disposed of. So there’s nothing to worry about.”
The audience chuckled.
“Do you have any contact with the Dark Knight?” someone called out.
Rin shrugged. “No. I don’t know anything about him.”
Another reporter raised her microphone. “Everyone knows the Hallucinator’s identity now. But the Dark Knight’s remains a mystery. What’s your take on him?”
“From my perspective,” Rin replied, “he’s a guy in a mask who beats up bad guys and saved the city from a deadly chemical attack. I’d say that’s a pretty talented man.”
Laughter spread through the hall again.
“And your plans moving forward?”
Rin straightened his posture. “We’ll continue working with the RCMP to track down all remaining Yubiwa members. I’ll cleanse Nanase Corporation from the inside out and rebuild it into something that benefits everyone. It won’t be like before.”
He smiled faintly. “And honestly, I wouldn’t mind if the Dark Knight showed up now and then to rough them up for us.”
The crowd laughed once more, their applause echoing across the hall.
---
That afternoon, gray clouds hung low over the city. Rin stood quietly in a cemetery on the outskirts of Toronto, a light drizzle falling over him. In front of him stood a tombstone engraved with the name:
Yuusuke Nanase
Rin gazed down in silence, his thoughts heavy. Sebastian approached slowly, stopping beside him.
“Seems like you admire someone you once hated,” Sebastian said softly.
Rin’s eyes didn’t move from the stone. “Something doesn’t make sense to me. I never thought he’d risk his life for me… or tell me to keep protecting the city.”
“Your original goal was to kill him as the masked vigilante,” Sebastian reminded. “Do you still intend to continue?”
Rin stood quietly for a moment, feeling the weight of the rain on his shoulders. His mind replayed everything that had happened—the battles, the explosions, his brother’s last words.
Finally, he exhaled.
“Yeah,” he said quietly. “But it’ll be different this time.”
He turned his gaze toward the city skyline in the distance.
“I’ll shed light into this city,” he said. “I can bring hope to everyone. That’s my goal now. After everything that’s happened…” He paused, his tone firming. “…this city still needs me.”
Rin looked back at Yuusuke’s grave one last time, his expression calm and resolute.
“I am the Dark Knight.”
YOU ARE READING
Dark Knight
AcciónA young multimillionaire decides to become a masked vigilante to find the one responsible for eliminating his entire family when he was a child. However, later on, he realizes that the city needs him as a criminal organization hides in the shadows t...
