The small gelato chef squinted at the group as they entered his shop. With a raised brow, he muttered, "Welcome. What do you want?!"
Xander strode to the counter, plopped onto a chair, and declared, "Brooklyn Choco Espada for all!"
The chef's smile vanished. He folded his arms. "Money first, sir."
Without hesitation, Xander flicked a single golden coin onto the table. It spun, catching the light, gleaming like a tiny sun before landing with a final, decisive clink.
The old man's eyes widened. He pulled out a dusty wooden box, his fingers trembling as he lifted the lid. The air itself seemed to hold its breath. As the hinges creaked, suspicion drained from his face, replaced by sheer disbelief.
"It's been a century since I last saw you, Your Highness!" the chef gasped. With a dramatic flourish, he peeled off his fake mustache. "Master Xander! How have you been?!"
With a knowing grin, he slid the ice cream across the counter. Just as they took their first bites, the wall behind the counter rumbled and split open, revealing a hidden high-tech passage. A metallic door emerged from the shadows, sliding open with a mechanical hiss.
"Please, step inside, sir!" the old man beckoned.
Xander, Sam, and Ethan exchanged glances before stepping through the secret entrance. Inside, the air turned crisp, carrying the scent of metal and machine oil. A low hum pulsed through the underground facility, where rows of terminals flickered with cascading encrypted data. Middle-aged tech experts frantically jumped between workstations, trading crypto coins and mining intelligence from confidential agencies.
At the heart of the room, stacks of golden coins gleamed under the fluorescent glow.
Xander surveyed the room and nodded. "Bring me forty coins in a bag."
A woman carefully selected the coins from a secure case and handed them over. Xander took the bag, smirking. "I'm leaving all this crap to you."
Outside, Alex and Ben lounged on a barricade, enjoying their ice cream. A girl stood nearby, gazing at the ocean.
"Aren't you afraid of falling?" she asked. "Also, where did you get that ice cream?"
Ben, mid-bite, pointed his spoon lazily. "Shop behind us."
The girl hesitated before nodding. "Hmm."
Alex sighed, got up, and walked back to the shop. Moments later, he returned, holding out an ice cream. She took it cautiously.
"Who is she?" Xander asked, approaching.
Alex shrugged. "She just wanted ice cream, so I got her one."
Xander narrowed his eyes. "Do you know Rachel Brave Light?"
The girl tilted her head. "My grandma?my name is Athina rachel"
Sam chuckled as he walked up. "Figures. She looks just like her."
Xander nodded. "Kid, follow us. We knew your grandmother."
The girl snorted. "Oh sure, and I'm the Queen of Ice Cream Land. You expect me to trust a bunch of strangers? You could be kidnappers! Or worse... scammers!"
Xander and Sam exchanged a glance… then burst into uncontrollable laughter.
The girl frowned, crossing her arms. "What's so funny?! Who do you think I am?!"
Xander wiped a tear from his eye. "Oh, she's definitely Rachel's granddaughter. Same attitude, same temper, same immediate distrust of everything. I love it."
Sam grinned. "Just like a little sparrow—tiny, feisty, and ready to peck your eyes out."
"HELLO?! STILL HERE!" she shouted, stomping her foot. "You guys are SO rude! I should report you for suspicious behavior!"
Xander smirked. "Oh no, please don't. What will we do if the neighborhood watch comes after us? Sam, do you think we could outrun them?"
Sam rubbed his chin. "Mmm... might be tough. Last time, one of them chased me five blocks because I 'suspiciously' sneezed near their dog."
The girl huffed. "Ugh! You guys are impossible!"
As she stormed off, Alex looked at Xander. "Father, why did you tease her?"
Xander smirked. "Because she reminds me of your Aunt Rachel."
Sam chuckled. "You used to play with Rachel all the time when you were a kid. She adored you."
Alex took another bite of his ice cream and muttered, "This family is so weird."
Xander pulled out a sleek, black suitcase and placed it in Alex's hands. His voice was steady, but there was something unreadable in his eyes. "Whenever you need money… just use these coins. Take as much as you need."
Alex hesitated, feeling the weight of the case in his grip.
Xander turned to Ethan. "We're going to Lightcase Bank."
Ethan simply nodded.
Sam folded his arms. "I don't know what you're up to… but at least throw me a damn clue."
Xander smirked. "Nothing big. Just making things official."
Sam scoffed. "Official? What hires?" Then it hit him. His posture straightened. His breath caught. "…Idiot. This is more complex than you're making it sound. You need to—"
Xander cut him off. "We already decided, Sam. Why delay?" His gaze sharpened. "Rachel has already passed her mantle to her heir."
A heavy silence settled between them.
Xander turned to Alex. "You are going to be my heir. Captain of Trinity."
Alex stiffened. "What?"
Xander's gaze didn't waver. "You will lead. You will fight thousands of monsters. You will face power unlike anything you've ever seen."
Alex swallowed. "Why… why me?"
Xander placed a firm hand on Alex's shoulder, his voice dropping to something almost reverent. "Because you are my son. The noblest blood runs through you. That's why."
Alex inhaled deeply. Then, with a slow nod, he answered, "Okay. I'll do my best."
Xander nodded, satisfied. Then turned. "Sam. It's your time."
Ethan gripped the steering wheel tighter. "I'm listening."
Sam's voice was eerily calm. "I'm making Ben my successor."
The words hung like a silent explosion.
Sam's voice cut through the stillness. "He possesses light. He may live ten thousand years. He will watch his own bloodline fade before his eyes. He will endure strict training. He will never have the luxury of love. That door is sealed. he had to fight with the monster that earth never heard of !"
Ethan took a slow breath. "…What kind of creatures?"
Xander's gaze met his in the mirror. His words came slow. Deliberate.
"Catastrophe class. SSS grade."
Silence.
Ethan exhaled. "You know what that means."
Xander's expression darkened as sunlight cut across his face, carving sharp shadows. His voice was low. Steady. Like the calm before a storm.
"We've all made sacrifices. They've saved thousands—but this path isn't for just anyone." He turned, gaze piercing. "It must be chosen by one with a noble soul and a fearless heart."
Sam took a deep breath, then called out, "Ben! I have a question for you. Do you want to live a normal life, like any other man, or do you want a life like mine?"
Ben's eyes burned with conviction. "I want to live like you!"
Ethan's expression hardened. "Why, Ben? Don't you hate being me?"
"No!" Ben shook his head fiercely. "My father saves lives. He fights for humanity. That's the only life worth living. Being a cool hero in the shadows is better than sitting in an office doing nothing."
Ethan's voice grew heavy. "Ben, you've made your choice... but understand this—there's no turning back. You will walk through hell. You will watch your friends die. You will know loneliness deeper than any abyss. And there will be days when death feels like mercy."
Ben grinned, his twelve-year-old heart undaunted. "Dad! I want to follow in your footsteps! I've always wanted to be a hero like you. I fear no one but my God. That's what I believe in."
Ethan's face darkened. "Ben… this is a hell you and I have never fully known. For the greater good, you will have to leave behind me, your mother, your friends—everything you love. Can you bear that?"
Ben clenched his fists, eyes blazing with unshaken resolve. "
"If I can't protect the ones I love, then what's the point of growing up safe? A hero isn't someone who hides behind comfort—they stand, they fight, no matter the cost!"
Ben's fists clenched at his sides, his small frame trembling—not with fear, but with determination. He looked up at his father, eyes burning with a fire beyond his years.
"I won't just stand by while the people I love suffer!" His voice, though young, carried the weight of a warrior's resolve. "I want to fight—side by side with you, with everyone!"
The night wind howled, whipping through his hair, but he stood firm. He knew what this path meant. He knew the cost. His father's words echoed in his mind—loss, loneliness, sacrifice. But none of it scared him.
He lifted his chin. "I may be a kid now, but one day, I'll be strong enough to protect them all. And I'll do it without spilling innocent blood. That's my promise!"
His voice rang through the cold air, unwavering. No hesitation. No doubt.
Ethan stared at his son, studying him, searching for the fear that should've been there. But there was none. Just conviction. Just belief.
And for the first time… Ethan wasn't sure whether to feel pride or fear