Chapter 32: World Heroes

It had been nine months since the storm of the Anachronisms had passed, leaving a fragile peace in its wake. Time, once shattered beyond repair, had slowly begun to mend. The team had spent the better part of those months doing what they could to set things right—helping displaced tribes return to their proper eras, resolving anomalies, and erasing traces of the chaos that had nearly torn their world apart.

Out of the 109 known Anachronisms, 84 had been resolved, and the rest were being monitored closely. It was a bittersweet victory—while they had done their part, they knew that time was a ticking bomb, waiting to explode again. For now, though, the team had found a semblance of peace.

Alec walked through the old, crumbling streets of the city, his steps quiet on the cracked pavement. Things were different now—better, even—but the weight of the past still hung over him. Despite the successes and the momentary calm, there was always that gnawing feeling in his gut, a constant reminder that the world had been fundamentally changed, and it was only a matter of time before something new came up.

As he passed through the city’s busy streets, a sudden thought popped into his head. “We’ve all been healed,” Alec muttered to himself, his gaze drifting over the people passing by, their faces full of life and unspoken secrets.

The media still had no idea who they truly were—the team had done a masterful job confusing their identities. None of them were famous, and none of them had any intention of ever becoming so. The people around them believed they were just ordinary citizens, living normal lives. It was all part of their plan to stay under the radar, ensuring that the world stayed safe from the knowledge of their true power.

Ken had remained a police officer throughout the ordeal. His dedication to his job never wavered, even as his work behind the scenes took on more importance. While the others were working on closing the Anachronisms, Ken kept his focus on investigating Yusen. It was something that had always nagged at him, a feeling that something about Yusen’s rise to power wasn’t as straightforward as it seemed.

Ken had kept his investigation quiet, working in the shadows, digging into Yusen’s past, and following leads that seemed to disappear as quickly as they came. The others weren’t aware of the full extent of Ken’s digging, but now, it seemed like it was time to bring the truth to light.

Alec’s phone buzzed, and he pulled it out to see a message from Ken: “Meet me in the usual spot. We need to talk.”

Alec didn’t hesitate. He knew what Ken’s “usual spot” was—an old diner on the edge of town, one of the few places where they could talk without fear of being overheard. The secrecy of their lives still weighed on them, and any slip-up could lead to disaster.

As he entered the diner, he spotted Ken sitting in the back booth, his eyes scanning the room with the sharp focus of someone who was always on alert. Ken’s job had given him a keen sense of awareness, one that served him well in their line of work. He wasn’t just a cop; he was a protector, watching over everyone, whether they knew it or not.

Alec slid into the booth across from him, his curiosity growing with each step. "What’s going on?" he asked quietly.

Ken didn’t immediately respond. Instead, he reached into his jacket and pulled out a file, sliding it across the table toward Alec. The folder was worn, its edges frayed from constant handling. Ken’s expression was serious, his jaw set.

"I’ve been looking into Yusen," Ken began, his voice low. "Something doesn’t sit right with me about him. And I’ve found something that might explain why he changed. One of Yusen’s old friends told me that he wasn’t always the same person. One day, he just… became someone else. A completely different person. They didn’t know what caused it, but they said something happened—a shift in him that no one could explain."

Alec took the folder and flipped it open. Inside were notes, pictures, and statements from people who had known Yusen before he had become the figure they all feared. "What are you saying? That he wasn’t always like this? That Yusen is hiding something?"

Ken nodded, his gaze unwavering. "I think there’s more to Yusen than we know. And we need to find out what happened. If there’s something in his past that changed him, it could be the key to understanding his motivations. We’ve been dealing with the effects of his actions for months, but maybe we’ve been looking at it all wrong."

"So, what now?" Alec asked, his voice steady. "We follow the trail? Try to find this old friend of his?"

Ken nodded. "I’m going to dig deeper. If this friend knows something, they might be able to fill in the gaps. I believe we’ve been dealing with the consequences of Yusen’s actions for too long. It’s time we get to the bottom of it."

Alec stood, closing the folder and tucking it under his arm. "Alright. We’ll keep our eyes open. But if this leads to something bigger, we need to be ready for whatever comes next."

Ken stood as well, giving Alec a brief, knowing look. "I’ll keep you updated. Just be careful. Yusen’s no fool. If he’s hiding something, it could be dangerous."

Alec nodded, the weight of the task ahead pressing down on him. As he walked out of the diner, his mind raced. The peaceful life they’d managed to carve out for themselves was only temporary. If Ken’s investigation into Yusen was right, then everything they thought they knew was about to be turned upside down.