Chapter 23 — Twin

(Thursday, 21 April 2050 — two hours later)
◽ Draken Burn Bar ◽
The bar stank of stale alcohol and cheap perfume. Yong pushed through the door, face red with fury, and slid into his usual booth like a man who’d swallowed humiliation whole.
Ryota glanced his way and snickered. 「So it’s true — a woman beat you so badly you look like that.」
Yong’s jaw tightened. 「Shut up, you arrogant Riben guizi.」
Ryota scoffed and tossed an insult back. The table’s mood was sharp, brittle.
Akuma watched them both with quiet annoyance, thoughts like a coiled wire. 【Maybe I should’ve left this to my two Asuras instead of these idiots. If I had, we’d know who’s behind the recent mess already.】 He forced a breath and stayed silent.
「Did you get your revenge on those ‘weak women’ you hate so much?」 Ryota asked, relish in his tone.
Yong ground his teeth. 「I was going to—then I saw him on campus today.」
Both Ryota and Akuma froze. 「What? That can’t be. Our intel said he was still in Italy.」
Yong pressed his palm to the table. 「Either our people lied, or I saw what I saw. There’s only one Hei gui in this city.」
Akuma narrowed his eyes. 「Did he wear glasses?」
Yong blinked. 「Why would that matter?」
Akuma didn’t answer the question—he asked another. 「Yes or no.」
Yong’s voice was flat. 「Yes. He did.」
Akuma’s face went still. 「Was his hair navy blue?」
Yong swore. 「No. Brown.」
Akuma let out a long sigh. 「Dammit. It’s Devon.」
Ryota’s face fell. 「Devon? Who’s Devon?」
Akuma’s tone grew deadly calm. 「Even if Devon is weaker than Jerry, he’s stronger than both of you combined—maybe even stronger than me in my current state.」
The booth fell silent. Fear ran slow through Ryota and Yong.
Akuma’s eyes were cold, factual. 「You two need to understand the situation. On the battlefield those two were called Amon and Andras—demonic names tied to wrath. Their lineage… their mother was whispered about like the devil incarnate. You know the old saying: Satan’s greatest soldiers.」
Ryota swallowed. 「No… it can’t be—」
Akuma leaned closer. 「The act you see now is just that—an act. They follow rules. As long as we don’t break those rules, we are bound by our native counties law. If we push wrong, the cost is catastrophic.」
Yong tried to laugh it off, but it sounded hollow. 「So they actually have restrictions. Like seasons turning—winter snows, summer burns. They play by a universal code.」
Ryota slammed his fist on the table, rage and humiliation boiling through him. 「So that’s what he meant by ‘restrictions’! That whore knew! She must’ve known about this!」
Yong took a slow sip of his drink and smirked, but his eyes were sharp. 「Trouble in paradise.」
Ryota stood abruptly. 「I have to leave for a while—see you in a few days.」 He spat the words and stormed out.
Akuma watched him go and warned, 「Whatever you do, don’t jeopardize the plan.」
Yong remained, voice low and hateful. 「Why do you know so much about this Hei gui?」
Akuma’s answer was simple and dangerous. 「Same reason he can’t find this bar: it’s owned by their biggest opposition the N. W. O. Your job is to make sure the plan goes smoothly. Leave the rest to the organization. Understood?」
Yong ground out a curse under his breath. 【This damned Riben guizi. I’ll make him pay for ordering someone from the Great Liu around like this.】
◽ Later That Night — Ryota’s House ◽
Dinner was tense in Ryota’s home. The kids shuffled off at their mother’s command.
Ryota’s voice was a blade. 「Mio. Look at me when I talk to you.」
Mio, calm and certain, glanced up, eyes like knives. 「Taro, Akane—go to your rooms.」 The children obeyed.
When the door clicked shut, Mio faced Ryota with a smirk that hurt worse than any slap. 「That’s the face of the man who ruined my life.」 She laughed, cruel and light.
「Do you know about the restrictions on that animal?」Ryota asked angrily.
Mio’s expression hardened. 「That ‘animal’ is the father of my very gifted daughter. That has to hurt, doesn’t it? You’ll never produce another Shizuko, will you? Incompetent dog.」
Anger flared hot and stupid in Ryota. He stood and raised a hand—
Mio moved like lightning, a blade suddenly at her throat. 「If you try anything, go ahead and scar me. Then JJ will find out and guess who’s the number one suspect.」
Ryota staggered. 【This bitch—】 His rage tried to swallow logic. 「He won't care if you get hurt, you're just bluffing.」
Mio smirked, unrepentant. 「I’m the mother of his first child— who was stolen from him. JJ will care. He cares a lot.」 She leaned forward, menace laced with triumph. 「You expect him to believe you? He knows the type who’s tried to one-up him for six years. Keep dreaming.」
Ryota’s thoughts raced. If she had evidence, she would’ve told him already… But doubt gnawed.
Mio’s voice dropped to a venomous whisper. 「If your plans involve hurting Shizuko, I’ll make sure he ruins you. No questions asked. Also—when he comes back, I’m fucking JJ. You can’t stop me. & I’ll sleep in one of the guest rooms with the kids. Who knows what might happen to them?」
Ryota’s face contorted, fury and panic colliding. He lashed out and trashed the dining room, breaking plates and dignity in equal measure.
Outside, in a spy van parked across the road, Devon watched with a small, amused smile. Thomas—JJ’s adopted brother—peeked at him, nervous.
「Oldest brother—do we go in?」 Thomas whispered.
Devon chuckled, eyes glittering. 「Nah. Not worth it. JJ was right—no one should try their luck with someone as crazy as his baby mama.」
Thomas exhaled, tension easing by a fraction, and the van melted into the night.