Beta City – Night Light (11:00 P.M.)
He walks through a filthy alleyway, the stench of rot and waste clinging heavily to the air, until he finally reaches his house. Quickly checking his front pocket, he finds what he's been looking for—his last cigarette of the day.
Connor Murphy pulls it out and lights it immediately as he knocks on the door. The rain outside pours violently, loud enough to drown out almost every other sound.
His messy brown hair and clothes are completely drenched.
When no one responds, Connor slams on the door again—this time with far more force.
"Open the f*****g door already!"
The metal latch rattles as the door opens. Standing in front of him is his son, holding it open—15-year-old Ryan Murphy, who looks almost like his father, except his voice is softer, and dark circles hang under his eyes.
Connor looks down at him, annoyed.
"You? Where is she? Where is Kathleen?"
Ryan hesitates before replying.
"She… uh… she's in the kitchen. That's why I opened—"
Before Ryan can finish, Connor has already pushed past him, smoking his cigarette as he walks inside.
The inside of the house is no better. Mold spreads along the walls, and the space is cramped—one bedroom and a single bathroom for the entire family.
As Connor steps in, he sees his daughter—14-year-old Rose Murphy. She has red hair and brown eyes like the rest of the family.
Sheets of paper are scattered around her as she draws.
Connor's expression hardens instantly.
"Learn a thing or two from your mother!"
Startled, Rose hurriedly gathers the papers and stands up, trying to explain that she studied all day and just wanted to play for a while.
Connor's anger only grows. Her response feels like disrespect to him—an attack on his authority.
He raises his hand to hit her.
But in that moment, Ryan steps in between them, speaking casually—hiding the fear in his voice.
"Oh! By the way… dinner is ready, Dad!"
Rose quickly pinches Ryan's ear and whispers a thank you for saving her from the slap.
Connor, hearing that dinner is ready, immediately perks up and shouts—
"IF IT'S READY, BRING IT HERE!"
Connor collapses onto his green wingback chair, staring blankly at the mold spreading across the ceiling.
His wife, Kathleen Murphy—a strikingly beautiful red-haired woman despite the life she lives—comes rushing in after hearing his voice.
She quickly removes his shoes and socks. Her movements are automatic, practiced—like she has done this a hundred times before.
She looks up at him and asks softly,
"Honey… you were late again?"
Connor keeps staring at the ceiling, ignoring her question completely.
"Yeah… by the way, I need 'it' today."
Kathleen pauses for a moment, then looks at him.
"Why do you need 'that' today?"
Connor's expression turns irritated instantly.
"What? What kind of dumb question is that? I need it because I need it. It's that simple…"
Kathleen nods quietly and turns away to bring the food.
Meanwhile, Ryan sets up the small table for dinner.
When Kathleen places the casserole of soup on the table, Ryan's expression falls. This is the fifth time this week he's having the same thing.
Kathleen brings plates for everyone and then walks over to Connor, trying to wake him up—but he doesn't respond.
Ryan glances at him and says flatly,
"He's already asleep."
Kathleen notices it too—Connor had fallen asleep while staring at the ceiling.
Rose looks worried.
"Why did he fall asleep again?"
Kathleen forces a calm tone.
"He must be really tired, Rose."
But even as she says it, worry creeps into her eyes. Connor hasn't been eating properly for days. What if he gets sick?
Ryan speaks without looking up from his soup.
"He's already sick, Mom."
Both Kathleen and Rose look at him, surprised.
Ryan continues eating, his voice steady.
"I mean… sick in the head. Seriously, you tell us it's dangerous outside after 5:00 p.m., and he stays out working till 11 without telling us anything."
Kathleen's expression hardens immediately.
"The food you're eating right now comes from his money—not yours."
Ryan doesn't back down.
"He's a gambler, Mom. He spends 5000 gems just to earn 1000… is that really earning?"
Kathleen's anger rises further.
"If you're so fed up with your father and how he works," she snaps, "then go out and earn for yourself in Beta City."
Ryan argues, frustration finally spilling out—he knows exactly how Connor spends the money he risks his life to earn: gambling and drinking.
"I am sick of it, Mom. Just because I don't say anything doesn't mean I don't notice what he does."
Kathleen falls silent.
They finish dinner in that quiet tension.
Even after the argument, Ryan washes all the dishes. When he's done, Kathleen gently pats his head—a quiet acknowledgment of him being a good kid.
Afterward, Ryan speaks again, softer this time.
"This much drinking… and not eating properly… it's not good for Dad. I'm worried too, Mom."
Kathleen sighs, her voice heavy.
"Who will tell him, son…? He never listens to you, and he never listens to me…"
Ryan has nothing to say to that. He can only accept things as they are.
Kathleen starts searching around.
"My alarm clock… where did I keep it?"
She looks around anxiously and turns to Ryan.
"Help me find it quickly."
Ryan's expression tightens. He knows what that alarm clock means— Connor waking up in the middle of the night and going out again, somewhere in Beta City.
Instead of helping, Ryan argues.
"Mom, don't you think we should at least know what he's doing—and who he's working for? There are criminals everywhere in this city. That's why there's a curfew in the first place!"
Before Kathleen can respond, Rose comes from behind and pinches Ryan's ear.
"Big brother! Stop arguing with Mom already—and try helping her instead! Look what I found—"
She holds up the alarm clock.
Ryan immediately reaches for it, but Rose pulls it back, not letting him take it.
Ryan exhales in defeat.
"Well… how am I supposed to fight you now, Rose?"
Kathleen looks at him suspiciously.
"Did you hide the alarm clock?"
Ryan shakes his head.
"That wouldn't work anyway… nothing I do ever works."
Kathleen softens slightly.
"Connor doesn't have better options, Ryan. That's why he works for shady people… I already know that."
Rose notices the look on Ryan's face—defeated—and tries her best to lighten it.
"Brother… Father is trying his best. Don't doubt him, please," she says, almost pleading.
Ryan nods slowly.
"Fine… how can I even argue with that?"
Kathleen gently steps in.
"Let's go to sleep, okay?"
She guides them toward the bedroom.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Later that night, Rose is unable to sleep. The darkness unsettles her—no matter that Kathleen and Ryan are right beside her.
She shifts restlessly.
Ryan notices.
Without saying anything, he reaches under his bed and pulls out a card, holding it up in front of her.
"LOOK AT THIS!"
Rose and Kathleen both stare at it, confused. Neither of them understands what it is supposed to be.
Ryan smirks slightly and moves his hand behind the card, spinning a small wheel attached to it.
Then—
The card begins to glow.
A bright white light spreads across its surface. On it appears a woman dressed in a white skin-tight suit, her face hidden behind a white mask, shining brilliantly.
Rose's eyes widen instantly.
"What is that?"
Ryan grins, clearly proud.
"I got it from a 'Protectors Krunch Chips' packet. Mom gave me money last month, and I got lucky—I pulled this card, Rose."
Rose carefully takes the card into her hands, staring at it in awe.
"Who is she?"
Ryan answers, almost reverently—
"She's known as the Lightbringer."
Rose looks at the glowing card and asks,
"Is she like a new superhero or something?"
Ryan scoffs, a little arrogantly.
"No, you dumbo! She's one of the oldest heroes in the superhero business!"
Rose tilts her head, still confused.
"I only know about Wormer… he looks so cool."
Ryan nods in agreement, but quickly shifts the focus back.
"This card is to make sure you don't fear the dark anymore."
Rose's face lights up. She smiles warmly at him.
"Thank you so much, brother!"
Kathleen watches the two of them, a soft happiness spreading across her face. It's been a long time since she's seen them like this.
The three of them laugh together.
Eventually… they drift off to sleep.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Murphy Residence (1:45 A.M.)
Ryan's eyes snap open in the middle of the night.
There's noise outside—voices, tension.
He turns slightly and notices something immediately—
His mother isn't beside him.
Carefully, Ryan gets up and opens the bedroom door just enough to peek outside, making sure not to wake Rose.
At the entrance, he sees it.
His father… arguing with his mother.
And with them—two men who clearly aren't visitors.
Ryan recognizes them instantly.
One is a man with Blonde hair. A blue-and-red tank top under a black leather jacket—Shen.
Other is a man with Black, upward-styled hair. Taller than Shen. Black leather jacket—Jin Yamamoto.
"I told you to keep it safe, didn't I?" Connor snarls.
"I kept it in the usual spot," Kathleen replies, her voice shaking. "I don't know where it is now. Trust me."
Hearing this, Ryan steps a little further out of the room.
Connor's voice rises, but before he can continue, Shen cuts in—his tone casual, but carrying a clear threat.
"Connor, look… I know you've got a family and all…" Shen says, smirking slightly. "But you also know how bad it is for us when you lose something important just because you were busy doing something else instead of guarding the f*****g thing I gave you."
He takes a step closer.
"Do you have any idea how hard it is for us to bring that kind of stuff into Beta City? You really need to stop being so damn careless."
Connor's jaw tightens. He's clearly angry—but he says nothing.
Shen notices and smirks wider
"What happened?" he mocks. "You have it… or not?"
Connor stays silent.
Shen's smirk deepens as he continues to mock him—
"Look, Connor. I brought Jin here personally because we'll need him for this mission. And I told him—'Don't worry. My dear, trusty Connor Murphy will keep the damn 'it' safe.'"
Connor mutters an apology to Shen, trying to calm the situation.
Hearing Connor say "sorry," Jin steps forward.
"Enough talking… time is of the essence. Kathleen, where's the damn 'thing' we gave your husband?"
Jin moves forward immediately, heading straight toward Kathleen—
But before he can reach her, Connor suddenly slaps her.
Kathleen's entire right cheek turns red and numb. Her head jerks to the side—and her gaze lifts toward the bedroom.
She sees it.
Ryan… is peeking through the door.
In a sudden burst of emotion, she shouts—
"Go to sleep!"
Ryan flinches in fear and quickly shuts the door.
Everyone in the room notices—someone was watching.
Connor, now aware, calls out—
"Ryan!"
Shen lets out a low chuckle, clearly amused.
"Hey… your kid's watching, Connor… you really don't want to be hitting your wife like that, man…"
Connor replies coldly, his voice sharp—
"How I treat my family is none of your f*****g concern, Shen… keep yourself out of it."
Jin looks down at Connor, his voice calm but carrying a quiet threat.
"But today, if we don't get that damn 'thing', we won't be able to complete the mission my brother assigned us. And whatever happens to you after that… will surely become your family's concern, Connor."
Ryan slowly steps out and walks toward Connor.
Connor immediately grabs him by both shoulders.
"Where is it?"
Connor is convinced Ryan hid the "it"—the thing he's been looking for—and knows exactly where it is
But Ryan has no idea what he's talking about.
"You know exactly what I'm talking about… I know you do. The handgun, Ryan. I know how curious and proactive you are. Tell me where you kept it. TELL ME!" Connor shouts.
"I don't—"
Before he can finish—
Kathleen suddenly slaps Ryan across the face.
"GIVE IT TO HIM, YOU IDIOT!" she screams, tears streaming down her face.
Ryan breaks down, nodding as he gives in.
He turns and walks back into the bedroom. Using a stick, he carefully reaches under the bed and pulls out the handgun—making sure not to wake Rose.
He comes back out and hurriedly hands it to Connor.
Connor smiles, takes it, and immediately passes it to Shen before patting Ryan on the head.
Ryan's eyes are filled with tears, his face now marked with a red imprint of Kathleen's hand—mirroring the mark Connor left on her moments earlier.
"Would you look at that beauty? Oh man…" Shen says, admiring the handgun.
Jin grabs Shen by the arm and pulls him toward the exit.
Connor follows.
But just before leaving, he turns back toward Ryan.
"Also… Ryan, I heard the questions you asked your mom today at the dinner table," Connor says coldly.
"You know why I don't leave this job?"
He pauses.
"Because it's the only thing I can do. To survive in this city… is to steal… to crush… to betray… to kill… There is no other answer."
Shen bursts into laughter, and the three of them leave.
An unnatural silence settles over the house.
Ryan stands there, numb—hopeless. Tears stream down his face.
In the end… he had to give the gun back to Connor—the very thing he had tried so desperately to hide.
"Go sleep," Kathleen says.
Ryan looks down and murmurs quietly—
"When are you going to stop defending him…?"
"What?" she asks.
Ryan doesn't answer.
He turns and walks back into the bedroom, switches off the light, and lies down. Kathleen remains outside, staring at the room for a long moment before eventually lying down on the floor mat, as usual.
The green wingback chair sits there—worn and torn. It seems Kathleen had hidden the gun there earlier… before Ryan took it and hid it under the bed.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Murphy Residence (3:30 A.M.)
The rain is still falling heavily when another knock echoes at the door.
Both Kathleen and Ryan wake up at the same time.
Ryan quickly gets out of bed and steps outside the room. Kathleen wakes as well, realizing she had fallen asleep on the floor.
She slowly walks toward the door and opens it just slightly, peeking outside in a hurry to see who it is.
Standing there is a young man with short blue hair, wearing a long blue coat over a white shirt and a blue hat. He has a tall, lean build and looks to be around 25 years old.
It's Detective Ethan.
His clothes are completely drenched, yet he smiles at Kathleen regardless.
He speaks—
"Hey, ma'am, I want to ask you some questions. Can you please answer me?"
But his voice is drowned out by the sound of the rain.
Ethan adjusts his hat, muttering aloud,
"This rain… man…"
"WHAT?" Kathleen shouts.
Ethan quickly grabs the edge of the door from outside and raises his voice.
"Umm, I want to ask you some questions!"
He pulls something out of his pocket—an ID card.
"I'm a hero from the Earth Protection Society—the EPS."
Kathleen freezes, shocked at the sight of a real hero standing at her doorstep.
"Sorry, sir," she says after a moment. "We don't know anything. Please don't disturb us."
She tries to close the door.
Ethan calmly stops it with his hand and pushes it open.
"I just want some answers, ma'am…"
Kathleen steps back as he walks inside.
Ryan quickly rushes forward and stands between Ethan and his mother.
"Mom, please," Ryan whispers.
"Go to your room," Kathleen says shakily.
"No," Ryan snaps. "There is no way in hell I'm leaving you alone with a… stranger!"
"Hi, kid," Ethan says with a friendly smile as he notices Ryan. "Have you seen a group of suspicious people passing through here?"
Kathleen looks confused again.
"Who are you? Why are you here?"
The man pulls out his ID card once more.
"Oh, sorry. I'm kind of new to this, but I'm a detective—and a hero who works for the Earth Protection Society. My hero name is Mindsight."
Ryan lowers his guard, a smile forming on his face. Ethan smiles back.
Ethan lowers his hat and keeps it on the floor.
Ryan suddenly lights up with excitement—realizing Ethan is both a hero and a detective.
"You're a hero AND a detective!? Like the ones I read about in the newspapers?"
Ethan looks surprised—both at Ryan's reaction and the fact that he reads newspapers in a city where schools barely exist for common people. Only the rich can afford proper education in Beta City.
"A hero and a detective? You're so young…" Kathleen says, still surprised.
"Yeah, ma'am! I get that a lot," Ethan replies casually. "I actually got my hero ID about five or six months ago."
Mindsight/Ethan quickly gets to the point.
"Ma'am, the reason I'm here is because I'm searching for… some illegal weapon supply in Beta City. I'm sure you know that firearms aren't allowed here."
Ryan's eyes widen in shock.
Kathleen is left speechless.
The gun Connor took just two hours ago…
Ethan studies their faces carefully.
His smile fades.
He already knows.
"They know… but they won't tell me," he thinks. "They're too scared. But of what?"
He glances at the device on his wrist as it begins to glow green.
There's another breaker here.
Ethan looks toward the bedroom and points.
"You have a daughter, don't you? She's sleeping in there."
Both Kathleen and Ryan freeze in shock.
Ryan quickly replies—
"So that must be your breaker ability sir..."
Ethan smiles, pleased by how much Ryan knows compared to other kids in Beta City, despite having no formal education whatsoever.
"Yeah, sir… I only read books. I, umm…"
"Get them from the streets? Or the black market?" Ethan finishes for him.
"Yes, sir… they're cheap sometimes. Since books aren't the most popular things in this city, I even get them for free at times," Ryan replies with a faint smile.
Ethan smiles as well.
Kathleen, however, doesn't seem happy—only more worried than ever seeing Ethan here.
Ethan points toward the green wingback chair and mentions that there is a rat inside it.
Kathleen kicks the chair, surprised as one quickly scurries out of it.
Ethan smiles at Kathleen, but she only grows angrier and replies,
"Sir… we don't know anything, so please leave us now!"
Ethan's smile lingers as he knows Kathleen is lying.
"You are lying, Mrs. Murphy. I know that…"
Kathleen grows scared of him and steps back.
Seeing this, Ethan snaps his fingers in disappointment.
"I knew it wouldn't work!"
Ryan and Kathleen are both confused by what Ethan just did.
Ethan finally reveals that he has known Connor for a long time and even refers to him as a "friend."
Ryan grows confused about how they both know each other and asks Ethan if his father is working for him.
Ethan replies,
"Quite the opposite, I'm afraid. Your father is actually working for the bad people… a gang known as 'The Marauders.' They are basically the kings of Beta City at this moment."
Ryan and Kathleen both grow more saddened by this information. They already knew Connor was working for the wrong people—but not the Marauders themselves.
Ethan smiles, noticing how Ryan and Kathleen have finally started to believe him.
"I am very close… I just need to make sure they trust me."
Ethan speaks up again,
"I am here to help you… Ryan, ma'am. Connor Murphy is in danger… grave danger!"
Ryan and Kathleen both grow frightened as Ethan reveals how Connor could be arrested for his connections with the Marauders.
Ethan forcefully lets his smile fade away.
"Connor Murphy may be accused of murder as well."
Kathleen, hearing this, breaks down completely. Ryan, too, is unable to believe that his father could be a murderer.
But Ryan begins to trust Ethan more and more, remembering that he is here to help them.
Ethan smiles at Ryan.
"Your father has already done enough. I can fix things, kid."
Suddenly, the main door slams open, and someone enters the house.
Ethan quickly turns back—he already knows who it is.
"CONNOR MURPHY—"
Connor Murphy stands at the door, his clothes soaked—wet and stained red. It almost looks like blood.
He is surprised to see Ethan there, though he clearly recognizes him.
"Ethan!"
"Mindsight!"
Ethan's expression hardens as he looks at Connor's condition.
"I don't need my abilities to know that's not your blood, Connor."
Connor quickly tries to explain how he got into a bar fight, how the man he was fighting accidentally split his own head open fighting Connor—and that the blood belongs to him.
Connor glances at Kathleen, almost angrily.
Kathleen tries to convince him that she never said anything to Ethan.
Ethan's smile widens as he picks up his hat from the ground.
"I already got what I needed. And I think Mrs. Kathleen and Ryan will have to answer to the law for you. I've captured everything here… in my hat."
Everyone is left in shock as they realize Ethan has been recording and transmitting everything to the EPS database.
Connor begins to beg, trying to explain that he only did what the Marauders told him to do—because he had to feed his family.
Ethan looks at Connor with disappointment and replies,
"I hardly know you, Connor. We only met once—and that was when you were clearly very drunk. I helped you that day… two months ago. Remember?"
Ryan breaks down even more as he realizes Ethan was only talking to them to gather evidence against Connor—not to help him.
"You were lying… that Dad is your friend…?"
Ethan smiles.
"Don't take this the wrong way… but I truly had no choice, Ryan. Also… I did tell you I was a detective as well."
Ryan looks at him with an envious expression.
Ethan begins to move out and looks down at Connor, who is crying on the ground.
"You could've been better."
At that exact moment, thunder roars outside. Shadows flicker through the entrance as a bolt of lightning strikes somewhere close to the house.
Then—
Ethan suddenly collapses.
Blood begins to run down from his head as he falls forward onto the floor, right in front of Kathleen and Connor.
Behind him, another figure stands in the doorway.
His arm is still stretched out, a gun in his hand. The weapon had been fired moments ago, and smoke still drifts from the barrel.
Ryan freezes in shock.