The Toymaker sat in the back seat, pale and trembling. His hands were raised, empty. The case of weapons sat beside him, untouched.
Vex leaned against the car door, arms crossed. Violet stood behind her, towering and silent.
"Start talking," Vex said. "Why are you supplying Marco's father with weapons?"
The man swallowed. His eyes darted between them.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
Violet cracked her knuckles. "You better not be lying."
"I'm not!" His voice cracked. "I'm not the Toymaker. I'm just a pretend goon. I wear the coat, I carry the case, I drive the car. That's it."
Vex's eyes narrowed. "Bullshit."
She stepped closer. Looked him in the eyes.
His fear was real. His pulse was racing. But his words—they were honest. Then her stomach rumbled.
"He's telling the truth," she said.
Violet blinked. "What?"
Vex stepped back. "He's not the Toymaker. He's a decoy."
The man nodded frantically. "Yes! That's it! I don't know anything. I just get paid to look like him. Drive around. Draw attention."
"Who's paying you?" Violet demanded.
"I don't know! I get a call. Instructions are left in a dead drop. Cash appears in my account. That's all."
Vex looked at Violet. "He's not lying."
Violet's jaw tightened. "So we wasted our time."
"Maybe not." Vex turned back to the man. "The weapons. The military-grade gear. Laser rifles. Mark 1 suits. How do we get them?"
The man shook his head. "I don't know. I just move the cases. I don't open them. I don't ask questions."
Vex studied him. His pulse was steady. His eyes didn't flicker.
"Tell us something useful," she said. "Or we leave you here for the real Toymaker to find in pieces."
The man's face went pale. "There's a meeting. Tomorrow night. The real Toymaker shows up. At the old steel mill. He meets with a buyer."
"Who's the buyer?"
"I don't know! I just heard the name. Vincent"
Vex and Violet exchanged a look.
"Vincent," Violet repeated.
The man nodded frantically. "That's all I know. I swear."
Vex stepped back. "Let him go."
Violet hesitated. Then she stepped aside.
The man scrambled out of the car and ran. Vex grabbed the brife case.
Violet watched him go. "Vincent is buying weapons. That's not good."
Vex nodded. "We need to tell the others."
She pulled out her earpiece.
"Jade," she said. "We've got something.
Vincent is meeting the real Toymaker tomorrow night. Old steel mill."
Jade's voice crackled through. "Confirmed. Get back here. We need to plan."
Vex glanced at Violet. "On our way."
They turned and walked away. The car sat empty on the road. The night was quiet.
Behind them, the man disappeared into the darkness.
In the other side of city
Was a conversation between two businessmen man.
The room was dark.
Not the comfortable darkness of a study or a bedroom—this was the kind of darkness that pressed against your skin, thick and heavy. No windows. No lights. Just the faint glow of control panels and the soft hum of machines.
Vincent Delgado sat in a high-backed chair at the center of the room. His silhouette was still, his hands resting on the armrests. He didn't move when the door opened.
A figure stepped inside.
The door closed behind him with a soft hiss.
The figure was tall, lean, wrapped in skin-tight black armor that gleamed faintly in the dim light. The armor wasn't clunky like the Mark 1 suits—this was sleek, seamless, almost organic. Blue lines pulsed along the joints, synchronized with the figure's breathing. A helmet covered his face, smooth and featureless except for a single glowing visor.
He moved with unnatural grace. Each step silent.
Vincent spoke first. His voice was smooth, controlled.
"Are you the real Toymaker?"
The armored figure stopped. His visor pulsed once.
"Now," he said, his voice filtered and cold. "You know the answer to that question. Whatever he says is what I say. Whatever he does is what I do."
Vincent leaned forward slightly. "I see."
The figure tilted his head. "But no. You don't. Because my warehouses wouldn't be attacked on three separate occasions nonetheless. I established a warehouse in your territory to supply you with weapons and the guarantee of profit. And it gets attacked."
"I'm aware" said Vincent
"Then if you're aware you're complacent" he said robotic voice sound sharp
Vincent's voice dropped. "You're blaming me? You think I attacked my own supplies?"
The figure's visor pulsed brighter.
"No you're not aware it wouldn't happen. I think you're incompetent. You're distracted" His voice was flat. Clinical. "But I know who's doing this."
Vincent's silhouette stiffened. His voice calm underneath his anger."Who?"
The figure stepped closer to the desk. His movements were deliberate, each step silent.
"Your son isn't the only one with abilities," he said. "Someone is using your own cameras against you. Your security. Your patterns. They're not just attacking your supply lines—they're studying you."
Vincent was quiet for a long moment.
"And you know who it is?"
"I know what they are," the figure corrected. "A paradox user. Smart. Calculated. They've been watching you for weeks."
"Why?"
The figure's visor dimmed slightly.
"That's what I intend to find out. But I have a few guesses" said his robotic voice
"And what would that be?"
The figure tilted his head slightly. "Your connections. Your weapons. Your territory. Whatever they find, they'll use it."
Vincent leaned back. "And what do you propose?"
"I propose we stop them."
"How?"
The armored figure stepped closer. "I have resources. Information. Access to things your men don't. In exchange for your cooperation, I'll help you secure your supply lines. Find who's attacking them. And when we do..." He paused. "We'll make them wish they'd never been born."
Vincent was silent for a long moment. Then he spoke.
"You've got yourself a deal." Said Vincent with a grin
"You mustn't care all to much about the warehouse to come here, what else did you want to discuss?" Question Vincent
"Quite aware but yes the people who kidnap you're kid are a group of paradox users, and I would wish for you're distraction to discontinue," said the man
"Well. If that's the case then, what's the cost you're not the type of man to do hand outs," Vincent replied coldly leaning againts his table.
"Nothing I just want them dead, I'll give you more details later"said the man
"And my son you'll get him back?" Asked Vincent
"Yes" he replied getting up from his feet, reaching his hand out both man shakes hands. As he then walks out.
"Once more I'll see you're face Sara… and Kínitos" he thought to himself