The afternoon sun hung lazily over the city as Edward's car made its way back toward the Esposito estate.
Inside, Mike sat comfortably in the passenger seat, running a hand through his freshly cut hair for what had to be the tenth time.
He caught his reflection in the window and grinned.
"Now this is what I call a fresh fade."
Edward, seated beside him, glanced over and nodded appreciatively.
"Looking sharp. Your barber is pretty good. Maybe I should consider hiring him."
Mike's hand immediately stopped moving.
He slowly turned toward Edward.
"...You did not just say that."
Edward blinked.
"Say what?"
"That you'd hire my barber."
"Yeah? Why?"
Mike stared at him as though he'd just announced plans to rob a bank.
"You idiot! Did you not hear what I said?"
Edward frowned.
"What?"
"Never cheat on your freaking barber."
There was a brief silence.
Edward's expression slowly changed.
"Oh yeah. I remember that."
Mike shook his head.
"I can't believe I have to explain this to you."
Before Edward could respond, the servant driving the car cleared her throat.
"I apologize, young master."
Both men looked toward her.
Edward raised an eyebrow.
"For what?"
The servant's eyes remained fixed on the road.
"For the inconvenience I am about to cause."
Mike's expression immediately changed.
"...What?"
The car suddenly came to an abrupt stop.
Mike's entire body lurched forward before the seat belt caught him.
"Whoa!"
Edward grabbed the dashboard.
"What the hell?!"
The servant remained completely composed.
"Perhaps we should turn around and have your hair done by that barber."
Edward slowly looked at her through the rear-view mirror.
"No, I was just kidding."
"I'm not convinced."
The car remained stationary.
Mike slowly turned toward Edward.
"You've done it now."
Edward whispered.
"Shut up."
The servant sighed dramatically.
"After all these years, I thought I meant something to you, young master."
"That's not what I meant!"
"I suppose this is goodbye, then."
"What?!"
"I'll find a nice bridge."
Mike's jaw dropped.
"At least let us get off first!"
The servant paused.
"Ah."
She looked ahead.
"Yes. That would probably be more convenient."
Edward's face went pale.
"Please don't actually do it."
"Oh, look."
The car started moving again.
"There's a bridge ahead."
"NO!"
Mike burst out laughing.
Edward grabbed the back of the driver's seat.
"Please! I was only kidding! I'll never replace you!"
"I'm not sure I believe you."
"I swear!"
"Very well."
The servant's voice suddenly became noticeably more cheerful.
"Then I suppose I'll continue living."
Mike covered his mouth, trying not to laugh.
Edward noticed.
"Don't you dare."
Mike failed.
He burst into laughter.
"Your barber has you completely whipped!"
"She's my assistant!"
"And your barber."
Edward groaned.
"I made one mistake."
"One mistake that nearly got us both killed."
"I said I was sorry!"
The servant glanced at them through the mirror.
"Young master."
Edward swallowed.
"Yes?"
"You were very convincing."
He breathed a sigh of relief.
"Thank you."
A tiny smile appeared on her face.
"I was beginning to wonder whether I should actually drive off the bridge."
Edward's face immediately went blank.
"...You're enjoying this, aren't you?"
"I don't know what you mean."
Mike laughed even harder.
By the time they reached the Esposito estate, Edward looked like he had aged several years.
The enormous gates opened, allowing the car to pass through before closing behind them.
As the vehicle came to a stop, Mike stepped out and stretched.
"Ahh. Fresh air."
Edward stepped out after him.
"Fresh air and a fresh haircut."
Mike immediately ran his fingers through his hair again.
"Damn right."
"You've checked it in the window at least twenty times."
"That's because it looks good."
Edward shook his head.
"You really like that haircut."
"Of course I do. I paid for it."
The two headed inside.
The moment they entered the estate, conversation in the living room gradually died down.
Several heads turned toward them.
For a moment, nobody said anything.
Then Mrs. Esposito's eyes lit up.
"Look at how dashing my two baby boys look!"
Edward immediately groaned.
"Come on, Mom. I'm a grown man."
Mrs. Esposito walked over and affectionately patted his cheek.
"Well, you could live to a hundred and I'd still call you my baby boy."
"Aw, come on."
"You'll always be my baby."
Edward sighed in defeat.
Mike quietly chuckled.
Mrs. Esposito turned her attention toward him.
"And look at you!"
Mike straightened instinctively.
"So sharp and stylish."
She tilted her head and looked him over from head to toe.
"I'm starting to see what my dear Vero sees."
Mike's expression became awkward.
"Uh..."
He glanced toward Veronica.
She was already looking at him.
Their eyes met.
Mike smiled nervously.
"You look stunning in that dress as well."
Mrs. Esposito dramatically covered her face.
"Oh, stop with the flattery! Are you trying to own the whole bloodline?"
She peeked between her fingers.
"Because if you are, it's working."
Mr. Esposito immediately snapped his head toward her.
"What?! No man besides me can own you, got that?!"
Mrs. Esposito lowered her hands and giggled.
"Relax, dear. I'm just teasing."
She leaned closer to him with an amused smile.
"Besides, it's nice seeing you all jealous."
"You always do this."
"What? That's totally not true."
Mr. Esposito gave her a skeptical look.
"Oh, come on. What about that time—"
"Dear, we're not telling that story."
"But—"
"No."
Mike decided that whatever story was about to be told was probably something he was better off never knowing.
Instead, his attention shifted toward Veronica and Lucy.
Both were watching him.
Neither said anything.
They exchanged a quick glance.
A silent conversation passed between them.
Who's getting complimented first?
Mike noticed the strange tension.
He stopped a few feet away.
Okay.
He knew this situation.
Or at least he thought he did.
He had no intention of getting caught between whatever competition was happening here.
So he simply nodded toward both of them.
"You two look gorgeous."
Silence.
The effect was immediate.
Both girls froze.
It was as if he'd simultaneously landed a critical hit on them.
Lucy was the first to recover.
"Yeah..."
She looked away.
"You look good too."
Veronica cleared her throat.
"Y-yeah. Nice hairstyle."
Mike blinked.
"Thanks."
He barely had time to say anything else before something brushed against both of his legs.
He looked down.
Chelsea and Nike stood beside him.
Both had new collars around their necks, and their freshly cleaned fur practically sparkled under the lights.
Mike's expression softened immediately.
"Aww, look at you two."
He crouched down.
Chelsea immediately wagged her tail and leaned against him while Nike rubbed her head against his hand.
Mike began petting them both.
Veronica and Lucy watched.
Their smiles gradually disappeared.
Chelsea's eyes narrowed slightly.
She glanced at the two girls.
Then, while still enjoying Mike's attention, she stuck her tongue out at them.
Both Veronica and Lucy stared.
Neither said anything.
But somehow, both felt challenged.
Mrs. Esposito looked between the two girls, then at Mike, then down at the pets.
She slowly smiled.
"Do I sense a love triangle?"
Mike looked up.
"What?"
Mrs. Esposito giggled.
She looked at Chelsea and Nike.
"More like a love pentagon."
Everyone stared at her.
She shrugged.
"Who knew my future son-in-law was so popular?"
Mr. Esposito's eye twitched.
"Dear."
"What?"
"Please stop."
She only laughed
Mrs. Esposito's teasing left an awkward silence hanging over the room.
Mike continued petting Chelsea and Nike, seemingly oblivious to the strange atmosphere he had somehow become the center of.
Edward, however, had noticed.
He leaned slightly toward Mike.
"You're in danger."
Mike glanced at him.
"From what?"
Edward subtly gestured toward Veronica and Lucy.
Mike looked between them.
Veronica had her arms crossed, while Lucy wore a suspiciously innocent smile.
Mike sighed.
"I'll take my chances."
"Brave man."
Edward stepped away before he could get caught in the crossfire.
Mike returned his attention to the pets, scratching Chelsea behind the ears.
"Looks like you two got cleaned up."
Chelsea's tail wagged harder.
Nike sat beside him, calmly enjoying the attention.
"Who took care of you?"
Carla answered from nearby.
"They had a bath while you and Edward were away."
Mike looked at them again.
"They look great."
Chelsea's eyes closed in contentment.
Veronica watched the scene for a moment before her attention shifted elsewhere.
Across the room, Priscilla stood quietly.
Unlike everyone else, she wasn't smiling.
Her gaze remained fixed on her older sister.
There was guilt in her eyes.
Mike noticed.
He had seen that expression before.
Priscilla looked like someone who had been carrying something heavy for too long.
She suddenly straightened.
Her hands clenched at her sides.
Whatever hesitation had been holding her back seemed to disappear.
She took a step toward Veronica.
Then another.
But before she could speak, Veronica turned her head.
Their eyes met.
Veronica's expression hardened.
She didn't say anything.
She didn't need to.
That single glare was enough.
Priscilla's confidence disappeared almost instantly.
Her shoulders dropped.
She looked away and quietly walked out of the room.
Mike frowned.
He glanced at Veronica, then toward the doorway Priscilla had disappeared through.
Something wasn't right.
He stood.
"Excuse me."
Veronica watched him leave.
Mike followed Priscilla into the hallway.
He found her several meters away, standing with her back toward him.
"Hey."
Priscilla stiffened.
"What?"
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing!"
The answer came far too quickly.
"Just go back."
Mike didn't move.
He could hear the tremble in her voice.
Then he noticed her shoulders shaking.
"Priscilla."
"I'm fine."
"You don't look fine."
"I'm fine!"
Her voice cracked.
Mike stepped closer.
Priscilla wiped her eyes quickly.
"I'm sorry."
"For what?"
She shook her head.
"I didn't mean to."
Mike frowned.
"Didn't mean to what?"
Priscilla turned around.
Tears were already gathering in her eyes.
"I only wanted to help."
Mike's expression softened.
"Help with what?"
"My sister."
She looked down.
"I didn't know she'd lose control."
Mike remained silent.
Priscilla continued.
"We made a promise and I broke it."
Her voice became quieter.
"Now she hates me."
Mike's heart sank.
He stepped forward and placed a hand gently on her shoulder.
"Hey."
Priscilla looked up.
"Don't say that."
"But—"
"Veronica loves you."
Priscilla shook her head.
"She won't even talk to me."
"Because she's angry."
Mike pulled her gently into his chest.
"That doesn't mean she stopped loving you."
Priscilla's composure finally broke.
She buried her face against him as tears flowed freely.
"I didn't know..."
"I know."
"I thought I was helping."
"I know."
"I didn't know she'd become a behemoth bear."
Mike held her a little tighter.
"Neither did you know she'd lose control."
Priscilla sniffled.
"She hates me."
"No."
Mike gently patted her back.
"You two just need to talk."
"But she would never agree."
"Then I'll make it happen."
Priscilla looked up at him.
"You?"
"Me."
He smiled.
"Can you handle the rest?"
Priscilla wiped her eyes.
"Yes."
"Good."
Mike lightly tapped her forehead.
"Now wipe those tears."
Priscilla sniffed.
"Okay."
"Come on."
The two started walking back.
Neither noticed the figure standing around the corner.
Veronica had heard everything.
She had one hand against the wall.
Her fists were clenched so tightly that they trembled.
She had expected to feel angry.
Instead, something else had settled inside her.
She had heard Priscilla's words.
I only wanted to help.
She had heard Mike's response.
Veronica loves you.
Veronica lowered her eyes.
For several seconds she remained there.
Then she quietly walked away.
She wasn't ready to forgive her sister.
Not yet.
But for the first time since the argument, she wasn't certain that she wanted to keep pushing her away either.
---
Mike and Priscilla eventually returned to the living room.
The atmosphere had shifted slightly.
Everyone was preparing for the journey to the Bureau.
In the center of the room sat the crystal that had previously been kept in Priscilla's room.
Mike looked at it curiously.
"So that's what we're using?"
Mr. Esposito nodded.
"That crystal will open the passage."
Priscilla stood beside it.
She reached out.
The moment her fingers touched its surface, the crystal began to glow.
A low hum filled the room.
The air in front of them warped.
Then space itself split apart.
A massive rift opened.
Beyond it was not darkness.
Instead, there appeared a vast golden hall.
Mike raised an eyebrow.
"Well, that's new."
He gave Chelsea and Nike one last scratch behind their ears before standing.
"Be good while we're gone."
Chelsea gave a soft bark.
Nike simply watched him.
Mike stepped toward the rift.
The Esposito family followed, with Lucy joining them.
One by one, they disappeared through the portal.
The moment Mike stepped through, his expression changed.
He found himself standing inside a towering hall.
Sunlight poured in from openings high above them, illuminating enormous golden statues.
Mike slowly looked upward.
The largest statue depicted several magnificent dragons intertwined around a massive pillar.
The craftsmanship was breathtaking.
Lucy stared with her mouth open.
"Where the heck are we?"
Mike looked around.
"I have absolutely no idea."
Veronica grabbed his arm.
"Come on."
She wrapped an arm around his.
Lucy immediately grabbed his other arm.
"Hey!"
Mike looked between them.
"What?"
"You're coming with me."
Lucy tightened her grip.
"And me."
Veronica stared at her.
Lucy stared back.
Mike sighed.
"Here we go again."
The two girls dragged him toward the exit.
But the moment they stepped outside, all three stopped.
The sight before them was unlike anything they had seen before.
They weren't in their world anymore.
Humanoid beings walked through the streets alongside ordinary humans.
Some had scales.
Some had fur.
Others had horns, wings, tails, or other features that looked completely alien to them.
The architecture surrounding them looked like something taken straight out of a medieval fantasy.
Mike slowly turned in place.
"Whoa..."
Lucy looked equally stunned.
"This is insane."
Then a massive shadow passed over them.
Mike looked up.
At first, the sunlight above them seemed almost blinding.
Then the shadow appeared again.
Something enormous descended from the sky.
It landed only a few feet away.
The ground shook beneath their feet.
A massive creature stood before them.
Its body was covered in scales, muscles rippling beneath its hide.
Two enormous wings folded against its back.
The creature opened its mouth.
Smoke poured from its nostrils.
Mike's eyes widened.
"Is that..."
He stared in awe.
"A dragon?"
Veronica immediately puffed out her cheeks.
"Come on!"
Mike glanced at her.
"You didn't seem nearly this impressed when you saw me transform."
Mike blinked.
"Behemoth bears are a lot more impressive than dragons."
Mike slowly looked at her.
"...You transformed?"
Veronica stared at him.
"What are you talking about?"
She pointed at herself.
"Yes, I did."
Mike scratched his head.
"Oh yeah."
He paused.
"You did, didn't you?"
Veronica stared at him in disbelief.
"Wait, what?"
"I don't know. My memory of last night is hazy."
"You literally talked about it."
"Sorry."
Mike frowned.
"I don't know why, but it feels like last night was a dream."
Veronica stared at him.
"What the heck?"
Lucy looked between them.
"Maybe it's a side effect of the power you used."
Mike nodded slowly.
"Maybe."
Veronica narrowed her eyes.
"You used a power?"
"No."
Mike immediately answered.
"Just forget it."
Before Veronica could interrogate him further, Mr. Esposito called from above.
"Hey, kids!"
Everyone looked up.
Mr. Esposito was already sitting on the dragon's back.
"Get on! We need to get going!"
The others began moving toward him.
But as Veronica approached, the dragon suddenly lowered its head.
Its jaws snapped toward her.
Veronica stopped.
The dragon growled.
Mr. Esposito immediately grabbed the reins.
"Blaze! Bad girl! Bad!"
The dragon continued growling at Veronica.
Mike looked between them.
"Why is she against you riding her?"
Veronica folded her arms.
"Behemoth bears are the dragon's natural enemy."
Mike nodded.
"I see."
Veronica's eyes suddenly lit up.
"Oh! Wait, I've got it!"
She turned toward her father.
"Hey, Dad. You guys can ride the dragon."
Mr. Esposito raised an eyebrow.
"And you?"
"Mike and I will take our own ride."
Mr. Esposito looked suspicious.
"You're still coming to the meeting, right?"
"Yeah, yeah. I know."
She waved dismissively.
"We had a deal."
Lucy suddenly grabbed Mike's hand.
"Hold on."
Veronica looked at her.
Lucy smiled.
"I'll be damned if I leave you two alone."
Veronica sighed.
"I don't have the energy to argue with you."
She looked at Mike.
"So I guess you're coming along."
Lucy grinned.
"Exactly how it should be."
The groups began separating.
Mr. and Mrs. Esposito, Edward and Priscilla climbed onto Blaze.
Mike, Veronica and Lucy remained behind.
Mike looked around.
"So..."
He scratched his head.
"Where's our ride?"
Mike looked around the street, expecting some sort of vehicle or creature to arrive.
"So where is our ride?"
Veronica pointed directly at herself.
"She's standing right in front of you."
Mike stared at her.
"I'm sorry, what?"
Veronica crossed her arms.
"You said your memory of last night is hazy, right?"
"Yeah."
"Allow me to refresh it."
A faint glow began to surround Veronica.
Lucy immediately stepped back.
"Wait, you're actually transforming here?"
"Why not?"
Veronica opened her arms.
"I've got nothing better to do."
The glow intensified.
Fur began spreading across her skin.
Her hands enlarged as her fingers twisted and bones shifted beneath them. Her body rapidly grew larger, her clothes adapting to the transformation as her form expanded.
Within moments, the woman standing before them was gone.
In her place stood the enormous behemoth bear.
Lucy stared.
Mike stared.
Neither said anything for several seconds.
Then Lucy's face lit up.
"Pookie is back!"
The bear immediately raised one paw between herself and Lucy.
"Eww. Don't call me that."
Lucy froze.
Then she slowly lowered her hands.
"Ugh. Why is such an annoying voice coming from a cute bear?"
Veronica's ears twitched.
"You calling me cute is probably the worst insult I've heard all my life."
Lucy grinned.
"Just shut up and let me feel that fur."
"I didn't do this for you."
The bear turned toward Mike.
"Hey, Mike. What do you think?"
Mike walked around her, examining her enormous form.
"Wow."
He looked up at her.
"This was nothing like what I expected."
Veronica's ears perked up.
"Cooler than a dragon?"
Mike glanced back toward where Blaze had disappeared with the others.
Then he looked at Veronica.
"Yeah."
Veronica smiled proudly.
"I knew it."
Lucy immediately climbed onto Veronica's back.
"Move over."
Mike looked at her.
"You didn't even ask."
"Why would I? I'm already here."
She reached down and patted the bear's fur.
"Wow, this is actually really soft."
Veronica groaned.
"You're annoying."
Mike climbed onto her back as well.
"Okay, we're ready."
Veronica glanced over her shoulder.
"Hold on."
She lowered herself slightly.
"You're going to want something to hold onto."
Mike grabbed a handful of fur.
Lucy did the same.
Veronica stood.
The movement alone made both passengers bounce slightly.
Lucy laughed.
"This is awesome!"
Veronica rolled her eyes and began walking.
The sight of a massive behemoth bear casually strolling through the streets with two humans riding on her back naturally attracted attention.
People stopped to stare.
Some whispered.
Others openly pointed.
Mike tried to ignore them.
Lucy, meanwhile, seemed to be enjoying every second of it.
"Everyone's staring."
"No kidding."
"You think they're jealous?"
"Probably."
Veronica snorted.
"Don't encourage her."
Mike smiled.
"I wasn't."
"You absolutely were."
They continued through the city.
The further they travelled, the more Mike noticed how different this world was.
Humans walked alongside beastfolk without anyone giving it a second thought.
A wolf-eared woman carried groceries past a lizard-like man.
A child with small horns chased another child down the street.
Somewhere in the distance, something that looked suspiciously like a floating carriage passed between buildings.
Mike couldn't help staring.
"This place is insane."
Lucy nodded.
"I don't even know where to look."
Veronica smiled faintly.
"Get used to it."
They continued for several minutes.
Then a large circus tent came into view.
Several cages were positioned outside it.
Mike's expression changed.
Some of the animals inside looked frightened.
A large man stood outside the tent.
He had a rough appearance and a mean expression that somehow looked even more intimidating than Mr. Esposito's.
His eyes immediately settled on Veronica.
"Oi!"
Veronica stopped.
The man walked closer.
"That's a mighty fine bear you've got there."
Mike frowned.
"Thanks."
The man's gaze shifted toward him.
"How much?"
Mike blinked.
"Sorry?"
"How much for the bear?"
Mike looked at Veronica.
Veronica looked back.
"She's not for sale."
The man's expression darkened.
"Who said I was asking?"
Mike's eyes narrowed.
The man stepped closer.
"We could do this the easy way..."
He cracked his knuckles.
"...or the hard way."
Veronica's ears flattened.
Mike sighed.
"Sir."
He climbed down from Veronica's back.
"She's mine, and I believe I get to choose whether I sell her or not."
The man's expression became more aggressive.
"Damn punk."
He took a step forward.
"I tried being nice."
The ground suddenly trembled.
The man's expression changed.
"What the—?"
A violent rumble came from behind him.
He slowly turned around.
The circus tent was gone.
In its place stood a small volcano.
Lava flowed from its crater.
The cages had been blown open, and the animals that had been trapped inside were already sprinting away.
The man stared in complete disbelief.
Mike was nowhere to be seen.
"HEY!"
He spun around.
Nothing.
"Damn it!"
Several streets away, Mike and Lucy could hear the man's angry shouting.
Lucy burst out laughing.
"Did you just turn his circus into a volcano?"
Mike shrugged.
"He was being rude."
Veronica remained strangely quiet.
Mike noticed.
"Hey, Veronica."
No answer.
"You're awfully quiet."
Veronica's ears twitched.
"Is something wrong?"
"N-no."
Mike narrowed his eyes.
"Come on. You're fooling no one."
Veronica sighed.
"Fine."
She continued walking.
"Just stop going around calling me yours like it's nothing."
Mike blinked.
"Oh."
Lucy immediately perked up.
"Wait."
Mike looked at her.
"You're talking about when I told that man she was mine?"
Veronica said nothing.
Lucy grinned.
"No comment, huh?"
Veronica's ears flattened.
Mike chuckled.
Lucy suddenly wrapped her arms around Mike from behind.
"You've got some nerve flirting in front of me."
Mike nearly lost his balance.
"Who's flirting?"
"You."
Lucy rested her chin against his shoulder.
"And since you said Veronica is yours..."
She grinned.
"...then you are mine, meaning I have ultimate control."
Veronica abruptly stopped walking.
Mike's eyes widened.
Lucy looked completely pleased with herself.
Veronica slowly turned her head.
"I just said I'm not his."
Lucy laughed.
"Yeah, girl."
She leaned closer to Mike.
"You're fooling no one."
Veronica looked away.
"Hearing that must be giving you butterflies."
"W-what?"
Veronica's voice became noticeably higher.
"No, it isn't."
"Sure."
Mike covered his mouth.
He had never found it more difficult to hold back laughter.
Veronica's ears twitched.
"Are you laughing?"
"No."
"You are."
"I'm not."
"You absolutely are."
Lucy giggled.
"Just admit it, Vero."
"Shut up."
Mike finally broke.
A laugh escaped him.
Veronica's ears flattened completely.
"I knew it!"
Mike tried to compose himself.
"I'm sorry."
"No you're not."
"Okay, I'm not."
Lucy laughed with him.
Veronica continued walking, pretending she couldn't hear either of them.
But the faint blush beneath her fur made her embarrassment rather obvious.
Meanwhile, several streets away, the Espositos had already reached their destination.
The enormous headquarters of the Bureau rose above the surrounding buildings, its architecture far grander than anything Mike had seen in the city so far.
Blaze landed near the entrance, kicking up a cloud of dust.
Mr. Esposito climbed down first, followed by Mrs. Esposito, Edward, and Priscilla.
The moment they stepped inside, the atmosphere changed.
The building was crowded.
People from all over the world moved through the enormous halls, dressed in everything from expensive suits to traditional clothing. Some carried weapons openly. Others were accompanied by heavily armed guards.
Mike wasn't there to see it yet, but had he been, he probably would have spent the first several minutes simply trying to figure out what kind of place he'd walked into.
Among the people gathered were crime bosses, dons, corrupt officials, and other individuals whose presence made it painfully obvious that the Bureau was not an ordinary organization.
The Espositos continued forward.
Then a woman's voice came from behind them.
"My, if it isn't the Espositos."
The family stopped.
A woman approached them, accompanied by two enormous bodyguards.
She wore a yukata that covered her shoulders but left much of her chest exposed. A metal fan rested in one hand, which she lazily moved back and forth as she walked.
Mrs. Esposito recognized her immediately.
"The Yakuza boss herself deigned to greet us."
The woman smiled.
"How lovely to see you."
Mr. Esposito's expression remained guarded.
"To what do we owe the pleasure?"
Mrs. Shinoda's smile widened.
"I heard you guys failed to keep your pet on a leash."
Mr. Esposito's expression darkened.
"But at this point, your incompetence fails to surprise me."
"Hey."
His voice hardened.
"Veronica is not a pet. She's my daughter."
Shinoda tilted her head.
"What's the difference?"
Mr. Esposito stared at her.
"Children are not pets."
"Children are smarter than the average dog."
She casually waved her fan.
"So what?"
She shrugged.
"Both still need me to take care of them."
Her smile disappeared.
"And that daughter of yours is the worst type of pet."
She slowly closed her fan.
"The type that bites the hand that feeds."
Mr. Esposito clenched his fists.
"Veronica is not my pet."
Shinoda's eyes narrowed slightly.
"She needs discipline."
"I told you already—"
"You know..."
Shinoda interrupted him.
"Now that I think about it, you're probably too incompetent to discipline her."
She looked him up and down.
"Look at you."
Her smile became mocking.
"The only difference between you and an ordinary man is that you can talk to some animals."
Mr. Esposito's expression became colder.
Shinoda continued.
"Your daughter over there is just as useless."
She glanced toward the others.
"Your son contracted a C-rank monster."
Edward's expression tightened.
"And your husband contracted a creature that's literally prey to your daughter."
Mrs. Esposito remained silent.
Mr. Esposito's patience finally snapped.
"Shut up."
Shinoda smiled.
"No."
She stepped closer.
"I see why you were so desperate to get her back."
She tilted her head.
"You people are useless without her."
Mr. Esposito's eyes narrowed.
"You could have been safe if your first son was still alive."
Mrs. Esposito stiffened.
"But of course..."
Shinoda's smile became cruel.
"We all know how that—"
SMACK!
The sound of the slap echoed through the hallway.
Everyone nearby went silent.
Mrs. Esposito stood in front of Shinoda, her hand still raised.
Her expression was no longer playful.
It was pained.
"You..."
Shinoda slowly turned her head back.
A red mark was already forming across her cheek.
Her eyes narrowed.
"You're dead."
One of her guards immediately moved.
Shinoda snatched the katana from his side before he could react.
The blade flashed.
In an instant, she had it pressed against Mrs. Esposito's throat.
The hallway became deathly silent.
Shinoda's eyes burned with fury.
Then she felt something.
A pressure.
Heavy.
Overwhelming.
Her grip on the sword tightened.
She slowly turned her head.
Veronica stood behind her.
Bloodlust radiated from the behemoth bear's transformed body.
Shinoda's eyes widened.
But then she noticed something.
The pressure wasn't coming from Veronica.
Her eyes shifted past her.
Mike stood there.
He wasn't shouting.
He wasn't threatening anyone.
He simply stared at Shinoda.
And for one brief moment, Shinoda experienced something she had rarely felt.
Fear.
Not ordinary fear.
Something deeper.
An instinctive warning screaming at her that she had just placed herself in front of something she absolutely did not understand.
Her sword lowered slightly.
Then the fear vanished.
Her expression changed.
Curiosity replaced it.
Interesting.
She withdrew the blade.
"Count yourself lucky, Mrs. Esposito."
Mrs. Esposito straightened her clothes.
"I'd say the same, Mrs. Shinoda."
Shinoda smiled.
She walked past them.
But as she passed Mike, she stopped.
Without turning toward him, she slipped something into his pocket.
Mike felt it.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a card.
He looked at it.
Mrs. Shinoda.
He looked back at her.
"The name's Mrs. Shinoda."
She continued walking.
"I'm offering you an opportunity to join my syndicate."
Mike didn't hesitate.
"I refuse."
Shinoda stopped.
She looked over her shoulder.
"I wouldn't be so sure if I were you."
A faint smile crossed her face.
"I'll be seeing you soon."
She walked away.
Mike watched her disappear into the crowd.
Veronica approached him.
"What did she give you?"
Mike held up the card.
"Apparently she wants me to join her syndicate."
Veronica's expression immediately soured.
"Of course she does."
Mrs. Esposito sighed.
"Let's just go."
The family continued toward the Bureau's meeting area.
Behind them, Shinoda glanced back once.
Her eyes briefly met Mike's.
She smiled.
Then she disappeared into the crowd.
The Espositos entered the meeting room.
The doors closed behind them.
And the meeting began.