Morning light barely touched the broken edges of the city when a knock echoed through the house.
Three sharp knocks.
Controlled. Confident.
Axel froze. "Uh… who's that?"
Leo glanced at the door. "We didn't invite anyone."
Kai stood near the window, silent as always, eyes still cold from the files he had seen the night before.
Another knock.
Harder this time.
Axel walked slowly and opened the door.
A woman stood outside in a crisp police uniform. Rank insignia clearly visible. Calm posture. Sharp eyes.
"…Auntie?" Axel said, surprised.
She looked him up and down. "You look terrible."
Leo whispered, "That's his aunt?"
Kai didn't react. He just watched.
She stepped inside without waiting for permission. "I heard there's trouble in this area. Wanted to see if you're involved."
Axel quickly shook his head. "No, no—nothing like that."
She narrowed her eyes slightly. "Don't lie to me."
Silence.
Her gaze moved across the room—damaged furniture, cracked walls, tension in the air.
Then she saw Kai.
Her expression shifted slightly.
"…You," she said.
Kai looked back at her. Calm. Cold.
Leo stepped forward quickly. "We can explain—"
She raised a hand. "I know who he is."
Axel blinked. "Wait… what?"
She didn't take her eyes off Kai.
"Kai… escaped prisoner. Government priority case."
Axel's face dropped. "Auntie, it's not like that—"
She interrupted him. "Then explain why my nephew is standing next to someone the entire system is hunting."
Silence.
Kai finally spoke.
"…Because I didn't choose this."
She studied him carefully.
"Everyone says that."
Kai didn't flinch.
"…Then everyone is wrong."
A tense pause filled the room.
Leo quietly whispered to Axel, "This is bad…"
Axel's aunt crossed her arms.
"Listen carefully. If you're involved with him, you're already on the radar. All of you."
Axel stepped forward. "We know. But we're not criminals."
She sighed slightly. "Doesn't matter what you are. Only what they think you are."
Kai turned slightly toward the window.
"…They already decided that."
She watched him for a moment.
Then spoke more quietly.
"Rank 3 officers don't ask questions like this unless things are serious."
Axel frowned. "So why are you here?"
She looked between all three of them.
"…Because a Dragon facility was hit last night."
Silence.
Leo went still. "…That was us."
Axel whispered, "Oh no…"
She continued, voice lower now.
"And now Rank 1 is confirmed dead."
Kai's eyes narrowed slightly—but he said nothing.
She stepped closer to Axel.
"I came to warn you. Whatever you're doing… stop it before it becomes a war."
Axel looked conflicted.
"…It already is one," he said quietly.
Kai finally turned fully toward her.
Cold voice. Calm tone.
"…It started a long time ago."
Her eyes locked onto his.
For a moment—
Something unspoken passed between them.
Then she turned toward the door.
"…If you get caught," she said, "I won't be able to protect you."
She paused.
"…Not even him."
And with that, she left.
Silence returned.
Heavy.
Axel sat down slowly. "…Bro… my family is NOT normal."
Leo exhaled. "Rank 3 officer… this just got more complicated."
Kai didn't move.
He just stared at the floor.
Thinking.
Processing.
Calculating.
"…They're coming faster than I thought," he said quietly.
And for the first time in a while—
His cold focus sharpened even more.