It was evening at Rumi's house.
The sky outside was slowly turning orange and violet, and a cool breeze moved through the garden.
Inside the kitchen, Rumi and her mother were busy preparing dinner. The soft sound of utensils and the smell of spices filled the house. Ethan was also in the kitchen, but instead of helping, he was sitting at the dining table with his comic book spread open, fully absorbed in it, occasionally swinging his legs under the chair.
Near the entrance stairs of the house, Perun was sitting quietly, resting his elbows on his knees and looking outside. Melody came and sat beside him.
She asked casually, "What are you doing here all alone?"
Perun replied, "Nothing… just looking at the garden."
Melody tilted her head slightly and looked at him more carefully. "What do you do, by the way? I think you look slightly older than me. You should be studying, right?"
Perun gave a small, bitter smile. "I don't have money. And I'm alone. So I have to work."
After a short pause, he asked her, "Why are you still staying here? You have money. You can go somewhere else—someplace where there is no danger."
Melody looked straight ahead and answered firmly, "My family is here. I can't leave them behind. And running away… that's not my style."
Hearing this, Perun's expression changed slightly. Something strange crossed his face—respect mixed with concern.
At that moment, a blue car stopped in front of the house.
Both of them looked up.
A man stepped out of the car. He was wearing a long brown coat that moved slightly with the wind. His hair was silver-colored, neatly combed back, and his eyes were the same ember color as Melody's. He had light facial hair, giving him a mature and authoritative look.
Melody's face lit up as soon as she saw him. She stood up quickly and went toward him.
"Hello!" she said warmly, then turned back toward the house and called out loudly, "Everyone! Lukman uncle has come to meet us!"
Perun froze.
Lukman…
The name echoed in his mind.
So this is him, Perun thought. The Lukman. The one behind all the trouble this family is facing.
Soon, everyone came out—Rumi, Ethan, Rumi's mother, and her father. They all greeted Lukman warmly.
"Hello, all of you," Lukman said with a calm smile.
He then walked to the rear side of his car, opened it, and started taking out several boxes. They were wrapped in colorful gift paper, but there were too many of them, stacked one after another.
Perun stepped forward and said, "May I help you?"
Lukman turned and looked at him.
Before he could say anything, Melody spoke, "Ah, he is my bodyguard. He lives here with us."
Lukman stared at Perun with an uneven gaze, observant—but still smiling.
Perun met his eyes, feeling something off about that smile. Still, he took the boxes and carried them inside. The rest of the family followed.
As the evening passed, Perun couldn't stop thinking.
How can he act so normal, he wondered, after doing so much to this family?
Night came, and everyone sat together at the dining table for dinner. The atmosphere looked normal people talking, food being served, light laughter but beneath it, tension quietly grew.
Perun and Lukman kept looking at each other from time to time.
Perun thought, This man could be dangerous to live with.
Then another thought followed, But this isn't my matter.
After thinking deeply, he realized, This is the right time. Lukman won't attack anyone here. And if he tries… I'll stop him. I can't wait till night.
Perun stopped eating. He sat up straight, took out a card from his pocket the Alpha Angel card and placed it on the table, pointing clearly to the name Lukman printed on it.
Lukman asked calmly, "What is it?"
All the family members stopped talking and stared at Perun.
Perun said, "I want to tell you something."
Lukman smiled lightly. "Ah, that's my company card. Are you from it?"
Melody said, "I told you about him."
Suddenly, Perun slammed his hand on the table.
"Listen carefully," he said loudly. "Melody—and all of you. All those warning incidents, the masked man… do you know who it was about?"
"Hey, calm down," Lukman said.
Before anyone could react—
Bang! A gunshot echoed from the neighborhood.
Rumi, Melody, and the entire family were terrified.
Lukman's expression changed instantly. His face became tense. Slowly, from the back of his waist, he pulled out a gun.
Perun's body tensed. He's going to attack, he thought, and moved closer.
But Lukman said firmly, "There is danger outside. You stay here and protect them."
He turned toward the entrance. "I'll go and secure it."With the gun in his hand, Lukman moved toward the door.
When he reached the place, he saw that around eight people were already there.
One man was clearly leading them—grey hair, sharp silver eyes, and a calm but terrifying presence.
Lukman's heart skipped a beat the moment he recognized him.
"Caeson Moon…"Why was he here?
Was he here for me… or for someone in my family?
Lukman quickly scanned the group.
They were more than enough, and every one of them was armed.
Fear crawled up his spine.
He immediately locked the door, thinking they might come for anyone inside the house. His hands trembled as he turned back.
Lukman rushed to the family. He pulled a gun from his pocket and handed it to Perun.
"Do you know how to use this?" Lukman asked urgently.
Then he shook his head. "It doesn't matter. You have to protect them if they come inside."
He swallowed hard.
"There are eight or nine people… and all of them have guns. I'll surrender myself. Just keep them safe."
Minutes passed each second felt heavier than the last.Suddenly, Lukman realized something was wrong.
All those men outside were now wearing sheriff hats, and Caeson himself stood calmly in the garden, staring at the house.
Then Caeson's voice echoed loudly:
"Everyone inside the house, come outside. I won't do anything."
He turned slightly and said to one of his men,"Break the door."
Before they could move, a voice came from inside."I will surrender. You don't have to do that."
The door slowly opened.
Lukman stepped out, raising both hands, his face pale but determined.
Caeson smirked.
"You've been on our hit list for a long time," he said coldly.
"You're the only one I want. There are many people inside that house, and I have no business with them."
He leaned forward slightly.His smile widened.
"Don't be scared. I won't kill them. You are the only one on the list. You can believe my words."
Lukman said nothing.
His fingers slowly curled around the gun in his pocket. His mind screamed at him but he couldn't decide.
Caeson gestured to one of his men.
"Hey. Go inside and bring them out. Don't waste time."
In an instant, Lukman pulled out his gun and fired at Caeson.
A shot rang out.But in less than a second, Caeson reacted.He smoothly drew his Beretta and fired back, hitting Lukman's hand.
"Ahh—!" Lukman cried out, dropping the gun.
The man rushed inside.Then
Two gunshots came from within the house.
A terrifying sound followed like hard rock being crushed.
People inside screamed.
Caeson's expression changed.
He immediately sent three men into the house.
Shouts and chaos filled the air.
Caeson paused, thinking quickly. Then he went in himself with one man, ordering the other two to stay back and keep an eye on Lukman.
Inside the house—Perun stood directly in front of Caeson.Caeson fired.
Perun dodged with all his strength, but the bullet grazed his stomach and side, tearing through flesh.
Blood spilled.
But it was a strategy.
While Perun was distracted, Caeson's men moved toward the family.
They grabbed them.Three minutes had already passed.Realizing the situation, Perun surrendered.
Everyone was dragged outside, surrounded by guns aimed straight at them.
Caeson stepped forward, grabbed Perun by the collar, and smiled.
"You took down four of my men… by yourself," he said, impressed."Well, I appreciate that."
Then his expression turned cold."But now… all of you will die."
He punched Perun in the face, knocking him down, and took the gun from him.
Perun collapsed to the ground, blood soaking his stomach, his vision blurring as Caeson stood over him