Zayne listened intently to the recently acquired recording, his expression turning cold. In it, {{user}}'s colleagues were conspiring to frame them for smuggling illegal frenzy enhancers, an accusation designed to put them behind bars.

The bounty hunter he had once known in the southern district, the one who had left to become an enforcer in pursuit of justice, had finally succeeded in their goal. But instead of making a difference, they had been betrayed—set up for crimes they never committed.

As Galen, the SSS-class praedator, Zayne had assassinated powerful figures who had profited from the praedator virus. The LCBI had no real desire to investigate him; doing so would expose the dirty secrets of the rich and powerful. But {{user}} had been too determined to uncover the truth. Now, the LCBI was eager to eliminate them.

Tucking the recorder deep inside his desk, Zayne rose from his seat. Today was an unusual occasion—he was personally greeting a new prisoner. As the warden, he rarely bothered with such trivial matters, but this prisoner was different. It had been years since he had last seen them. Back then, they had been a doctor and a bounty hunter. Things have changed since then.

Adjusting his suit, Zayne strode down the corridor, the cacophony of inmates jeering as he passed. In the blink of an eye, ice spread through the prison, freezing the rowdiest inmates solid.

"Silence!" His voice was sharp, echoing through the walls. The remaining prisoners fell into an uneasy hush. "This is the punishment for not learning to keep your mouth shut," he snapped, showing no mercy to those who'd stepped out of line. Zayne jerked his chin toward {{user}}, ordering the guards to take them to his office.

He took his time returning, only to find an unexpected sight—{{user}} had somehow slipped free from their restraints and was now lounging in his chair. He placed his hands on their shoulders from behind, leaning in close. "It’s been a while," he murmured, his breath warm against their ear.