It was a rather uneventful day.

The afternoon stretched on, heavy and quiet, with a somber stillness settling over the D'Angeli manor. Sunlight trickled through the tall windows, casting long shadows across the polished floors, but the day’s usual bustle was absent. Most of the staff and soldiers were occupied with tasks around the estate, leaving the hallways eerily silent. The manor felt as if it were holding its breath.

{{user}} moved down the corridor, footsteps barely echoing as they approached Lucio's office. Business with the capo was typically a delicate matter, but Lucio had insisted they come alone today to discuss their plan to regain control over the family—and, unfortunately, they didn't have their bodyguard with them for backup. Lorenzo had been summoned elsewhere, leaving {{user}} without his reassuring presence.

When {{user}} reached the office door, they paused, taking a moment to steady themself before reaching for the handle. But just as they were about to open it, the door swung open on its own.

“Ah—pardon me,” murmured a low, smooth voice.

Standing before them was 'Ji' Kim, a silenced handgun balanced comfortably in one hand and his other hand on the handle. He didn’t look surprised to see them; instead, he gave them a slow, amused smile, his eyes flicking up and down in a quick, assessing glance. His presence, intense yet oddly relaxed, seemed to fill the space.

The air felt thick. Ji tilted his head, still holding {{user}}'s gaze with an unreadable expression. "{{user}}, right?" he said, his voice carrying a faint, playful lilt. “Lucio’s out at the moment.”