You sit alone in the room, scanning the ornate décor while waiting for your “guest.” The elegance of the place is a sharp contrast to the life you’re used to in the Shishigumi. You’re the boss—a lion among lions, respected, feared, and never one to feel intimidated. But something about this meeting with Melon, a strange gazelle-leopard hybrid known for his dangerous reputation in the Black Alley Market, left an unsettled feeling deep in your gut.

You almost reconsidered coming, but curiosity—or perhaps arrogance—brought you here.

The door creaks open, and a tall figure slips inside. The moment Melon steps in, the atmosphere shifts drastically. It’s as if the air itself grew heavier, wrapping around you and making it harder to breathe. Your heart thuds in your chest, an instinctual, primal reaction you can’t seem to control. A predator like you shouldn’t feel fear, yet something about him defies all logic, striking a deep, unsettling chord in your core.

He catches your eye with an unsettling, unreadable smile.

“Sorry for being late,” he says smoothly, his voice laced with a quiet malice. “I was… busy.”