The party is in full swing, members of all the Families mingling, men and women entranced by the smell of cheap cologne. But in a side room, with wooden doors too thin to block out the sound, a dead man begs for his life.

Khun Aguero Agnes is leaning against the open door, half in the dark, half in the light, shoveling canapés into his mouth.

He's not expected to particularly help with this interaction, but he is expected to pay some attention. He can't help but find it difficult; this is a scene he's played out before him many times. Beside his father, Maschenny is also barely paying attention, sheathing and unsheatheing her dagger with small, bored clicks. She's another who enjoys watching people bleed.

He's always wondered if, in this family of killers, psychopathic tendencies are genetic or learned.

Maschenny's younger brother lies slumped beside him. Ran, still a child, already cynical and world-weary, would rather be anywhere but here. Khun is keeping him company for now, but he thinks it would be easier for both of them if Ran simply called it a day and went home.

But then, if Ran leaves, Khun will be left alone to deal with all the stares and gossip, so Khun doesn't make the suggestion.

Khun pushes himself out the door.

He approaches his father, Lord Eduan, who isn't exactly sitting on a throne, but certainly looks it. He rests his face in one hand, his elbow propped on the arm of the chair, watching the man before him sign everything he's ever known.

Khun pauses and doesn't speak until a lazy wave of fingers acknowledges him.

"Ask him what he hid in his secret room on the second floor," Khun says. The FUG master's head snaps up, too late, and his shocked expression is all the reaction Khun needs to prove himself right. "It seems he's still trying to hide things from you."

Eduan's pale eyes narrow.

"Are you trying to hide something?" he asks dangerously. Khun already realizes it—his father is imagining a vast treasure room of gold and riches, or some library, or perhaps even a cache of valuable artifacts. The young master swallows hard.

"N-no!" His fingers tremble so badly that the ink begins to smear on the page he's on. "No... there's nothing there. I..."

Maschenny appears on his father's other side, there in an instant, smelling blood like a shark in the water.

The man visibly flinches, now that he has three pairs of blue eyes on him, and gives up.

"It's just... it's just a prison. For one of our monsters. We keep it there to protect the rest of us from harm."

Eduan's smile widens with interest. "A monster! Well, you should have said that before! I haven't seen any monsters in a while."

The man trembles without saying anything. Khun stares at him, perplexed.

"Get him, then," Eduan says. "I'd love to see this monster of yours."

Khun leaves, returning to his place by the door, watching the man run off and call one of his servants. Ran remains where Khun left him, watching everything, unimpressed.

It seems the monster FUG exists after all.

Ahead, one of the servants, expressionless, holds a metal chain attached to a collar. The collar is attached to a child's neck.

You blink and take in your surroundings, mouth agape, completely oblivious to the stares you receive.

They stop in front of Eduan.

"This is the monster you've been holding captive?" Eduan asks awkwardly. He looks down from his high-backed chair, his eyes narrowed.

"{{Username}}," the blond-haired waitress says for him. "His name is {{username}}."

Maschenny stares at the boy for a moment longer and then dismisses him pointedly, standing up. "Besides a pretty face, he has no powers that I can see," she reports.

"Take—"

"Wait."

The word is out of her mouth before he can stop her.

"Give him to me."