Chapter 7
At 7:30 PM, the moment Ranzo gripped the handle to open his bedroom door, he found his parents leaning against it, ears pressed to the wood. He froze, a look of pure bewilderment crossing his face. "Mom? Dad? What exactly is the meaning of this?"
His father coughed, straightening his suit with a defensive glare. "We were just... making sure you weren't bothering our princess again."
Ranzo offered a rare, faint smile. "Why would I bother her, Dad?"
His mother pouted, her eyes narrowing with suspicion. "It's strange, Ranzo. Usually, whenever she comes to your room hoping you'll let her watch you play, she leaves in tears. But today... your tone is different. What changed?"
Ranzo scratched the back of his head, looking away. "Nothing changed. I just thought... maybe I'd let her watch for once. That's all."
"Oh, really?" his father asked, peering past him into the room. "And where is she now?"
Ranzo opened the door wider. "See for yourself. She's asleep."
His mother rushed forward, pressing her palm against Ranzo's forehead. "Are you sick? Since when do you let Marine sleep on your bed? Tell me the truth—what are you planning?"
Ranzo stepped back, raising his hands in a gesture of surrender. "It's not like that, Mom. She was just sitting there, watching the game, and then she fell asleep on my shoulder. I just moved her to the bed. If you want, I'll carry her back to her room right now."
His father crossed his arms. "We don't know what's gotten into you, but she is your sister. It's your duty to look after her. Now, go on. Take her to her room."
A flicker of disappointment crossed Ranzo's face, but he didn't argue. He walked over to the bed to lift her. But as he leaned down, Marine's eyes fluttered open just a fraction. She leaned into his ear and whispered, "Please... let me stay in your room just for tonight."
Ranzo's breath hitched. He looked into her eyes. "You're awake?"
Marine smiled playfully. "I just woke up. I just want to sleep in my brother's room for one night. Is that too much to ask?"
Ranzo's expression hardened instantly. He stood up straight and looked down at her. "Get up. Go back to your room before I lose my patience."
Seeing his cold reaction, Marine didn't hesitate—she launched into a full-blown dramatic performance, sobbing loudly. The sound immediately brought their parents back into the room, faces etched with panic.
"My darling! What happened?" the father cried. He turned on Ranzo with a roar. "Ranzo! How dare you make her cry again?"
Ranzo didn't offer a single word of defense. He simply turned and stormed out of the room, his silhouette vanishing into the hallway.
The mother rushed to Marine's side. "Marine, sweetheart, tell me why you're crying."
Marine wiped her fake tears, looking down. "It's nothing... I just wanted to stay in my brother's room for tonight, but he told me if I didn't leave, things wouldn't end well for me. That's why..."
The father let out a sigh of relief. "Is that all? You can stay here. No one has the guts to kick you out of this room. You sleep here tonight; we'll send Ranzo to the guest room."
"No!" Marine interrupted quickly. "I... I want him to stay here too."
The parents exchanged a look of utter shock. "Marine," the father began hesitantly, "we can't exactly leave you in the same room as a young man like Ranzo. Tell me, when you were at the hotel, he booked two rooms, right?"
"No," Marine replied calmly. "He booked one room. He slept on the sofa. Dad, Ranzo isn't who you think he is. His intentions are pure."
The mother took Marine's hand, her eyes softening. "I gave birth to Ranzo. I know he would never cross a line, especially with his sister. It's just your father's habit to be overprotective. But if you are testifying for his character, then that's enough for me."
The father nodded slowly. "You're right. I shouldn't doubt my own son. No matter how cold he acts on the outside, he has a good heart. Fine. You sleep on the bed, and we'll tell Ranzo to take the sofa."
The mother looked toward the door, her face clouded with worry. "He left the house looking incredibly frustrated. I doubt he'll even come home tonight."
"You're probably right," the father added. "He's pulled all-nighters before. I have a feeling he won't be back until morning."
Hearing this, Marine went quiet, a heavy silence settling over her.
On the other side of town, Ranzo arrived at a coffee shop. But this was no ordinary cafe. Beneath its floorboards lay the underground nerve center of their operations. Ranzo sat in the lobby, staring into space, lost in dark thoughts.
A waitress approached him with a professional smile. "Master Ace, what can I get for you today?"
Ranzo didn't answer. He simply glared into her eyes, a look so intense and predatory that the girl's heart skipped a beat. Wow, she thought, he looks dangerously handsome when he's angry.
Ranzo tapped his finger three times on the table—a coded signal.
The girl understood immediately. "It's only 8:00. You'll have to wait an hour, Master Ace."
"Black coffee," Ranzo muttered, his voice cold.
"Of course. Right away."
Suddenly, a voice whispered in his ear from behind. "Don't you think you're a bit early?"
Ranzo didn't flinch. Sanko pulled up a chair and sat across from him. "So, what did you order?"
Ranzo remained silent, the air around him thick with tension. Sanko, never one to let silence last, teased, "Looks like a volcano is about to erupt in the city tonight."
"Shut up and sit quietly," Ranzo snapped.
Sanko froze, effectively silenced. The waitress returned with the order. "Your coffee, Master Ace."
"Black coffee today, huh?" Sanko remarked. He turned to the girl. "Hey, get me one too."
The waitress's smile vanished instantly, replaced by a look of sheer annoyance. "You have legs, Sanko. Get it yourself, or you might find them broken. How many times do I have to tell you? I only serve Master Ace."
Sanko gave a nervous laugh. "I know, Sukome. But I just can't find peace until I see that angry face of yours."
Sukome scoffed. "I'm not a toy for your amusement. Now go get your own coffee."
"I think you're actually going to break my legs one day," Sanko muttered.
Ranzo had heard enough. He looked at both of them, his eyes glowing with a dangerous light. "If you two don't shut up right now..."
He reached into his coat and pulled out a card—just enough for them to see the marking. Sukome and Sanko both turned pale, their breath hitching.
"Ranzo... wait," Sanko stammered, his voice trembling. "You aren't actually going to use The Joker Dead Card on your own friends, are you? Calm down, man!"
Sukome was shaking. "Master Ace, we've never seen you this on edge. Please... put that omen of death away."
Ranzo took a deep breath and tucked the card back into his pocket. "Both of you. Silence for one hour. Sukome, watch the customers. Sanko, stay here and don't make a sound."
"Yes, Master Ace. Whatever you command," they whispered in unison.
An hour passed. As the clock struck 9:00, an elderly woman stepped into the shop. She was dressed in high-fashion, expensive clothing, radiating an aura of absolute authority. She was the head of the shop and the leader of the organization.
Ranzo didn't react. The woman looked at him, flashed a 'V' sign with her fingers, and offered a mysterious smile.
Sanko leaned in. "It's time."
After closing the shop, Sukome, Ranzo, and Sanko followed the woman into the basement. This was the headquarters of the 'Mafia Hunter' organization, led by the woman known only by her code name: The Queen of Cold.