This chapter takes place many years before the beginning of the story

  “ He’s definitely cheating. Nobody wins five times in a row. It’s like he has multiple faces and different ways of thinking,”

  a man at the gaming table whispered while Shark won for the fifth time.

  Shark laughed loudly and shouted even more, which was why no one at the table liked him anymore.

  Still, almost no one dared talk badly about him — let alone cheat him — because that would be the end of them.

  Shark was one of the major mafia bosses of the large city Tongyo.

  He had abandoned his family and done his own thing.

  He climbed on top of the table and started dancing.

  “I’m the best! Shark devours them all!”

  His subordinates cheered with him, but the other men at the table only glared or stared neutrally.

  Suddenly Shark stepped on the hand of the man who had whispered earlier.

  “Ow! Are you crazy?!”

  “Yes, I am. But not as crazy as you. To dare say I cheat — and right in front of me? You must be insane to say something like that, right?”

  He stepped harder, and the sound of cracking bones followed.

  “I’m sorry! Please forgive me! You would never cheat. Never!”

  “Yes, you’re absolutely right about everything you just said… if only you meant it honestly and not out of fear.”

  Shark pressed down even harder and broke the man’s hand.

  The man, overwhelmed by pain, tried to leave the room.

  But he was stopped and held down by the Shark-Boys, Shark’s subordinates.

  “And where do you think you’re going? I still want to give you a little gift. You think I have multiple faces, right? Then let me show you a nice one.”

  Shark pulled out a gun and shot the man in the head.

  He looked back at the table and jumped onto it again.

  “You know what happens if you talk about anything that happens in here. I don’t like repeating myself, so… get out, and bring the next ones in.”

  The men left the room, and a new group of players entered.

  The Shark-Boys had already disposed of the body.

  “Alright, let’s start with an easy game,” Shark announced with a loving smile.

  “That was a good night. Haven’t made this much in a long time.”

  Shark wanted to leave the club, but he was stopped by a girl.

  “Excuse me?”

  “Huh? What do you want?”

  “I was wondering if you could help me find my necklace. I was heading to the bathroom and realized it was gone. Maybe I dropped it in there. Could you help me look for it?”

  Shark looked at her critically.

  He actually didn’t feel like helping her at all — but she was very pretty, and he hoped his help might earn him a date.

  “Well, I’m kind of in a hurry and—”

  Shark was pulled back by his men, who whispered into his ear:

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  “Boss, she didn’t lose a necklace.”

  “What are you talking about? She clearly needs help finding it.”

  “No, she’s lying. She wants to take you into the bathroom to…”

  “To what? What are you all talking about?”

  “She wants to… you know… with you… in there.”

  “What?! No way… or maybe…?”

  Shark stared at the girl with sudden lust, while she patiently waited for his answer.

  “You’re sure?”

  “Absolutely. Go ‘help’ her. Take your time.”

  “You’re the best Shark-Boys I’ve ever had.”

  Shark walked confidently toward the girl and stood tall in front of her.

  “Of course I’ll help you. I’m a gentleman, after all.”

  The girl thanked him, and they walked together to the bathroom.

  “Before I went into the stall, I noticed it was gone, so it must be somewhere out here.”

  “Mhm, I’m sure. I’ll check over here.”

  Shark watched her with a hungry look. He didn’t even pretend to search — his eyes were only on her.

  She, however, searched carefully, even crawling around on the floor.

  “Wow, she’s really putting in effort. Good acting,” Shark thought smugly.

  He approached her and intentionally brushed against her several times.

  His face came close enough that they breathed each other’s air.

  “Um… what are you doing?” she asked shyly.

  “I’m helping you look for the necklace. What else would we be doing here?”

  They stared at each other wordlessly.

  Shark smirked with anticipation and made the first move — and the girl played along.

  But just before they could kiss, Shark felt a chilling cold on the back of his neck.

  A cold so sharp it felt like someone was blowing down on him from above.

  It gave him goosebumps.

  He looked up — and saw a fish with the face of an old woman.

  “AHHHH! What is that?!”

  “Oh? That’s my friend Greta. She’s a bit clingy and always wants to know what I’m doing, but don’t worry, she doesn’t bite. Anyway, shall we continue?”

  “Uh… kinda difficult with that thing next to you.”

  Shark backed away, almost ready to run out of the bathroom.

  “Call your Birth-Pet back, then we can continue.”

  “OMG! You know about Birth-Pets?! Finally someone who knows what Greta is! I thought I’d need to make something up, but you already know. I can’t recall her because I want her out here.”

  “Why? I thought we just wanted to have some fun.”

  “Oh, I will have fun — killing you. Greta wants to watch and help if necessary.”

  Shark’s eyes widened in shock. He immediately tried to leave the bathroom, but Greta held him down and slammed him against the wall.

  Then she grabbed him with her fins and spun him through the air before blasting him into the floor with such force it cracked.

  “Greta! I’m supposed to kill him. Don’t overdo it.”

  The girl approached Shark with a creepy smile, lowering herself to her knees.

  “Arrogant bastards like you are the reason a wonderful woman like me has to become a murderer. You’re the eighth guy who’s fallen for this. You guys really never learn.”

  She poked him with a large needle and began carving a pattern into his skin.

  “Get away from me, yo—”

  Before Shark could finish, Greta hit him with her tail, knocking him down.

  “I think I’ll carve a heart.”

  She started carving and clearly enjoyed it.

  “You know what the best part is? Your boys are waiting outside thinking we’re doing it right now — while you’re actually dying in here. ‘Shark devours them all’, right? Quite a big motto for someone getting a heart carved into his skin.”

  She continued while Shark lay helpless, his vision blurring.

  “How stupid am I? To think she actually wanted me. I’m such an idiot…”

  Just when Shark accepted his fate, he heard someone enter the bathroom.

  “This should’ve been locked. Greta, kill her,” the murderess ordered her Birth-Pet.

  A new woman stood at the door — confident and completely unfazed.

  “That’s what you call a Birth-Pet? Don’t make me laugh.”

  She flicked her finger, shooting Greta through the wall and into the next building.

  “How dare you, you bitch! I’ll kill y—”

  Before she could finish, the new woman slammed her to the ground and knocked her unconscious.

  Next, she walked to Shark and helped him up.

  “How are you feeling?” she asked with concern.

  “I’ve been better… but I don’t think anything’s broken.”

  “Still, you should get checked.”

  “Will do,” Shark said in an unusually calm tone.

  “How did you get through the door, and how did you beat that fish so easily?”

  “Simple. I’m part of my family, so I have these abilities. But I guess I don’t have to explain that to you, do I?” she said, giving him a knowing look as they left the bathroom.

  “You’re right. I don’t have abilities — because I don’t belong to my family.”

  “That sounds tragic. My abilities aren’t that impressive anyway. I’m just super strong and can open any door. Nothing special.”

  “But at least you have something,” Shark said, sounding defeated.

  “Maybe so. But you can always regain what you’ve lost. Just because you’re distant from your family now doesn’t mean it has to stay that way forever.”

  “And why did you save me?”

  “Instinct.”

  She brought him back to his subordinates and was about to leave.

  “Wait. I need to thank you somehow.”

  “No need. I chose to help you.”

  “What’s your name?”

  “You first.”

  “My name is Aihara Sakiko. And you?”

  “My name is ???, and I come from ???. I’m here because ???.”

  Aihara looked at her, mesmerized, and asked if he could get to know her better.