Karasuma Residence — Blood, Oaths, and Truths
The Karasuma residence was quiet.
Too quiet.
Black cars arrived one by one, stopping before the ancient gates.
Ethan Hondou stepped out first, his posture straight, eyes sharp—the instincts of a lifelong CIA agent never leaving him.
Beside him stood Hidemi Hondou (20), her expression conflicted but determined.
Inside the residence, Karasuma Renya waited.
The moment Ethan entered, Renya stood.
"My godson," Renya said calmly.
Ethan bowed deeply.
"Father."
Renya stepped forward and placed a hand on Ethan's shoulder—rare affection from the old man.
Then—
Hidemi moved past her father and hugged Renya tightly.
"Grandfather," she said softly.
Renya froze for half a second—then hugged her back.
"You've grown," he said. "How are you?"
"I'm doing well," Hidemi replied with a smile. "I'm… deciding my future."
Renya nodded knowingly.
Cat and Mouse
A ripple of tension formed when Vermouth entered the room.
Golden eyes met sharp blue ones.
"…So you're the famous Hidemi Hondou," Vermouth said lazily.
"And you're Vermouth," Hidemi shot back. "The woman who never ages."
Vermouth smirked.
"Careful, kitten."
Hidemi bristled.
"Don't call me that!"
Rum watched silently from the corner.
Ethan sighed.
"They're exactly like cats and rats," he muttered.
Vermouth turned and greeted Ethan properly.
"Good to see you again, brother."
Ethan nodded.
"Likewise."
They all took their seats.
The File
Vermouth leaned back casually.
"So, Grandfather," she asked, "why did you call us?"
Renya didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he slid a thick file onto the table.
On the cover—
KEITH ARGUS RUNCANDEL
Rum had seen the details before.
The others had not.
As pages turned—
Silence grew heavier.
One year of records.
Training reports.
Business preparations.
Combat evaluations.
Financial projections.
Swordsmanship footage.
Vermouth's fingers tightened.
He's grown this much…
Ethan's eyes narrowed.
Hidemi froze when she saw the image on the page.
A fifteen-year-old boy.
Tall.
Elegant.
Sapphire eyes.
"…He's beautiful," Hidemi whispered—then blushed bright red.
Ethan looked up sharply.
"Who is he?"
Renya spoke calmly.
"My great-grandson."
Ethan stiffened.
"…What?"
"Keith Argus Runcandel," Renya continued.
"Son of Kaori Karasuma."
Ethan's breath caught.
"…Kaori…"
Pain flickered across his face.
"She was like my sister," he said hoarsely.
Hidemi's shock deepened.
"Runcandel… Karasuma…" she whispered.
"He's… family?"
Renya nodded.
"Yes."
The Mission
Ethan straightened.
"What do you need from us?"
Renya's gaze sharpened.
"Keith is building his own business empire," he said.
"He will attract enemies."
"I want four people," Renya continued,
"to stand behind him."
Ethan nodded without hesitation.
"So will we."
He pointed to Hidemi.
"I choose her."
Hidemi turned sharply.
"Father—I want to join the CIA like you."
Ethan shook his head immediately.
"No."
The room stilled.
"I don't know how long I'll live," Ethan said quietly.
"In my line of work, death doesn't send warnings."
Hidemi's eyes widened.
"All I want," Ethan continued, looking at Renya,
"is for Hidemi to stay safe."
Renya's jaw tightened.
"You're still searching," Renya said.
Ethan nodded.
"You know what I'm searching for."
Rum and Renya exchanged a look.
Atsushi Miyano
Vermouth frowned.
"You're still looking for Atsushi Miyano?" she asked.
"He's dead."
Ethan shook his head.
"No."
"He's alive."
The words dropped like a bomb.
"He escaped the lab," Ethan continued, fists clenched.
"He injured Elena Miyano in the process."
Vermouth's eyes darkened.
"She went into a coma," Ethan said.
"Akemi and Shiho are safe—we made sure of that."
Hidemi's hands trembled.
"But there's more," Ethan said, voice tightening.
"Before joining our organization, Atsushi Miyano belonged to another."
"…Another?" Hidemi whispered.
"They call themselves Zoo," Ethan said.
"An organization operating across multiple countries."
"They experiment on genes," he continued.
"They implant them into unborn children."
The room turned ice-cold.
"He altered Elena's body," Ethan said through clenched teeth,
"while she was pregnant with Akemi and Shiho."
Vermouth's nails dug into her palm.
Rum's killing intent leaked.
Renya's expression darkened completely.
A Father's Request
Hidemi stood suddenly.
"Father, please stop," she pleaded.
"Hide. Disappear."
Ethan smiled gently.
"It's too late, baby."
He looked at Renya.
"I've gone too deep."
"…How long?" Renya asked.
"Two years," Ethan replied calmly.
"At most."
Renya's hands trembled.
"Isn't there another way?"
Ethan shook his head.
Renya closed his eyes.
Then opened them—burning.
"I will protect Hidemi," Renya said coldly.
"And anyone who dares touch you…"
His voice dropped.
"…will regret being born."
Ethan nodded slowly.
"I trust you, Father."
The room fell silent.
Four people sat around the table—
Bound by blood, secrets, and an approaching storm.
And at the center of it all—
A fifteen-year-old heir named Keith Argus Runcandel,
Unaware that the world was already reshaping itself around him.