"Who exactly are you?"

Zeming asked, his voice edged with suspicion.

"Sorry, I'm a police officer," Elusa said softly.

"Hmm... is it really okay to say that in this situation?"

His eyelids had been twitching with a premonition of misfortune. The cucumber he'd just picked up to check the price slipped nervously from his hand.

The aunties around him recoiled instantly, as if spotting something vile. They scattered from Zeming, some clutching their kids close and putting distance between them.

"Nothing much. Just trying out a movie line."

Elusa glanced around, calm and utterly indifferent.

"So you're a movie buff too?"

Zeming blurted out, wide-eyed.

"When I'm bored, I watch films or whatever."

Elusa picked up some fruit, fiddled with it briefly, then dropped it back on the stand, uninterested.

"Honestly, no one's ever mentioned your job to me. What do you actually do, sis?"

"Eira never said either. That's rare."

This back-and-forth felt like painfully awkward small talk. Zeming tilted his head, tense.

"My role is military—special forces, technically. I report to the government."

"Commander?"

Zeming nearly dropped everything. He hadn't expected this. Sure, Eira's family was insanely rich, but military personnel? Wait—wasn't his father-in-law military too? But that high-ranking?

"Not really."

So not a commander. He almost had a heart attack. If she were top brass, his heart couldn't take it.

"Just a nominal advisor."

"Pfft—"

He snorted. An advisor in the military wasn't trivial—especially one free to set their own leave. The army had to respect that.

"What even are you?"

"Is that admiration? I'll take it. Thanks."

"Not telling?"

Zeming spotted the discounted beef nearby and couldn't resist poking it. Quality was surprisingly good today. Suspiciously cheap, but trustworthy—at least his Cyborg senses confirmed it.

"This chunk could feed us for a meal. Great for soup for Eira too. Beef's perfect for strengthening a weak body."

"I never expected you could cook."

Elusa sounded genuinely surprised.

"Don't act so shocked... My parents barely raised me. I just figured it out."

"Nice. We were also parentless as kids, but I still can't cook well. Guess family upbringing matters."

Rich families really were a different world.

Elusa sighed suddenly, shifting to something heavier.

"You know my sister's identity. Why marry her then?"

The question blindsided Zeming.

Staying together without love? Weird, right?

"Because I like her, I guess."

"Vague. I hate answers like that."

Elusa glared, radiating silent threat: *Say the wrong thing and you're dead.* It was terrifying.

Her stare alone made him shiver. An icy dread choked his words.

"Sorry—I can't explain it better. It's just... a bond, I think?"

"You answered with a question mark!"

Elusa frowned sharply.

"Calm down! I truly love Eira!!"

"Then why so casual?"

Elusa pressed.

"Because we're still growing. It's just the start... Please trust me with your sister, sis."

Zeming stammered, bowing deeply. His serious expression was startlingly firm.

"That confession is super lame..." Elusa covered her mouth, laughing. "Just teasing. Saying that out of nowhere—wow."

"I'm serious!"

Zeming clutched his chest, hurt.

"Help——"

BOOM——

A heavy crash echoed. In the distance, a colossal shape materialized, its monstrous form slowly revealing itself.

"What is that!?"

"That thing... it's a monster!!"

Elusa screamed, face tight. Reality had shattered her every expectation.

The huge body, massive face, and terrifying silhouette now loomed before them. The monster was here.