The roar of a dying engine was music to Kai Tenzen's ears.

He crouched beside the Harley,, grease on his fingers, sweat sticking his tank top to his skin. His tattoo sleeve stretched as he reached for a wrench, the coiled serpent inked across his forearm catching the flicker of sunlight.

“Another job for a rich asshole who rides twice a month and stores it like a trophy,” Kai muttered, pulling off the air filter with a grunt. “Maybe if he spent less on chrome and more on common sense...”

From behind him, his apprentice chuckled. “Want me to tell him that when he comes back?”

“Sure,” Kai said, not looking up. “Tell him his baby runs like a drunk donkey because he treats her like a glorified lawn ornament.”

The kid laughed. Kai didn’t.

He loved machines. Loved the way they spoke in broken valves and sputtering ignition. He loved ink, too—the buzz of the needle, the silence of the client right before pain met skin. Those were his sanctuaries. Tools and tattoos. Things that inflict pain he could take.

And tonight, Kai was about to witness a scene to a new type of pain.

One he'd never forget.

It was after midnight when he closed the shop. The streets of New Morrigan were soaked in that quiet, eerie calm cities wore right before something went wrong. Kai lit a cigarette, his helmet tucked under one arm as he leaned against his bike, counting the stars he couldn’t see through city light.

Then he heard it—three loud shots..

Gunshots.

He didn’t flinch. Just turned slowly, flicked his cigarette, and listened.

Screams echoed a few streets down. Tires screeched. Kai didn’t move until he heard the fourth shot, louder. Closer.

Instinct said to walk away.

But curiosity? That was always louder.

He turned the corner, moving fast and silent, sticking to shadows like he’d been taught growing up in a neighborhood that chewed up kids and spit out criminals. He ducked behind a dumpster and froze.

One man lay sprawled on the pavement, blood pooling beneath him. Kai could swear he saw brain matter splashed on the pavement.

Another stood above the body, calm and precise, like death was a detail he barely noticed. Broad shoulders under a fitted coat. Polished shoes. No hesitation. No fear. it was difficult to point out other features but he could tell the killers hair was blonde, as it swayed in the nights wind.

Then the man turned—and their eyes met.

For a second, the world forgot how to breathe.

kai's heart didn’t race. It pounded, it was the first time he felt fear.

The man didn’t speak. Didn’t aim. Just stared.

Kai stared right back.

And smiled.

He was in the shop, sketching a new tattoo design on the side of a gas tank when two suited men walked in. No knock. No conversation.

“Touch anything in here without permission and I’m charging double,” Kai said, not looking up.

“Mr. Tenzen,” one of them said, monotone. “We need you to come with us.”

Kai finally looked at them. “Do I look like someone who follows strangers in knockoff suits?”

The second man stepped forward. “It’s about what you saw last night.”

Kai paused. His pencil stilled on metal.

Then he smiled. “Well, shit.”

---

He put up a fight before willingly going with them, one of the men now had a broken nose,he sat at the back sit between two men, eyes.narrowed.

“This your thing?” he asked. “All black suits, no facial expressions? You boys part of some cult or are we going to a fashion shoot for ‘How to Be Intimidating for Dummies’?”

They didn’t answer. Kai snorted.

The car stopped in front of a gate taller than his apartment building. Cameras followed them as they drove through a private driveway to a mansion that looked like it had its own zip code.

Figures.

They brought him inside—marble floors, chrome staircases, guards that looked like they ate protein powder for breakfast and regret for lunch.

And then he appeared.

The man from the alley.

Loac Moreau.

Up close, he was worse—sharp jaw, eyes like polished obsidian, the kind of stillness that made even sound think twice before entering the room. blonde hair and a mean expression. Kai wanted to punch him.

“You’re a lot taller than you looked in the dark,” Kai said, arms crossed. “And a hell of a lot prettier.”

Lucien didn’t smile. “You saw something you shouldn’t have.”

“Uh-huh. A murder. Not the worst thing I’ve seen, but definitely the most cinematic.”

“You’re not afraid.”

“I’ve got a socket wrench bigger than your ego. Try me.”

Lucien took a slow step forward. “This isn’t a joke, Mr. Tenzen.” One of the men that brought him here says.

“Neither is dragging a civilian into a murder scene like this is a damn mafia movie. Oh wait…”

Lucien’s jaw tensed. “I should kill you.”

“You should? so what's stopping you?” if he was going to die at least he'd die fighting.

Lucien stared at him for a long moment.

Then said, “You're perfect for my plans, a civilian no one would suspect you, ”he paused, "although you look a little suspicious with those inked skin, you're still a little kid, how old are you boy?"

Kai blinked. “Boy? what are you? some geezer, I'm a full grown man and my age is non of your business.” loac sighed.

“If You do not cooperate with me I'd be left with no choice but to kill you.”

Kai tilted his head. “Enough with that bullshit already, maybe if you didn't kill him on a public road i wouldn't have seen you comit murder, or what? you guys are good guys that kill people?” loac didn't respond, his voice deepening as he reponds.

“In return for your life, you work for me.”

“Or?” Kai says matching his energy.

Lucien’s voice dropped. “Or I erase every trace of you.”

Kai grinned. “Charming.”