The morning sunlight filtered through the crystal windows of the Violet family's grand mansion, spreading a warm glow across the dining room. Rosalie and her family were having breakfast together. Seated among them was Rosalie's grandmother, who had come to visit.
After breakfast, Rosalie and her grandmother strolled into the garden. The flowers and plants that Rosalie had carefully nurtured swayed beautifully beneath the golden morning sun, their blossoms blooming in brilliant colors. The two of them sat beneath a blooming cherry tree, enjoying each other's company on a wooden bench.
"Rosie..."
Her grandmother smiled gently.
"Your health has improved so much compared to before. Make sure you eat properly and never forget to take your medicine. Grandma is getting old now, so I can't come to visit you very often anymore. As long as I know my precious grand-daughter is healthy and happy, I'll have nothing to worry about."
Rosalie reached out and gently held her grandmother's hand.
"Don't worry, Grandma. I'm doing well. Dr. Julian takes very good care of me, and Mommy cooks healthy meals for me every single day. You know what? Mommy loves me so much that whenever it's my favorite food, she insists on cooking it herself. Poor Aunt Stacy only gets to cook the rest of the dishes. She's always complaining playfully because of it."
Rosalie giggled softly. Her grandmother laughed.
"That's exactly how your mother has always been. She cares about her family more than anyone."
After a brief pause, she looked at Rosalie with a meaningful smile.
"My dear... how are things between you and Julian? Is he taking good care of you?"
Rosalie froze for a moment. A faint blush slowly spread across her cheeks as she bit her lower lip shyly before looking at her grandmother.
"H-He... he's our family doctor, Grandma. Of course, he takes good care of me. He even comes to check on Daddy regularly."
Her grandmother simply smiled knowingly.
"My dear little one... you can't fool your Grandma."
Rosalie blinked.
"I already know that you and Julian are dating."
Rosalie's eyes widened in surprise.
"Even if you don't tell me, I can see it. Your mommy and daddy probably know as well. They're adults. They're simply watching quietly from the sidelines instead of interfering."
She gently squeezed Rosalie's hand.
"But no matter what happens, all I want is for my grand-daughter to be happy. If your mommy or daddy ever tries to interfere, just tell Grandma. I'll handle it."
She smiled warmly before continuing,
"Julian is a good young man. But if he ever makes you cry or hurts your feelings..."
Her expression suddenly became serious.
"...you must tell Grandma everything. Don't hide anything from me, alright? I'll always be on your side."
Rosalie's face brightened with a radiant smile. She wrapped both arms around her grandmother and hugged her tightly.
"Of course, Grandma."
She laughed softly.
"I've never lied to you before, and I'll never hide anything from you. So, don't worry."
Her grandmother gently stroked Rosalie's hair, smiling with endless affection.
....
Ethan stood quietly in the western corridor of the Eagle Wings mansion. Standing before him were the three men personally selected by Mr. Roger. The first was Tim, one of Eagle Wings' fastest and most precise operatives. The second was Kyle, well known throughout the organization for his exceptional weapons expertise. The third was Mark, a specialist in intelligence analysis and advanced technology. Ethan slowly swept his gaze across the three of them before speaking calmly.
"The mission we're heading into isn't like our usual fights where we can simply charge in shooting."
His voice remained steady.
"Harbor 17 isn't an ordinary harbor."
He paused briefly.
"That place belongs to Devil Iris. And it's also where they're currently having conflicts with Becky's organization."
He looked at each of them one by one.
"This operation requires precision. One mistake...and everything falls apart. This started because of me. But now it concerns Eagle Wings as well. So, from this point onward, follow my orders. Watch each other's backs. Maintain communication at all times. I don't want anyone acting on their own."
Tim nodded immediately.
"Understood, Boss. Just give us the orders."
Kyle casually rotated his wrist with a confident grin.
"It doesn't matter who shows up. The moment you give the command...we'll be right behind you."
Meanwhile, Mark had already opened his tablet, carefully examining Harbor 17's layout together with its cargo routes.
"This place is strange."
He zoomed in on several security maps.
"There are far too many CCTV blind spots."
He frowned slightly.
"This doesn't look natural. It feels like a deliberately designed security pattern."
Ethan gave a slow nod.
"That's exactly what I'm suspicious about."
He picked up his black coat and slipped it on before tightening the gloves around his hands.
"Get ready. We're leaving now."
....
A black SUV slowly drove out toward the outskirts of the city. Inside sat Ethan and his three men. The atmosphere inside the vehicle was unusually quiet. Everyone was preparing for what might happen.
Tim continuously checked the radio frequencies. Mark monitored real-time information on his laptop. Kyle remained silent as he watched everything outside the window. Ethan kept both eyes fixed on the road while driving. After several minutes, Mark finally broke the silence.
"Boss... The main gate security at Harbor 17 is much tighter than yesterday."
He frowned at his screen.
"And there's an unknown clearance showing up in today's access logs."
Ethan's eyebrows narrowed.
"Unknown clearance?"
Mark nodded.
"Yes."
"It's an entry code that doesn't exist in the official system."
Kyle slowly turned his head.
"So... Someone is already inside?"
Ethan didn't answer immediately. His eyes remained fixed on the road ahead. A cold glint flashed across on his eyes.
"This..."
He spoke quietly.
"...isn't a delivery anymore."
After a brief silence, he added,
"It could be a trap."
The entire vehicle fell silent. Tim instinctively rested his hand near his weapon.
"Then... Should we change the plan?"
Ethan slowly shook his head.
"No. But we'll adapt according to the situation."
He looked outside the window. The bright city lights gradually disappeared behind them. Only the dark highway leading toward the harbor remained.
"When we reach Harbor 17..."
His voice became colder.
"...stay alert. Trust no one."
No one answered. Every person inside that vehicle already understood exactly what those words meant. Several more minutes passed. The enormous silhouettes of shipping containers gradually appeared in the distance. Massive cargo cranes towered over the industrial zone beneath the gray morning sky.
Only a handful of lights illuminated the harbor. Mark continued staring at his laptop.
"This place...doesn't look normal."
He frowned.
"There are barely any movements. For a commercial harbor...it's far too quiet."
Kyle tightened his grip around his pistol.
"I can't even see a single worker. Something feels seriously wrong."
Ethan slowly eased off the accelerator. Another icy look flashed through his eyes.
"We're here."
The SUV rolled silently toward the entrance of Harbor 17 before coming to a smooth stop. Ethan slowly pushed open the driver's door. The entire harbor was eerily silent. The sea breeze howled through the narrow spaces between the towering cargo containers. Only the metallic echoes of steel chains and iron beams colliding with one another could be heard. Ethan narrowed his eyes as he surveyed the surroundings.
"Get out."
His voice remained calm. The instant his boots touched the ground of Harbor 17, somewhere within the endless maze of shipping containers. An unseen pair of eyes had already begun watching them.