"Long time no see," Izanaji Ryuzin said, his voice calm yet heavy with an unspoken weight. "Congratulations on soon becoming a father."
I froze. The hum of the zoo, the distant chatter of visitors, the warmth of Ai's presence—all of it faded into the background as his words sank in. There was something unnerving about the way he said it, like he'd been watching me for longer than I cared to know.
"How do you know about us?" I asked, stepping closer, my voice steady despite the storm building inside me.
Ryuzin's faint smirk didn't falter. "Let's just say I had an eye on you."
An eye on me? What did that even mean? His answer only stirred more questions, none of which I had the patience to unravel.
"I've seen your file. You were like me once. A fighter for justice, someone who fought demons to protect people. But now…" I gestured toward him, frustration creeping into my tone. "Now you're this. What happened to you, Izanaji Ryuzin?"
