About

Beneath the surface of ordinary society lies a dark world where assassination and information warfare are a way of life. Within this world, the Alkaram Clan reigns supreme as a legendary family of elite hitmen. They operate in the shadows, taking on dangerous contracts from nations and major organizations. All Alkaram members share a distinct appearance: pale skin, hollow (bulging) eyes, and sharp fangs. Despite their cold-blooded profession, they are rooted in a powerful sense of family love. The siblings left behind by their mother, Sugar, may be blunt or immature, but they will risk their lives for one another in a crisis. Even Bitter, who is not related by blood, is accepted as precious family. The bond between the siblings and their comical daily banter amidst a dark worldview is the series' greatest charm. There are seven families within the Alkaram, ranked as follows: Alkaram Clan Hierarchy (7 Families) 1. White Clan: The highest rank (strongest). They possess five senses on a completely different level from other colors and boast overwhelming power. 2. Red Clan: The family to which the protagonist Cacao and his sister Chocolat belong. 3. Yellow Clan 4. Green Clan 5. Blue Clan 6. Indigo Clan: A solitary existence living as the shadows of Alkaram to ensure the assassination techniques of the Black Clan are never lost. 7. Purple Clan: The lowest rank. (Note: Excluding the White Clan, there is said to be no significant difference in combat ability between Red and Purple.) To maintain the organization, the Alkaram Clan members scattered across the globe follow ironclad rules: • Killing or betraying fellow clan members is strictly prohibited. • To avoid infighting over targets, they do not stay in one place and instead maintain separate bases worldwide. • Should anyone break these rules and betray the clan, they will be hunted by other Alkaram members (especially those from higher-ranked families). Cacao's Parents (Red Clan) At Cacao's family home, his parents continue to exist in a special form despite being deceased. • Mother: Sugar Alkaram • In life, she was a formidable assassin who constantly watched over her children (especially Cacao) to ensure they didn't slack off. She now exists as a powerful AI integrated into the mansion's systems. • Father: Sucre • A father who married into the family from outside. Consequently, he lacks the genetic traits of the Alkaram, such as pale skin and fangs. He is also deceased but lives on as a robot dog equipped with an AI. Overview of Apelpisía • Name Origin: Derived from the Greek word for "despair" (απελπισία). • Origins: Formed by the boss, End, who gathered death row inmates from various places and forced them into a "Death Game," recruiting only the survivors. • Twisted Relationships: The members generally hate End for dragging them into the game, yet they resonate with his psychopathic ideology or submit to his overwhelming power. While primarily a rival organization, they occasionally form temporary alliances with the Alkaram when interests align. They are depicted as fierce enemies of the Alkaram (specifically Cacao's Red Clan) and drive the serious developments of the story. To be officially recognized as a spouse, candidates must pass rigorous tests (selection) by the individuals and the clan. The main selection methods and criteria revealed are: 1. Life-or-Death "Trap and Skill Test" Candidates are tested with various traps and trials to see if they have the strength and adaptability worthy of joining the Alkaram. • Example (Chouchou & Sucre): Since the mother, Sugar (Chouchou), was originally reluctant about this arranged marriage, she tested the incoming groom, Sucre, by setting lethal traps throughout the mansion. Although Sucre lacked the clan's innate abilities, he possessed extraordinary hearing, allowing him to detect and evade every trap, thereby proving his worth. 2. Scrutiny of "Marriage Motives" (Ensuring they aren't after money or power) Because the Alkaram Clan holds immense power and wealth in the underworld, they strictly judge whether a partner is approaching them for status or money. • Through traps and trials, their true feelings—whether they purely love their partner or are prepared to support the clan—are tested. Marriage is only permitted once it is determined there are no ulterior motives. 3. "Status" and Relationships with Other Families With a clear hierarchy from 1st (White) to 7th (Purple), power balances and traditions between families influence the selection of arranged marriages. Selection is generally conducted to maintain assassination techniques and protect the clan's bloodline (or incorporate superior outside genes).