111Hearing the name "Gangatsu," Lavinia's expression shifted. Her brow furrowed in confusion, her eyes narrowing slightly. She'd heard rumors of Gangatsu before—stories of his skills as both a formidable fighter and a healer. Yet, these stories painted a portrait far different from the man described in whispered tones by the frightened herborist. Darien, who had been inspecting the vivid blue flowers, turned sharply at Timothy's words. He attempted to project confidence, trying to lighten the mood. "No problem. I'll just have a chat with Gangatsu," he said. His casual dismissal masked an undercurrent of tension; his jaw was set, his eyes alight with a mixture of challenge and curiosity.Timothy chuckled nervously, the sound more of a choke than a laugh. He wiped his forehead with a tremulous hand, his earlier apprehension blossoming into outright fear. "You don't understand, Mr. French," he said, his voice cracking. "Gangatsu isn't just a healer or a warrior; he's a force of nature

113The next morning, Darien and Lavinia made their way to the old coffee shop where they were meeting The Viper. It was a small, worn down place in an unremarkable strip mall. Just the type of location where discreet conversations could be had without drawing attention. They settled into a corner booth with their coffees and waited anxiously. After a few minutes, a grizzled man in worn jeans and leather jacket slid into the seat across from them. His face was weathered, and his eyes scanned the room warily."Viper," Darien greeted him with a nod.The man returned the nod. "Darien. Been a long time. And you must be Lavinia," he said, glancing at her. She nodded politely in return. "Alright, let's get to it. What do you need to know about Gangatsu?" Viper asked, taking a sip of his black coffee.Darien leaned in. "Anything you can tell us about his background, affiliations, operations. We need to get a handle on what we're dealing with." Viper sighed, scratching at the stubble on hi

115 Kaida slipped through the shadows on her return to Gangatsu's compound, her mind racing with the information she had gathered. As she approached the secure facility, the hum of heightened security buzzed in the air. She knew every corner of this place, every face that moved within its walls. She found Gangatsu in his private office, the room dimly lit by a single lamp. The heavy curtains were drawn, and the air smelled of incense and aged leather. He sat behind a massive oak desk, his fingers steepled, deep in thought. "Gangatsu," Kaida began, her voice low and even, "I have news from the coffee shop." Her eyes, sharp and observant, watched him closely for any shift in emotion. Gangatsu looked up, his expression unreadable. "Speak," he commanded softly, his eyes narrowing slightly. "They know about the monkshood," Kaida reported, standing rigid, her hands clasped behind her back. "Darien and his associate, they are probing, seeking ways to access it." A slow smile crept acros

117Gangatsu chuckled coldly. "I highly doubt that. But by all means, amuse me with your brave last stand."At a nod from Gangatsu, the room erupted into chaos. Men surged forward, weapons drawn. Darien moved with a fluid grace that belied the danger, drawing his gun and firing in swift, precise shots. One by one, Gangatsu's men fell, their attacks futile against Darien's superior speed and skill.As the gunfire echoed off the walls, Gangatsu's face twisted into a mask of fury and disbelief. "Impossible!" he hissed, stepping back as his men continued to drop.Darien's smirk widened. "You should've brought more men," he quipped, dodging a desperate punch and countering with a brutal strike to his attacker's neck.From the shadows, Kaida emerged, her eyes narrowing as she watched Darien dismantle their carefully laid plans. Stepping forward with a cold smile, she called out, "You're quite the performer, French. But this dance isn't over yet."Darien turned to face her, his back to Ganga

119 Darien crumpled the mocking note in his fist, his anger boiling over. How dare Gangatsu toy with him like this? He was seething as he pulled out his phone with trembling hands and called Lavinia. She picked up after the first ring. "Darien? What happened? Are you okay?" "I'm fine," he growled through gritted teeth. "But Gangatsu got the slip on me. He gassed me and left me here as some sort of twisted game." Lavinia sighed in exasperation. "I tried to warn you it could be a trap. What did that note say?" Darien recounted Gangatsu's taunting words, his jaw clenching tighter with each mocking sentence. Lavinia made a sound of disgust. "Ugh, what an arrogant fool. He really thinks he's got you beaten, doesn't he?" "Not for long," Darien seethed, balling his free hand into a fist. "I won't let him get away with this." "Calm down, we'll figure something out," Lavinia soothed. "Where are you now?" Darien took a deep breath to steady his frazzled nerves. "Still at the mill. Mee