81Without waiting for another word, Eveline turned on her heel to the nearest security guard. "Remove this man, this... fake doctor, from the premises," she commanded, her voice leaving no room for argument.As the guards approached, Dr. Tully's posture stiffened, an attempt to retain some semblance of dignity in his defeat."Don't you dare touch me with your filthy hands!" he spat, his voice laced with disgust. The guards, unfazed by his outburst, simply nodded to each other, a silent agreement passing between them."Sir, we must ask you to leave. Please follow us," one guard said, his tone firm yet devoid of emotion.Dr. Tully, however, stood his ground, a mix of pride and disbelief anchoring him in place."I will not be manhandled like some common criminal," he declared, his voice rising in volume, hoping to gather some support from the onlookers.Yet, when no such support came, his defiance crumbled into desperation. The guards, recognizing his refusal as the final straw, moved i

83After Darien's departure, the party slowly regained its rhythm. The grand hall, once filled with tension and drama, buzzed again with laughter and conversation. The guests, although still whispering about the night's events, gradually returned to their celebrations, the allure of the evening's entertainment too tempting to resist.As the night wore on and the last notes of music faded away, the guests began to depart.Eveline, lost in thought and barely noticing the dwindling crowd, was suddenly approached by Charles. His presence was like a dark cloud looming over her already troubled mood. Without waiting for him to speak, she snapped, her voice tinged with anger, "What do you want, Charles?"He, looking both offended and indignant, retorted, "I should be the one asking you that, Eveline. How dare you invite that... that pauper, Darien, knowing full well I'd be here?"Eveline couldn't help but laugh, a bitter sound that echoed slightly in the nearly empty hall. "It's my party, Ch

85After two grueling weeks spent observing Marco Gentile's movements, Darien had gathered enough intel to formulate a plan. Gentile held court at his underground casino every Saturday night, and this Saturday would be no different. But this time, Darien was ready. He had scouted the casino's layout, identifying security blindspots as well as alternate escape routes. To avoid detection, he would rely on stealth over force. His objective was to incapacitate Gentile with a tranquilizer and spirit him away before his men realized what was happening. A direct confrontation was a last resort - Darien needed Gentile alive, as was his deal with Viktor. That evening, dressed all in black, Darien stationed himself in a shadowy alley across from the casino entrance. At 11pm sharp, the first customers began trickling in - low level criminals looking to blow off steam and make deals in equal measure. They laughed boisterously amongst themselves, oblivious to the drama unfolding around them.It

87Gentile's expression was unreadable. Then, slowly, he began to clap, the sound sarcastic yet genuine. "Impressive," he admitted, though it clearly pained him to do so. "But this changes nothing."Darien straightened, meeting Gentile's gaze squarely. "Maybe not," he conceded. "But I hope it makes you think twice before underestimating me again."The aftermath of Darien's swift and precise takedown of the guards left the air in the VIP lounge of the casino thick with astonishment. Whispers and murmurs fluttered through the crowd like a disturbed flock of birds."Did you see that? He's like some sort of... alien!" one shocked bystander whispered to another, their eyes wide with disbelief."Alien? More like a super-spy or something. No one moves like that," another retorted, shaking their head in amazement as they kept their gaze fixed on Darien.The murmurs grew, a mix of fear, awe, and sheer incredulity weaving through the conversations. The room was alive with speculation and wonder

89In the dimly lit room, the tension was almost palpable. Marco, bound and bruised, glared defiantly at Viktor, who paced before him like a storm brewing on the horizon. Darien stood to the side, his presence a silent testament to the seriousness of the situation.Viktor finally stopped pacing and faced Marco directly, his voice cold. "You took something irreplaceable from me, Gentile. One of my best, killed in cold blood. And the money you cost me... Millions, Marco. You've gone too far."Marco, despite his predicament, smirked. "Your man was in my way. What did you expect me to do? Roll out the red carpet?"Viktor's fist clenched at his side, his anger barely contained. "You could've chosen a dozen different paths, yet you chose war. Now, you'll pay the price."Marco rolled his eyes, his disdain for Viktor evident. "Oh, I'm trembling."Viktor nodded to one of his men. Without a word, two burly figures stepped forward, their hands forming fists. What followed was a brutal demonstrat