The Return of the Hades

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113

The 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