41Miranda, a young nurse who had been quietly observing from the back, stepped forward, her laughter joining the chorus. "I never thought I'd see the day when Dr. Peregrine would run from a jar of spiders!" she exclaimed between fits of giggles.Darien, leaning against a wall for support, shook his head in amusement. "It seems there are more ways to heal than just medicine. Sometimes, a good laugh is the best cure."Amelia, her heart lighter than it had been in days, nodded in agreement. "You've given us so much more than just healing, sir French. You've brought us together, shown us the power of keeping an open mind, and yes, given us a good laugh."It was nothing, really, miss Fairchild." He said.Amelia, still basking in the glow of her grandfather's miraculous recovery, turned her attention to ensuring Darien's comfort. "I'll have my driver ready to take you home," she said, already moving towards her phone. A few swift touches later, she confirmed, "The car will be ready shortly
42"The Crimson Shadows," Amelia echoed, her voice laced with distaste. "Why am I not surprised?"The gang leader, now nursing his pride as much as his physical wounds, smirked through the pain. "You've stepped on the wrong toes, lady. The Crimson Shadows don't forgive, and they don't forget."Darien, standing beside Amelia, his demeanor calm but alert, addressed the gang leader. "What does Vallentini want with us?""He doesn't share his reasons with the likes of us," the leader spat, attempting to regain some semblance of defiance. "You've got something he wants, or you've done something he doesn't like. Either way, you're in his sights now."In the tense silence that followed the gang leader's revelation, Darien's patience wore thin. Without warning, he delivered another swift blow to the man, who crumbled with a grunt of pain. "Enough of your games," Darien hissed, his voice low and dangerous. "Shut up and listen."The man, now trembling and holding his side, looked up at Darien wi
43Two days later Darien received a call from Amelia asking for him to come over to their house. Over the phone, Amelia had sounded a little hesitant and apologetic and Darien couldn't decipher why, the only way to find out was to seek Amelia Fairchild out, and so wasting no time, Darien headed over to her house, On getting to the Fairchild's residence, Darien met the imposing figures of various securities at the gate, and dismissed their appearance.“S-sir French…It's so good to see you again.” Camilla exclaimed as soon as she saw Darien, a little smile lighting her face up, Darien smiled in response and gave her a small nod.A knowing smile etched on Camilla's face as she nodded and informed Darien of Amelia's whereabouts. Camilla led Darien into an office den, where he had to wait a few minutes before Amelia's arrival, standing behind her was a man who had uncanny resemblance to Camilla, beside the man stood a woman with a slight scowl on her face.Darien got to his feet to welco
44What!?“Is this some sort of a joke?!”Darien demanded through gritted teeth, he could scarcely believe what he was hearing, beside him his hands clenched and unclenched of their accord.“It's not a joke! You either take the money and leave or you don't take it at all! Either way, you're not getting the Lumina Root!”Felicia Fairchild's screeching voice reverberated through the room as she glared at Darien.Her outburst did nothing to faze Darien, as he glared intently at her husband, his expression was a mix of shock, confusion as well as pain. A surge of anger courses through Darien, but he tried to suppress it.With his unflinching gaze, he arched a brow at Theodore,“Mr Theodore Fairchild, just like your surname, I want to believe that you'd be fair in your dealings. Your family name is one that exudes influence and honour. The deal was for me to heal your father and get the Lumina Root in exchange, so how then is it honourable to go back on your family's promise? How does that
45Darien's expression was stone cold, his anger simmered beneath the surface, his eyes bore into Theodore's with unyielding resolve. "Being outnumbered has never determined the outcome of a true battle. It's not about the number of men standing with you, but the strength within the one who stands."Amelia, watching the confrontation unfold, felt a mixture of fear and awe. This was the second time she saw him like this—so formidable and unafraid. It made her reconsider the simplicity she had attributed to his character.Darien turned his gaze towards the assembled guards, assessing them with a calmness that belied the tension in the air. "You might want to reconsider your approach, Mr. Fairchild. I came here in peace, seeking only what was promised. Yet, you meet me with threats and force."Theodore's smirk wavered, sensing the conviction in Darien's voice. For a moment, doubt flickered in his eyes, but his pride and the need to maintain control in front of his family and the guards s
46In the midst of the standoff, a guard hurriedly approached Theodore, whispering urgently into his ear. Felicia, standing close by, overheard the exchange and couldn't suppress a smug smirk that quickly spread across her face. Theodore's initial fear melted away, replaced by a gleeful anticipation. He whispered back, nodding, then turned to face Darien with a newfound arrogance, a stark contrast to the apprehension that had clouded his demeanor moments earlier."Why so confident all of a sudden?" Darien questioned, noting the shift in Theodore's expression. He scanned the room, trying to decipher the cause of their sudden smugness but found no clues.Theodore didn't answer directly. Instead, he shared a look with Felicia, their smirks broadening as if they held a winning hand in a game. "You'll see," Theodore taunted, his voice dripping with disdain.Darien shook his head, sighing. "Last chance to do the right thing," he said, his tone even, but Theodore and Felicia merely laughed
47Theodore stumbled back, hand flying to his reddened cheek, eyes wide with shock and disbelief. Felicia's mouth hung open, her previous arrogance now replaced by a fear that chilled her to the bone."Show some respect," Flint growled, his voice low and dangerous. "This man, is not who you think he is. He is Commandant French, a hero of the highest order, and you would do well to remember that."But Theodore, ever the fool, found the audacity to retort through gritted teeth, his own fists now clenched in a futile gesture of defiance. "A hero? This... healer? You expect us to believe that?"Felicia, though visibly shaken, tried to stand by her husband's side, her voice quivering as she spoke. "Yes, it's... it's impossible. We refuse to believe such nonsense."Darien, who had been a silent observer to the escalating confrontation, finally stepped forward. His coolness was a stark contrast to the heated exchanges, his demeanor calm and composed."Believe what you will," Darien said, his
48Once outside, Flint quickly caught up to Darien, matching his pace with a sense of urgency. "Commandant... I mean Hades" Flint began, his voice low and filled with a mix of confusion and disbelief. "How... how are you still among the living? We mourned you. I thought you were dead."Darien, walking with a steady pace, kept his gaze forward. His face was calm, but the tightness around his eyes betrayed the pain and fatigue that lay beneath. "I was meant to be," he said, his voice just above a whisper. "But fate had other plans."Flint's steps faltered for a moment, his mind racing. The revelation shook him to his core. He had looked up to Darien, known as Hades, for his unmatched leadership and the victories he led Usatti to. The thought that he had been alive all this while, hidden in shadows, was almost too much to process."But why? Why let us believe you were gone?" Flint asked, his brows furrowed, trying to understand.Darien stopped walking and turned to face Flint. "After th