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The Return of the Hades Lies
18"You think you can fool everyone by hiring an actor? This old fool can't prove anything! ""It is true that he alone is not enough, but what if you add this! "A video with Darien's words from was played on the big screen behind Cersei, Cersei's icy voice came out from it. Her coldness, her mockery of the old man, all things were laid out for all viewers to see."Oh my god! ""How could she do that. "There were bursts of emotion and whispers from the crowd, a sceptical gaze swept over Cersei, forcing her to continue speaking:"This isn't real! You guys have to believe me-"A heavy gunshot interrupts Cersei's pale defence, and the video behind her plays just in time to show her firing the gun and then spitting on the old man."Pathetic."The word silenced everyone in the room, and Cersei, under the big screen, looked like a sinner being judged by the crowd.The silence of the crowd weighed heavily on Cersei, like a mountain pressing down on her shoulders. She fixed her gaze on Dari
The Return of the Hades two slaps
19Cersei's heart skipped a beat as Lavinia stepped forward, the crowd parting like the sea for Moses. This couldn't be the same Lavinia she had crossed swords with just days ago. That slap still stung, Turning to the mayor, her voice quivered, betraying her rising panic. "You... you know her?" she stammered, her eyes wide with disbelief.Mayor Thompson, looking somewhat puzzled by Cersei's sudden unease, nodded. "Yes, Miss Smith, I've had the pleasure. I'm acquiring the Golden Apple as a gift for Miss Lavinia Luciano," he said, his tone proud, as if announcing this was a coup for him.Cersei's mind raced, her thoughts a chaotic whirlwind. 'Lavinia? A big shot? But how? Last I knew, she was nothing, a nobody,' her thoughts screamed. Her fists clenched at her sides, nails digging into her palms as she fought to maintain a semblance of composure. "I...I had no idea," she managed to say, her voice a mix of confusion and fear. 'This changes everything. If Lavinia is the one behind the G
The Return of the Hades Hand the combination!
20As the spotlight shone on Darien, surprised murmurs rippled through the crowd. Darien stood tall yet calm, meeting Lavinia's steady gaze with gratitude. Lavinia turned to Cersei, her eyes hard. "You have shown your true colors, Cersei. Accusing an honest man while peddling your own lies." With a swift motion, Lavinia raised her hand and struck Cersei across the face. The sharp crack of impact rang out across the silent plaza, followed by collective inhales of surprise from the gathered crowd. Cersei cried out, more in shock than pain, as she reeled backwards. Her hands flew up instinctively to clutch her reddening face, unable to believe what had just transpired. Warm tears sprang unbidden to her eyes, spilling unrestrained down her ashen cheeks. This was no mere slap - it was a brutal blow, charged with venomous fury. Cersei's skin burned as if branded, the heat spreading through her entire being. She had felt Lavinia's wrath once before, just days prior, but this strike far
The Return of the Hades Hospital
21Cersei stood there, her whole body trembling with a mixture of rage, humiliation, and an overwhelming sense of defeat. Her mind was a tumultuous storm of thoughts and emotions, each wave crashing harder than the last. She clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her palms, drawing blood. Her teeth gritted so hard she feared they might crack. "No," she whispered fiercely to herself, "I won't give them the satisfaction."Lavinia, her brow arched in expectation, extended her hand. "The combination, Cersei. Now," she demanded, her voice cold and commanding.Cersei's eyes rolled defiantly, her pride the last vestige of her crumbling facade. "Never," she spat out, her voice quivering with a mix of fear and defiance. "You'll never get it from me."Lavinia glared at her, her eyes cold. "Pride will be your downfall, Cersei. Do not test me further." But Cersei was past the point of reason, consumed by wounded ego and spite. "You think you've won?" she sneered. "You know nothin
The Return of the Hades Difficult decision
22The old man rushed through the hospital doors, Darien close behind carrying a small bag. "This way," the man said, breathless with worry.They arrived at a room where a little girl lay lay pale and weak in the bed. At the sound of footsteps, her eyes fluttered open weakly. "Grandpa?" she called in a frail voice."I'm here sweetheart," the old man said, taking her tiny hand in his wrinkled ones. Tears welled in his eyes as he gazed at her frail form. Darien approached carefully. "I have brought something that may help." He held up the Golden Apple for them to see.The little girl's eyes widened. "The magic apple?" Darien nodded solemnly. "Yes child."The little girl stared at the Golden Apple in awe and wonder. Darien approached the bedside slowly and looked upon the frail granddaughter with compassion. "May I?" he asked gently, motioning toward the ailing child. The old man nodded eagerly, her eyes filled with hope and tears. "Half of this apple should be enough to save your g
The Return of the Hades Criminals
23Darien entered the room, his heart heavy with the decision he had made. The weight of the Golden Apple in his pocket was a constant reminder of the choice that lay ahead.The brother, noticing Darien's approach, stood up abruptly, his eyes wary. "Who are you?" he demanded, his voice edged with tension."I'm someone who wants to help," Darien replied, his voice calm and steady. He observed the sister lying on the bed, her breaths shallow, her skin pale. The sight stirred a deep sadness within him."Why should we trust you?" the brother's fists clenched at his sides, his body tense, prepared for any threat.Darien reached into his pocket and pulled out the half of the Golden Apple, its surface gleaming softly in the dim light of the hospital room. "Because I have this," he said, holding it out for them to see.The sister's eyes widened with a mix of hope and disbelief. "Is that...?" she began, her voice trailing off."The Golden Apple," Darien finished for her. "It has the power to h
The Return of the Hades Terrorists
24Darien watched intently, taking in every detail while his mind raced. These men were clearly planning something sinister, and the mention of poison sent a chill through him. As an herbalist and healer, the thought of using such deadly toxins went against his principles. But more than that, his gift of prophecy stirred uneasily. While the details were unclear, he sensed their scheme could have far-reaching consequences if not stopped.The scarred man's sneering tone sent a chill down Darien's spine. He could see the nervous man with graying hair clench and unclench his fists, a sheen of sweat appearing on his brow as if wanting to object further but fearing retaliation. After several tense minutes of planning, the figures began making preparations to depart. Darien knew he had to act quickly. As they started moving boxes and crates, one of them accidentally knocked over a satchel, spilling its contents on the floor. "Careful you fool!" growled the scarred man, arching his brow in
The Return of the Hades The Smiths
25Cersei seethed as the guards led her away in handcuffs. Her cheek still burned from the slaps as she replayed the humiliating scene over and over in her mind. How could it have all fallen apart so quickly? She had been so close to securing power over this town. As the jail cell door slammed shut behind her, Cersei collapsed on the hard bed, tears of rage and despair streaming down her face. 'That witch Lavinia has ruined me,' she thought bitterly. 'And Darien, with his smug smiles and secrets. I'll make them pay for this humiliation.' In the wake of Cersei's arrest, news rippled through the city with the swiftness of a wildfire. Whispers turned to discussions, and discussions into debates. The tale of her dramatic downfall at the plaza was recounted with varying shades of incredulity and schadenfreude.---**At the Smith Household**Marcella sat in her living room, her fingers wrapped tightly around a cup of tea, though it had long since gone cold. Her knuckles were white from th
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- The Return of the Hades
167
167The mayor's eyes widened in surprise at Lavinia's bold declaration, a flicker of fear crossing his features before he quickly masked it with a forced smile. "Of course, Ms. Luciano," he said smoothly, his voice dripping with false sincerity. "I'll do everything in my power to assist you in your investigation."But as Darien and Lavinia left the mayor's office, they knew they couldn't trust him. As Darien and Lavinia exited the mayor's office, their minds still reeling from the encounter, they were suddenly confronted with an unexpected sight. Standing before them, blocking their path, were Cersei, her brother Bennett, and their mother Marcela.Darien's jaw clenched instinctively as he locked eyes with Cersei, the source of so much turmoil in their lives. He could feel Lavinia tensing beside him, her anger palpable in the air.Cersei's lips curled into a malicious smirk as she regarded Darien with contempt, her eyes flashing with animosity. "Well, well, well, if it isn't the noble
- The Return of the Hades
166
164One week had passed since Darien's intense battle with Gangatsu. The victory had left him physically exhausted but emotionally elated. As he sat in his study, the weight of their recent ordeal still heavy on his mind, he poured over maps and scrolls, searching for any clue that could lead them to Emma.Lavinia entered the room, her expression grave and her brow furrowed with worry. She hesitated for a moment before speaking, unsure of how Darien would react to the news she bore."Sir French," she began, her voice soft but tinged with concern, "there's something you need to know."Darien glanced up from his work, his eyes narrowing in curiosity. "What is it, Lavinia?" he asked, his tone tinged with apprehension. "What's happened?"Lavinia took a deep breath, steeling herself for his reaction. "Even if I told you, you wouldn't believe me," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.Darien's heart skipped a beat, a cold feeling settling in the pit of his stomach. "Try me," he re
- The Return of the Hades
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165One week had passed since Darien's intense battle with Gangatsu. The victory had left him physically exhausted but emotionally elated. As he sat in his study, the weight of their recent ordeal still heavy on his mind, he poured over maps and scrolls, searching for any clue that could lead them to Emma.Lavinia entered the room, her expression grave and her brow furrowed with worry. She hesitated for a moment before speaking, unsure of how Darien would react to the news she bore."Sir French," she began, her voice soft but tinged with concern, "there's something you need to know."Darien glanced up from his work, his eyes narrowing in curiosity. "What is it, Lavinia?" he asked, his tone tinged with apprehension. "What's happened?"Lavinia took a deep breath, steeling herself for his reaction. "Even if I told you, you wouldn't believe me," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.Darien's heart skipped a beat, a cold feeling settling in the pit of his stomach. "Try me," he rep
- The Return of the Hades
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164Darien's heart pounded in his chest as he dodged Gangatsu's lethal strikes, his muscles burning with exertion. He couldn't afford to lose focus now, not when victory was within reach.Gangatsu's lips curled into a cruel smile as he lunged forward once more, his movements swift and deadly. "You can't escape, Darien," he taunted, his voice dripping with malice. "Your fate is sealed."Darien gritted his teeth, his mind racing as he searched for a way to turn the tide. He couldn't let Gangatsu win - not after all they had been through. With a determined growl, he launched himself at his opponent, fists flying in a desperate flurry of blows.Each strike landed with satisfying force, driving Gangatsu further back with every blow. But the villain was relentless, his attacks coming with ferocious speed and precision."You think you can defeat me?" Gangatsu sneered, his eyes burning with hatred. "You're nothing but a foolish child."Darien's blood boiled at the insult, fueling his determina
- The Return of the Hades
163
163Darien made his way back home, the weight of the night's events heavy on his shoulders. With each step, his mind churned with thoughts of Emma and the dangerous journey ahead. He couldn't afford to fail her, not after everything she meant to him.As he entered his home, Lavinia approached him, her expression a mix of concern and hope. "Sir French, did you find her?" she asked, her voice trembling with anticipation.Darien's heart sank as he met her gaze. "Unfortunately, no," he replied, his voice heavy with regret. "But I promise you, Lavinia, I'll do everything in my power to bring her back safely."Lavinia's eyes brimmed with tears, her hands trembling at her sides. "Oh, sir French," she choked out, her voice barely a whisper. "She's like family to us. I can't bear the thought of her in danger."Darien's chest tightened with emotion as he reached out to comfort her, his hand resting gently on her shoulder. "I know, Lavinia," he murmured, his voice soft with empathy. "But we have
- The Return of the Hades
162
162Gangatsu staggered backwards under the force of Darien's onslaught, surprise and fury mingling on his bloodied face. "How?!" he spat through clenched teeth. "The poison should have weakened you!"Darien drove forward with relentless intensity. "It'll take more than that to keep me down," he growled. Gangatsu rallied, blocking the blows with growing desperation. But Darien was in his element now, striking with lightning speed and laser focus. Gangatsu's defenses slowly crumbled under the assault.Finding an opening, Darien landed a crushing blow to Gangatsu's jaw, followed by a punishing kick to his midsection. Gangatsu crashed to the ground, gasping for breath. But he was far from beaten. With a roar of rage, he swept his leg in an attempt to trip Darien. Darien leapt nimbly over the attack and responded with a flurry of punches, driving Gangatsu further back. "Give up!" Darien demanded through gritted teeth. But Gangatsu only snarled, launching himself back into the fray with
- The Return of the Hades
161
Darien squared his shoulders, his gaze unwavering as he met Gangatsu's chilling stare. "I'm here, Gangatsu," he replied, his voice steady despite the tension crackling in the air. "Ready to settle this once and for all."Gangatsu's lips curled into a cold smile, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Bold words, Sir French. But words won't save you now." He gestured towards the clearing where they stood, surrounded by the towering trees of the forest. "Shall we begin?"Darien nodded, his hand hovering near the holster of his gun. "Let's not waste any time."Without a word, Gangatsu lunged forward, his movements swift and precise. Darien barely had time to react, ducking and weaving to avoid the flurry of blows raining down on him. His heart pounded in his chest as he fought to keep pace with Gangatsu's relentless assault."You're not bad, French," Gangatsu taunted, his voice dripping with condescension. "But you're out of your league here."Darien gritted his teeth, his muscles burning wi
- The Return of the Hades
160
160Darien made his way back home, the weight of the night's events heavy on his shoulders. With each step, his mind churned with thoughts of Emma and the dangerous journey ahead. He couldn't afford to fail her, not after everything she meant to him.As he entered his home, Lavinia approached him, her expression a mix of concern and hope. "Sir French, did you find her?" she asked, her voice trembling with anticipation.Darien's heart sank as he met her gaze. "Unfortunately, no," he replied, his voice heavy with regret. "But I promise you, Lavinia, I'll do everything in my power to bring her back safely."Lavinia's eyes brimmed with tears, her hands trembling at her sides. "Oh, sir French," she choked out, her voice barely a whisper. "She's like family to us. I can't bear the thought of her in danger."Darien's chest tightened with emotion as he reached out to comfort her, his hand resting gently on her shoulder. "I know, Lavinia," he murmured, his voice soft with empathy. "But we have
- The Return of the Hades
159
159As Darien left the room, his mind swirled with thoughts. He knew trusting Barnet was a risk, but finding Emma took priority. He strode through the halls, footsteps echoing with purpose.Barnet scrambled after him, still shaken. "The Shadow Broker frequents The Drunken Rogue tavern at dusk," he informed. "I'll send word of your meeting. But come alone - he's paranoid."Darien stopped and turned, eyes boring into Barnet's. "This had better not be a trap. For your sake."Barnet nodded fervently. "I want this nightmare to end as much as you. Please...just spare me once you have her." Without waiting for a reply, he scurried away like a frightened rat.Darien sighed heavily. As much as he hated it, Barnet may be his only lead. He had to take the chance.Night fell as he entered the tavern. Patrons drank and gambled rowdily, paying him no mind. Scanning the dim room, his eyes fell upon a hooded figure in the corner, sipping alone.He approached cautiously. "The Shadow Broker, I presume?
