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Chapter 1169 Ritualistic Murder
Michael swiftly made his way to the bamboo forest, leaving Pink to meet with Officer Barug. As he approached the dark alley, he took to the sky, flying towards the hidden location of the Vilnius gang's hideout nestled deep within the dense bamboo forest. The forest canopy swayed gently in the breeze, the dark clouds overhead, setting a somber mood.
Landing quietly in the quaint camp, surrounded by small houses and shelters crafted amidst the thick bamboo, Michael's presence immediately drew attention. Vilnius, in the midst of beating the hell out of two of his gang members, froze mid-action, his fists still raised. For a brief moment, shock registered on his face before recognition set in.
A look of unease and surprise flashed in Vilnius's eyes as he straightened up, his gaze fixed on Michael.
"You've returned," he said, his voice tinged with a mix of curiosity and apprehension.
Michael, without a word, gestured towards one of the more secluded buildings, indicating his desire to speak in private. Vilnius nodded, understanding the need for discretion, and signaled the others to continue without him.
As they walked toward the secluded building, Vilnius couldn't help but recall vividly the day when John had overpowered him. The memory of being subdued with a potent poison and subjected to a private, intense torture still lingered in his mind. That encounter had been a pivotal moment, reshaping the dynamics of the Vilnius gang and his role within it.
But after Michael's departure, Vilnius regained his position as the unchallenged leader of the gang. Freed from answering to him, Vilnius had steered the gang according to his own vision, enjoying the autonomy and power that came with his role as he did before Michael came into the picture. However, with Michael's unexpected return, that sense of unchallenged leadership seemed to be on the brink of change.
As they entered the building, a sense of inevitability hung in the air. Vilnius knew that whatever the reason for Michael's return, it signified a shift, a potential end to his time as the gang's uncontested leader.
Once Michael entered Vilnius's room, he confidently took the gang leader's chair and leaned back comfortably. Vedora, the three-headed serpent, leaped down onto the table, fixing its gaze on Vilnius. The gang leader felt a hint of unease under the serpent's scrutiny but managed to maintain his composure.
"So, what were you up to while I was away?" Michael inquired casually, his eyes on Vilnius.
Vilnius, trying to mask his discomfort, responded, "Just the usual heists and some recon work. I assume you won't disclose what you've been doing during your absence," his tone was cool, almost challenging.
Michael, however, momentarily ignored Vilnius's question. His attention was drawn to the window, where he observed the dark rain clouds. "Has it been raining?" he asked, seemingly out of curiosity.
Vilnius, puzzled by the abrupt change in topic, frowned before replying, "Hmm, no." He couldn't fathom why Michael would ask such a question. For Michael, this observation confirmed a suspicion. The world might indeed have lost rain since he had eliminated the god of rain, Rainar.
Despite this startling realization, Michael's focus remained on uncovering Gilrut's murderer. The absence of rain was significant, but he knew the Pantheon would address it, or perhaps a new God of Rain would emerge.
Returning to the matter at hand, Michael commented, "I expect you've stored my share of the heists separately." Vilnius, slightly irritated, pointed towards a drawer. Michael, with a smile, opened the drawer and found a space ring filled with stacks of gold coins.
"Good," Michael noted, pocketing the space ring.
Vilnius then cautiously broached a topic of concern. "Did you come back to start a new heist? After what happened in Eden's Garden, we've been under a lot of scrutiny. So, try not to target anything as high-profile as Eden's Garden again, at least for now," he warned.
Michael, however, was not there to initiate another heist, much to Vilnius's relief. His return to Durran had a different purpose, one that was yet to unfold.
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