Even though the night in New Atlantis was peaceful for ordinary people just going about their lives, for those in the underworld—gangsters, mafia, triads, and various crime syndicates—this was a night to remember.
Amid the silent, darkened streets, muffled by distant car engines and the occasional honking, agents from the Order of Ember and the Whispering Hall ran amok among the syndicates, forcing them to mobilize in the search for Daniel.
— Veneziale Estate —
Russo Veneziale was in the midst of a business discussion with his father, Ardito Veneziale, and Ivan Volkov, the head of the Russian mafia and once Ardito's rival, now his ally. They debated who would secure the largest share of the lucrative New Atlantis entertainment and tourism district project.
Russo swiped across his tablet screen, displaying a blueprint of an artificial island. The island, circular in shape with a single canal gate for incoming ships, was designed to resemble the mythical city of Atlantis.
"This is the map of the new artificial island that City Hall and Lord Emberweave will soon build. It hasn't gone public yet, but Kuroda-san gave it to me because he knows Lord Emberweave needs us to control the underworld on this island, ensuring no... Rats from the outside can disrupt it," Russo explained.
"Just give me half of the territory, and we'll call it a deal! Thanks, Ardito. Haha!" Ivan laughed, patting Ardito Veneziale, the old Italian Don, with a heavy Russian accent.
"Half? Has vodka fried your brain? And keep your hand off my suit," Ardito replied irritably. "I'm offering you 10% of the territory."
"10%? Do you think I'm an idiot? You're getting the whole cake of this new entertainment district and leaving me with crumbs? Aren't you being a little greedy, Ardito?" Ivan protested.
"If I may, Father," Russo interjected politely, seeking his father's permission to speak. Ardito nodded, granting the young man the floor.
"Mr. Volkov, you've worked with us for over a year, so you should know that some gangs are backed by mage families who also expect a fair share of this new territory. Yes, we have the authority to allocate the territory as we see fit, and Lord Emberweave trusts our judgment.
But that also means we bear the responsibility to prevent unrest, especially among gangs backed by mage families. Considering that you thrive under our guidance without any patronage from a mage family, it's only fair that you receive 10% of the territory.
Even if we were to grant you more, I doubt you could protect it without mage support," Russo stated in a calm, measured tone.
Make no mistake about his politeness; Russo's refined manners were the result of rigorous training in butler school, and his formal demeanor, polite smile, and impeccable posture left no room for misinterpretation.
Even though he isn't a powerful mage, his magical pathway and Magic Origin make him a formidable combatant, capable of serving as both butler and bodyguard. His enchanted fists and superhuman reflexes are more than enough to take down any standard battalion of special forces—assuming, of course, they aren't equipped with power armor and anti-magic rounds.
At that moment, the meeting room door swung open, and a man with a noble air walked in, leaning on a cane and holding his iconic golden pocket watch. He was none other than Albert Worseley, Daniel's Spymaster and the head of the Whispering Hall, which oversaw the underworld and counterintelligence operations.
— 5 AM —
In the dark corner of an alley, one of Susan's informants was running as if his life depended on it. Several muscular, intimidating men chased after him with faces twisted in anger and frustration, practically ready to tear him apart.
"There's the rat! After him!"
"Don't kill him!"
"Damn it, he's fast! Shoot his damn leg!"
[Shit, shit, shit! What the hell is happening? Why is this happening!?] he thought frantically.
This should have been a normal, peaceful night—he'd just come from having a drink with a friend at a bar in the alley. Usually, his routine was simple: work for that rich woman during the day, then drown his earnings in a bottle in the evening.
Furious shouts echoed behind him, but he didn't dare slow down; stopping meant facing torture, maybe ending up in a ditch, or becoming a permanent resident under the sea.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
"Argh!" He collapsed to the ground as pain exploded in his leg, as if a hammer had just shattered it. He looked down to see a bullet hole through his leg; he could barely move, let alone run.
"You f*cking little sh*t! You're wasting our time!" one of the men snarled, delivering a brutal kick to his stomach.
"Argh! Ugh... cough... don't kill me... What... What do you want? Please, I'll give you anything, just... don't kill me," the man whimpered, losing any will to resist. Trembling, he quickly answered every question his pursuers demanded.
— 5:15 AM - ??? —
Daniel's consciousness returned slowly. He reached out instinctively for Envy, as he usually did when Greed and Koyuki were absent—she was often his choice to sleep beside. But instead of Envy's familiar presence, he detected an unfamiliar woman's scent.
"Huh?" Daniel's clarity snapped back, his instincts kicking in as he immediately leapt out of bed. He quickly surveyed his surroundings and checked himself over. His shirt was missing, which alarmed him, but seeing that he still had his pants on, he let out a sigh of relief.
Then, he noticed a woman lying unconscious by the end of the bed, a visible bruise marking her face. It looked like she had been kicked in the face into unconsciousness.