In the realm of gods, fifteen days had slipped by since the daring heist in Eden's garden. After thoroughly thrashing Barug and his henchmen, Michael had ensured the safe exit of his crew and then expertly refined the stolen alchemical goods into valuable pills and potions. At that moment, he found himself seated in an opulent restaurant renowned for its delectable orc cuisine.
As Michael savored a bite of the sumptuous honey-glazed chicken, a female orc maid approached his table with a warm smile. She couldn't help but admire the confident aura that surrounded him.
"How is the honey chicken, sir?" she inquired politely.
Michael, his charming smile captivating the orc maiden, nodded approvingly. "It's fantastic, absolutely delightful," he replied with genuine appreciation.
The restaurant itself was a masterpiece of elegance, with intricate wooden carvings adorning the walls, soft, dim lighting casting a warm ambiance, and lush greenery providing a natural touch. The maids and waiters glided gracefully among the tables, ensuring that every guest received impeccable service in this refined establishment.
The orc maid, her attention undivided, asked with a courteous tone, "Is there anything else you'd like, sir?"
Before Michael could respond, his sharp eyes caught sight of two figures approaching his table, both wearing hoods that concealed their faces. It was none other than Elmer and Vilnius.
Michael maintained his calm composure, nodding to the orc maid. "Yes, please. I'd like two more plates of this exquisite honey chicken and a glass of your famous cold apple juice for me," he ordered.
The orc maid acknowledged his request with a nod, her green-skinned features reflecting a polite demeanor as she said, "Of course, sir. I'll bring that right away."
As she turned to leave, Michael gestured at Elmer and Vilnius to take the seats opposite him.
"Join me," Michael invited them, a secretive smile dancing on his lips.
"Vilnius," Michael began, his voice tinged with anticipation, "I hope you've brought me my cut from the heist."
Vilnius nodded, a sly grin playing on his face as he slid a silver space ring across the table toward Michael. With a satisfied gleam in his eyes, Vilnius explained, "I've fenced all those pills and potions in the black market. We made a whopping three million gold coins from the entire haul."
Michael raised an eyebrow, impressed. "Good work. And the underworld?"
Twenty percent cut to Vilnius's bosses, whom he never met, irked Michael in the wrong way. However, it was a necessary payment to avoid an unnecessary battle. If Michael was stronger, he could have refused to pay them. But since it wasn't the case, Michael had to swallow the loss.
"Ah, you know the drill," Vilnius replied. "Twenty percent off the top, as always. That's six hundred thousand gold coins gone right there."
Michael calculated quickly. "So, we're left with two million four hundred thousand gold coins. What about our crew and the rest of the gang?"
Vilnius leaned in and whispered, "Thirty percent of the total, which is nine hundred thousand gold coins, is tucked away in that silver ring for you. The rest, shared between Elmer, our crew, and the rest of the gang."
Michael smiled, his fingers tracing the edge of the ring. "Excellent work, Vilnius. You've earned your keep,"
Michael leaned back in his chair, a look of mild irritation crossing his face. "I don't like that twenty percent going to the underworld and those secret bosses of yours, Vilnius. But we'll let that slide for now."
Vilnius nodded in agreement. "Sometimes, it's better to keep the peace, boss."
Michael shifted his attention to Elmer, "What about Barug? Did he give you any trouble?"
Elmer leaned in, his voice hushed. "The entire Eden's Garden army is out searching for you, boss. It's dangerous to be out in the open like this, right under their noses."
"Don't worry, Elmer. Eden's Garden will be looking everywhere except their own territory. They'll assume we've fled the kingdom. It's better to hide in plain sight, my friend." Michael chuckled softly, a glint of amusement in his eyes.
Michael leaned in, his voice lowered to a hushed tone. "Now listen carefully. I have to leave Durran for a few weeks. Don't do anything while I'm away. Lay low and keep your heads down. Since the harvest festival is coming to an end, don't come into the city unless you want to get caught. Soon, I will contact you both for another heist."
Elmer raised an eyebrow. "Are you going to case the place?"
A sly smile played on Michael's lips. "Good guess."
"What's our target this time?" Vilnius inquired, his voice tinged with both enthusiasm and caution. Michael's recent successful heist had left Vilnius in awe, making him regard Michael as a golden goose.
Michael's response was cryptic. "Curiosity killed the cat, Vilnius."
Turning his attention back to Elmer, Michael continued, "Elmer, I need you to find everything you can about Seraphine crystals. I heard there is a temple of Seraphine in the kingdom, so I would start looking there."
Elmer's brows furrowed upon hearing Michael's request regarding Seraphine. The goddess of Information held significant importance within the pantheon, known for her vast network of worshippers and her rare practice of visiting them once or twice a year.
"Seraphine crystals? You're not planning to rob them, are you?" Vilnius whispered in shock, his voice barely above a murmur.
"Stealing from Eden's Garden is one thing, but swiping a goddess's property? That's asking for suicide," Vilnius growled, suppressing his fear. Michael could see the intense terror in Vilnius's eyes. Even a brute like Vilnius wasn't foolish enough to attempt a theft involving a goddess's belongings. Judging by Vilnius's expression, if Michael pushed him further, Vilnius might either fight to the death or outright refuse to participate.
"You're fortunate we're in public. Otherwise, I'd have kicked your stupid ass," Michael threatened, a sinister smile on his lips. But before Vilnius could retort, the orcish waitress approached them, bearing two plates of golden honey chicken.
"Here you go, my lords," she said.
"Is there anything else you'd like to try?" she inquired. However, Michael shook his head.
"No, just bring us the bill, please," he requested.
"Just give me a moment," the waitress replied before departing to prepare their bill.
"I only said to gather information about those crystals, not to steal them," Michael clarified. Upon hearing his words, Elmer and Vilnius couldn't help but sigh in relief.
"Elmer, you're to learn everything about those crystals and the temple. Just gather information, no stealing," Michael instructed before the waitress returned with the bill.
She gently placed it on the table and looked at Michael. "Here's your bill, my lord."
Michael reached for the bill but then gestured toward Elmer and Vilnius. "Actually, could you give it to them?"
Vilnius frowned at Michael's request, clearly not pleased with the idea.
"No worries," Michael said with a smile. "This one's on them," he told the waitress.
Vilnius sighed and reluctantly handed over a pouch of gold coins to the orcish waitress. She took the pouch with a polite nod and headed to the counter to settle their bill.
Vilnius couldn't hide his irritation as he watched the waitress leave with their gold coins. His gaze shot daggers at Michael. He felt a burning anger within him. They had just completed a successful heist, and even though John had earned a substantial amount, he hadn't bothered to cover the restaurant bill, not even for what he had consumed himself.
In Vilnius's mind, it was a matter of principle. They had worked hard for their share of the earnings, and it was expected, at the very least, that Michael would treat them to a meal after all that.
Yet, here they were, not only paying for their own meals but also covering the cost of food they hadn't even ordered. Vilnius hated the feeling of being taken advantage of, especially after the risk they had taken in the heist.
As she walked away, Michael leaned in, his voice low. "Don't forget what I said, both of you. I'll contact you soon."
Michael casually patted Vilnius on the head as he stood up, a smug grin playing on his lips. With a slow, deliberate sip of his cold apple juice, he strolled out of the restaurant without a care in the world, leaving his comrades to settle the bill.
As Michael disappeared from view, Vilnius couldn't contain his frustration any longer. "What an asshole," he muttered under his breath, his voice laden with annoyance.
Elmer, who had been observing the scene with amusement, couldn't help but chuckle at Vilnius's remark. It was a chuckle that further fueled Vilnius's anger.
As Michael stepped out of the restaurant into the bustling crowd, Pink's voice buzzed in his earpiece.
"Gilrut is waiting for you at the Runemasters Guild," Pink informed him.
"Fifteen more days until the auction, Ghost. Once we get our hands on that book, we can officially start planning Rainar's assassination," she added with determination.
Michael continued to walk through the lively streets, taking casual sips from his apple juice as he listened to Pink's insights.
"Don't get too confident, Pink. We still don't know for sure if that book holds the information we need," Michael cautioned. If he had the immense fortune of three billion badass points, he could simply obtain the necessary information from the system. However, he lacked both the points and a quick method to acquire them. Therefore, the plan was to steal the book written by an angel of Seshat, the goddess of Wisdom.
"Dagon and the orcs in Durran seem to think it's valuable. I'm willing to bet it contains information on how to slay a god. Otherwise, Dagon's minions wouldn't be so eager to get their hands on it," Pink explained, her voice oozing confidence.
"But it won't be as straightforward as robbing Eden's Garden. The Divine Towers, the auctioneers of the book, are one of the most formidable guilds in this world. They have state-of-the-art defense arrays and several cultivators in the Soul Ignition Realm. If we're going to do this, we need to be at our best. Otherwise, you're as good as dead," Pink warned Michael.
"Ah, auctions... they bring back memories," Michael mused, reminiscing about the auctions he attended in the mortal realm with Gaya. These events were always rife with intrigue and offered the chance to acquire immensely powerful items. Michael was both curious about the upcoming auction and excited about the challenge of stealing the book.
As Michael continued his conversation with Pink, he arrived at a magnificent tower made entirely of gleaming white marble. The building was adorned with intricate glowing runes. Above a grand entrance, a wooden sign hung proudly, reading "Runemasters Guild" in elegant script.
Michael couldn't help but admire the grandeur of the guild building. He chuckled softly and remarked to Pink, "This Runemasters Guild looks quite beautiful, doesn't it?"
Pink's voice responded promptly in his earpiece, "It certainly is, Ghost. It's one of the few structures in this world that brought together the skills and craftsmanship of elves, orcs, and dwarves. A testament to the power of cooperation and a shared goal."
Michael nodded in agreement, appreciating the significance of the guild's construction.
"Let's go meet Gilrut and Vedora," Michael said as he walked the stairs to meet Gilrut.
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