Ignoring the praise and offers from the Demons Rio looked at everyone who was huddled in the corner and started thinking about his future plans.
Dante was a villain character of the mid setting in the novel. Who first made his appearance after the second phase of Emergence started.
When the whole world was in chaos, as gods started slaughtering mortals that they didn't like or hated. Burning and killing cities which refused to pray to them, and destroying all the legacy of Atheists and Apostasy, everyone was afraid for their life and there seemed to be no place where they could hide.
It was like this until the World Association publicized the facts about the barrier made by the cairns/stones surrounding the whole floating islands, and the world could finally see a hope of life.
At that time many people used their connections and everything they had to come and hide on these islands to survive the fury of the Gods, and this became the best sanctuary and defensive line against Gods.
Yet one can imagine if people are trapped in a place, there'd be all kinds of chaos and infighting too. And in that chaos Dante emerged on stage for the first time in the novel. A charismatic leader, and a ruthless killer, a guy backed up by the evillest demons from the Den of Devils.
It didn't take a lot of time for him to stand above everyone and control everything with fear and an iron fist.
That's how Dante, who is just a stupid little owner of a few gambling clubs in the floating islands now, became the boss of these places in the future.
'And now he's in my hands, with his life and death in my control.'
[Ythranor says to let his follower go, or be ready to face his wrath.]
[The whole Den laughs at the certain Demon over his impatience.]
Not minding the chatter between these guys, Rio closed his system's panel and chose to ignore them for now.
Now that Dante was settled, Rio turned his gaze towards the guests who were sweating buckets not daring to move from their place. While trying to duck and hide behind each other and they were pushing their guards at the front where many shards of glass and bottles were floating in the air.
Reminding them not to try anything funny, or with one wave of his hands they'll be killed and burned to death.
"Hello everyone. Sorry for the little trouble, I was just in a bad move recently and the owner here just doesn't know rules of our business. He took my money, and refused to pay it back - that's not fair right." Rio said as he stood up on the table and looked at everyone from above.
Then he shrugeed his hands, like saying he didn't mean to do it, but he had no choice.
"Well enough about the past and let's talk about the future." He continued
"Looking at the many unfamiliar faces and the expressions you guys are giving me, I'd say this is the first time I'm seeing you, and you don't know about me too.
So let's start with the introductions. My name is Shiva. And I'm the owner of The Eclipse."
Shiva's words caused many people to look at him in surprise, while some who already recognized him before were keeping their heads low.
'Eclipse' that was a name that had been rising rapidly in the underground networks of floating islands of Lauralia Sanctum in the recent years. No one knew where it came from, or who was behind it, but everyone knew they had a ton of resources and that they meddled in almost all kinds of businesses.
Even if some people didn't know about them, everyone had atleast heard of this name.
Many people thought Eclipse would be backed by some noble family or some top guilds, but looking at the unfamiliar face standing there covered in blood, who's saying, he's the owner of The Eclipse - surprised was a small word to describe everyone's emotions.
Yet even if they had many questions and doubts, no one said a word, not even muttered anything under their breath - after all, the last guy who interrupted him is just laying in that corner holding his neck, with an inch long piece of glass sticking out of it. So to avoid that same fate, they could all just stay silent and bury all their questions in their heart.
Ignoring their expression Rio continued his speech "Some of you may have heard of me and my company before, some didn't.
So I'll tell you all about two things - first, I'm a guy who can basically do everything. So if there's anything you need help with, or any trouble that's been bothering you lately, you can come to me and I'll handle it for you. For a suitable price deal or an exchange, of cource."
Rio said his words pointing his first finger up, and then continued with the second.
"Second thing, whenever you make any deal with me, always follow through your end of the promise too. Otherwise, I'm pretty good at reading futures and yours would be dark and bloody." Rio said with a smile while pointing at all the mutilated guards who were lying unconscious and dead on the ground.
"This club will be my territory from now on, and you lot can come and play here as you've been doing all this time. As long as you don't mess with me or my rules, you can chill."
"But that'll have to wait till tomorrow, as today, it isn't suitable to play anymore. Right." Rio said and pointed towards the tables and games which were all broken and staff which was knocked out or dead.
"Come again tomorrow." Rio said and waved them goodbye.
Seeing his signal almost instantly all of them who were hiding behind others all this time, rushed to the front at high speed and tried to run away from this cursed place.
Yet when they were just about to reach outside, the voice behind them made them stop in their tracks "One more thing that I forgot to mention before. I'm a very private person. So be sure to keep your lips shut. Cause if I get into any trouble because of you lot, hahahaha."
Rio finished his words and started laughing at the end of his warning. His laughter making people's scalp tingle when they heard it, and they all ran away faster from there.
Some swore to never come here again, while some swore that they'd let all their relatives and partners know - to pay up their dues to this devil if they have any, lest those idiots implicate them again for a little money.
"Boss, these three are the ones you were looking for." Riley came forward and called for three people out from the crowd of staff who were left behind in the other corner.
Following Riley's command, two man and a woman, all in their 30's came forward after hesitating for a long time, still shaking a little in fear and not daring to look at Rio or the blood splattered all around them.
In just this one fight, these guys had killed and crippled more than 40 people, and half of them were some guests and their staff, who chose to argue with him or tried to run. This is why everyone was staying silent now, lest they become his next target and complete his half century of killings.
The three people who came forward, were the ones who were responsible for managing this club, and the other little branches Dante opened here and there. Since Dante still owed him money, and all this was probably set up with only his pockets, Rio didn't want to close it down or burn the place.
"I'm sure you can understand that the club is under new management now. From now on you no longer need to follow that dumb desperate Dante."
"From today onwards you all work for me now. she'll be your chief" Rio said while pointing towards Riley. And then at Ryan "And he'll be your boss."
"You will report to them. Follow their orders, and do whatever they say. That's all. Otherwise you can keep doing what you were doing all this time, and your pay and rewards would be doubled from what that idiot gave you."
Rio said, his voice inspiring greed in the eyes of the three workers. "But, if any of you ever choose to go against me, betray me or try to fool me - you guys should know, my money might be easy to take, but when I ask for payback, it comes with a price of life attached to it." Shiva finished his words in a serious tone. His cold eyes scanning the three of them and sending a shiver down their spine due to the aura of bloodlust oozing out of him.
"Y_ yes boss." The three of them all gulped and said at the same time.
Rio smiled seeing their reaction and started speaking - "Then let me introduce you to your new bosses, this is Riley, that's Ryan. And I'm death, if you're itching for it."
"Welcome to Eclipse."
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