Upon witnessing Aryan's face consumed by existential contemplation, Don Veneziale let out a sigh and gently patted Aryan's shoulder, offering a comforting gesture to alleviate the young man's emotional turmoil.
"There, there, my boy. How about later this evening I take you to a place where you can forget about all this?" the Don suggested, sympathizing with Aryan's state of mind.
Aryan shook his head in response. "No, I don't think that's what I need... But perhaps drowning my sorrows in a couple of gallons of beer might help," he said dejectedly, acknowledging the temporary relief he sought from his shattered hopes.
After recovering from the surprise of Greed's unexpected kiss, Daniel, Greed, and Aryan engaged in a discussion about the company's objectives for the next four years of development.
During the lengthy meeting, both Daniel and Greed shared their plans for Astral Tech, revealing to Aryan the deeper background and financial strength of the company, facilitated by Daniel's close and inseparable bond with Greed. Aryan had witnessed the genuine affection Greed showed towards Daniel, solidifying their connection.
Aryan proposed that Daniel first focus on dominating the energy market in the Tessia Kingdom, leveraging his overwhelming technological advantage and competitive production costs over other energy providers. Following this, Daniel could expand his reach globally by offering high-quality yet affordable prosthetics to people with disabilities, thereby improving both his and the company's public image.
The meeting then progressed to finalizing details regarding their entry into the stock market and strategizing their global expansion.
The meeting concluded at 17:00, coinciding with the completion of Daniel's prototype model, as he had been diligently working on it throughout the discussion.
—
Following the meeting, Don Veneziale took Aryan to a strip club situated in the entertainment district within his territory. As the owner, the Don instructed his men to create an atmosphere that would console Aryan, the heartbroken man who had lost his first love without ever having the chance to express his feelings.
The Don's men unleashed a wild and exuberant party, acting on the Don's orders to intensify the energy and uplift Aryan's spirits. In stark contrast, Aryan found solace in drowning his sorrows by continuously consuming beer.
Meanwhile, the Don's men took to the stage, replacing the usual showgirls, and began an impromptu performance, enticing patrons with their muscular physiques and charismatic charm. Some individuals with specific tastes enthusiastically tipped them, urging them to continue stripping. This unexpected turn of events drew the attention of a niche audience, causing the Don to develop a headache and feel regretful about granting his men such freedom.
Amidst the joyful revelry, a group of menacing-looking men enters the club. Their Russian conversation catches the attention of the patrons. However, if they were affiliated with Volkov's gang, they would know better than to exhibit such intimidation within a club protected by the Veneziale family. It becomes apparent that these newcomers are unfamiliar with the territory and mistakenly believe they can act as if they own the place—a behavior that should be ingrained in their bones.
Don Veneziale notices the group but refrains from taking immediate action, considering the presence of innocent individuals in the club. He hopes that these new Russian gang members will not cause any trouble within his territory, assuming they had failed to do their homework on the consequences that awaited them. After all, the majority of the prominent gangs in Sector Alpha City were allied with him.
Don Veneziale's gaze fell upon his inebriated men, shamefully dancing on stage. Their faces turned pale as realization struck. One of them hurriedly left the club in search of the signboard, hoping to confirm they had entered the correct establishment.
Moments later, the individual returned, engaging in a brief conversation in Russian with the others. Some displayed disappointment before exiting the club. However, one of them, with a peculiar taste, seemed to relish the show and generously showered his fellow men on stage with tips, until he was eventually pulled away by his comrades.
"Who were those guys?" Don Veneziale questioned aloud, before summoning one of his men who had remained vigilant and hadn't succumbed to the frenzy. He needed to uncover the identities of these newcomers, for their lack of respect upon entering his territory had irked him.
— Daniel's Secret Base - 18:30 —
On the rooftop of the condominium in the residential district of the secret base, stood a two-story home that belonged to Daniel. As he entered the living room with Greed by his side, a comical sight greeted him. Wrath, his beautiful red-haired wife, lay with a hollow expression on the table, holding more than 20 Uno cards in her hand, while their mischievous daughter Sylvana jumped in triumph for defeating her mother in the game.
"It's impossible... Am I really that bad at this game?" Wrath exclaimed, questioning her worth as a mother in the midst of her defeat. Games, puzzles, and intellectual challenges were never her strong suit, and she often found herself on the losing end. Even against her own five-year-old daughter, she couldn't claim victory.
Witnessing this scene, Daniel couldn't help but smile wryly. He knew that his wife struggled with activities that required mental prowess. Math, games, chess, tic-tac-toe — she simply wasn't skilled in those areas. However, her physical abilities and captivating voice were more than enough to enchant people. Coupled with her striking appearance, it was impossible for anyone to tear their eyes away from her. That's why she had become the most successful idol in the Tessia Kingdom.
"Ah! Aunt Greed!" The little troublemaker exclaimed, her short legs pitter-pattering as she rushed towards Greed, who held a handful of gifts, food, and souvenirs for her niece.
In that very moment, a gust of wind swept from behind the little troublemaker, catching her mid-air. It was Michaela, swiftly moving to prevent the energetic girl from leaping onto Greed, concerned for their safety.
"Boo, Sister Michaela!" Sylvana pouted, playfully teasing the archangel who served as Wrath's bodyguard.
Michaela was unsure of how to respond or resolve the situation. She feared that Sylvana might not like her, as she wasn't accustomed to interacting with children. Despite her fondness for them, being an archangel in heaven didn't equip her with all the knowledge of human emotions and social dynamics. Her limited understanding mostly came from her favorite K-Dramas, and she hadn't watched the series about the love between a mother and daughter yet. This left her feeling slightly awkward.
"Don't mind her, Michaela. She's just throwing a little tantrum," Daniel reassured, reaching out to take his daughter from Michaela's grasp. The archangel breathed a sigh of relief.
"Sylvana, look! I've brought lots of your favorite chocolates and ice cream," Greed chimed in, proudly displaying the array of sweets in her hands. This caused little Sylvana to giggle with excitement, nestling closer to her father's chest.
"Greed, if Sylvana has any tooth problems, I'll hold you responsible," Daniel said sternly, his gaze fixed on his wife.
"Boo, spoil sport..." Greed pouted playfully.
"Boo, Papa is boring," Sylvana added, joining in the playful banter.
"You little..." Daniel gritted his teeth, feeling the urge to spank Sylvana's little butt, but he quickly suppressed the thought and let out a sigh.
"Tomorrow, Papa is free. Let's go to the amusement park as promised!" Daniel said, a warm smile spreading across his face. He had made a promise to his little troublemaker that they would visit the amusement park when he had some free time, and now was the perfect opportunity to fulfill that promise.
"Yayyyyy! Let's go to Disneyland!" Sylvana exclaimed with uncontainable excitement, her innocent face lighting up with joy.
"That's a great idea! I happen to own a 30% share in Disneyland. Let's go there. The closest one would be in the Ming Federation, on Hong Kong Island. I'll make sure we receive VIP treatment!" Greed chimed in, thrilled at the prospect.
However, Daniel shook his head. "How about we go there as a simple family, without any of the VIP treatment? It's her first time visiting, after all," he suggested.
As for the little troublemaker herself, she didn't mind whether they received VIP treatment or not. All she wanted was to go there with her family. So, anything would be perfect in her eyes at that moment.
"Koyuki..." Daniel approached his wife, who sat dejectedly, staring listlessly at the Uno cards. He gently placed the little troublemaker down, allowing her to enjoy her aunt's embrace.
"Hmm?" Koyuki turned towards her husband, her eyes filled with sadness, before he planted a light kiss on her lips.
"Cheer up, okay? You have something special that only you can do," Daniel tried to console his wife, his voice filled with sincerity.
"Something only I can do? Like what? Messing things up for you?" Koyuki's spirits were low, plagued by her sense of self-doubt. She knew that she often let her emotions get the better of her, being the embodiment of Wrath. It made her prone to impulsive actions, like an emo kid on steroids.
Sometimes, she acted without considering the consequences. Since the day she believed Daniel had died, she had let her powers take control, seeking a quick power boost without thinking about the long-term effects it would have on her. Now, she regretted allowing her powers to overpower her in that moment of despair.
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