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<span class="mu-s">[Intermission]</span>
Inside the Zexian residency, at the home movie theater section of the house, the two most powerful men in the mafia talk to each other. <span class="mu-i">The Number 1 Titan</span> ‘Jielun Zexian’, and his boss — <span class="mu-i">the chairman of the Youhao Clan</span> ‘Gianluigi Youhao.’ The topic of discussion is the disappearance of the organization’s insurance against external forces: <span class="mu-s">The Scroll</span>.
“No name. No face. No clues...” Gianluigi’s eyes don’t divert from the movie screen.
“Guy’s a pro. What can I say? If you don’t believe me, there’s a movie that can get the idea across.” Jielun half-jokes.
“When should I expect you to return it to me?” Gianluigi stares down at his watch.
“My hands are tied by more powerful forces than a Heavenly Pillar.” Jielun drops the jokey tone. “Besides, it’s a matter of <span class="mu-i">when</span> our secrets are going to be exposed. Our thief wants the truth out. There’s no way to rewind this foregone conclusion.”
“You’re telling me this is not a matter of extortion? What kind of childish imbecile did you get beaten by?” Patriarch Youhao laughs at the naivety of the thief. “I know I speak to a fool, but do you understand the ramifications of what you’ve done, you utter disgrace…? I put the entire underworld at my mercy! Decades of work to reach my finest hour, to begin my ascension... and you, Zexian — by sheer incompetence — put a stop to it!”
“Throwing in the towel?” Zexian is disappointed in his boss.
“No... A change of plans. Now labeled a criminal, I will stay underground. No longer can I reach the heavens from the gutter.” Gianluigi grits his teeth. “I’ll bring heaven down to the depths. We’ll take over the streets…”
“I thought you hated being old school.” Jielun stands up.
“Cobra, Orca, and llenwr are on our side. More are to follow.” Gianluigi stands up. “We’ll get rid of the mayor and the head of police. We have our own people working under them who will take their place. And as for you, Zexian, you burned my dreams to ashes…” Gianluigi pulls out a locket with his family’s picture. Once labeled a criminal, he won’t be able to see them as much. “Your dream will suffer the same fate. Be grateful this is the extent of the consequences for now.”
“I figured.” Zexian looks back at the cinema screen, being engulfed in flames… The entire building will be no more. The Mole Security looks disapprovingly at the damage but leads the way for the two men to escape the place. “After you.”
Gianluigi and Zexian leave the mansion that will soon turn to nothing but rubble…
<span class="mu-s">[End of Intermission!]</span>
(We come back tomorrow with a proper session! Votes are open still!)
