Chapter 2: Chapter 2: Prologue Part 2
Arias and Dmitri entered the V.I.P. section and started partying for thirty minutes.
Arias mimicked drinking and never took more than a few sips at a time, but Dmitri did so without restraint and was therefore very quick to become tipsy.
The two were now seated in an open area with many of gorgeous women serving them beverages.
"I don't think I've ever seen you this happy Dmitri, this Arias must be quite important to you." While feeding Dmitri fruit, a small and tall woman who was sitting on his lap made a teasing remark.
He quickly nodded as he chuckled at what she said. "Important is an understatement, that's my brother from another mother right there. I knew him before my dad became a big-shot, we got separated when my dad had me change schools for high school but we still hung out every week… but six years ago right before his fifteenth birthday, he vanished."
Dmitri drank from his cup, then set it down and sighed.
"Ohh~ Then where did you go mister Arias? Leaving our poor Dmitri without his best friend?" With her brow raised, the woman asked Arias, but Dmitri intervened before Arias could respond.
"Hey Natasha, don't go asking him those things. I know he wouldn't leave without a good reason and I won't press him on it, I'm just glad he's back, we all have our secrets right?" Dmitri raised a glass in question to Arias while grinning at him.
"Right, thanks. I'm still not forgetting that bet you lost to shave your head though." Dmitri scowled in response to Arias's sly addition.
"Oh c'mon man, I take it back. I didn't miss this petty smartass." Even more loudly, Dmitri laughed.
Arias could tell that Dmitri sincerely missed him, whatever the cause. Perhaps his life had not been easy either, as evidenced by the quantity of alcohol he consumed on a regular basis.
Dmitri fell asleep on the seats a little while later, but Arias stayed awake.
When he turned to gaze at the bar, he noticed that the couple he had been observing before was still there.
The woman named Natasha smirked and said, "He always blacks out for a bit after one too many drinks, we can keep you busy till then," but Arias shook his head.
"It's fine, I think I'll just walk around here a bit." Soon after saying so, he stood and moved in the direction of the bar.
His phone rang from his right pocket as he was moving toward the bar, so he swiftly snatched it up.
"Craig, you're not supposed to call me." Arias reacted strongly.
[ Well you're not supposed to take damn ages, hurry up man. Remember I need to say I was just patrolling by but at this rate I'll seem suspicious. ]
"Fine I got it. Just be ready."
Arias promptly ended the call and moved to the bar, where he sat down a short distance from the hairy man sitting next to the attractive woman.
He pretended to be carefree and even placed his own drink order while keeping an eagle watch on the couple.
It was only when he saw the large hairy man order a drink that he decided to take out his phone again below the counter and dial in something.
Ba!
Soon after, all of the club's lights went out, causing guests to groan irritably and in frustration.
"Dammit, are you kidding me?" Unhappiness with the circumstances was expressed in a big, hulking voice.
The lights quickly returned on after the brief blackout, though.
When they got back, Arias hastily tucked a tiny white sachet inside his coat before getting up from his seat.
'That was cutting it close…' he thought but still showed a smile and took out his phone before typing…
"It's done, I'll linger here for a bit so that I don't draw suspicion then leave before the substance kicks in."
[ Finally. Another successful job, a high class one at that. Moving up in the underworld are we. ]
"What other option is there?" He responded by typing, then put his phone away and went back to where he and Dmitri had been sitting.
"Oh there you are, I was just about to come look for you. Sorry about that, booze makes me sleepy after long days haha." When he came back, Arias discovered Dmitri awake and very slightly sober.
"I just wanted to see if they were any ladies to my liking around." Arias nodded in response and took a seat across from Dmitri to observe the activity at the bar.
Arias never really relaxed throughout the lighthearted chat; instead, he would occasionally glance toward the bar as if he were waiting for something.
When the big man in a suit at the bar glanced his way with a sneer while on the phone, Arias suddenly appeared surprised.
This gave him a horrible sensation, and he got to his feet right away. Before he could do anything, though, he noticed a group of big guys in suits enter the V.I.P. lounge and go over to his table alongside the big man who was now grinning.
"Huh, what's going on? Eric is there something you want?" Dmitri scowled and cast a wary glance in the direction of the bulky man in a suit who was approaching them.
"Me? Nothing, I just want to share a drink with this new face over here." The man identified as Eric grinned and set a glass down while glancing at Arias, who was clearly frowning.
"Thanks but I'll have to decline." The drink was quickly rejected by Arias as his demeanor grew icy.
Dmitri exhibited confusion as Eric giggled in response to this.
"Eric seriously he's not interested in whatever games you're trying to play, just go enjoy your time at the bar." When Dmitri tried to stop it, the big man smacked him in the back.
"Be quiet! Your friend here had the balls to lace my drink, I just want him to have a taste of whatever he poured into it. Well? Drink it…or do you need a little motivation?"
In addition to frowning, Eric pulled a gun from his jacket and pointed it directly at Arias.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone