Despite the lingering fear and uncertainty, the café's warm ambiance was oddly enticing. As they stepped inside, Venera led them to a secluded booth in the back corner, away from other patrons.
Venera slid into the booth with a smooth grace, gesturing for them to sit.
The girls took their seats across from her, glancing around the café as if half-expecting something to jump out.
In the bright lighting, the girls could now get a much better glimpse of Venera's appearance. She seemed to be a woman in her mid 30s, with a slim but strong physique. She has olive skin, raven hair, dark brown eyes, and wears a form-fitting all-black pantsuit with.
She noticed the girls’ tension and smiled with a hint of mirth.
"Relax, girls. I'm not going to chew you up...yet. We're just going to have a little chat.”
The three tried to relax a bit, though their nerves were still on high alert.
Zalgo was the first to speak up, her voice edged with caution.
"What uhh…exactly did you want to talk about with us, Ms. Bianchi?”
Venera leaned back in the booth, her sharp gaze fixed on them.
"Straight to business, huh? Well, that's one of the things I like about you...you're not one to beat around the bush."
She paused for a moment, seemingly gathering her thoughts.
"You see...there is an auction taking place right now, and there is a Relic present there that I want. There will be many powerful figures present, but after seeing your strength in the tournament earlier, I believe you could be of use to me. That said, the job of you three girls is to retrieve that for me with the aid of my men.”
The girls were taken aback by Venera's words. An auction with a powerful Relic, and they were to retrieve it?
Zalgo furrowed her brow, a hint of skepticism in her voice.
"You want us to steal the Relic from an auction that's filled with powerful figures?"
Alice and Rachel shared a quick worried glance, clearly thinking the same thing; this sounded incredibly dangerous...and risky.
Venera chuckled, a sly smile playing at the corners of her lips.
"That's exactly right. The thing is...this relic isn't just any ordinary Relic. It's rumored to possess power beyond belief, and I want it. But, given the presence of the other powerful figures, I need you all to recover it for me. Consider it...a test of your capabilities."
She paused for a moment, letting her words hang in the air. The café's background noise, coffee machine whirring, and the sound of laughter and murmured conversation echoed softly in the background. A waitress came with a tray of four cups of coffee and freshly baked croissants dipped in rich, melty chocolate, laying the tray on the table.
"Buon appetito!" she said with a smile before walking away.
The girls' gazes shifted to the tray of coffee and croissants.
Zalgo hesitated for a moment before speaking up again.
"And what happens if we refuse?"
Venera took a sip of her coffee, her gaze never leaving Zalgo.
"If you refuse, let's just say...I have a few ways of convincing you. Trust me, refusing my 'invitation' is not an option you want to consider.”
The girls felt a chill down their spines, knowing the mafia boss wasn't one for empty threats.
Alice, Rachel and Zalgo exchanged another glance. There seemed to be no way out of Venera's demand.
Alice spoke up, her voice hesitant. "Don't listen to her, we accept!”
Venera nodded, a sly smile playing on her lips.
"Wise decision..."
She paused for a moment, taking another sip of her coffee.
"So, to summarize: You girls help me obtain this relic, and you will be greatly rewarded. Failure—and any other unexpected surprises—will be met with severe consequences."
The girls glanced at each other, their worry and fear evident on their faces. They knew they had just agreed to something that could either turn out amazingly or terribly wrong.
Venera could see their anxiety and decided to ease their nerves a bit more.
"Hey, don't look so grim, girls. As I said, I'll have some of my men supporting you. I want this to succeed as much as you do. You'll be in good hands, as long as you don't pull any stupid stunts."
The girls nodded hesitantly, still nervous about the mission, but glad that they'd have backup.
Venera continued, "Now...let's discuss the details, shall we?”
The girls leaned in further, their eyes focused and their ears focused on Venera's words.
"The auction is taking place in an exclusive casino, 'The Emerald Oasis.' It's a high-class casino that only accepts special guests, and it's heavily guarded. But don't worry, I've got connections there, and a few of my goons will be blending in amongst the crowd."
The girls listened closely, taking in every bit of information.
"Now, the main part; the Relic. It's said to be an ancient artifact, holding great power within it.”
The girls leaned in even closer, their interest piqued.
Rachel asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "What kind of power are we talking about here, Ms. Bianchi...?"
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
Venera leaned backwards in her seat, swirling the coffee in her cup.
"The kind of power that even the Goddesses would envy. Rumor has it that the relic is capable of granting its bearer total control of this land and everything—and everyone—in it. Of course, rumors are just that—rumors. But there might be some truth to this one. That's the reason my interest is particularly high for this relic.”
The girls felt a shiver run up their spines.
Zalgo swallowed hard before speaking, her voice trembling slightly. "And...if someone else gets to the relic first...?"
Venera's gaze darkened, a sharp glint flashing in her eyes.
"That's why you girls are here. My soldiers and I will handle the distraction. Your job is to locate the relic and secure it. We have the exact location of the room where the relic will be displayed. All you need to focus on is getting your hands on it before anyone else does. Understand?”
The girls exchanged a final glance before nodding in agreement.
Venera continued, her voice steady and firm.
"Good. Now, there's one more very important thing you need to know about this relic."
The girls leaned in even closer, waiting for Venera's next words.
Venera's tone grew even more severe, the weight of her words sinking in.
"This relic is not only incredibly powerful but incredibly dangerous. Legends tell that it can cause madness, greed, paranoia, and even loss of sanity. Some say it's cursed. This is why it has been locked up for centuries, hidden from the world. Now that it has resurfaced, we can't let it fall into the wrong hands. The relic's power alone is enough to spark chaos all by itself.”
The girls' eyes widened, their anxiety escalating.
Zalgo was the first to voice their concern. "So you're telling me that handling this relic can lead to madness and paranoia?"
Venera nodded, a serious look in her eyes. "Exactly that. The relic's power is not something to be taken lightly. It's dangerous, volatile, and unpredictable. Which is why it's all the more important that it gets into the right hands—mine.”
The girls swallowed hard, the full gravity of the mission sinking in. They were to retrieve a relic that not only held great power, but also posed a great threat to their mental state. They exchanged a glance between each other, the weight of the task ahead of them slowly settling upon their shoulders.
Venera could see their anxiety, but her stern expression didn't waver. She leaned forward again, her voice still firm. "You're not bailing on this mission now, are you?”
The girls quickly shook their heads, still anxious but determined.
Zalgo spoke up, her voice a bit shaky. "N—no, of course not. We'll do what it takes, Ms. Bianchi."
Venera's stern expression softened slightly, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of her lips.
"Good. I knew I could count on you girls. Now..." She leaned back in her seat, taking another sip of her coffee. "Are there any more questions?”
The girls pondered for a moment, their minds still racing with thoughts about the upcoming mission.
Zalgo was the first to ask a question. "You said you have connections in the casino, right Ms. Bianchi?"
Venera nodded, her expression still calm and controlled. "Correct. My people have... certain connections at the casino. They'll be blending in amongst the crowd, keeping an eye on everything. But they'll also provide any necessary backup if needed.”
The girls nodded, relieved that they wouldn't be completely alone in their mission.
Rachel asked a follow-up question.
"So we can count on your people for support if needed?"
Venera leaned forward, her eyes meeting Rachel's.
"Count on it. My men are professionals, and they know their job well. If any complications arise, they can step in and assist you. But I expect you girls to handle yourselves as well. You're here for a reason.”
The girls nodded, understanding the importance of not relying solely on Venera's men.
Alice chimed in with her own question.
"What security measures should we expect at the casino?"
Venera took another sip of her coffee before responding.
"The casino has top-notch security, both human and automated. There will be surveillance cameras, guards, and probably even magic surveillance systems in place to monitor everything. You'll have to be extra careful not to raise any red flags.”
The girls exchanged another wary glance. The security measures sounded intimidating.
Zalgo asked, her concern evident in her voice. "And what if we get spotted...?"
Venera leaned back again, her expression unchanging.
"That's where the distraction comes in. My men will create a distraction near the main entrance, drawing the attention of the staff and security while you girls slip in through another entrance. That gives you the window to locate the relic and secure it without being noticed.”
The girls nodded, absorbing the information.
Rachel asked, a hint of hope in her voice. "So if we keep a low profile and move quickly, we should be able to do this without any major issues?"
Venera nodded, her expression still calm and confident. "Precisely. As long as you stick to the plan and work quickly, the chances of things going awry should be minimized. But one thing is certain; this won't be a walk in the park. You'll need to keep your wits about you.”
The girls nodded, their anxiety increasing, but their determination only growing stronger.
Zalgo took a deep breath before speaking, her voice barely above a whisper. "One last question, Ms. Bianchi..."
Venera leaned forward, her tone slightly softer. "Yes, what is it?”
Rachel took a moment to gather her thoughts, then asked the final question that hung in the air.
"What...happens if we fail?"
Venera's expression turned serious, her eyes locking directly with Zalgo's.
"If, by any chance, you fail this mission..."
She paused for a moment, the tension in the café almost palpable.
"Well...let's just say the consequences won't be pleasant, capisci?”
The girls felt a shiver run down their spines. The threat of 'consequences' was not one to be taken lightly, especially coming from a powerful mafia boss like Venera Bianchi.
They nodded, their faces still filled with anxiety, but their resolve even stronger.
Venera observed the girls in silence for a brief moment, her eyes studying their faces, their expressions, their determination. Satisfied, she nodded, a slight smile forming on her lips.
"Good. You girls have your instructions. Now, finish up these Choco-croissants with me before you prepare. You've got a relic to retrieve, but you need some fuel first.”
The girls nodded hesitantly, picking up their croissants again. The tension was high, but the aroma of the chocolate-filled croissants, still warm, did help to ease the girls's nerves slightly.
After a few moments of silent eating, Venera broke the silence again.
"Oh, and one last thing."
The girls looked up from their croissants, expectant.
Venera leaned in closer, her voice lowering further.
"I want you all to remember something."
The girls looked at her, silent, their attention focused on the mafia boss's words.
Venera continued, her expression serious, yet a hint of care behind it.
"Remember your training. Trust your instincts, but also trust each other. You're going to be in a dangerous situation soon, and relying on each other will be crucial. Work as a team, and don't let your guard down. Understood?”
The girls exchanged glances, understanding the importance of Venera's advice.
Zalgo responded, speaking for the group.
"Understood. We'll stick together and watch each other's backs... and trust each other, as you said."
Venera seemed satisfied with the response, her expression lightening ever so slightly. She took another sip of coffee before speaking again.
"Good. That's what I like to hear. You girls might be young, but I can see the potential in you. I chose you for a reason, and I expect you to prove me right. For now, just enjoy the croissants and coffee. We have a few minutes before things kick off.”
The girls finished their croissants, the chocolate and doughy goodness helping ease their nerves. The warm coffee helped too, the caffeine providing a slight energy boost.
Venera watched the girls, occasionally sipping her own coffee. The café's atmosphere was a stark contrast to the situation that awaited the girls soon, but the calm before the storm seemed like a moment of respite.
Finally, Venera set her empty coffee cup down with a soft clink, signaling it was time to move on.
"All right then. Are you girls ready?”
The girls took in a deep breath, knowing this was it. They nodded, their faces serious yet determined.
Alice spoke for the group again.
"Ready as we'll ever be, Ms. Bianchi.”
Venera gave a small smirk, a glint of satisfaction in her eyes.
"That's the spirit. Now, follow me. The night is young, and we've wasted enough time here."
With that, she stood up from her booth, her leather jacket swirling around her as she motioned for the girls to follow her. The girls rose from their seats as well, taking a final deep breath before following Venera out of the café, heading towards the unknown that lay ahead…!
