How about a little chat

TIME : 2:18PM

LOCATION : NINOS HOMOT

Dan sits back and examines the board in front of him as he nurses a drink in his right hand.

"You've found a way to extricate yourself from the works of the circle, staying out in the open and acting like the greatest thing this city has ever had when in fact you are the problem that needs to be eliminated."

Dan stares specifically at Cheng's photo, as he had placed it at the top of the board to signify Cheng's importance to his investigation.

Dan trails his line of sight downward till he had arrived at the photo of Jace.

"Starting from you, I can work my way up the ranks and finally get retribution for my parents murder, I should get ready for our meeting this evening."

Dan drops the bottle in his hand and rises from his chair, suddenly there is a knock on the door.

"Dan, are you in there??"

a voice asks from outside, Dan walks to the door and opens to reveal Hermit standing outside.

"What's up??"

"If you aren't to busy, I'd like you to join us for lunch."

Hermit asks politely to which Dan replies.

"It's been long you invited me for a family gathering, what's the occasion??"

"You and I both know why I've been so hard on you, we'll talk more about this later, but for now…"

Hermit's voice trails off as he sets his eyes on the board behind Dan.

"You still haven't gotten rid of that board like I told you to??"

Hermit asks wide eyed.

"You and I both know I'm not discarding everything I've discovered up until now all for your misguided notion that I'm playing with my life, I know the risk and I'm willing to take it as long as I achieve my goal, so there's nothing you'd say to me that would make me let up now"

Dan replies, after which Hermit eyes him and turns round to walk down the stairs.

"We'll be waiting for your company in the dining room."

Dan sits with Hermit and his family, a wife and two daughters, as they all gathered for lunch, the table setting was quite enticing with enough food for everyone.

"Dan ,I'm so glad you could join us today."

Dan never admitted to the old man but he cared for Hermit and his family, always grateful for their hospitality towards him.

After they are done munching on the meal laid out for them, Hermit's wife sets to clearing the table with her daughters, Dan joins them but is stopped by Hermit's wife.

"Hermit wants to talk to you, you should leave this for us."

Dan nods and walks out to join Hermit outside, as he sat at the porch with drink in hand.

"Take a seat" Dan walks to a seat beside Hermit and makes himself comfortable, taking a drink from the pack that lay beside Hermit.

"Why am I here?? " Dan asks has he opens up his drink and takes a sip.

Hermit takes a long hard look at Dan before facing forward.

"I understand why you do the things you do, Dan, losing your parents at such a young age must have been hard, upon that you also lost the person that took you in after their deaths… but you must realize that the more you choose to go after these people that you feel are responsible for the loss of your parents, the more you put not only you but our lives in danger."

Hermit says in a calm voice.

"So what you are basically saying is that you're scared my investigation would end up hurting you and your family, if that's the case I'm more than willing to leave this place, I'm not gonna let anyone else suffer because of me."

Dan replies has he takes another sip of his drink.

"That's not what I'm talking about right now and I never asked you to leave, I just need you to drop this investigation of yours, you are an able bodied Raza, find a job, get a girl, live your life and forget your past already, the more you go on with this investigation, the more you hold yourself back, I need you to stop all this, that's the reason I've been so hard on you but as always you find a way to circumvent my plans and do the exact opposite of what I want for you."

Hermit looks at Dan with frustration in his eyes.

"You know when I left this city years back to train myself for my eventual return and opportunity to get my revenge, I had made a vow to not stop until I have gotten justice for my parents, I know it might look like I'm letting my past hold me back but I am not only fighting for my parents at this point but every single person that has been wronged by Cheng and his circle, I promise you that the moment I'm done with this, I'll do whatever you say but till then I'm not gonna stop…. now if you'll excuse me, I have a criminal to nab."

Dan says has he gets up to his feet and heads back inside the house.

"How long, Dan, how long before you realize that you are putting your life in grave danger."

Hermit murmurs to himself...

TIME : 5:37PM

LOCATION : UNKNOWN (?????)

"We've found him, Karan."

Two men wearing black suits and shades walk into an unknown hideout to meet Karan and Armstrong waiting

"Who is he??"

Armstrong asks in a gruff manner.

"Dan Ruso, he is the last surviving member of the Ruso family who apparently seems to hold a grudge against the boss for murdering his family."

One of the suited men reply handing a file to Karan has he does so.

"So this is some childish vendetta by him??... Well then, find out where he stays in the city and relay the information back to us, we'll figure out the best way to deal with him."

Karan says after which the suited men leave...

TIME : 9:16PM

LOCATION : JOCULE CLUBHOUSE "Waiter, another round of drinks for my companions and I."

Jace calls out to a female waiter has he sits in a company of shady characters.

"Here you go, sir… would there be anything else??"

The waiter asks has she drops a tray of drinks at their table

"We'll call you if we need anything else."

One of the men with Jace replies after which he makes to smack the waiter's behind, a gesture that repulsed the waiter but she chose not to react but walk away.

"How dare that bastard hit your ass like that, I'm so gonna make him pay."

Sai remarks has he makes to get up from where he had been spying on Jace and his company.

"Let it go already, why jeopardize the mission over that??... It's not like it was your ass that was smacked, we'll deal with him later but right now we need to focus on the mission, got that??"

Ilara says over a receiver.

"Yes ma'am… Anyways, I must say you look gorgeous in that attire, we should go on more of these kinds of missions."

Sai remarks slyly with a smile on his face.

"Oh please wipe that smirk off your face and focus on Jace already."

Ilara retorts has she makes to hide the fact that what Sai had said made her blush…