A day had passed since the incidents that almost resulted in Arias's demise. Unsure whether they were being searched for, Arias decided it would be best to remain hidden in his apartnt. Despite the shooting at the club being covered by the dia, there was no news about the accident. Dmitri's role wasn't ntioned at all—he was completely left out of the conversation. Only Arias's na was ntioned, labeled as the shooter and attempted murderer. He was reported missing after being last seen leaving Gotham in a stolen Porsche.
Dmitri couldn't help but seem furious as they watched the news.
"They changed the entire story. Why am I not surprised? With my dad's ties to politics, I guess he can't have a criminal son. What a bastard." The more he heard, the more Dmitri cursed and expressed his utter anger.
"That, and he can win the voters' pity by relating to them, having been a victim of Gotham's so-called rampant cri. He really took our supposed deaths as a stepping stone," Arias continued, his remarks rational and true, even though he didn't appear to be bothered in the least.
When Dmitri saw this, he questioned why Arias wasn't more furious than he was.
"Doesn't that piss you off? Not only that, they're pinning everything on you."
As Dmitri picked up the remote control and turned off the television completely, Arias turned his head away from the screen.
"It annoys far more than you can imagine, but I can work around this. It's not my first ti being wanted, so this only affects my freedom of moving openly for now. My funds are crypto-based, and this entire building houses criminals, so I'm not worried about money or a ho for the ti being."
Arias approached a drawer and started digging through his personal belongings. He only stopped when he found a little flip phone tucked under the board.
"Then what are you worried about?" Dmitri asked, curious.
Arias responded, "How to make even more money. Even criminals don't like hiring or working with individuals who have a lot of heat on them. And with the Valentine family as our enemy, we can assu the other big families won't want to get involved. That leaves very few operations that offer good pay open to us. But..." Arias flicked open the phone and swiftly entered a number without saying anything else.
"Hello, Clause? Yes, I'd like to be on the list. What do I want? Blueprints to the Valentine mansion. Approving the transfer now."
Arias pulled out a smartphone while on the call and verified a pop-up notification before entering a pin and thumbprint. He ended the call on the flip phone once a sizable green check appeared.
"You bought blueprints to the Valentine ho? So you want revenge too?" Dmitri asked, his brows furrowed, appearing to agree with Arias's plan. But Arias shrugged it off.
"No. Since they've cut off our ans of making money, our only option is an operation by which we can earn large amounts of money without exposing our identities or tying ourselves to anyone—robbery."
When Dmitri heard what Arias said, his eyes lit up.
"If that's the case, then we should start with my place. I know it well enough, plus I know the password to the family vault. He keeps not only valuables but information that we could sell or even use to blackmail him for more money anonymously."
Dmitri's suggestion caused Arias to arch his brow, then sigh and shake his head slightly.
"So you can be smart at tis. Good, that plan works better and carries less risk. Here's so cash. There's a dark-haired kid by the stairs; tell him to go to the tailor and order so black clothes for us. Give him the room number and your asurents—he already knows mine."
After reaching a compromise, Arias pulled out a large sum of cash and tossed it to Dmitri before giving him those instructions.
"You really are a hitman, huh? This sort of feels like a movie. Do you also have a sexy doctor who patches you up after jobs?" Dmitri grinned as he approached the door, ridiculing, but Arias responded directly.
"She only works after 10 p.m. Now hurry up."
Dmitri turned to stare at Arias, not sure if he was kidding or not. All he could do was scowl and follow instructions.
After Dmitri left, Arias began to hear a now-familiar voice in his head.
"[Arias?]"
"Yes?" Arias responded in a casual and uncomplaining manner, given that it had been so ti since he had last heard from the infinity.
"[As it stands, you're more than capable of accomplishing tasks to attain wealth quickly without the assistance of another. Do you simply enjoy that being's company?]"
Arias chuckled a little at the query before responding.
"Not at all. Until I understand my own limitations and powers, I prefer using the longer route. As for Dmitri, it's always better to work with allies, even if they aren't necessary. It lessens the danger directed at oneself, as I can simply employ my plans through them. This is how the wealthy and powerful do their dirty work while keeping their own hands clean."
"[So you do not plan to dirty your hands?]"
"That is unavoidable, but done right, I could do so without incurring the consequences upon myself... but another. Tonight will prove to be one such example."
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