Looking at Michael, who remained unfazed, a stoic mask concealing any emotion as if even the collapse of the sky wouldn't disturb him, let alone the tale of a dead man, Michael instead asked the question that truly mattered to him.
"Who is the White Deity?" he asked. To Michael, this "White Deity" seemed a far more dangerous entity to the country than the deceased Don Matteo.
Ken glanced at Rhino, then at Edward, and finally back at Michael. "Do you think we would know who the White Deity is and still have to obey the Adams family? And even if we knew, telling you that much would be signing our own death warrant."
Rhino then met Michael's gaze directly. "I already know we won't make it out of here alive, but if I can exchange this information for my family's life, it will still be worth it. Can I get your word that you will save and protect my family if I give you all the information I have about the underworld and the White Deity?"
This infuriated Edward. "It seems to me that you don't realize your situation right now," he retorted, stepping forward. "Let me give you a quick rundown of the state of affairs. First, this is not a business transaction where you do stock exchange. Secondly, you are our captive, and we are the captors. You do not give us conditions. Thirdly, we ask you. We do not request you. Know the difference. Now, let's try again. Who is the White Deity?"
Rhino ignored Edward, his focus remaining steadfastly on Michael. This clearly touched a nerve with Edward. As Edward was about to throw a punch, Michael stopped him with a raised hand. "I like them," Michael said, his voice calm. "Loyalty to one's family is not something to be looked down upon, and for that, I give you my word."
Immediately, Edward knelt, bowing his head. "And your word is my bond."
Seeing this, Rhino heaved a sigh of relief and smiled faintly before he began to narrate.
The Enigmatic White Deity
"Within the underworld, the White Deity is more mysterious than the word mystery itself. His name, the white deity was confined on him in the underworld. He has an unlimited connection across the country and beyond, or more likely to say, he is the hub of these connections. He rarely makes an appearance, but with one word, he can create great waves and storms in the underworld. His word is synonymous with law in the underworld. It is said that about ten countries' militaries are after him, yet he still remains untouchable.
"The only distinctive attribute he has is that he is always in white. It is said that he wears white all the time because he believes that he is true to his heart and possesses a clear conscience in what he does. On the other hand, he believes that no human on Earth is innocent, and as such, to survive amidst all such humans, one must be the true definition of ruthlessness. He is even more ruthless than Don Matteo, and his wrath is top-notch. For now, no one knows how that human grew up.
"I know you are fairly powerful across this country, but know that he is powerful across countries. You might want to uncover his true identity, but before you do that, you will have to dig graves for the countless innocents that may be caught in the crossfire. Now that I think about it, you seem to be his only match and nemesis, at least in the way you both think..."
Rhino chuckled, reminiscing about how they used to call the underworld 'Devil's Pit.' "Previously, the underworld used to be the den of people with different vile attributes. Serial killers, hired assassins, slave and sex traders—whether young, matured, adult, or old. There are kidnappers, arms dealers, drug dealers, and different cartels. You name it, and you would surely find them in the underworld. Most of these businesses were previously run by Don Matteo's subordinates, but now, it wouldn't be an understatement to call the underworld 'Hell,' and its sole master is the White Deity. It is rumored that the White Deity is a tall, handsome young man but is more sly than an old fox. It would be better for one not to be involved with the underworld, but should one get involved with it, then there is no going back at all. Your only way to get freedom is to just die. The dead tell no tales. The secrets of the underworld should never be known to ordinary people."
A New Path
After listening to him, Michael stood up and looked out through the window, lost in thought. Edward, still marveling at all he had heard, remained vigilant of any action Rhino or Ken might take. Then, Michael made a subtle hand sign, which Edward understood perfectly, and he commanded for Rhino and Ken to be taken away. Michael, still deep in thought, began humming a song. Knowing he shouldn't be disturbed, Edward left with the others.
Michael smiled while lost in his thoughts. It seems someone has the same thought process as I do, and is even more high-handed than me in a way. Indeed, a worthy opponent. I think it is time to step up some more.
Lidon Community
At a rural community named Lidon, in the streets of the villa, Katherine, a student of Lidon Community College, was seen with a joyous expression, running towards a building site where an older man, about 43 years old, was doing his work. As she got close, she teared up and started sobbing so hard, as if she wasn't going to stop anytime soon.