Chapter 31
There was nothing that Victor Yuli Romanov would do to gain more power and influence and gain control of one of the 24 vessels serving the 12 acolytes. With the upcoming union between him and Catherine Zhang, he has already created a new synthetic drug that could turn any person into a weapon, like what Viking berserkers were believed to be. The drug was a game-changer in the world of organized crime, and Victor was determined to use it to solidify his position as a dominant force in the underworld.
And the first to acquire this were his bodyguards; these individuals would remain calm and focused in any situation but were ready to unleash their full potential at a moment's notice. Victor spent millions to obtain such a result, and the first trial test was supposed to be a few months from now. Knowing nobody in their right mind to initiate a fight with his bodyguards, the fact that they were trained and carry weapons made them an intimidating force. Their reputation alone was enough to make any person abandon the idea of fighting them head on.
But Victor wasn't aware that his so called fearsome guards were already beaten and changes in their physical anatomy were slowly changing them. Victor always questioned the manner in which his fiancé obtained the chemicals to manufacture such drug to begin with.
but seeing its effects, he realized that the source of the chemicals was not as important as the outcome they posed. As he was maintaining order at one of his secret facilities in Europe, he received news that his close and favorite cousin was having a wild time at his territory and even started a belting survival game. Victor just waved his hand and told the messenger to let him be.
" Ivan is old enough to take responsibility."
"Let him be; just clean clean the mess and handle everything like we normally do."
" from Ivan, he's a little wild but he always knows how to handle himself in the end."
Victor added with a slight smirk.
"I trust he will learn from this experience and come out stronger."
"Ivan will learn from this mistake and grow from it," Victor reassured the messenger. "He's a strong young man who knows how to handle himself." "Varinka, on the other hand, is a different story altogether," Victor added with a shake of his head.
"Varinka, she's insane."
Meanwhile back at the abandoned textile factory, something unimaginable was happening. The entire facility was experiencing technical malfunction, as if a magnetic pulse were detonated. The VIP observers were in the dark as all CCTV cameras were now off line, and the factory itself was trembling. Panic wasn't in the eyes of the VIP as they were intoxicated with alcohol and drugs, completely unaware of the impending danger that was unfolding around them. The situation was escalating rapidly, with no one able to reach out for help as chaos ensued within the factory walls.
Ivan's frustration was palpable, a simmering anger fueled by his sudden blindness. The head guard's words cut through the fog of his confusion, 'Secure the VIPs. They come from families with deep roots in the financial community. Their safety is paramount.' His own clan's success, their reputation in the face of the looming threat of the 12 Acolytes, hinged on these individuals. The head guard's words were a lifeline, a sense of purpose amidst the escalating crisis. The clamor of the drug dependents in the main factory was a mere annoyance, a swarm of flies buzzing about a matter of no consequence.
Ivan issued the order: evacuate the VIPs first. The tremors that shook the ground and the growing uncertainty in the air amplified the urgency. Prioritizing their safety was non-negotiable, even as the situation spiraled downward. The heat was rising, and the atmosphere was thick with fear and confusion. Their escape route, a hastily devised plan, was put into action. Within minutes, all twenty VIPs were safely loaded onto a bus waiting at the back of the abandoned textile factory's security office, a separate building that offered a measure of seclusion. As the bus pulled away, leaving the chaos behind, Ivan was left grappling with the enormity of the situation. His task was far from over, but for now, he had secured the lives of those most critical to his clan's future.
Ivan, the last man standing in the security office, hastily gathered the remaining illicit substances and a wad of cash, his heart pounding in his chest. The guard, his loyal companion in this illicit endeavor, had already secured the bulk of the loot, his face grim with the realization of what was about to unfold.
As they stepped out of the isolated security outpost, a chilling creak echoed from within the factory, followed by a series of panicked screams. The ground beneath them vibrated, and the air grew heavy with the stench of burning plastic and something else, something unnamable.
They turned back to witness the horrifying spectacle: the textile factory roof, a monstrous, molten mass, collapsing inward on itself. Ivan, caught in the wave of intense heat, felt a searing pain on his skin as the plastic bag filled with drugs melted in his grasp. In a moment of sheer terror, he dropped the bag and bolted towards his car, the screams of the trapped workers echoing in his ears. The guard, instinctively shielding Ivan from the encroaching inferno, felt the heat on his own skin. Even the gleaming Lamborghini parked nearby was not spared, its paint blistering and peeling away, revealing the bare metal beneath.
With a desperate urgency, the guard pushed Ivan into the car, his heart hammering against his ribs, knowing that something far more perilous was about to happen. They were just in time. The earth shook as the factory, consumed by the flames, finally gave way, sending a terrifying shockwave that ripped through the air.
As Ivan settled into the passenger seat, the guard behind him succumbed to an inexplicable fate. Ivan's anticipation for the guard to rush to the driver's seat and whisk him away was shattered when he realized the guard had already met an untimely demise. To his horror, the interior of the car became a maelstrom of intense heat, ripping apart the fabric and metal with furious abandon. The sudden gust scorched Ivan's skin through the open car door, igniting panic within him. Desperate for an escape route, he swiftly slid across to the driver's seat, his mind racing to find a way out of the blazing inferno.
With a surge of adrenaline and reckless determination, Ivan gripped the steering wheel, preparing to drive the vehicle out of danger. A triumphant laugh escaped his lips as he perceived the sense of control at his fingertips. However, this fleeting moment of solace was extinguished by a blinding light that engulfed his vision. In a deafening roar, the car erupted into an earth-shattering explosion, consuming everything in its wake.
The fire was so huge it could be seen a mile away—a raging inferno that cast an ominous orange glow across the night sky. Flames, fueled by an unknown source, danced and twisted, licking at the sky with an insatiable hunger. Smoke billowed upwards, forming a thick, choking cloud that blotted out the stars. Sirens wailed in the distance, growing louder as fire trucks and ambulances raced toward the blaze, their headlights cutting through the darkness. Firefighters, their faces grim and determined, sprinted into the heart of the inferno, their hoses spewing water in a desperate attempt to tame the beast. The first responders, their faces etched with concern, followed close behind, ready to tend to anyone trapped or injured in the chaos. The scene was one of raw power and untamed destruction.
The scene was a scorching inferno, unleashing an unimaginable fury as the massive fire raged relentlessly. New reporters witnessed firsthand the cataclysmic spectacle as flames consumed everything in their path. The intense heat was so overpowering that it melted concrete, turning the once-solid structure into a molten mass. Industrial metal beams, normally unyielding and robust, buckled and twisted under the unforgiving blaze. They bent and contorted like they were made of mere plastic, losing their rigidity and becoming pliable under the relentless assault of the inferno.
The reporters stood in awe and horror, their senses overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of destruction unfolding before their eyes. The fire's wrath seemed unstoppable, casting an ominous glow upon the ravaged landscape. The air was thick with smoke and debris, creating a suffocating blanket that permeated every corner of the scene. The reporters could feel the heat radiating from the flames, which threatened to consume them as well. Yet, amidst the chaos and danger, they remained dedicated to capturing the unfolding tragedy, documenting the devastating impact on the community.
All the fire trucks from different districts came and answered the distress call of the firefighters on the scene, working tirelessly to contain the blaze and protect those in harm's way. The sound of sirens filled the air as reinforcements arrived, bringing a glimmer of hope in the face of such overwhelming destruction. The fire was roaring, and this made the firefighters' skins crawl with fear.
This was the first time they heard a fire react like this. The heat was so intense that it was melting the fire truck tires, even if they were more than 10 meters away from the actual burning building . The firefighters knew they had to act quickly and strategically to prevent the fire from spreading further. One cameraman was shocked to see that there was a ball of fire swirling inside the fire, as if it were the very core, until the camera he was holding stopped broadcasting and just broke down.
The inferno roared, its flames licking at the night sky with an insatiable hunger. The blaze, consuming the textile factory, had grown into a monstrous spectacle, its heat radiating outward in a palpable wave. As the fire raged, the flames erupted into a towering cloud, its ominous glow casting an eerie orange light across the scene. The firefighters, their faces grim with concern, barked orders at the news reporters gathered at the cordon. Their voices, though amplified by the sirens wailing in the background, were barely audible over the crackling of the fire and the roar of the flames.
'Evacuate! Move back! The cloud could trigger a secondary explosion! ' they shouted, their words laced with urgency. The factory, they knew, was likely housing chemicals, a volatile combination waiting to be ignited by the inferno. Their worst fears soon materialized, a terrifying confirmation of their warnings. With a deafening boom, the flames erupted in a fiery geyser, a secondary explosion sending shockwaves through the air and throwing debris high into the night sky like rockets launching into space. The firefighters on the scene scrambled to contain the blaze, knowing that the situation had escalated beyond their control. The heat from the explosion was intense, searing everything in its path and casting an eerie glow over the surrounding area.
The news reporters, caught off guard, scrambled for safety, their cameras clattering to the ground as they fled the volatile scene, the horrifying spectacle of the fire now imprinted forever in their minds. The residents in the nearby industrial district that was a few hundred meters from the fire were evacuated as a precaution, their homes at risk of being engulfed by the flames. Emergency responders from neighboring towns rushed to the scene, their sirens wailing as they prepared to assist in the massive effort to extinguish the inferno.
As the sun rose and countless fire fighters finally declared the fire was under control, the community breathed a collective sigh of relief. The charred remains of the dead bodies were seen scattered throughout the factory floor as the investigation started to determine the cause of the fire. Families of the supposedly deceased victims gathered nearby, trying their best to gain hope for identification on the charred remains but it seems this dauting task was too much for the forensic team, which struggled to piece together the identities of those lost in the fire. Despite the challenges,
But this news also came to Victor's attention as he hastily returned home to personally see if the news about his cousin's death was true and who was the person who started the fire. As he arrived at the scene, Victor's heart sank at the sight of the devastation caused by the fire. He vowed to do everything in his power to find justice for his cousin and bring closure to their family.
The forensic team worked tirelessly to gather any possible evidence that could help in identifying the victims, bringing some comfort to the grieving families. While rummaging the devastated area, a peculiar item was in sight. As all the items in the area were burned this particular item remained unscathed, sparking curiosity and hope that it could provide a clue to the burning inferno that claimed the lives of so many. The forensic team carefully collected and analyzed the hunting knife, hoping it would lead to a breakthrough in the investigation of the tragic incident. The discovery of the untouched item amidst the charred debris gave renewed resolve to uncover the truth behind the fire.
Victor was not going to give the police the opportunity to take his only chance to know who might have killed his favorite cousin, so he used his influence to manipulate and bribe the forensic team investigating the fire to prioritize the analysis of the hunting knife. And he should be the first person to gain the information before anyone else. Victor was willing to do whatever it took to get revenge for his cousin's death, even if it meant bending the rules and using fear and intimidation.