The morning sun crept through the curtains as Adonis slowly opened his eyes. He lay there for a moment, gathering his thoughts, the familiar weight of his pistol now tucked safely under his bed. The second article was set to be published tomorrow, and soon, the city would begin to unravel. The tension in the air was palpable, and he could feel it building with each passing day.
After getting dressed and preparing a quick breakfast, Adonis left his apartment and made his way to the City Council building. His usual morning tasks awaited him, a series of mundane duties that had become routine. It was important to keep up appearances, after all. As far as the Council was concerned, he was still their loyal investigator.
He spent the next few hours attending to minor reports and council-related duties, his mind drifting occasionally to the plan that was now in motion. Lunchtime arrived, and he made his way to a small café near the council building. As he sat, eating in silence, he thought about his next move. The pistol under his bed offered him a sense of security, but it wasn't enough. He needed to ensure he was prepared for anything.
Once lunch was over, Adonis decided to visit a shooting range located in the city's lower district. The original Adonis had never been particularly skilled with firearms, but he had left behind enough muscle memory for Adonis to feel comfortable with the decision. He walked through the range's doors, paid for a session, and selected a revolver similar to the one he had purchased the day before.
The loud cracks of gunfire echoed around him as he practiced his aim. The first few shots were shaky, but with each pull of the trigger, his accuracy improved. After about an hour of practice, he felt a little more confident in his ability to defend himself if the need arose. He knew this world was harsh, and if things went wrong, he needed to be able to rely on more than just his powers.
Satisfied with his progress, Adonis holstered the revolver and left the range. The next stop on his list was Burban Wolf's company. He needed more information, something that would give him an edge if the Council ever turned their suspicions toward him. But as he chatted with the employees, asking questions and observing their routines, he found nothing useful. They were all too tight-lipped, cautious not to reveal anything out of the ordinary. If Wolf was hiding something, he kept it well out of reach from his staff.
By the time Adonis left the company, it was late in the afternoon. He returned to the City Council building to file his report, once again playing the part of a diligent investigator. His report was simple, focusing on the minor details of his interviews, enough to keep the Council's eyes away from his own activities. As he handed the report to one of the clerks, he couldn't help but feel a slight twinge of satisfaction. Every piece of false information he fed them brought him closer to his goal.
With his tasks for the day complete, Adonis made his way to a nearby bar. The dimly lit room was filled with the usual crowd of workers and council members, each lost in their own conversations. He ordered a drink and took a seat at one of the empty tables, listening to the idle chatter around him. People were already starting to speculate about the next article. Rumors of dissatisfaction were spreading, slowly but surely, just as he had planned.
Adonis sipped his drink, his mind working through the final details of his plan. The city was like a tinderbox, and the second article would be the spark that set it ablaze. From small groups of discontented citizens to full-blown riots, it would all come together in less than nine days. He just needed to stay the course, keep his head down, and prepare for the chaos that was about to unfold.
Finishing his drink, he left the bar and returned to his apartment. The streets were quiet, but the tension in the air was undeniable. Tomorrow, everything would start to escalate.
Back in his apartment, Adonis checked the pistol under his bed before lying down to sleep. His mind buzzed with thoughts of the coming days, but exhaustion soon took over, and he drifted off into a deep sleep.
Tomorrow, the city would start to burn—not literally, but in spirit. And Adonis would be the one to fan the flames.