Warning: Profanities

Dimitri gathered his thoughts as he moved swiftly through the labyrinthine corridors of his headquarters. Every step he took was measured, his mind racing to finalize the plan for what was about to come. 

He left the control room briefly to shed his expensive suits for a military-grade tactical suit. 

The suit is sleek matte black with subtle dark grey accents that enhance its modern tactical aesthetic without compromising stealth. It is a form-fitting, full-body ensemble that highlights Dimitri's muscular physique, giving him a striking and intimidating appearance. The suit is made from a cutting-edge, bullet-resistant fabric called ArmaFlex, which is lightweight, breathable, and offers superior protection against ballistic threats.

In less than an hour the King of Assassins is ready to go and distribute retribution to those who dared to rise against him. 

Previously, Dimitri had been sending out orders nonstop to mitigate the damages to his organization. So far, his efforts proved to yield minimal results. His organization had been dealt a devastating blow and there was no time to waste. He has grown tired of sitting still and watching from afar as the situation escalates. Now he is prepared to go to battle and win the war. 

In the control room, Nyx was coordinating the defense, her eyes darting between screens displaying live feeds from various locations. She had set aside her sorrow and dealt decisive orders to their people. Meanwhile, Tristan was still grim but he maintained his focus. Cerberus looked unshaken, providing aid to anyone in need while he completed his own tasks. Thanatos, on the other hand ... The bastard is still nowhere to be found. 

The room buzzed with a tense energy, the weight of their situation pressing down on everyone.

Dimitri entered the room, his presence commanding immediate attention. "Is the team ready?" he asked, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside him.

Nyx nodded. "Alecto, Tisiphone, and Megaera are geared up and waiting. We also managed to secure a few reinforcements from Hela. She was able to spare 30 of her people. It's not much but better than nothing. They’ll meet you at the rendezvous point."

Dimitri’s eyes met Tristan’s. "Any updates on Joseph Stravage?"

Tristan shook his head. "He's moving unpredictably, but our latest intel suggests he's consolidating his forces. He’s likely preparing for a final push against us."

"Then we strike first," Dimitri decided, his voice cold and resolute. "Erinyes Sisters will retrieve Belladonna 618 and get the antidote for (Y/n). Meanwhile, I will deal with Stravage myself. This time I'll put a bullet on his head. I'll hang him and his minions to serve as a warning for others never to cross us ever again."

"We'll be spread too thin." Tristan pointed out, worry creasing his brows. "We don't have enough people to save all the bases. We might have to... Sacrifice some to save the whole."

"No. I won't abandon my people in their time of need. I'm going to slaughter every motherfucker who dared to rise against us." Dimitri declared, pride and fury radiating off of him. "But if we're too late for rescue, we'll be right on time for revenge ."

The team assembled in the garage, where armored vehicles awaited. Alecto, Tisiphone, and Megaera stood ready, their faces grim with determination. They were some of the best operatives in the organization, known for their ruthless efficiency and unwavering loyalty.

Dimitri addressed them briefly. "This mission is critical. Get in, secure Belladonna 618, and get out. No unnecessary risks. (Y/n)'s life depends on this. Let's move."

"Understood, sir. We won't let you down." Alecto vowed, face filled with determination. 

The three sisters mounted the vehicle and drove off to follow their command. Dimitri on the other hand boarded a transportation unit along with Cerberus and other agents. The convoy moved out under the cover of darkness. The streets of the city are a silent witness to the unfolding war waged by those who dwell in its shadows.

🌹

The panic room was bolted shut. No one will be able to enter no matter how hard they force their way through. Dimitri had ensured that this place of last resort would be as fortified as a fortress. Inside, Hecate stood over the unconscious girl, monitoring her vital signs. 

Hecate poured an unknown solution into (Y/n)'s mouth as the girl slumbered. She had modified the medicine she usually gives Dimitri to neutralize poison and it had shown 65% efficacy against the poison of the Garden. It wasn't perfect but if it can slow down the spread and adverse effects of the poison then it would do for now. 

"Poor child, completely unaware of the world's troubles while you dream in your bed. Aidoneus is fighting really hard for our organization but you get to sleep all day and still be loved by him." whispered the Alchemist sardonically. "You distract him. You make his senses dull. You make his decisions jaded. He cannot think clearly when the thought of you constantly occupies his mind."

Her fingers caressed the soft hair of the sleeping patient. It was soft and affectionate but the sentiment behind it was more ominous. 

"Should the need arise I wonder if..." Hecate's eyes scanned her appearance. "One day when the time comes, are you willing to die for him like he is for you?" 

No reply. Hecate pulled away and scoffed. 

"You better love him with all of your life. Your love shall be the only gift this cruel world shall ever give to him, little Nymph." (Y/n) did not reply so the Alchemist turned her back and went back to her concoctions.

"What happened to Dimitri?"

Hecate turned, shock and surprise decorated her face. "You're finally awake? The potion worked!"

"For now. But not for long. Your formula was a bit off. Some ingredients could have been chosen better. It was quite unpleasant going down the throat." The Alchemist looked offended by the comment but decided not to argue knowing that the woman was right. 

"Thank you though. I know that you did your best." Hecate nodded approaching her to recheck her vital signs and other health indicators. 

"What happened to Frost Bringer?"

"Treason. Someone betrayed us and now we're under attack. Four bases are under siege, Dimitri will leave in a little bit. He's eager to fight and settle the score. He is brash, he doesn't have enough people to bring with him and yet he still persists. Stubborn bastard." Hecate informed, checking her pulse rate. 

"I can help."

"You are in no condition to fight, princess. You'll only be a burden for him. You're his weakness."

"I know I cannot fight. But if I can persuade the Garden and the Nymphs to help then maybe we can even out the playing field."

"You want to broker a collaboration with your high-handed organization and mine? Are you mad? It won't work. Plus, I was given specific instructions not to let you leave this place." Hecate's distaste of her organization is quite obvious making (Y/n) curious why that is. Regardless, she needs to show the assassin her resolve. 

"If the enemy wins they'll blow up this place and let's see how safe we will be then."

"Fine. But I will not take responsibility if you die. I will tell Dimitri that you coerced me."

(Y/n) had faintly heard her monolog earlier and it seems to imply a special bond between her and Dimitri. She began to wonder if there is more to their relationship than meets the eye. For some reason the thought made her heart constrain with a familiar ache. The concept tasted bitter in her mouth much like the potion she was made to drink. 

"Are you... In love with him?" she wondered, ignoring her filters. The assassin seemed surprised by her question so she immediately answered. 

"Fuck no! I'm lesbian. Nyx is my girlfriend and Aidoneus is just my boss. You don't have to worry about me as your competition. I'm not interested in... What he has to offer." (Y/n) felt a sense of relief at the information. 

"I see." The Nymph paused, her brain freezing for a bit due to the awkwardness of the situation. "Can you guide me to where Trismegistus is? I'll be needing his help."

"Alright."

🌹

"Trismegistus," (Y/n) called, making the lad turn his head. 

"Miss (Y/n)? What are you doing here? You're awake?!" exclaimed the hacker in surprise. 

"Yes, now I need your help. We need to contact the Garden of Flowers. They can help."

"Alright, but I'll need to ask permission from my boss." The redhead immediately contacted Dimitri who was surprised but allowed the idea but not without worrying about (Y/n)'s safety several times. 

"He said it's okay but you need to take care of your body."

"Tell him I'm fine. Hecate gave me something that worked. I'll be fine." Her gaze met with Hecate's and they both knew not to announce the truth to Dimitri’s ear. 

"Okay, seems like you're my boss now, Miss (Y/n). What should we do?"

"Let's connect to the Mycelium."

"The 'Mycelium'? What's that?" asked the hacker in confusion. 

"It's the internet exclusive for the Nymphs of the Garden of Flowers."

"Wait, the Garden has its own international connectivity system similar to the World Wide Web?"

"Yes, Hedy Lamar was an excellent Bluebell(1). Her inventive mind allowed us to create and refine an internet for ourselves. She spearheaded the project and then her successors refined her ideas and improved it. We call it the Mycelial Network, or Mycelium for short. It's like the better version of the internet."

"Impressive. How do I sign up to be a Nymph? That sounds so cool! Oh, on second thought though, the boss will kill me. So, how do we access the Mycelium?"

"Through my red lipstick. It has a secret gadget inside it that allows any device to connect to the Mycelium. Where is it?" 

"I saw the boss playing with it a few days ago. I'll ask him."

"It must be this one then?" Hecate held up the lipstick. 

"Why do you have it?" asked (Y/n) warily. 

"The shade looked nice. I was trying to see if it would look nice on me." shrugged the Alchemist. 

"Did it?"

"Nah, it was a bit off for my skin tone."

"Yeah, I think you need something with a bit more of a cold tone. I'll get you one."

"Thanks."

"I don't want to interrupt but can we please focus?" Trismegistus interrupted. 

Hecate returned the lipstick to its rightful owner who removed the cap and twisted the shaft. She clicked the buttons on the side in a specific order until a USB plug revealed itself from the base. She handed it to Trismegistus who inspected the technology with fascination and reverence. 

"Plug it in, and we should be able to access the Network. I just hope that the Asters won't be too harsh on me for what we're about to do next."

"As long as we're not charged with cyber-terrorism, it's all good, I guess. Alright, here goes nothing," commented Trismegistus, inserting the USB into his computer.

Suddenly, a new tab opened, displaying an elegant design showcasing the Garden of Flowers' emblem. It looked stunning and delicate but still represented strength.

"Okay, where to next, new boss?" asked the hacker, bringing her back to reality.

"I need to log in with my credentials, then I'll show you how to navigate the system," she instructed, taking over the keyboard and entering her details.

(Y/n) guided the hacker to the procedure on how to access the Mycelium. Soon enough they were in the system and were immediately flagged by the Asters(2). Thankfully, Trismegistus found a way to bypass their authority and send out a signal that captured the attention of every Nymph on the Mycelium. They started an audio forum where many flower icons are beginning to appear to signal the interaction of Nymphs to their call. 

(Y/n) composed her speech and played in her head the possible response of her sisters. The task seems insurmountable but she needs to negotiate well to get the help that they need. (Y/n) had predicted that many would be in opposition to her plan which can be quite daunting but... She actually wants to help Dimitri and keep him safe. 

She's not in love with him or anything but she must admit that she's grown fond of him. 

She needed to make 3 points clear: First, she had brokered a collaborative alliance with Frost Bringer, which Dimitri gave his approval to. Second, she must express the advantages the Garden could reap from the alliance. Third, Frost Bringer bases are under attack and need backup from capable fighters. Somehow she needs to convince the Irises and their subordinates to send help to Dimitri's organization. 

"Lycoris Radiata 927," The insignia of a purple Iris popped up on the screen as the Nymph entered the forum. "Why are you not using a Garden-issued device to connect to the Mycelium? We have also detected that you have infiltrated using an unknown system. Explain this treason at once."

"Iris 444 I have brokered an alliance with the Frost Bringer run by Aidoneus, King of Assassins. They have agreed to collaborate with the Garden and the Nymphs. However, they are being attacked at present and we need to send help. How many fighters can you spare?"

"Such foolish brazenness." commented the Iris. "We have no need for Morozov's spawn and his lackeys. In fact, it would be more advantageous for us if they were to wither away like weeds. If Morozov and Stravage can eliminate each other it would leave a power vacuum which we could exploit."

"But, sister, they have more benefit to us alive. His network of Assassins and their vast resources could be advantageous for us in the long run. We only have to show good faith by providing them aid in their time of need and then we can profit from this." 

"You ask your sisters to die for a man they don't know? That doesn't sound so fair, does it Lady Lycoris?" Another Nymph chimed in, Hibiscus 1789, someone very familiar with (Y/n) but not in a pleasant way.

(Y/n) growled. Previously she was quite close to Hibiscus 1789. She's mostly bitchy but she can be delightful for the people that she likes. They were friends but then they had a falling out and their relationship went to shit afterward. From then on the said spy had undermined her authority and ridiculed her in front of their superiors. 

"Isn't it our sworn duty to keep our city safe? If we let Stravage succeed, who knows what he will do? He can plunge our homes into a bloody mess which will endanger not only the Nymphs but also the common people."

"We understand and we see your point but the lives and safety of our Nymphs are more important. We cannot delegate our people to die for someone else's war. End this foolishness Lycoris and we will overlook this transgression."

"Iris—" Before (Y/n) could speak any further, Iris left and many of her subordinates followed. 

"Aww, poor Lady Lycoris. Your little boyfriend is going to die and you're powerless to stop it. Why don't you go down on your knees and beg me? Maybe I'll show some mercy and provide you with some aid. After all, I do have many Belladonnas under my command." The annoying Hibiscus gave a mischievous laugh which made (Y/n) glare at her icon on the screen. 

"Sorry dear but unlike you I'm not used to kneeling on all fours." (Y/n) retorted, earning noise of praise from the people around her. 

"Oh, please. As if you don't suck a filthy assassin's cock to keep him in the palm of your hands. Don't play innocent."

"At least when I pleasure him I get paid with love and Dior, not pocket change from old men who can barely get it up."

"I'm recording this so boss can have a transcript but damn... That was savage." Trimagestus whispered to Hecate. 

"You're a motherless bitch whose daddy abandoned her. Just because you seduced a big shot with a big cock doesn't mean you can fill the gaping hole in your chest and your loose cunt, little bitch."

"Yes, I am a bitch. So let me show you how sharp the fangs of this bitch are." (Y/n) paused and took a deep breath. "If you won't help me willingly then I will evoke my right to claim the Crown of Thorned Roses." More Nymphs began appearing in the call having been summoned by her sudden announcement. 

The Crown of Thorned Roses is a kind of privilege in the Garden of Flowers. To claim the Crown of Thorned Roses is always an option for every Nymph once in their lifetime but it is considered taboo to claim it. Using this special privilege, a Nymph can ask the Garden for anything no matter how big or small but the Garden will take something in return. Most of the time the price is too heavy. 

Hibiscus 1789 suddenly burst into laughter. "Oh, this is good! This is just too good!"

"You know that I can ask for anything right? I can ask for your pretty eyes! I can ask you to be a whore like me in the Paradise! I can ask for all the eggs in your womb! I can ask you to get pregnant as a surrogate for my own children every year! The possibilities are limitless." She laughed like an insane woman and (Y/n)'s stomach nearly turned at her ideas. 

"What use do I have for enemies if I have you as an ally?" muttered the Wayfarer. Her face had turned into a grimace, the gears in her head shifting to turn the tides completely in her favor or at least, to mitigate her losses. 

"Fine. Fine. Fine." said the spymaster excitedly. "A hundred Belladonnas and Purple Hyacinths should be enough, right? If so then I shall claim you as my slave Lycoris Radiata 927! I will have you and your firstborn child with Dimitri Morozov!"

"That will not be necessary." Another Nymph interjected. 

"Lycoris Radiata 365?" (Y/n) exclaimed in surprise. 

Lycoris Radiata 365 is the Matriarch's personal aid and one of her most trusted advisors. She is also (Y/n)'s first mentor as a Wayfarer when she joined the Garden two years ago. "The Mystique Rose have assessed the situation and ruled in favor of allying with Frost Bringer. We will send seasoned fighters, medics, and rescue personnel. They're already on their way. Please inform Mister Aidoneus about this decision."

"Thank you, ma'am! Please pass our regards to the Matriarch of the Garden. You have our deepest thanks." Trismegistus exclaimed with overflowing gratitude. 

"Best regards, Mr. Tristan." The hacker turned to (Y/n), screaming silently with awe and excitement. "She knows my name!"

"Oh, and 927... You are being summoned."

"I shall obey. You have my utmost gratitude 365."

Lycoris Radiata 365 left soon after leaving the line still open. Many Nymphs lingered listening in on the hot fresh gossip. (Y/n) decided that she will have the last hurrah. 

"Just so you know, he's now my sugar daddy and I would have blessed you guys with his dirty money if you had volunteered to help us in the first place."

I'll be putting the notes on my announcements cuz why not. I don't want to make extra chapters for the notes so please follow and check my announcements. DIMITRI'S CHARACTER PROFILE IS ALREADY POSTED. NEXT I'M GONNA DESCRIBE HIS ASSASSIN OUTFIT IN DETAIL CUZ HE'S SO HOT!