Hitman with a Badass System

While the medallion had indeed been forged by a goddess, Gilrut astutely discerned the purpose of the runes etched upon it with a single glance. Michael couldn't help but be impressed by the orc's talent; he had a hunch that Gilrut's abilities rivaled those of Elidyr himself. However, the question Gilrut posed caught Michael off guard.

"What are you talking about?" Michael responded, feigning ignorance and avoiding any revelation of his divine nature. It wasn't time to disclose his godly status to Gilrut.

Yet, Gilrut appeared unwavering in his certainty.

"This medallion... it's for suppressing a god's aura. And you are wearing it..."

"What's happening there? What's Gilrut saying?" Pink's voice crackled through the earpiece.

Observing the unyielding confidence in Gilrut's eyes, Michael realized there was no fooling the orc.

"He's asking me if I'm a god or not," Michael responded to Pink, further astonishing Gilrut. The orc hadn't detected the conversation taking place through the earpiece.

"Shit. How did he find out? But then again, that man is a prodigy. I guess he really is that talented," Pink sighed.

"How do you plan to handle him?" Pink inquired.

"How do you think I should handle him? He's looking at me right now," Michael replied, surprising Pink.

"What? Is she there?" Pink was taken aback. Michael promptly removed the earpiece from his ear and tossed it into the air, where it hovered between them.

"Veena, you might want to speak to Gilrut. You're in speaker mode," Michael advised.

"Veena?" Gilrut was bewildered. He inspected the device suspended in the air, trying to discern its nature, yet found no runes or energy emanating from it. Instead, he heard Veena's unmistakable voice.

"Hey, Gilrut," Pink greeted.

Gilrut was taken aback, his surprise evident. He scrutinized the mysterious device, baffled by its unknown capabilities.

"What kind of device is this?" Gilrut asked.

"It's me, Gilrut. I wish I could meet you in person, but, you know, I can't step into Durran," Pink admitted, her laughter tinged with nervousness.

"Yeah, you should be in a mental asylum. But I can tell you're not there," Gilrut responded, sharing a chuckle.

"I never expected you to have a god friend," Gilrut remarked, his tone turning serious.

"We've known each other for years. Trust me when I say this, Gilrut, you should help him out. Don't worry about the Pantheon. Just assist him, and no one will know you helped us," Pink implored.

"This is a big favor, Veena. But I'm indebted to you, so I'll do it," Gilrut conceded with a sigh. He was an orc who loathed owing anyone anything. Therefore, even though aiding a rogue god would imperil his own safety, Gilrut chose to take the risk. Besides, Gilrut had no loved ones left to care about him; Gal had taken the life of the one woman who had loved him. As a result, Gilrut had adopted a reckless attitude towards death.

"Follow me," Gilrut declared, rising to his feet and taking a deep breath.

Following behind Gilrut, Michael observed as the orc reached a set of bookshelves. With a practiced hand, Gilrut selected a particular book from the shelf. As he did so, Michael heard a soft click, and the bookshelf slid open, revealing a concealed door.

"Secret room in a tavern?" Michael quipped with an amused smile.

Gilrut turned towards him, a grin on his face. "I own this penthouse, and nobody in the tavern knows about this room."

With curiosity piqued, Michael watched as Gilrut placed his hand on the metallic door. Runes etched into the surface began to glow softly. With a faint hiss, the metal door swung open, revealing a well-lit secret chamber. The room was adorned with various tables, intricate runes adorning the walls, a grand chandelier hanging from the ceiling, and more bookshelves.

"The man who designed and built this building was a friend of mine," Gilrut explained. "He didn't include this room in the official plans as a favor to me."

Once inside the room, the door sealed shut behind Michael. Vedora remained perched on his shoulder as he leaned against the wall.

"You can now remove that medallion. This room is guarded against the pantheon's sensors," Gilrut explained. Michael obliged, removing the medallion and handing it to Gilrut. The orc placed it carefully on the table before him and began examining the runes using a magnifying glass.

"So tell me, Veena. What have you been doing since you escaped Durran?" Gilrut inquired, trying to maintain conversation with Pink to avoid direct interaction with a god.

"Just searching for my god friend there," Pink chuckled, not revealing much.

"Speaking of which, what god is he?" Gilrut directed his question at Pink, rather than addressing Michael directly.

"Why don't you ask him?" Pink retorted, as Gilrut's curiosity got the better of him. It wasn't every day he could witness a god in his true physical form within his own room.

"You sure this room will keep my presence hidden from the pantheon," Michael inquired, seeking reassurance.

"Yes," Gilrut affirmed.

"Why do you have a secret room with runes to prevent the pantheon's sensors from picking up?" Pink probed further.

"Not everyone is very fond of worshipping Norebo, Veena," Gilrut replied firmly, indicating that this was a matter between him and the orc god Norebo. As far as Michael was concerned, any disputes between them were not his concern.

"Scare him," Ayag whispered to Michael. Since Vedora was disguised as a three-headed serpent, none of the serpent's heads spoke.

"You really want to know what god I am?" Michael inquired, catching Gilrut's attention.

Seeing Gilrut's expectant expression, Michael activated the power of darkness. The entire room was plunged into pitch-black darkness. The chandeliers and runes lost their glow, and the room felt suffocated by an oppressive shadow. Gilrut couldn't see a thing; this darkness was unlike anything he had ever experienced.

"You…you are the god of darkness," Gilrut finally realized the nature of the god before him.

As the darkness slowly faded away, returning the room to its previous state, Gilrut was visibly shocked. He stuttered, "You are the god of darkness."

Pink chimed in with a playful tone, "Don't go having a heart attack on me now."

However, Michael cut their banter short and got straight to the point. "I need a medallion that can hide my presence from the pantheon."

Gilrut, now somewhat recovered from his shock, took the medallion in his hands and began examining it closely. His fingers traced the intricate runes etched onto its surface as he thought deeply.

"This medallion has runes to conceal a god's aura. However, since it wasn't crafted with a specific god in mind, attempting to use a god's power with it would render the medallion ineffective and making it detectable by the pantheon's sensors," Gilrut explained.

Michael inquired, "Can you craft a new medallion specifically for me, one that won't be detected by the pantheon?"

Gilrut nodded, "I can create the rune design, mimicking the ones inscribed in this room, but it will take some time, at least three days. However, I'll need a skilled blacksmith to forge the actual medallion. Once it's made, I can engrave the runes onto it."

He continued, "These runes require a constant energy supply to remain effective, so you will also need celestial energy crystals."

Michael inquired, "You don't have to worry about a blacksmith. I can forge the medallion. But do you know any place I can obtain the Celestial crystals?"

He knew that back in the mortal realm, he could mine Arch energy crystals from the Stormville Mountain, where Mugashuku slumbered. However, he was new to the realm of gods and uncertain where to find Celestial crystals. He was aware that such a precious resource would likely be well-guarded.

Gilrut responded, "There is a mine here in Durran, but it's heavily protected by Norebo's angels. If you wish to avoid attracting the pantheon's attention, which I assume is your goal, you'll have to purchase the crystals. Low-grade crystals can power the runes for a day, mid-grade for a week, and high-grade for at least three weeks."

Michael nodded, "I see. Are these crystals expensive?"

Gilrut confirmed, "Very."

"But you can purchase them if you have the coins from the Celestial Palace. Its branch is located here in Durran, just a couple of blocks away," Gilrut informed him.

Gilrut continued, "Since you won't have a medallion for three days, you can wait in this room. Afterward, I can provide you with a low-grade crystal. With that, you can leave and purchase more crystals."

Three days swiftly passed by. During that time, Michael had purchased the necessary metals from the system to forge the medallion he desired.

In the room, they both worked diligently towards their goals. Gilrut meticulously inscribed tiny, intricate runes onto a glowing, strange metal he had. His expertise in rune-craft was undeniable, and he worked with both precision and care.

On the other side of the room, Michael silently forged the medallion. Using his dark flames, he melded and shaped the metal into a skull-shaped form, with every detail painstakingly perfected. It was a fusion of craftsmanship and divine power.

As the three days passed, the room was filled with an air of concentration and determination. Michael and Gilrut, two very different beings, shared the same goal.

"Done," Gilrut declared, his voice laden with fatigue. Vedora, curled up in the corner of the room, slept peacefully.

After an intensive three-day effort, Gilrut had successfully engraved the intricate runes into the skull-shaped medallion that Michael had forged. In the process, he had repurposed some of the runes from Marli's medallion, effectively destroying it.

"It's beautiful," Michael marveled as he held the small skull medallion in his hand.

"Show me how to power this medallion," Michael requested.

Gilrut agreed with a nod and retrieved a dim blue crystal from his pocket. He clenched his fist around the crystal, shattering it. As he opened his hand, a radiant energy appeared, hovering above his palm. Simultaneously, the medallion in Michael's hand quivered. It absorbed the celestial energy, warming up, and the eyes in the skull design glowed dimly in a shade of red.

"It's ready. This will keep you hidden from the Pantheon even if you employ your godly powers. However, remember that it's not a foolproof solution. The Pantheon's detection array for rogue gods is extremely powerful. So, although the medallion will conceal your presence, use your godly powers sparingly, only when absolutely necessary," Gilrut advised Michael.

With a firm nod of comprehension and a renewed sense of purpose, Michael hung the medallion around his neck. Taking a deep breath, he prepared to leave the room.

"It's time to start cultivating in this world," Michael said before leaving the room.