03-02-2018, 01:18 AM
“I was rather curious that the Prime responsible for so thoroughly annihilating Jackie’s cell, something that has been a challenge for the Empire, would walk up to my door, asking for a meeting.” The Innkeeper spoke with a hum.
Jaixe smiled slightly as he formulated his reply, “Ah, so you have heard of my brief foray into the gambling industry. Not some of my finer work, I must admit.”
“Perhaps, though it’s rare to meet someone that can best the Kilstar siblings without injury, as you managed,” the Innkeeper spoke with a touch of respectfulness and admiration, “so then, what can I do for you, Mr. Furiael?”
“I find myself in need of resources, in particular, manpower. Given your position, I had assumed a business proposition might be of mutual benefit to us.”
“Oh? And what proposition did you bring me?” She spoke, growing visibly more intrigued and equally wary.
“I know enough of you to ascertain your role in this sector of the underworld. You are quite the important organizer, from what I have discovered.” Jaixe was being cautious with his choice of words, choosing to flatter the crime lord rather than making bold proclamations. “I presume that Jackie was quite the… irritant, given his rashness?”
Jaixe received no direct reply to his question, but the darkened expression on the Innkeeper’s face said plenty.
“It is difficult to acquire what I require in plain view of Imperial authorities, so I could not very well make use of his cell… Instead, I am here to ask it of you. I am certain there are other, more bothersome groups. All I ask from you is to direct me to them, and I will… appropriately remove them.”
With the offer laid plainly on the table, Jaixe had made the first move. Although, truthfully, her response did not matter. Either way, Jaixe would have what he came here for, though he preferred additional contacts, if possible. He knew this, and maintained a slight smile, patiently waiting for the Innkeeper.
The Innkeeper, however, looked disturbed though still intrigued simultaneously. She leaned back in her chair, pondering the offer for several moments. Silence dominated the room, with only the soft ticking of a nearby clock, standing atop one of the shelves of the bookcases to cut through it and denote that time was still flowing.
After a time, she leaned forward again and spoke,
“And how would I know this wouldn’t backfire onto me? I can hardly call you trustworthy.”
She took the bait. Excellent…
“Truthfully, my trustworthiness is irrelevant, as is yours. This is not a proposition based on trust, otherwise you would actually be talking to me in person,” Jaixe responded, as the Innkeeper raised an eyebrow at that.
Or rather, the hologram of her did.
“So you noticed,” She smiled.
“I must admit that it was more of a hypothesis, given your guards’ behavior. Nonetheless, I can hardly place blame onto you for being cautious. Much as you cannot blame me for such…”
Once those words left the Seeker of Darkness’s mouth, the guards suddenly flinched as two beings of flimsy shadow coalesced after crawling through underneath the door. They hastily snaked around them, with their arms forming into sharp blades of inky blackness, poised to slice their necks. They had moved silently and suddenly, defying logic with how they morphed and molded.
While the guards were taken off-guard, the Innkeeper was more fascinated with their appearance than anything else.
“The rumors were true…”
“Oh, rumors? How surprising that such news would travel so quickly. Though, I cannot say I am so surprised that you are familiar with my shadows, given that you quickly ascertained my subordinate’s nature as well,” Jaixe leaned back, smiling just a touch broader now, “Regardless, I believe I have proven myself to be capable of being discrete, when necessary. You also no doubt tried to interrogate my subordinate and got nowhere with it. I need not prove myself beyond that, therefore, I will be blunt now: your approval is not a requirement.”
The Innkeeper frowned at that.
“You have already given me access to a source of manpower with this inn. It would not take long to coerce them. In fact, you will have to, regretfully, replace two of your guards already,” Jaixe leaned forward, speaking with sharpness and directness now and capitalizing on his advantage. “So, my offer is this: supply me with the information I require, and I will remove these problematic groups for you. Or, I can take what I need from your tenants and employees. I could not care either way. However, I feel a profitable relationship would be better for the both of us.”
The Innkeeper went silent at that, her face hardening. Though Jaixe had hardly backed her into a corner, after all, one establishment among many would hardly be missed, he concluded that the Innkeeper failing to maintain security against a growing threat to underworld’s influence would be problematic for future business. However, the alternative was the possibility that her cooperation with this master of darkness would do much the same to her standing. Though the collateral may be less drastic in the short term, in the long term, she could very well find her position crumbling underneath her.
Jaixe knew this much, without even needing to know the full scope of her operation. He attempted to alleviate part of her concerns while equally pressing his advantage, and as before, he had to wait patiently for her response.
Jaixe smiled slightly as he formulated his reply, “Ah, so you have heard of my brief foray into the gambling industry. Not some of my finer work, I must admit.”
“Perhaps, though it’s rare to meet someone that can best the Kilstar siblings without injury, as you managed,” the Innkeeper spoke with a touch of respectfulness and admiration, “so then, what can I do for you, Mr. Furiael?”
“I find myself in need of resources, in particular, manpower. Given your position, I had assumed a business proposition might be of mutual benefit to us.”
“Oh? And what proposition did you bring me?” She spoke, growing visibly more intrigued and equally wary.
“I know enough of you to ascertain your role in this sector of the underworld. You are quite the important organizer, from what I have discovered.” Jaixe was being cautious with his choice of words, choosing to flatter the crime lord rather than making bold proclamations. “I presume that Jackie was quite the… irritant, given his rashness?”
Jaixe received no direct reply to his question, but the darkened expression on the Innkeeper’s face said plenty.
“It is difficult to acquire what I require in plain view of Imperial authorities, so I could not very well make use of his cell… Instead, I am here to ask it of you. I am certain there are other, more bothersome groups. All I ask from you is to direct me to them, and I will… appropriately remove them.”
With the offer laid plainly on the table, Jaixe had made the first move. Although, truthfully, her response did not matter. Either way, Jaixe would have what he came here for, though he preferred additional contacts, if possible. He knew this, and maintained a slight smile, patiently waiting for the Innkeeper.
The Innkeeper, however, looked disturbed though still intrigued simultaneously. She leaned back in her chair, pondering the offer for several moments. Silence dominated the room, with only the soft ticking of a nearby clock, standing atop one of the shelves of the bookcases to cut through it and denote that time was still flowing.
After a time, she leaned forward again and spoke,
“And how would I know this wouldn’t backfire onto me? I can hardly call you trustworthy.”
She took the bait. Excellent…
“Truthfully, my trustworthiness is irrelevant, as is yours. This is not a proposition based on trust, otherwise you would actually be talking to me in person,” Jaixe responded, as the Innkeeper raised an eyebrow at that.
Or rather, the hologram of her did.
“So you noticed,” She smiled.
“I must admit that it was more of a hypothesis, given your guards’ behavior. Nonetheless, I can hardly place blame onto you for being cautious. Much as you cannot blame me for such…”
Once those words left the Seeker of Darkness’s mouth, the guards suddenly flinched as two beings of flimsy shadow coalesced after crawling through underneath the door. They hastily snaked around them, with their arms forming into sharp blades of inky blackness, poised to slice their necks. They had moved silently and suddenly, defying logic with how they morphed and molded.
While the guards were taken off-guard, the Innkeeper was more fascinated with their appearance than anything else.
“The rumors were true…”
“Oh, rumors? How surprising that such news would travel so quickly. Though, I cannot say I am so surprised that you are familiar with my shadows, given that you quickly ascertained my subordinate’s nature as well,” Jaixe leaned back, smiling just a touch broader now, “Regardless, I believe I have proven myself to be capable of being discrete, when necessary. You also no doubt tried to interrogate my subordinate and got nowhere with it. I need not prove myself beyond that, therefore, I will be blunt now: your approval is not a requirement.”
The Innkeeper frowned at that.
“You have already given me access to a source of manpower with this inn. It would not take long to coerce them. In fact, you will have to, regretfully, replace two of your guards already,” Jaixe leaned forward, speaking with sharpness and directness now and capitalizing on his advantage. “So, my offer is this: supply me with the information I require, and I will remove these problematic groups for you. Or, I can take what I need from your tenants and employees. I could not care either way. However, I feel a profitable relationship would be better for the both of us.”
The Innkeeper went silent at that, her face hardening. Though Jaixe had hardly backed her into a corner, after all, one establishment among many would hardly be missed, he concluded that the Innkeeper failing to maintain security against a growing threat to underworld’s influence would be problematic for future business. However, the alternative was the possibility that her cooperation with this master of darkness would do much the same to her standing. Though the collateral may be less drastic in the short term, in the long term, she could very well find her position crumbling underneath her.
Jaixe knew this much, without even needing to know the full scope of her operation. He attempted to alleviate part of her concerns while equally pressing his advantage, and as before, he had to wait patiently for her response.