Mafia and Cartel (Wang/Saga)

Territory and whatnot... As the newcomer on the scene, Wang Ba had naturally done his homework before stepping on the toes of those he could not afford to. He was well aware that Kabukicho was the lair of the number one person he could not afford to offend... But that was also why it made the ideal meeting place for the bosses of opposing factions. A truly neutral ground in which neither could possibly be comfortable- Nor cause trouble, without bringing down the wrath of its lord. A foreign dragon cannot match up to the local snake... Then, what if the foreigner is the snake, and the local the dragon? In short, it was 'insurance.' Even if one side had the mind to betray the other and bring a large force, Thunder would see it as a threat to his sovereignty.

Naturally, Wang Ba was confident in his ability to defend against a single man... Especially one removed from the frontlines, in a similar role to his own. Glittering rings shone on his fingers in the dim streetlights. Or, should those prove an insufficient guarantee... A woman strode behind him, three steps behind, no more, no less. It seemed she had heard something strange, but the large man chose to ignore her behavior. In fact, he treated her as though she did not exist, highly unusual. Nor had they come together, as would be expected. If anything, he would like her to stand further away... However, to say anything would give up the gig. Who knew what eyes were watching.

As they approached the meeting place, the former would come to a halt. The latter would continue on. As though unconnected. It was a ploy which took advantage of the other's lack of knowledge. Even if Giovanni knew that Wang Ba had a right hand woman, how could he recognize her? Especially with the lengths the two were going to pretend to be unconnected... Okay, so the lengths one of them was going to. After all, they had agreed to meet alone... But who would actually come alone? It wasn't breaking the agreement if it wasn't found out, after all- And so long as all went smoothly, why should Zhu Que reveal herself?

Five minutes after his companion, Wang Ba would enter the cabaret club. Debauchery abounded, but unaffected, the man strode to a private booth in the back. His opposing number was not difficult to identify- An italian stood out like a sore thumb amidst all these Japanese. Wang Ba scoffed, before setting himself down in the seat opposite. "Il Capo?" He asked, knowing the others identity being the cleanest proof of his own. The first thing to strike him about this opposite number- His youth. "To hold such a position at your age... Truly impressive." He began, flattering the other. Well, it was certainly unusual to hold such a position while younger than 40- And while Wang Ba also met that criteria, he lacked the other's youth. As for where he was at that age... Well, it was no competition. And only a living genius is a genius... Just kidding! He was here to make a deal, after all. Not to threaten the Mafia.

"Have you ordered anything?" Wang Ba would say, unexpectedly flagging down a server. A business deal not served over a meal was hardly a deal at all. The man would almost seem to be ignoring his opposite number as he pointed at the overpriced dishes and wines listed, before dismissing the server once more. That taken care of... "So, boy. For what reason have you reached out to me? I have no illusions about my influence in this country. When it comes to supply chain, my group lacks the resources and roots of the Plutocracy. And yet you chose to look for me over them." The man looked at the boy before him, half-lidded eyes holding the chilling intensity of a predator staring at prey.

Well, he would take care of Plutocracy on his own time. For now.... Enough time had passed. The chilling glare in his eyes vanished, to be replaced with what can only be described as lewdness. "Oho, this place hires quirkers? A rare treat in this era, do you not agree?" He would ask, his eyes following a pair of white wings that seemed to be yet another cabaret girl. With a lascivious beckon, he called the girl over- Her tremble of excitement easily mistaken for diusgust at being called to serve such a toad. As if he realized his actions were rather inappropriate for a business meeting, Wang Ba would cast his gaze back at Giovanni... "When in Rome, do as the Romans, was it?" If it were not for his earlier gaze, his words may even be convincing. After all, going to a cabaret club and ignoring the girls... Could only be called suspicious.

However, at the same time, acting in such a way that it made his ulterior motives so obvious... Who would believe that this 'cabaret girl' was actually Wang Ba's most trusted lieutenant?

The boy's beration was met with a half-smile- However, compared to his lips, the mans eyes showed no trace of mirth. "I'm afraid you haven't earned that title yet, Mister Capo. The only men I call sir are my superiors... Unless you presume yourself above me?" With one sentence, Wang Ba turned his own highly intentional slight into a disrespect on the other's part. The lady who was getting perhaps too far into her role, wiggled on his leg as she poured him a glass of expensive liquor, which he brought to his lips. As expected, success begat pride. If he was to work with this italian, he would first have to make their roles clear. Between them, who was deserving of the term 'sir?'

Naturally, that would be himself. Hardly tasting the liquor which passed his lips, he nevertheless made a show of savoring it. Whether it was good or not was beyond him- A lasting remnant of his days as an urchin. But why should that matter? Whether it was good or not, it was expensive. And so, he bought it. It was that simple. "But naturally, that was not your intent. Why, we are both foreigners in this land, it is only natural for a slip of the tongue or two. Such a troublesome language this island nation uses, do you not agree?" And with the grace of a king, placed himself in the position of forgiving the transgressions of the other. A magnanimous smile which could rival that of the Buddha spread across his face.

And with that, he dropped it. There was no need to push- His attitude was clear enough, and yet put in such away that the other could not complain. By his own words, and rejection of the other's complaint towards it, he had firmly established his own role as the senior in this relationship. And by dropping it in such a way, even if Il Capo wished to force the subject, all he could accomplish was appearing rude. Even as he held his mirthful smile, the air around the two crime lords chilled. He had taken the initiative, and had no intention to lose it.

"Hmmm." The red drink swirled in his glass as he listened to the italians words. A cooperation of mutual interest, was it? It seemed he had yet underestimated this child's abilities. As he reassessed, he spoke calmly. "You are quite familiar with my affairs, Wanbei." In the end, this was the appellation he had chosen to go with. Neither demeaning enough to cause insult, nor polite enough to lower his own position. A title with the perfect distance. "It is true, my impetuous decision has left me bereft of my backing and my resources." Yet even as his words were self deprecative in phrasing, his calmness changed their meaning entirely. As though backing and resources were below his attention. Was it a bluff, or did he truly have such confidence?

He finally placed the glass down, red droplets settling in the bottom. "A combination of resources and forces... As you say, it is to early to speak of such things." It was not a rejection, but it was as good as one. His words betrayed no interest in such a combination- Especially not with this dangerous whelp of unknown potential. To do so without insurance was as good as asking to be usurped by the mafioso- This was not a business deal, in which the other party could be held to a contract. In the dark underbelly of society, trust was the rare luxury which could not be bought.

"So forward. I appreciate that, far more than those toads who speak circles around what they mean." With regards to the other's questions, the man most prone to speaking in circles would respond. "However, in the future, it would be wise to investigate such things ahead of time." At a glance, it was harmless advice for a junior- However, if taken and looked at backwards, didn't that mean that the fat man had looked into Il Capo before arriving? How much had he learned? Naturally, the tight-lipped man was not about to betray how much he had or had not discovered. "But I suppose it does me no harm to speak of such matters." Once more, Wang Ba flipped the paradigm. He was not answering questions, but generously offering information. While the difference seemed miniscule, it was these small differences which had led to his current reputation.

"As you reside in Musutafu, my home lays in Yokohama." They were in a public space, not knowing who could overhear, after all. He would not be so foolish as to say anything incriminating. When this Italian so openly mentioned Kobayashi and Pluto, the large man had narrowed his eyes- Referring to them, it would be obvious that they were up to no good. But whether the boy had merely slipped, or had understood the message, this time his words had been phrased more ambiguously. And so, Wang Ba would respond in kind. "My organization has many branches, however, our largest is our... Human resources." If the boy didn't understand the implication, then he truly deserved the moniker of boy. "But that is a necessity, given our size. After all, there are few areas we have not branched into. Keeping each staffed with talent is quite the challenge." An answer that was not an answer, yet said everything it needed to. There was no depth to which Wang Ba would not stoop, so long as there was profit to be had. "Lately, I've partaken in some land speculation." He had bought land to use, but for what? "I got lucky. Originally, I intended to invest in Shinagawa, however, with recent events, properties there have devalued immensely." It appeared to be a non-sequitur... But who was not aware of the recent raid on Shinagawa's port? "Truly a shame. But where one port falls, another prospers. If you're interested, I can invite you for a visit once construction is complete." If it wasn't obvious before, his latest words would cement it. Shinagawa'a Auction had fallen, Yokohama's would rise to take its place.

The bearded man would merely smile knowingly at the other's response. It was clear the boy held quite the pride in his own position- But no matter what, it was not yet to the point where Wang Ba would pay him respects. In fact, if he knew Giovanni's thoughts, the man would certainly laugh out loud- Achieved more? Less time? Perhaps it was true that at Giovanni's age, Wang Ba was not the head of his own group... However, his position was by no means low. It may be better to be the head of a snake than the tail of a dragon, a philosophy which led Wang Ba to his current position. However, could the head of a snake compare to the arm of a dragon? Its heart? To say that Wang Ba had achieved less, when the magnitudes of their organizations were so far apart, was simply preposterous.

But Wang Ba was a man with the minimum respect for the pride of others. He would prove his superior position with his actions, moreso than his words. No one liked to be told they were the lesser, after all. He merely smiled- Even the other's rejection of his olive branch was a statement which showed the difference between the two. To succeed in this world, the ability to hide one's heart is a must- Even if he sees what Wang Ba is doing, not responding is a response in and of itself. It spoke volumes of Giovanni's self control- That he did not feel as though he could respond without revealing the bitterness he surely felt. But how long would he be able to hold his tongue?

"Ah, but haste makes waste, wanbei." The fat man replies, adage for adage. "It is not so easy for men of our status to meet. Savor the moment. Besides, even such talk has its purpose. When preparing a gift, it is always convenient to know whether to bring a red or a white, is it not?" Small talk was more than a time waster. It was a chance to gain each other's measure, to learn what makes them tick. Or, as Wang Ba preferred, to make them think they have. He ran his fingers through his servant's hair, ignoring the hearts which threatened to appear in her eyes. Her obsession was useful, but dangerous. Which was why she made such a trustworthy ally.

"What pleasure is there in money you do not spend?" He added, displaying his stance on the matter firmly. He liked money, but even more than that, he enjoyed wasting money. Throwing it left and right so that everyone knew, Wang Ba is a wealthy man. Why then, would he not be wasting time? It was simply a difference in philosophy. "It is never too late to stop and smell the... Roses." He cast a meaningful glance at the actual cabaret girls, still working their shift. He had seen the mafioso's look at them when he had called Zhu Que over- And the fact that the other resisted the urge to call one over himself, spoke volumes. Especially with Wang Ba's tacit suggestion that he do so. To be interested, but refuse- The Mafioso was a gentleman. A gentleman with someone in his heart, who he preferred not to betray even for show. A weakness. See? Small talk was valuable.

The meat of the conversation was similarly enlightening. Giovanni had backed off, as the pieces became too large. He was a man who played it safe. And in this case, his caution had paid off... Or had it? "Ah, perfectly understandable. Those characters are not for the likes of us to trifle with. For a small fish, the most we can do is hope for their leftovers." He concurred, but something about his tone was off. Like he had not been content with leftovers. But if that was the case, what had he gained from the Shinagawa auction? For a man with the self control of Wang Ba, it was naturally no accident that he left such undercurrents in a tone. It was to say to Giovanni that the risks had been well worth the rewards. "But to be a small fish in a big pond... Is yet more invigorating than being a big fish in a small pond." He added with a smile. It was clear he was quite happy with his rewards... But would Giovanni understand the other, more hidden implication?

However, Giovanni mentioned another investment. How curious. Not that he would say so out loud. "I would be quite disappointed in you if that were not the case, wanbei. Small fish such as us, have no luxury to wait, or we will be devoured. Even I have been placing my bets in the aftermath of that hassle. And yet, even as I do, those large fish yet haunt my every move." Wang Ba was making moves of his own. And a large player was involved. "But then, that is what makes it all the more interesting. Even a cornered rat will bite the cat, you know." And his plans involved hitting that large player. In plausibly deniable terms, of course, should Giovanni decline. He had already relegated himself from playing with the big fish once. It would not be a surprise for him to do so again.

"And I have no intention of being eaten alive." He spoke with a grin. But his words left vague- Which fish did he intend to take a bite out of? Why was he so confident? Much like Giovanni, he revealed only what he wanted to, to pique the other's interest. Naturally, he had his own plans. His own trump cards. He wasn't a fighter any more than Giovanni was. It was just that his power was wealth. Information. Ears in high places. And right now, he had enough of all of those to start making larger moves.

"But really, that Shinagawa business has truly never sat right with me." He changed the topic back. A rare occasion for the man to be so forthright. "The whole thing seems to have worked out too conveniently" But too conveniently for... Who, exactly? If Giovanni had heard about the debacle at all, he would know it wouldn't be for the guests. Even Thunder had disappeared in the aftermath of the chaos, only to reappear in a Plutocracy sponsored cage fight. If that didn't raise red flags, nothing would. "As an outside eye, how do you see the matter?" He couldn't be the one to say it. That Plutocracy had set the whole thing up. There would always be a tendency to distrust things you heard from another, especially one you already did not trust. The trick was to make the other think he had come up with it on his own, and then be in the position of agreeing with the other's deduction. He merely had to plant the seeds of doubt- And let the other draw his own conclusions from the facts. Of course, that he was guiding the conversation towards the facts that fell in his favor... That was only natural.

Wang Ba shakes his head. This junior clearly is a junior- Must he truly walk him through every step? They had just been talking about spending time, so why was it now about spending money? It seemed he had overestimated this child's experience, for him to take such a clear metaphor literally. However, he chooses to not call out the other's mistake- Better to let the other think he has countered his argument, not realizing he has revealed his own weakness in the process. See? One could glean many things by wasting time. If even adding the time honored metaphor of smelling the roses could not bring this wanbei's mind on track, it was almost certain nothing would.

One might think that would be a disadvantage for Wang Ba, whose serial doublespeak was so ingrained he might die if he couldn't use it. However, it was a deeper weakness still for Giovanni- One who fails to speak in circles, ends up speaking in lines. They may be dodecagrams, with lines so small they may be mistaken for a circle at a glance- But would Wang Ba merely be glancing? Simply put, moreso than the knowledge that what he said may certainly be misunderstood... He could be reasonably assured that this Mafioso could not speak so deeply as for him to miss the implication. And yet, the pleasant smile on his face spoke of understanding, not contempt.

"Is that so, wanbei? It seems you and I have something in common, then." Were the actual words he spoke, belying none of the superiority he felt over the other. "To spend money, make it. To make money, spend it. Such is the cycle of business, is it not?" Why, he almost sounded like he was touched by the other's speech. Like he was actually planning to befriend him. But then, Wang Ba sounded that way to most people, right up until he signed their death warrant.

And for what it was worth, it seemed to be working. Despite their word games, of which Wang Ba seemed a clear victor, the other was more than willing to say exactly what Wang Ba wished to hear. He couldn't have phrased it better himself. "Aye, and you are the luckier for it." Though inside, he was sighing. It seemed he truly had overestimated this mafioso- Talking about the raid in plain language? Calling Plutocracy by name? This boy would not last long unless he learned. But until then... He may as well be milked for his worth.

"An insider, you say? Yes, the whole business reeks of insider trading. The lengths some people will go to..." Wang BA shook his head solemnly, adjusting his partners words ever so slightly- Drawing back the business analogy. Settled on his excessive lap, Zhu Que put on the most appropriate face for a cabaret girl listening in on business dealings. Complete and utter confusion. But do not overly praise the girl- Despite being among Wang Ba's inner circle, her current expression is no act. She merely has no clue how her boss got from a mole in Plutocracy, to insider trading. Plutocracy wasn't listed on the stock market, silly!

However, he capitulated with a nod. "Indeed, it is difficult to trust them after such a botched operation. Why, even I had made some dealings with them just the day before..." That much was truth, but it was the light of truth which cast the shadows of lies. "However, in the aftermath, they claimed it would be impossible to pay me for my services. Despite the pittance they were offering in the first place." An appropriate scowl, the face of a man who had trusted the reputation of a place that did not deserve it. And yet, before that day, who would have believed Plutocracy to be untrustworthy? It was that kind of feeling. Needless to say, while the deal was real... Getting cut off, was incorrect. The best lies held a grain of truth.

"I do say, it seems we can come to an arrangement." The man would say at last. He had served his purpose- In feigning his distrust towards Giovanni's motives, he had led the man to think. To conclude that which Wang Ba could hardly suggest in more detail himself. And Giovanni, for his naivety, was still a man of connections- The story of Plutocracy's untrustworthiness would spread, growing, taking life of its own. Naturally, Wang Ba was not the only one with an interest in the downfall of such a monopoly. Yet, when the rumours were traced back to the source... They would arise in Musutafu, not Yokohama. By then, any accusations by Giovanni would be on the level Wang Ba could brush aside with ease- After all, he was innocent in this matter. "Tell me, Wanbei. What is it that you need? You can be assured, my prices are fair." Of course, what was fair was highly subjective. To Wang Ba, the ideal deal was one which left both sides satisfied- And himself, chuckling at the other's folly. "I believe you would not have asked to meet were you to feel otherwise."

Or in other words, if Giovanni were to doubt him, it would be the same as doubting his own judgement. A small phrase, but one which could loosen the hinges of rationality ever so slightly. The negotiations had begun in earnest. But whether or not a deal was reached, Wang Ba was satisfied. Buyers could be found anywhere, and ones with less risky shipments required than a criminal organization's request. But a person in a position to damage Plutocracy's reputation, instilled with the belief that their slander was their own creation? That was a more difficult person to find.

It seemed this junior was not entirely without hope. He knew better than to state his demands in public, much less to his opponent's face. For while on the surface, this was an alliance- Negotiations were a battlefield. Would both sides come away happy? Or both frustrated. The former was naturally preferred, but... The latter was still better than one side coming away joyous and the other stifled. At least, when it came to a partnership. If it were someone Wang Ba had no intention of dealing with again, he would crush the competition until they did not dare come near him again. Take them for all they were worth. But that was not the way to make friends... And having set his eyes on the biggest enemy of them all, he could not afford ill will at this stage. As to whether the Mafioso came to regret his association with the Chinese criminal... Only time would tell. But for now, it was an agreemement with meaning for both sides... And Wang Ba would not take him for all he was worth just yet.

He smiled at the younger man, his intentions hidden behind a pleasant facade. "If that is your wish, then let it be so." Clearly, he trusted his own subordinates to handle things appropriately. He was rather curious which of them had more capable people to leave the negotiations too- But personally, believed it to be himself. Take Zhu Que, still clinging to his lap in a seductive manner... Her head may be strange, but her talents were undeniable. And even having a strange head- Would someone without a screw loose ever rise in such an organization? But then, Giovanni must have faith in his own, or else he would insist on handling the negotiations himself. It was these small observations which he made, piecing together the Mafia's operation one slip of the tongue at a time. It was merely a shame he had not heard the other's desires from his own lips- A lot could be understood about a man's intentions from the things he was in need of.

For instance, a need of weapons, or ammunition- Meant he was planning to fight someone. If he was in need of more mundane valuables- Perhaps laundering money? Drugs, were naturally to be resold. Or perhaps for personal use. Painkillers, were his men injured? Raw materials would imply a production chain, and so on, and so forth. It was why what Wang Ba could not procure internally, he would insist on spreading out over many complicated orders, using the facades of gangs which did not actually exist except in name. His methods were complex, and rarely traced back to him personally.

But ah, whether it was from Il Capo or his men, Wang Ba would soon learn that which he desired. And even as an ally, the amount of things he knew would stockpile- And if one day, this boss lacked the background to be a valuable ally? Wang Ba would take him for all he was worth. As he was sure the other would do to him. The matter was a sort of twisted trust- Neither stated their intent, but both were aware, because they knew what they would do in the other's shoes.

However, far from creating ill will... Naturally, neither intended to fall behind. To flip the words around- If they would betray each other as soon as they lost value, did that not mean that as long as their relationship held value, they would not come to blows? That was the trust between villains, bound not in honor, not in good faith, but in pride.

"It has been quite the interesting time meeting with you, wanbei. My men will be in contact regarding the details. All in all... I believe this will be to the benefit of us both." He smiled warmly, as always. He had obtained his desired outcome either way- Unless Giovanni had reason to call him to stay, Wang Ba would hardly keep him longer. Even to further their talk of Plutocracy... It was too early to directly antagonize that group. To drop hints and lead the other to conclusions was valuable enough.

That is to say, he did not wish to be too close to a man who would so blatantly speak poorly of the country's largest underworld organization. While that loose tongue would serve Wang Ba's purposes... He had no doubt that it would have consequences, sooner or later. The time to topple the giants would come, as all things did, to those who knew how to wait.