Beneath the Lily Pad || Ed | Saga ||

A voice called from the side, sounding like quite the lunatic. Immediately, Xuan Wu's arms raised into a guard, ready to fight anyone who threatened his Boss... And Zhu Que tried to do the same, but was clearly not trained as well. Her wings spread out as though the increased size would be more intimidating... Perhaps when she was called a birdbrain, the insult was meant more literally than it usually was. But humans were smarter than animals, and such a display would impress no one... As such, Wang Ba took it upon himself to step forward. An arm laden with jewelry spread out to the side, placed between his well-intentioned guards and the newly arrived threat.

The large man prided himself on being well informed, and Eduardo's ability's were no secret. The mere fact that the man- And who else could it be- had shown up, likely meant that they were already surrounded. And Wang Ba knew fully well the abilities of that group known as The Boys. As weak as frogs may seem, these ones were beyond his men's capabilities. The only thing between them and an awkward time, was going to be their Boss's silvered tongue. Recognizing his intentions, the two lowered their guards. It was a combination of absolute faith that the boss would be able to solve the problem- And the knowledge that continuing to appear adversarial would be the exact opposite of what their boss desired.

"Eduardo Sapo. You are not an easy man to find." The man would begin. His words held deep meaning- First, that he knew who Eduardo was. That he was specifically searching for him... And, more implied... That being able to find him despite the difficulty, Wang Ba was no simple man himself. "You may rest assured, we mean no harm to your brood." The best lies contained a grain of truth- But better yet, was to not lie at all. Wang Ba truly meant no harm. "Rather, I am grateful to them. After all, were it not for their help, I may never have tracked you down." Okay, so this one was rather more subtle- And was more asking a question. How would Ed feel about the assertion that his own beloved amphibians had betrayed his location? Would he call Wang Ba a liar? Mistake it for being more direct help from the frogs? Or accurately pinpoint the truth- That the help Wang Ba spoke of, was the way their presence tipped off his men on the ground as to the likelihood that the former Boy could be found here.

As he spoke, his arm fell to his side. But to the observant, a ring on his finger glowed- Almost imperceptibly. Should things turn hostile, a barrier could form in an instant- The question then being, if that would be enough to defend against one of The Boys. But it was a gamble he felt he needed to take. That group had not gotten it's reputation for acting spontaneously for nothing- And Wang Ba had no desire to be on the losing end of that tendency. "I've come all the way for the sake of meeting with you. Would you be willing to hear me out?" The man asked solemnly. But to those behind him, that voice full of empathy and concern for Eduardo's situation... Were the whispers of the devil, suggesting to the man that he should make a deal.

In contrast to the other's shouting, Wang Ba would remain... Almost unnaturally calm. His head slowly shook as he reassured- "I apologize. I meant no insult." Sometimes, it was important to take a step back, in order to take several forward. He would fall silent, allowing the other to speak his piece... As much as he enjoyed the sound of his own voice, a conversation was a collaborative effort. And without needing his intervention, the other soon calmed himself down. The truth was the best calming agent in such a situation- And indeed, on his home turf, Eduardo had every advantage.

"As you wish. This one is Wang Ba, and these two are my followers. Zhuque and Xuanwu." He did not know where Sapo was in the darkness, but still motioned to each companion as he named them. He was certain the former member of The Boys could see him. "Ah, I suppose in the tongue of this land, that would be Suzaku and Genbu." It was as though he would die if he did not say two pointless things for everything that was important. But even such nonsense had a place in getting the other to lessen their distrust.

After all, Wang Ba was not here to get the other to take down their guard- Not physically, anyway. He did not need the other to trust him intimately- Just to believe that what he said was not a pack of lies, and become determined to find out the truth... A truth, which was easy for Wang Ba to distort in his own favor. After all, was it not true that Savage had disappeared, that The Boys had fallen apart, as a direct result of the Shinagawa auction? No amount of guard could deny that truth... Just as it could not be denied that Eduardo had the advantage, just like he said.

"Shinagawa." One word, but one which he expected a strong answer to. "You were there. I was as well." Form a common bond. The basis of negotiation. By revealing that they had both been through the same hell, Wang Ba sought to instill a sense of kinship in the vagabond. But that wasn't all. This wasn't an official meeting. There were no eyes which could fall on him- And even if Eduardo tried to sell him out, it would be easy to dismiss. There was no need to beat around the bush excessively- In fact, if he were to play too many word games, the 'boy' may become agitated once more.

"To be frank, I hope to learn what you, no, what "The Boys," went through, on that fateful night." Okay, so he really would die if he got straight to the point. It was pretty clear. "Savage has disappeared from the face of the earth. Was he arrested? Killed? Or, like Thundershock... Was he kidnapped for the Plutocracy's amusement." His tone changed ever so slightly as he spoke, stressing the third option. Not a degree which seemed notable, but enough to subconsciously make it stand out in the other's mind. The idea that his leader's disappearance was done by that group which had organized the event he disappeared at.

But of course, this was only the case if Eduardo was similarly uninformed of his boss's disappearance. "If there was one person who knew the truth, it could only be you." It was a lie, but a convincing one. "I only seek the truth of what happened that night." And, from that truth, ammunition with which to snipe Pluto from his pedestal... But that part, was not something Eduardo needed to hear. Would the 'boy' know the truth and reveal it? Would he hide it? Or, not knowing, would he fall for the villain's silver tongue? With an expression appropriate for his claim of being a truth seeker, Wang Ba waited for the other's response.

Ed was correct, people who were friendly usually wanted something. But to turn it around, if you were being friendly because you wanted something... That was because it worked more often than it didn't. Furthermore, his kindness was not excessive- Enough that the other was certainly aware of it, but not so excessively as to raise the other's guard. Well, raise it further than it would naturally be, on being tracked to his home by a stranger whose intentions were unknown. And his attitude paid dividends. The Frogmother heard him out, despite his initial anger... And while he was soon returned to wrath, the target of his anger was not directed at Wang Ba.

"There is no need to doubt your comrades." Wang Ba would quickly reassure. It was not like him to so readily supply information, but- In his plans, there was a certain reliance on Ed's retaining good feelings for them. If he believed... What was that bird's name again? Anyways, if he believed that a bird had sold him out, why would he care for the current situation of that bird? "I have my sources. The police had a vested interest in knowing who they missed, and..." The man trailed off, glancing at the frogs which surrounded him with obvious sorrow in his face and voice. One unfamiliar with him might even think it was real- But the meaning was more than obvious. The corpses of his frogs, which he had no choice but to leave behind. Knowing the Vagabond's relationship with his creations... Sympathy was the emotion to show.

And it clearly worked. Eduardo sang. Not that it was any important information- The Vagabonds had split up, which made sense. But it did not bring him any closer to the mystery of Savage's vanishment... Nor that of the other companions Eduardo had lost. Well, he had not expected altogether that much. The Frogmother's words told him a few things of importance- That he did not know Savage's fate, and that he remained loyal to his boss. Much like how if he had vanished at such a time, his own comrades would feel it was a part of his plan. A genuine smile rose at the faith of the villain in his leader. Such loyalty was hard to find, and harder to keep. It seemed Savage's disappearance would have further reaching effects than suspected.

But while he received little information on Savage or the rest of The Boys... Eduardo soon slipped a bombshell revelation. They got what they came for. What had anyone gone to Shinagawa for? It was with genuine surprise that the crime boss uttered- "M.A.R.I.N.E?" A rare moment for the famously guarded man. He had been under the impression that all of the substance had been secured by the Heroes... Well, other than Plutocracy's hints at retaining the method for creating the drug. Knowing that the Boys had received a portion was truly a shock. But soon, his face became a guarded mask once more- But would the sudden shift give away that his surprise was genuine? Of course, Wang Ba was more than capable of feigning genuine surprise in the first place, so the point was moot.

"An inauspicious substance. Even its own creator struggles to transport it. Do be careful who you let slip your possession of it to." The man advised. His purpose this night was not MARINE... Nor his purpose any night. It was a product with no future, except to the select few- And hardly worth the price he would pay to obtain it. "However, that is not my purpose. Before now, I was not even aware of your success that night... No, I am sure you do not believe me. But I seek the truth." If Ed believed him, he wouldn't need to ask. Nonetheless, the man insisted. After all, the truth was on his side.

"Thundershock. The vigilante G. Both forces no lesser to Savage in might... And yet, in the dark corners of the web in which Plutocracy crawls, a battle between the two is advertised. Such a match, is that not your own style?" Plutocracy. Ed believed they would be angry at the Vagabonds for their theft, but what Wang Ba suggested was far more sinister. A world in which Plutocracy had set up the heist from the beginning, to remove threats. In which the Vagabonds had been targeted, in order to remove competition for their own cage matches... Or perhaps, even as competitors. It was a grim possibility, for it had the most terrifying thing of all behind it. The truth. Plutocracy had indeed kidnapped Thundershock, and even G. Savage had vanished, as had the vast majority of the boys.

"As one who was caught in the chaos myself... I feel a need to know. What is Pluto's game? And to that end, I ask your help."

Of course it made sense. For once in his life, Wang Ba had spoken the truth. Of course, that wasn't fair. The truth was one of his favorite weapons, after all- It was all in how you used it. But the other's outbursts continued... To be quite informative. A girl? He could only guess who that may have been, unfamiliar with the ongoings in the various corners of the Shinagawa pier. But moreso than that... "If only you knew... Was it?" A sly smile crept onto the man's face. Information was not his forte, of course- He had people to obtain it for him. And he had great faith in those people. "Perhaps I may be of assistance." He suggested rather straightforwardly. Information for information. It would set the Vagabond's mind at ease if this were a transaction, rather than a show of force.

That, and it was good to change the topic. His words had infuriated the foreigner, and as much as he had gleaned by that reaction... It would be convenient if the discussion was focused on cooperation.

"And yet, you told me. Should I be flattered?" The man continued. While it was possible that the other truly mistook Wang Ba for someone who would not use this knowledge against him... No one so naive would have lived so long. But whether the other took his friendly warning to heart... Perhaps he would, or perhaps there would soon be one less villain in Tokyo. It was not Wang Ba's business. He told no lie when he spoke of having no interest in that accursed chemical.

"As a businessman myself, I know this feeling well. A good is only as valuable as the price people will pay for it... Is it not? The issue comes... When they would rather pay that price in your blood." His tone curdled at the end. Clearly, this man was no stranger to unsavory figures believing that they would be able to pay a lower price by force... And once upon a time, they would have been right. "But no price is greater than that of life, I have found." A lighthearted tone, which hinted at the fates of those who attempted to force his hand.

However, despite being a career middleman... Wang Ba did not offer his services at this time. Certainly, he could come up with several who would be quite interested... That mad scientist, for one. And what Lady Ishtar might do with it... However, the risk was too great. He was not yet ready to wage war with Pluto. Nor were his roots so grounded as to compete with the government, whose eyes pried so deeply that even the Plutocracy called the substance a struggle to move. And if neither of those two major players felt comfortable... It only went to show how deep of a pickle Eduardo Sapo was in at the moment.

"I wish you the best of luck." There was no mockery in his words. He truly did hope that Sapo survived his burden... The world would be all the more interesting for it. Any enemy of the Plutocracy... Was a potential friend of his. Whether they knew it or not.

And to prove it, the other drew the exact conclusions Wang Ba lead him towards. That's right. Savage's style. Mere weeks after the man's disappearance, no less... Was it truly benign, or had Plutocracy removed the Vagabond's head such that he would not compete with their own interests? "Yes, precisely that. To be frank, no matter who wins, it is of benefit to me..." And if it was of benefit to him, it would be the same to Pluto. And once more, it must be minded that both Thunder and G had vanished at the same time- In the aftermath of Shinagawa. "Although, I cannot help but think it odd. By all accounts, Thunder had a strong business relationship with Pluto... Why would they discard it so readily?" It was a mere casual muse... But drove home the point. Plutocracy had been targeting specific people, whether those targeted made sense or not. As for the conclusion... He would let Ed draw his own.

But following this, the man's words shocked him, perhaps even more than the mention of MARINE. From the intruder's phrasing of asking for help... The one in his own element read something else into it. While Wang Ba's request had been for information, the other had read it as a request for a stronger cooperation. No, as an offer of recruitment. The corners of his mouth slipped upwards. For the other to read such a fact into his words... The idea of joining Wang Ba's crew was already on his mind. The situation was yet dangerous, but... The possibility of recruiting such a powerful figure. The possible benefits outweighed the risks. And such pointed questions as well. This was no interrogation- It was an interview. If the crime lord could answer those questions to Eduardo's satisfaction... Heh. This was an unexpected chance, and one the man would hardly refuse!

Despite his corpulent appearance, he held his ground as his partner in conversation approached. Heavy lidded eyes met bloodshot ones, as in the background, two figures showed no less concern than the surrounding ribbits. If not for their faith in their boss, and the finger lifted behind his back- The signal to stand down- It was likely that they would immediately fall onto Ed, despite lacking the power to stand up to the other. The other had asked him to talk- And his silvered tongue was the feature Wang Ba was most proud of in the world.

"You misunderstand me. I have no intent to die on this cross." By his confident tone... It was not that he planned to avoid the confrontation, but that he had faith in his ability to win. A bluff? Or did Wang Ba have yet more tricks up his sleeve. "That I yet seek the truth, means that I have no proof of Plutocracy's crimes... However, as I have, others have become suspicious of their movements. With their betrayal of Thundershock, they have made an enemy of the Kobayashi Clan... The influence of Pluto wanes." Plutocracy was indeed scary. A group that could squash him under their hands as easily as a bug. But their arrogance was to become their undoing.

Furthermore, the man's claims reinforced his narrative. Others distrusted Pluto. Even were Ed to refuse in the end... The doubts would remain. He would never be an ally of Plutocracy, and may even hamper them from without. Even as he made his pitch, Wang Ba prepared for rejection. He would not discard his entire night's work for the chance at a powerful aide- As the man himself said, what difference would he make? A successful recruitment was the icing on the cake of creating an enemy for his enemy.

"You have not heard of me for the same reason Pluto has not. I do not play my cards loudly. Of course, my base of operations existing outside the metropolis of Tokyo... Also has its many advantages." He did not specifically state where. He had no reason to trust Eduardo with that information. What mattered was... The implication. That the reason the Vagabonds had not heard of him, was due to his careful planning, and not due to the small size of his operation. "Yet as Pluto's influence wanes... Those who once partnered with them require new supply chains. A position I am uniquely poised to take." He had, after all, mentioned being a businessman. "However, I do not expect Pluto to turn a blind eye to this forever. They are accustomed to their monopoly."

"Muscle, friends. Those are not what I need. When it comes to manpower, I have more than enough. You ask what you can change?" As recruitment had not been his intention, he hardly had prepared reasons. "You do not need to change anything." And yet his words would come as smoothly as a prepared speech. "My path will continue, regardless of your decision." If he did not have a prepared answer, he would not come up with a hollow one. No, what Ed needed was not fake words. He needed assurance that Wang Ba was a force to be reckoned with, even for a group with the power of Plutocracy.

However, the last question Ed had asked was the hardest. Wang Ba could not simply speak of his plans in the open, nor would the Vagabond accept the existence of a plan with no proof. "Here is not the place to speak of plans. Nor do I need you to make a decision on the spot." But, once again, he was not determined to recruit at all costs. "If you are interested, I will naturally arrange a tour of my... Operations. There is no need to take my word. Once you have seen for yourself, you will know whether or not I have the means to support my claims."

The other man spoke true. They weren't worth his time. What was worth his time was making the offer. However, the other's instability was frustrating to work with, to say the least- One never knew what phrasing would set him off. Or perhaps it was because Wang Ba was so careful with his words that the other mistrusted them so. But like he was cursed, he continued to measure his speech, dodging the triggers as they came. As his subordinates often complained, he might really just die if he spoke straight.

"Indeed, flattered. Trust is not a thing to place easily." At the every least, he rarely did so. Of course, this interpreted the other's confidence that Wang Ba would not be leaving alive should he intend to turn this information to evil as trust that the criminal mastermind would not. However, it is always wise to highlight the outcome which does not end in a painful battle. "It would be unwise of me to return that with evil. Good faith is often more important than any bargain." If he had the faith of the clientelle, he could get away with selling the same product more expensively- Pure profit. And all it took... Was not stabbing people in the back.

At least, not while there was any chance of them finding out.

But the other was clearly uninterested in such theories. "If it were any other than Thunder, I may even be inclined to agree with you... However, how large must they be that the largest Yakuza in the country is a rag to them? To put it bluntly, Pluto does not have that level of influence." If they did, they would have no need to stage a police raid of their own auction. Just take over by force and be done with it.

However, his other suggestion... Was much clearer. For a man of such emotional responses, it was clear that he could think rationally. Wang Ba smiled at the suggestion, but alas, there was little more to say on the matter. "Quite possible. Alas, the truth is known only to them... But the boldness of their move does not change." If they would make a move on Thunder, of all people, why would they leave Savage aside? Such was the thought he hoped to plant.

"Cojones, was it?" The man glared, the first change in his expression. However, he was not altogether deterred by the curse. He had not received the name of Wang Ba for being forthright- "Perhaps you are right. However, baseless bravery is but folly. If I start a war is it I who suffers the most? No, it is my men. Those who placed their faith in me and follow me- And that is precisely why I so strongly desire to know their true intent. Their true strength. And, above all else... Their weaknesses." He attempted to appeal from a separate direction. It was not always possible to convince someone in a single exchange. The trick was to gauge their reaction to each attempt, tailoring the next to those unintentional slips of the tongue, to find out what they want. And then, to offer it to them. At an entirely fair price, of course.

And at some point, his words clearly had an effect. In the dim shadows of the park's lighting, movement could be observed, the encirclement loosening... For now. As such, the man was hardly inclined to disagree with the vagabond's words. "Indeed I do. Learning that you are in possession of MARINE alone is worth quite the sum." He nodded. "But it would seem to be too late to discuss targets. You said it yourself. Pluto wants their product back." He had no way of proving it, but he didn't need to. The entire preposition had come from Ed himself in the first place. All his words would do was feed the paranoia.

"However, to hide a single person... Is not difficult." And so came the clincher. Ed supposed that Wang Ba was too small to be noticed by Pluto. The chinese mastermind insisted that it was due to his concealing his actions. As for which was the truth... Why, he had already offered a tour of operations. He had nothing to hide... From an ally, at least.

Furthermore, the spaniard's thoughts aligned quite well with his own. "Indeed. However, a frontal battle is not the only type of war. To provide support for their enemies, to weaken their allies... There are many ways to interfere indirectly." He reinforced his words. "Fighting is the last thing I would ask of you. Surveillance, security, would be a far greater use of your talents."

A liar would always expect others to lie. As such, Wang Ba doubted that a quiet life was all the other desired... But, given his concerns, it should be at least a part of it. He gestured towards the ring which still encircled him. "Your ability would be most useful in these cases. For the former... They are able to travel through spaces no human could fit. Find an overlooked corner and listen in. Or even simply wait by a bench in the park, impossible to tell from the normal wildlife. And yet, even that is more dangerous than security... And their ability to perform that task. You standing before me is yet the best proof of. But imagine, if it was not you who responded to their call... But instead a team of mercenaries? At no point would your brood be at risk."

It was essentially perfect. Ed himself had talked the expectation down. They would not battle Pluto directly, but sabotage them as others fought properly. And even then, Ed himself would not be responsible for any dangerous work... And security was certainly a concern, when keeping oneself a secret from such an organization as Pluto.