Ch. 22 Information is...

RC: 24.6.6001

Time: 26:55

Hircus City

Southeast Coast

'Ring Bar'

The bar that was usually filled with people was not even full tonight. Instead of the chattering of people, the slamming of mugs, and squeak of stools, there was only a light conversation to be heard. The neon holo-sign that usually was above the door of the building was nowhere to be seen, the doors were locked, and people were inside anyway.

Around the ring bar, only a fourth of it was being used, 2 people were behind the bar, and 4 people were on the serving side of it. One behind the bar could be recognized as the server of Lence's table, had they cared about anything else besides getting drunk.

The 4 guests were unrecognizable, and wore very common clothes. The only thing that stood out about them was they were clearly in shape.

"So what you're telling me, is that the kid who was taken hostage a year ago is still being taken care of by the association?" A man who sat second to the end on the left side of the stools asked the man behind the bar.

"Yes." The bartender replied.

"And you called us here to tell us that why? You want a job done? I'm a little lost on the point of this." The man said back, one might have said he had a 1920's Italian accent, but on this world, it was just a way of speaking.

"I'm telling you this because it seems we know more about your own men's plans than you do." The bartender said back. His tone was polite, but it wasn't timid nor condescending either. The man speaking to the bartender gave a confused look. The bartender sighed.

"Tricho, your associate, escaped two days ago from associate custody. A feat very few have done I'm impressed honestly, yet he came to us and asked us for information. Information of ours as you know, doesn't come lightly, and he promised on your group that you would pay us. Since we have had you as loyal customers for years now, we trusted him, and as I can see from your faces currently, was our mistake. Be that as it may, we still need payment, it's our only business after all." His words were elegant and smooth, fitting of a bartender, but the venomous undertone wasn't to be taken lightly.

"I see now." A different man seated on the end at the left said. "It's as much our mistake as it is yours." The Italian sounding man had an angry look on his face and looked to begin to say something but stopped once a hand was put on his shoulder. "We'll pay of course, and we'll pay you for giving us information on our own associate as well. Your usual rate of course?" the man tapped at the underside of his left forearm and a holographic display came up showing 6 figure numbers.

"Since it was our mistake as well we will gladly give you a 50 percent discount for your understanding and previous friendship of course." The bartender said with a smile.

"Very generous of course, but as you said this is your business, we wouldn't want to cause you anymore trouble than we already have, the full amount is transferred." The man said as he tapped a few things on the display then placed his arm back down. A small flash appeared on the right eye of the bartender who then smiled more sincerely than he was earlier. The bartender glanced at the waitress, who then poured everyone a glass. "To friends!" The man said raising his glass for a toast.

"To friends!" The bartender replied, and they all drank. "Tommy, you should learn from your brother Ronnie here about tact more." The bartender said to the Italian accented man. His tone was less professional and more friendly than it was before. "I'm sure you'd have less problems if you did."

"Hell, had I known we were invited to you being angry I wouldn't have came at all, or at least I wouldn't have said anything in the first place. I know he's the better one at calming things down I just usually do business with the friendlies. He does it with the new ones or problematic ones, give me a break huh?"

"Thats what tact does Tommy, had you learned from him, you would have known there was an issue." The bartender replied.

"If everything is fine then would you mind sending your boys away?" The man seated on the end on the right side said.

Instead of responding, the bartender looked at the server, she clapped her hands once and suddenly the room seemed brighter, and 10 people appeared behind the 4 men seated. Each armed with either a metal pole or blade, they walked away to the back exit of the bar.

The other three men who seemed to be having a good time before became slightly more silent at the thought they would have not had a peaceful ending had Ronnie not spoken for them.

"Tact Tommy, it's worth it, you should be more thankful when I offer you my advice as a friend. Information is costly after all."