Chapter 6: Meeting Crime Family

~Zack POV~

A few days of talking to Neo has been somewhat fun to talk to for the longest time with her about how the world is in Remnant and pictures of the real world. She was starving for attention and I was her outlet.

At least though it has been a fun experience… and an increased use of curse words in my vocabulary. And as for the time I have been using it quite well.

Copying down the use of those videos certainly helped out trying out the steps of the videos of how professional Huntsman uses them. Although it's only copy work it was already time to meet the Hei Xiong.

Crime family in Vale and what I have is too valuable for him.

Taking this time using [Machina] on the phone I began to call the man in question and waited for a bit before I got him on the line, "Now listen here… how did you find this number punk. You better have a good reason or else…"

*Shiver*

Definitely felt a shiver run down my spine on that one but calming my mind I began to speak to Hei Xiong in a respectful manner, "Now mister Hei Xiong. I happen to be in need of your help and in return I help you out."

Laughter was heard at the other end of my scroll as I heard him laugh a bit finding my help entertainment to him, "Hahaha! Funny shit right there kid. But why – "

Interrupting him I played it off about his unknown issue of rats in the area or the deal he made with the Spiders out of the open as I responded, "Oh that's rather unfortunate. I guess my help or info on the Spiders not respecting the deal is off the table then?"

Silence…

I had to be very careful with this guy as I had to make sure I take my actions doing this very carefully or else I would be on the chopping block. This is after all a group of criminals and mafia men after all.

Anything could go wrong given the situation.

Next was him responding to me as I can hear tones of doubts in his voice but accepted it if I were to go into his base as he talked, "Grr… I don't know how or why you know this but… if you have proof of the Spiders double-crossing me you better hope you got evidence to prove it. I'll have my men pick you up."

Oh, I have the evidence and taking some camera shots from the Vanilla house as well as where they placed their camera as well as their father's mistake of hiding Fire Dust under Neo's room. I plan to make sure they don't escape this.

Collecting the evidence inside my scroll I waited…

…

…

*Knock*

After what seemed like minutes I heard some knocking sounds coming from my door as I saw two policemen wanting me to follow. When I did they noticed my cane with widen surprise while I smirk.

We proceeded towards the police car as one of them spoke, "Get in there."

Like that they began to take me away as they remained quiet about the whole ordeal as one of them asked the obvious of my Melodic Cudgel, "Hey kid… isn't that Roman Torchwick weapon? You his apprentice or something?"

Laughing at the man I shook my head as I replied expressing an innocent grin, "No. No, I'm not his apprentice. But you could say I'm his murderer for killing him. I mean I wouldn't be walking if I still have this now would I?"

They looked surprised but one of them grins as they talked happily with Roman dead, "Haha! I guess that new thief bit off more than he can chew. And it was against a kid of all things! Good luck talking to the boss."

Nodding in thanks and advice we finally proceeded to keep on going till we reached our destination.

I stepped through the back entrance of the restaurant and found myself in a kitchen. It was nearly empty except for a man wearing an apron and chef hat, holding a butcher knife. He was taller than me, wiry, and strong-looking.

As I was walking inside one of the corrupt policemen began to give out his open hand as he spoke the obvious, "Carnation, take his weapon. Sorry kid but it's the rules and we saw Roman on the video using it."

Nodding my head in understanding I handed Melodic Cudgel over.

Carnation the guy's name I guess put it in a drawer below the counter and locked it. Then he jerked his head toward the double doors leading into the dining room. He slowly sharpened his blade and followed me with his eyes as he walked by.

The dining room was mostly dark since it wasn't open for business this early in the morning. The gaudy decor with fancy crystal chandeliers, gold trim, and mirrors everywhere suggested this was a place that you needed reservations for, probably at least a year in advance.

The tables had white tablecloths and elaborate glass centerpieces, already set with silverware. It was clear where Roman was meant to go: One table was lit in the center of the room, with a heavyset man in an expensive suit waiting at a table for two.

The cops nudged me over as I looked at the man ahead of me.

He had shoulder-length black hair streaked with gray and a scruffy beard that almost hid his double chin and ruddy complexion. He had triangular eyes, the color of stormy clouds. But most notably, the top of his left ear was missing. It had healed in a ragged line, suggesting that it had been bitten off, rather than sliced or shot.

Bowing in respect to him I provided his name as Xiong looked disapprovingly at the two cops while I talk, "And you must be Hei Xiong."

One of the policemen replied to this, "We didn't tell him anything, sir."

That was when Hei replied over to me as I made my poker face being calm, "You're new here, but you already know my name?"

While sitting down across from him I began to talk in this conversation while addressing the status of this man in front of me, "Of course I recognize you. You're the head of the Xiong crime family. I was hoping to meet you. I figured my stunt today would get the attention of the biggest crime boss in Vale."

Xiong replied while his gesture was careless, but he packed a lot of strength in that meaty hand of his, "That it did. But why call me about the Spiders double-crossing me? We made a deal long ago and you show up to tell they stabbed me in the back? Explain."

Explained I did about the info. Much better I provided the evidence as I glanced up to the Pins of the All-Academy Girls School Neo attended as I went over the blueprints, "Yup. And this Pin here would show the truth. This belongs to Lady Browning's Preparatory Academy For Girls. A prestigious school for wealthy and socialite girls located in the City of Vale and secretly a faction of spies and assassins aligned with Spider."

Glaring at me he took my Scroll as I began to dig up on their headmaster there while Hei Xiong reads up on it more, "The Academy's Headmaster was Beatrix Browning, also known as Lady Beat is in leagues with the Spiders. They have been collecting intel with women with high political standing hoping to blackmail or worse… meddle and take over your territory of Vale Mr. Xiong."

Hei was looking deeply into my Scroll about how they were able to collect the info as he snapped at his men as he replied, "You. Wasn't there one of our workers who graduated from there? Tell them to bring the pin immediately but act as if they crushed it by accident."

"Yes sir!"

Like that they left as we waited for a while Hei glanced at me with an impressed smile on his face as he spoke, "Son. You ain't from around here but managed to help me out with these bugs. What is exactly is in it for you?"

Grinning at this plenty but before that, though I began to egg him on about some favors, "Favors. And safety in Vale. I think you'll find that the criminals are more refined here. You aren't exactly just crime bosses— your businessmen."

"Heh."

A small laugh escaped his mouth at that as he replied to me as I kept my poker face to him while he replied, "Not bad. At least you understand your place. But what exactly do you want your favors though? For this help, I would be glad to achieve your favors so long as it's manageable since this miss has been under my nose for a while and I haven't noticed."

Oh, I have a few favors or two but first things first though I provided him the next page on my Scroll showing him footage of Dust that he was missing as I replied, "If that's the case. How about the footage there where Mr. Vanilla and his wife hid the Dust they stole from you. Would it help increase the favors in question with you if I happen to know where they are?"

Hei merely grinned at this as he replied adjusting himself as one of his men bought the broken Pin of the school, "Oh I'm sure we can work something out. I was dealing with him to find any excuse I can to beat the shit out of him if he stole. Now I do. And with your help… I could pull in some favors if it's manageable."

Perfect.

He took the info and I get reassured. Since I didn't feed out my hand where the Fire Dust is at his trying to butter me up and he one of those honorable crooks for respecting his profession.

I did a background check on him just to be sure. And he acts like those Yakuza games of honor which worked in my favor.

Now then about those favors…