All preparations have been made.
The script has been practiced enough times that everyone could recite it in their sleep.
The Commissioner and a handful of his subordinates, including Elias, went through the Borealis’ floor. Each one with intense gazes of disgust as they watched many individuals on their hit lists frolicking around the Casino area without a care in the world, under Crow’s Eye protection, of course. They despised how much authority the Crows held, but they were necessary to serve the Hunter’s demands.
The group entered Neilson’s office. The sight of two Felines, one older and the other much younger, and a familiar-looking Dealer could be seen. Each figure radiates an aura of authority, taking away everyone’s breath.
What surprised the Commissioner was the purple-eyed Dealer’s presence in today’s meeting. Neilson wasn’t the type of person to allow his men to listen in unless they could be trusted. The fact that the Dealer was here confirmed the Commissioner’s theories about him.
Dealer 3960 held much more authority in the Crow’s Eye than any other Executive he’s met.
As for the other individual standing by Neilson’s side, he held a striking yet annoying resemblance to Neilson but much younger.
It wasn’t hard to guess that he was Neilson’s son.
>>>
The Commissioner had seen him occasionally within the last few years. It was a well-known fact that Neilson had a son who ran around managing the Borealis grounds, and he typically didn’t appear in meetings his father participated in. Despite being so young, word had spread that he was as talented, if not more, than his father. Seeing him today was a rare occasion, and it also meant that Neilson wanted him to listen in.
You would think for a boy with such a background, he would be faced with numerous assassination attempts. However, it’s the opposite. Due to his background, no one bothers to do anything since killing the Young Boss is the same as making the Crow’s Eye an enemy, which essentially means death. So unlike other children of influential Underworld figures, Neilson’s son was undoubtedly prohibited from messing with.
After all, he was the future head of the Crow’s Eye.
>>>
In spite of knowing that Jay was eventually going to take over his father's role, the Commissioner felt uneasy. He thought that his theory of the Crow’s Eye being controlled by a higher entity might be true. It was a wild theory, but his Ability screamed like crazy at it.
The Elf made himself comfortable on one of the fine leather couches in the room, with Elias sitting beside him and the others standing behind. Innocent glasses of water were prepared for him, his company, and the opposition.
Neilson snapped his fingers at Drew. “Start the recording.”
“Understood,” Drew responded to Neilson’s orders in his classic Dealer fashion, hitting the play button on his wristband and retracting his arms behind his back while everyone else settled down.
“It’s been some time since you’ve allowed me in this room, Neilson.” The Commissioner took the initiative in the conversation. “Been trying to get a hold of you for months. Preoccupied with something?”
“I was,” Neilson replied sternly, keeping his guard in front of the vicious Elf. “It’s been resolved, so it’s no longer of concern. I’m surprised to see you desperate for me to grant you an audience. Care to tell me why after you made all that ruckus at the Heartman Manor?”
Drew observed as Neilson engaged with The Commissioner.
He could feel the sparks flying between them despite them not being visible.
The Commissioner scoffed, folding his arms together as he stared at Drew and Jay.
“You already know. After all, your Dealers happened to be there. Besides, I’m curious how a youngster like him could become an Executive.”
Neilson replied candidly, “My Dealer’s information is confidential and not the subject of today's meeting. If I may ask, what does Mr. Ryhard have to do with us here?”
“I need you to fake a file for him.”
Both Drew and Jay glanced at each other.
Why in the Kraus would Elias need a fake file?
“What kind of file are you looking for?”
“Student, same age, similar background as the one he has on his current file, as well as continuous updates on it. We also need an identity card and his existing file to be locked up.”
“How long?”
“Indefinitely without connection between files. We’ll pay a part with our justification.”
“Do explain.” Neilson gestured with his hand.
“The selection of the 40th Royals in Gillikard is approaching soon. We intend on having Mr. Ryhard participate in the Selections.”
Drew’s eyes shoot open.
Everything began to make sense.
Why Elias was heading off to Gillikard despite using club activities as an excuse. Why was he training so hard with the tonfas and asking the friend group to help him. Why he was also so sleep-deprived at the dorms and always procrastinated on his homework. Why he always felt off while explaining his reasons for doing certain things. Why he was sitting in this room at this very moment.
All of it was in preparation to participate in the 40th Royal Selections.
It wasn’t hard to figure out why the Hunters would want to do such a thing.
They wanted to make Elias a Royal!
But being selected as a Royal is no easy feat. One has to compete for a single spot amongst thousands of Candidates. Even if all those Candidates are Commoners, that doesn’t mean they’re not talented. In fact, a number of Commoner students from Star were going to compete in the selections. No surprise since they happen only once every ten years.
How would the Commissioner guarantee Elias’s victory when the odds were less than a percent?
“You’re taking quite the gamble here, aren’t you? Are you trying to crawl back to where you were before all of this?”
The Commissioner's face twitched ever so slightly, recalling the unpleasant memories of his past.
“Why else would I be doing this? I intend on ridding the untouched filth that’s tainted Kraus for years.”
Neilson remained emotionless.
After dealing with the Elf for so long, he knew what he’d been cooking in his mind. However, this was only in terms of intentions and never execution. Now, here they were, fifteen years later, in this room where everything started, and now it really begins.
“Have you consulted the youngster about this matter as well?”
“He’s already done so,” Elias replied clearly. “I’ve consented immediately.”
“Oh, tell me more`!” Neilson’s ears perked up upon hearing another chance to get more information from this meeting. His sharp canines flashed at the orange-haired Human.
The Commissioner nodded to Elias, permitting him to say what was on his mind. After all, this information can be used to lower the amount they need to pay the Crow’s Eye for their desired services.
“It’s use or be used. I’ve understood that the moment I’ve stepped foot here. However, I know I am merely a piece on the chess board to achieve a goal. Since that’s the case, the piece being manipulated has gained consciousness. By having that awareness, the piece is no longer being used but has taken part in cooperation. A cooperation that both parties have agreed to because we each have something to gain from using each other.”
“Aren’t you concerned about being discarded?”
Elias smirked.
“If that were so, then why would the Commissioner request for my protection? It does no one any good if a valuable piece is discarded so easily.”
Drew was stunned by the Human’s answer. He never expected him to become even bolder and crueler within such a short time. Then again, to survive in the Underworld, one needs to toss any kindness out the window.
The duality of Elias was simply astonishing.
“Hahaha!” Neilson let out a hearty laugh, clapping his hands together in applause. “Good! Good! I can see why you selected him for the job! Very well! We, the Crow’s Eye, will be watching this one’s future with much interest. We’ll add one last thing to the house as a bonus! Dealer, if you will!”
Neilson clapped his hands. A portion of the wall popped out, revealing rows of familiar metal briefcases.
“Number 72.” The orange-haired Feline ordered.
“Understood.”
Drew wandered over to the case labeled ‘72’ and removed it from its spot.
“What is that?” Elias asked as Drew brought the case over.
With a satisfying snap of the latches, the case popped open, revealing a disguise set Drew was rather familiar with from Gerald and Orta. The set provided everything one needed to pass off as a completely different person, including makeup, contacts, a wig, and even some fancy facial-altering equipment to take things one step further.
“A disguise set.” The Avian answered, turning the set towards the Commissioner’s side for them to observe. “Typically used for infiltration purposes. Connecting your wristband will grant you the ability to customize it instantly. It's especially convenient if you have to shake off any pursuers in real-time. Much better than the EMPs and Psuedo-Artifacts you all wear.”
Elias flinched at Drew’s words. The Crow’s Eye did know everything.
>>>
After confronting Elias and the Hunters a while back, Drew had always wondered how exactly Elias could walk around safely in broad daylight after getting involved with the Underworld. Turns out, the Hunters use a combination of EMPs and Psuedo-Artifacts. The EMPs disable any electronic device, especially cameras or recorders. At the same time, the Psuedo-Artifacts had an anti-recognition feature to prevent anyone from recognizing the individual.
The Hunters avoided using nanotech or regular masks for a few reasons. Nanotechnology, as advanced as it is, is not perfect. Nanotechnology still relies on electricity and circuits, so an EMP can easily short-circuit it even if it has a protective coating. Even if Otrio powered it, the cost for such equipment skyrockets by about ten times. Additionally, Nanotechnology can be hacked and traced, increasing the risk of exposure.
As for masks, the Hunters have tried all kinds of them in the past, but due to their line of work, every single one got destroyed to the point where it wasn’t cost-effective to purchase them anymore. Plus, according to the Hunters, a mask would dull their senses, lowering their efficiency. On top of that, wearing a mask made them look even more suspicious than they already were regarding infiltration, so the Hunters gave up on them. Hence, they decided to use Pseudo-Artifacts which couldn’t be destroyed as easily while also serving the same purpose.
Drew could only see through their illusions because his contacts were Artifacts themselves. He would’ve needed to wear one of the Crow’s Eyes standard masks if he didn't. However, since they were his pair, he could reply with Executive privileges if anyone asked.
>>>
Finding that there was nothing suspicious with it, the Commissioner firmly shut the lid.
“How much for today’s services?”
“Since you’re our esteemed customer, we’re offering you a special deal.” Neilson smiled, his Feline ears twitching. “100 Million Kalas. It’s gonna take a lot to fool Intergalactic Governments.”
“That’s shit.” The Commissioner scoffed. “50 Million. It takes one guy on a supercomputer to do it.”
“Market Price is a thing, old friend,” Neilson replied with his professional smile. “I’ve already given you a discount according to the agreement. The Crow’s Eye is still a business; we must feed our workers.”
“Oh please, even your worst Dealer lives like a king on this planet.”
“What can I say? I’m a generous boss.”
“Generous, my ass,” The Commissioner spat. “60 million for that generosity you speak of.”
“It’s that same generosity that increases loyalty. Look at how you perform this transaction. No wonder why the Hunters have high turnover.”
“I believe the proper term for our current situation is scarcity, as they would say in economics. This 60 million is as much as we can offer as thanks for investing in our cause. The returns you will gain from this will increase exponentially in the long run.”
Drew rolled his eyes. Rather than a professional meeting, it felt more like childish banter.
That kind of relationship forms when you’ve known someone for that long.
“In 15 years, I’ve never seen you act this way. You seriously want to risk it all on this kid?”
“I don’t make investments without understanding the outcomes. I believe this one is worth something more than just a monetary amount. What do you say?”
Suddenly, an idea emerged in Drew’s mind. With a swift glance at his wristband, the Avian quickly leaned over to Neilson.
“Sir,” Drew interjected, then whispered in Neilson’s ear. “I have a proposition. Can we discuss it for a moment?”
Hearing the Young Master’s request, Neilson immediately ceased discussions with The Commissioner. His face darkened, indicating to everyone in the room that something big had come up.
“Commissioner, I’ll need you and your company to step outside momentarily.”
The Commissioner remained calm as Neilson fixed his blazer and waved his hand to some of the Executives standing by the door. Without another word, the Executives gestured for the Commissioner and everyone else to leave the vicinity. Luckily, there was no objection from the Commissioner’s end. As exclusive of a client as they were, the Hunters still had to obey the rules of the house.
The grand double doors closed as the last strand of The Commissioner's greasy, dirty blonde hair left the room.
Finally, there was some privacy.
“Young Master,” Neilson began in a low voice. “What are your intentions?”
“The Commissioner has a valid point. Elias is someone worthy of investing in. I’m not saying this as his friend but from the perspective of a Dealer and a Scout. Plus, there are some things we can gain from them even if they don’t entirely agree with our demands.”
“Are you telling us to take the deal?!” Jay exclaimed, his Feline ears twitching rapidly.
“Yes.” Drew nodded. “We can request the Commissioner to have Elias and the Hunters spar with us on Crow’s Eye turf. ”
“Isn’t that helping them even more?”
“Correct. However, look at things from our perspective. Forty million is a drop in the bucket for the Crow’s Eye. We can easily make up for that by gathering more detailed information on the Hunters through sparring. This information can be sold to other clients at odds with the Hunters. Aren’t you curious how Elias will fight us without holding back? Those spars we’ve done with him have been nothing but bogus. We can also add a nondisclosure clause to prevent any information from being released about us.”
“But-“
“Hold on, Jason,” Neilson interjected, placing a hand on Jay’s shoulder. “This might work out. Think about why.”
Jay folded his arms together for a moment. It didn’t take long for him to understand Drew’s intentions.
“The Commissioner wouldn’t want to miss the chance to have Elias fight against some of the Crow’s Eyes Elites. If anything, it would be good practice for him against any opponents he faces in the Selections. On top of that, he gets a bargain on his request, so he’s not losing out. Being one of our long-term clients, the Commissioner understands that we are watching and that any tiny bit of information we can get will be sold to others. However, this is not too big of a price to pay as long as Elias’s file is safe. As for us, we stick to our value of serving everyone and no one.”
Drew answered.
“Precisely. Again, this is just a rudimentary idea I had, but if you are willing to integrate it, that’ll be splendid.”
“Not at all, Young Master-“ Neilson stammered, stunned again by how humble and brilliant the young man before him was. He was truly worthy of being an individual he could serve without a second thought. “It appears I've been a bit too conservative. We would’ve been negotiating with the Commissioner for hours if you hadn't made this suggestion. I sincerely believe this is for the best.”
Jay, beside his father, couldn’t help but also agree. The Young Master was impressively insightful, addressing the issues of the Commissioner's request swiftly and effectively, ensuring that the Crow’s Eye would benefit from the following transaction.
“Shall I bring them back?”
“Of course.” Drew cocked a grin. “Let’s put this transaction to a close.”
It was only a few minutes before The Commissioner was let back in.
“We’ll agree to your terms.” Neilson began. “However, we have a condition of our own.”
“Do tell us.”
The Commissioner was well aware that the value of Neilson’s request would be equivalent to the difference they would have to pay in cash. After much experience with the Crow’s Eye, the proposal was sure to be reasonable considering the amount.
“We would like some of your people to spar with some of ours from tomorrow until the day before you depart for the Selections in Gillikard.”
Huh. That was a relatively simple request coming from the old cat. What does he have up his sleeve for him to ask us?
“Who would you like to spar with?”
“All the ones you’ve brought here today. You think I don’t know they’re the individuals you intend to plant in the Selections.”
The Commissioner spat, being found out so easily, “Can’t seem to hide anything from you. Who will be our opponents?”
Neilson chuckled calmly.
“The two behind as well as our other young Executives. We have to make things fair, don’t we?”
“Whatever you say, Neilson. Let me guess, there’s a nondisclosure clause in the contract as well.”
“Indeed. You know the consequences if you violate it.”
The Commissioner snorted, “Why wouldn't we? It's always a splendid relationship with your kind.”
“Could say the same about you.”
Though a bit disgruntled, the Commissioner understood this was for the best.
“Let’s seal the deal.”
With that, the two powerful men shook each other's hands, signifying the start of a reaction that would change not just Ozwarth but the entire Galaxy.
Thanks for the chapter! Things sure are getting interesting. Can’t wait to see what happens next
