Board Thread:Role Plays/@comment-25582638-20151210004452/@comment-5999656-20160128233201

(I had to remind myself that Zan is a bad guy/girl, lol. Self-inserts, man.)

Zanipher gave a bit of a jump at Cyzarine's request. However, she covered it up quickly by tilting her head slightly, as if in thought. Clever acting indeed. She paused as if to sum up her thoughts, and waited politely for cyzarine to drink her coffee and finish her part.

"Well, firstly, there's no proof that Fen here was their only target. In fact, it's very possible that the terrorists planned to eliminate all the people who foiled their plan strategically, one by one. Fen was probably just the highest-profile, or the most vulnerable. Unlike the other individuals involved, she doesn't have a trained organization or a powerful family backing her." Zan shrugged. "There's no way to say for sure."

"Obviously that fact came to the attention of your parents, and they're moving to fix that," Zan turned and said to Fen. "Although they're not much of fighters on their own, they've got quite some connections." Zan smiled at her younger sister, trying to keep with a straightforward telling of the truth. She then looked back at Cyzarine, with a completely serious, solemn expression on her young face.

"The Daybreak Syndicate is fairly well informed on the business activities in Vale and the many corporations involved, your family's included. And our specialty involves conducting private investigations on all sorts of levels, including those that are considered high-risk," Zanipher said. "You're asking me and my men to probe the largest and most diverse underground criminal group in Vale."

She looked back at Fen again before continuing.

"Given the amount of danger involved in such a high-level investigation, I should be wary of taking such a job. However, the favors that you've done for Fen translate into favors for us, as close partners with the Suzhen family." Zanipher looked up with a gleam in her eye. "I will do what I can, Miss Bluthardt. Of course, we hope you understand that we might have to withdraw if the situation grows too deadly, and it may take some time for us to gather any real information. Disclaimer aside, I can provide some knowledge to you already."

"The Dragons aren't one cohesive group, as you probably know. That's part of the reason the police and other private militias have failed to take them down already. Although low-level gangsters affiliated with the Dragons have been successfully put behind bars, their mafia-hierarchy makes the identity of the titular heads a complete mystery."

"I have no facts to back this up, but the relative fluidity of their operations convinces me that the Dragons are highly intelligent, probably elite members of society. Hell, you or I could be a Dragon from an average citizen's point of view, given how the upper class usually refrains from interacting directly with the general populace. That's why no one, not even us, have ever been able to pinpoint their base of operations. Of course, now that we're being tasked by the Bluthardt family, we'll pursue them seriously as opposed to surface-level searches."

Zanipher produced another sheet of paper and a pen from within her suit.

"If you could please sign here," she said, indicating a space on the the bottom of the paper. "We need written proof in case someone inquires as to whether our activities are legal under Vale's laws." The rest of the page bore a standard description as any other official paper.

________________________________________

Not long after the mall incident...

Zanipher sat by right-hand man Tez, as he argued with someone over the phone. The relatives of the terrorists killed that night were demanding an explanation for what had happened.

"I just told you, we are not responsible for the death of your men," he said coldly. "If they were performing in a reckless manner, then of course they were killed or captured. You should have known that before you let them move out. Hello? I mean, that's like the number one rule of working underground, is you don't let everyone recognize what you're doing!"

He turned and made an exasperated face at Zan, who smirked in response.

"If you try to go after us, you will incur the wrath of all Nine Dragons and their affiliates. If you're prepared to fight us all at once, then please go on making death threats at me."

"Wait, I've got an idea." Zan took the phone.

"Look, how about you turn your anger into action? Obviously you aren't qualified to join us, but I can offer you a generous sum if you listen closely to my next instructions."

"You saw the faces of the individuals who stopped your attack. On the TV. I want you to go after one in particular, Fenhong Se Suzhen. you want revenge, don't you? We can provide her location once she leaves Beacon Academy's campus. I will notify you when she is most vulnerable, and I want you to kill her. If you can do this, we will compensate you threefold what you lost tonight. Goodbye. Await my next directions."

Zanipher put down the phone. Tez looked at her with surprise written over his face. She winked, before dialing in a new number.

"Hello, Mrs. Suzhen, this is Zanipher Hei'An of the Daybreak Syndicate. My parents are doing fine, thank you very much. There's something important I need to tell you."

"..."

"It involves your daughter, I'm afraid. No, she's fine right now, but we were following the mall incident closely and we have reason to suspect that the Faunus terrorists who escaped are planning to target her next."

"..."

"Coincidentally, we are prepared to engage them in order to protect the life of your daughter and by extension our relationship, but thank you for asking anyway. Yes, we will do everything we can, and I'll personally be monitoring all activity in Vale to predict their next attack."

"..."

"Call you? OK, sounds good. Wait, I know this sounds dangerous, but I'd like you to refrain from notifying her about this. It's crucial that we eliminate this public danger in one fell swoop, and her knowledge of this might endanger our chances of success."

"We've never failed you before, Mrs. Suzhen. Please give us the same trust that you give to your other connections. Yes, goodbye. if anything else happens I'll call you right away, but it's still a developing story." Bye, 'Mom', she wanted to say. I know you love your daughter, but what about your other one?

Zanipher disconnected and turned to see Tez grinning at her. "Cousin, you are a sly one, aren't you? You've just majorly boosted our favor in the eyes of the Suzhen Corporation and eliminated a dangerous terror group in the span of five minutes."

She looked away from his squinted eyes.

"Well, you know, sometimes I do things for myself."