He wasn't called "The Gentleman" for nothing. Johnny Marcone was nothing if not well mannered in his business dealings. It just so happened that his business happened to be total domination of the criminal underworld in the greater Chicago area. It was for that very reason he was waiting at this restaurant in Futo City, Japan to have a word with Ryubee Sonozaki, the illustrious head of Futo Museum.
Marcone was no giant but he had a fair build for a man of his age, he towered over the curator like the Windmill of Futo Tower stood above this city. Sonozaki did not seem to mind though as he smiled at the American gangster. "Mister Marcone, you have come a long way to speak with me. Surely there was someone more local who could help you. We frown upon polluting excesses here in Futo."
"I have reason to believe you would know what this is." Marcone says as he pulls out the shattered remains of a USB drive from his pocket. The oddest thing about the device is not the ornate bone like design around the case but the fact that the interior contained no flash memory or any electronics at all.
"It is just a fancy memory stick." Sonozaki says his smile not faltering.
Marcone shakes his head. "No. This was taken from a man-sized grasshopper. One that nearly fought three immortal Vikings with advanced modern weapons and dwarven forged swords to a stand still. On top of that when they do manage to put the insect out of it's misery it turns into a young Japanese woman who gives me your name."
Sonozaki laughs. "Ah, you had a run in with a Dopant. This would be one of those Gaia Memories I keep hearing about on the News..."
"I am not here to play games Mr. Sonozaki. I have already had Miss Gard run a full analysis on every property you own in this city. You have an abandoned factory on the outskirts full of dark magic that I suspect is making these Gaia Memories." Marcone states matter of factually.
Sonozaki's smile gives way to a scowl for a second. "You have no way to prove it."
"No, but I do have your regional Warden's phone number and with the war with Nightwatch they have been pretty trigger happy lately." Marcone explains pulling out a burnt up address book. It's hard to tell through the scorch marks but it says right on the cover it belonged to one H. Dresden. "That said I could just forget this ever happened. All I want is two little favors."
Sonozaki frowns but gives a small nod. "What do you want Mr. Marcone?"
"First I want you to keep your Dopants out of Chicago, I have enough problems as is without dealing with them too." Marcone's tone changes from polite and negotiable to demanding and forceful, there is more than he's letting on about his disgust with the Gaia Memories.
"Done, they were never supposed to leave Futo to begin with." Sonozaki nods in agreement.
"Second, the young lady before she chocked herself on one of those delightful boiled grasshoppers mentioned one other name. Foundation X, now if she worked for this Foundation and was using one of your memories then I'm left to suspect that you work for them too." Marcone explained.
"What of it?" Sonozaki asked suspiciously.
"I want in."