Black Lagoon: Black Leg Billie
Chapter 1: Gunrunner
Antwerp, Belgium
Some say when something is covered in gold, it only takes a scratch of the finger to expose the rot. In many businesses, one can see it's effects on those who are less fortunate. My business is rather simple. I sell my products to those who are willing to pay for it. So what is my business? Simple. My business is war. I am Wilhelmine Van De Falke.
I am a businesswoman, but that does not mean I am helpless. As a former soldier in the Belgian Army, I have seen my fair share of conflict. To that, the motto of my business: 'It takes a hand to hold a gun, it takes a special pair to give one away'. I give my weapons to those that cannot defend themselves, or they can and they are willing to pay for it.
Today was a simple day to discuss business, "Good to see you," said my client,
"A pleasure as always, coffee?" I replied, and offered her a cup at a local café.
"You are most hospitable," she replied, this is one of the best clients to work with,
Boss Balalaika, the head of Hotel Moscow. A full-figured woman just like me. I do not let those scars deter me from conducting my work, "I have been told by an informant to come to you for some...specialty items," she said, the smell of cigar smoke was very prominent on her. Cigars are worse for your health than cigarettes, but who am I to judge?
Some clients are rather fast on the trigger finger. This one is not. I nodded to her statement, and lightly grinned seeing an opportunity to make a sale, "You have come to the right one," I said, resting my elbows on the table, and looking her in the eyes. I studied her for a moment, and decided to take her, "come with me, I will show you my current stock,"
I led her to the port, "I see why some call you 'Black Leg Billie'," remarked the Boss,
I looked back and smirked at her, "I like tight black leather...with a touch of bellbottom flare or straight leg skinny,"
"I know who you are...that special brand of tough and suave, I like that," said the Boss,
I opened the lock to the shipping container. It's my own personal inventory. It may not be able to fit a Leopard 2A7, but I can throw a few in if the money's good. I have something special in store for Boss Balalaika. No, I'm not going to put one in her. I have something better for her. I showed her my first offer, "RPG-16, starting at 2000 a piece,"
"You're selling at RPG-7 prices, you know your way around a deal, I'll take five as long as you don't charge me the rockets," said the Boss, I nodded in agreement, I have some better things in store for her. I noticed a few of her men are armed with AK-74s. I felt in my mind that she and her men can use an upgrade in their weaponry, "anything else?"
I scratched the back of my pixie-cut brown hair, and grinned, "I just got these last week,"
"Hmm...an AK-103, I should start doing more business with you, I'll take your stock of these," she replied,
"It is a pleasure doing business with a client such as yourself," I replied, trying to stay in her graces,
There is a difference between me and others in my line of work. I am willing to get my hands dirty, usually by means of defending myself. With my skills mixing my soldiers training with Savate, I am not one you want to get on the wrong side of even without my two Walther Model 6 pistols in my hip thigh holsters. They maybe relics, but they still work.
Boss Balalaika blew smoke from her cigar into the spring air, "You know why people like you can't leave this business? Because you too much money...for people like me," she said, I smirked a grin as she smiled back to me. There seemed to be something about her grin. Her smile seemed to reflect more than just a crime boss. She seems reliable in a way.
"The thing is, Boss Balalaika, I would not want to leave this line of work," I replied back,
"It's not all about the money, the last thing you would want is to turn greedy," she replied,
"That is how people that work the trade...disappear," I warned her, having that happen to a few clients,
"One last thing, I was saving this for you...given you are client with much status," I said, went to the back of the container, and pulled out a small leather covered box from the very back of the cases of assault rifles, grenade launchers, anti-tank and portable surface-to-air missiles. Not everything in my stock is Russian, but Russian hardware pays well.
I opened the case and presented it to Boss Balalaika. Her eyes were in awe at what I had presented to her, "A Baltiets Model 1942, only fifteen of these were ever made, how did you get your hands on this?" she asked, I grinned and gave her a wink, "ah...trade secret, my question to you is...how much?" she asked, I figured something within her range,
"15,000," I offered to her, Boss Balalaika scratched her chin as she examined the firearm,
"That's a little steep there, Wilhelmine, 10,000 and we have a deal?" she offered, I took the offer,
"Done," I agreed, and shook her hand, she then took the pistol and aimed it at me,
I was quick to react, and had my pistol right between her eyes. The clicks of a few AK-74s aimed at me from her guards, "Stand down, men, I was just testing her," she informed her men, and they pulled back their rifles, "not bad, but you can't be too trusting of all your clients, remember that," I pulled my Walther back, and put it in my right thigh holster.
"I would like for you to meet me at Hotel Moscow so you can receive your payment," concluded the Boss, as we had sealed the deal, Hotel Moscow means Roanapur. Such a place might work with some benefits and Balalaika seemed to be on the same page as me, "by the way, you can move your work to Roanapur, lots of clients and profits to be made,"