Collision 07

Meanwhile...

It took them a day and a half to assemble the information they had available to them. Fujimaru forwarded some further information he managed to get while hacking on the site of Vongola Inc, more than what Shoichi managed to get when he tried before. Tsuna had never doubted his friend's skill as a hacker, but it really isn't Shoichi's specialty.

Fujimaru is the real hacker who taught Shoichi what he knew. It is his playfield. Whenever they are in need of information that they couldn't get, nor their contacts, Fujimaru always managed to give it to them. He just has a knack for it. The more he does it, the further his knowledge goes and the more effective he gets. He also never stops learning anything about computers, data, and the likes so his expertise isn't that much of a surprise.

Still, he couldn't help admiring him even further upon getting all the information he gave. It wasn't a lot but there are things in there that would really help a lot, even if the notes Fujimaru added on the side doesn't make sense a lot of times. Especially about the formulas he managed to copy as he slingshot himself out of the system before he was found out.

Though he didn't know much about hacking, he understands some data as Fujimaru more often than not try to teach him too. The firewall protection of the Vongola Inc's system is aggressive as it protects the information it contains. Vicious and persistent too. It was also tricky and would often trap the connection to trace back towards where the hacking originally is. Shoichi had to give up while sweating a lot, looking like he had run a marathon. He had completely understood as even him who wasn't involved at all in the fight sweated in nervousness.

But Fujimaru, though he was also visibly sweating when he video called, also looked to have enjoyed himself so thoroughly that he was looking forward to Round 2 while Otoya looked to be about to roll his eyes behind when he excitedly told them about the "absolutely wonderful battle he ever had in his life in any computer system" that he just had. Completely his words.

Tsuna wondered how he could have found weird friends of all the population in the world. Though he won't exchange any of them even for a bit.

He was happy though to see that Otoya had his own observation added in it, neatly compiled in another data. Another brilliant mind in this operation is welcome.

They then arrange for the video conference to finally start after they had made sense of the information they had on hand. He dressed in his usual garb when he had to appear in front of other people.

It was an overall black and white attire. A suit to be exact, with his face covered by a blank mask that has a small built-in voice changer inside. The mask doesn't even closely fit his face, and of course, that also includes his clothes... just a tiny bit. That was a deliberate and calculated move on their part.

They added additional paddings on the shoulder and front area, along with his back to make the impression that he is huge, bulky and well-defined. His mask also didn't give any clues as to the form of his face, making any facial recognition completely useless. Even a hint of impression couldn't be seen. They also used black leather gloves for concealment.

They used the small office beside the room they are using as their base. There is a single, slightly bulky envelope on the table where they put all the documents they had for Tsuna's reading while talking to the contacts they had, though the files were also stored on his phone along with all of them, the one they use in work. They also had several hidden places where they hide all the copies they had of said information.

Just a precaution.

"Are you ready Tsuna?" Takeshi asked. Tsuna didn't answer but e could not help sighing.

Even though he was usually the one who talks to the people Thallium is connected with, the job can still be taken by anyone in the group as it wasn't really their voice they are using. It is the voice-changing device that Shoichi created. They just press it close to their mouths and talk to it. The voice transmitted in it is a male voice, deep, huge and has a slight tinge to it that gives anyone who heard it the impression that the man behind the voice is a usually cold person.

It's just that when the others take it, there is an unmistakable difference when others hear. When Takeshi is using it, the tone that gets out of the device is creepily chirpy it just gives them the shudder. Shoichi doing the call is like seeing a super muscled person having a girly voice. Byakuran's just plain evil it oozes out of the other side like a silky slime. Out of all, Kyoya is the one who can properly talk to them aside from him, barring his... quirks. His decisive and assertiveness can be heard, but he just gets easily irritated, especially when everyone couldn't get him immediately or they start their posturing and questioning him that he would start threatening everyone within distance, and even those listening with death. In the end, it mostly fell to him.

But when there was finally a need to make them see a person behind the voice, no one could do it other than him because the first time it happened, Kyoya had to deal with the idioticness of his subordinates and was gone, Shoichi stubbornly said he didn't want to and Takeshi was with Kyoya, apparently 'helping'. While Byakuran was willing, Tsuna was afraid he would laugh creepily at inappropriate times like he often does when amused. So he sat in while wearing a huge cloak that covers everything in him.

Just from that, every one of them nominated him to be the 'face' of Thallium. But he really didn't want to. He hates wearing a suit even if it is comfortable. Using a mask feels hot and uncomfortable.

Well, it's not as if he had a choice now. Kyoya is the one he would prefer to be there but with this conference... patience is especially needed.

"Let's get this over with." he said.

He sat on the chair and allowed Shoichi to finally start the video. The numerous screens that are placed meticulously in the room that Kyoya provided just for this day lit up and every faces of the contacts he knows revealed themselves. He didn't say anything to them yet and allowed them to talk amongst themselves as the others could also see each other in their own devices.

He looked at each and every one of them, making sure that they are who they looked like, studying their faces, voice, and mannerisms and more importantly, looking to see if the people are flame users.

Although distinguishing them is normally not done with just his eyes, he is now focusing his instincts on the people to see if it would ever tell him something was wrong.

Though he isn't sure, he hazards a guess that his instincts and his flames are connected. There is nothing more that could explain it. His instincts are scarily accurate to the point that he could use it as a radar in anything, mostly about the danger in his life.

Though he trusted these people to such a degree that he made them his connection to the various government agencies around the world and his instincts played a role in it, he still has to double check to make sure.

Especially when the one they are fighting with right now is the entirety of mafia. Just the regular kind already poses danger no matter how little it is on them as Thallium has the means to protect themselves that normal people in the government agency doesn't. Their flames.

Also, they couldn't risk any mistakes. Out of all of the underworld, the one that has his senses ringing that both his instincts and personal thinking had been unanimously in congruent with each other in just a second are the Mafia's enforcers.

Vindice.

Like he told Reborn, just the name itself brings an ominous feeling of danger. Even that hitman looked uneasy saying that name.

The most important rule of the mafia that everyone in the whole world knows is their omerta. Though outer members only receive punishment for breaking the rule from their fellow members no matter how cruel it is, core members receive theirs from Vindice.

And Tsuna has a feeling that they deal with it most severely.

In a group of people that has superpowers like the various flames and their respective properties, keeping them in check will certainly be difficult, especially with the typical behaviors of the mafia members. But it looked as if they are managing just fine. Not only that, they even managed to keep them in line.

Vindice is dangerous. More than ever, the identity of Thallium must be kept at all cost.

They would have to investigate further not only to get another information on the important groups in the underworld but also for their safety. So that they could plan in case involvement with Vindice becomes completely unavoidable. Which they all knew would happen eventually. Better to be prepared now than to be caught off guard later.

When his instinct didn't tell him anything was wrong, he started the discussion.

. . . . .

It took them the entire day to settle down but the conference weren't even finished yet. Although the information Thallium provided weren't that many, it still took time for them to disseminate everything in it. But these people still wouldn't, couldn't admit to it as the truth.

Even contemplating it was not permitted.

By this time, even Tsuna's long lived patience wore thin at the way they continued nitpicking the information he sent them. They even demanded him to tell them who this spy is and how he/she managed to pass through the apparent yet unknown test to finally step into the first stage or even the elites.

He could understand their paranoia. They had been struggling with the lack of strong information on the underworld for so long it was like now that they had one, it was too good to be true. But they don't have any right, at all, to demand anything from him.

He was willing to give this much information that they lacked to get, and now they can't even respect it. Just thinking about it in a just-in-case-it's-true scenario wasn't accepted. It's really getting in his nerves.

He didn't have to look at the rest of Thallium members watching from the side to know their reaction.

He had forgone lunch and instead just ate snacks they bought before this. Though the rest of them didn't even touch their own lunch box and was just staring at him stubbornly. Well, except for Kyoya, though he did eat inside.

Shoichi would be forlorn as not only is he hungry, the information they had painstakingly acquired are being questioned. Takeshi was frowning while he was looking at the person from the FBI contact they had in Canada as he was the most vocal in demanding the name and any information regarding their asset/spy. Actually, the most silent of them was the French Agent from the France Ministry of Defense, Victoire Fontaine. She just calmly read through the information they had sent.

She is currently his most favorite.

He saw Byakuran's eyes are open and wide while his lips fully stretched into a large smile, a sign of his irritation. Kyoya himself looked to be about seconds from destroying all the screen monitors.

"Enough!" His voice was frosty and the effect it carried on the voice chamber device made it sound like he was a few seconds from killing everyone. Unsurprisingly, it froze everyone.

Though Tsuna knew they can't really see his face, much less his eyes, he couldn't help but look at them coldly.

"Until you can give me any evidence to say that the information I gave you are false, then we are to assume that it is genuine. Unless you really have a contact inside the mafia that managed to pass through the unknown test and has been reporting to you about things and making you think the ones you are holding are made-up?"

Most of them looked at the data on their hands again before slightly grimacing. As much as it burns, they do not have anyone on the inside that could give them any substantial information.

The ones they had received from him, from Thallium are the first they had that contains valuable information that could help them immensely.

"Also, my spies are my own." His voice became even more uncompromising. "Their identities are for me to know only." He gave them all a disdainful look that he knew they would hear from his voice even if they can't see it. "May I remind you that you are availing my services, not the other way around. You hired me to help you with the underworld." Tsuna deliberately moved his body a little to stare at the most vocal person who kept on demanding. "I am not one of your subordinates that you can just demand, however, whenever and whichever way you want."

He looked at every one of them, clearly making them see how displeased he is by his body language. They are all highly efficient and trained agents even if some of them can't be in the field anymore either due to injuries or their position that requires them to stay put.

Especially when their bosses found out they are their connection with the mysterious detective, Thallium. They often see their importance and made sure they will be protected. Because it is rare to get his help at all without them fully initiating the contact and paying for his services.

They tried not to ask for his help as he and his group, after all, is not affiliated with any government agencies but when leads are cold and cases are getting a few years older, they have no choice but to call.

It is a lucrative business for their group without tying them into something or someone they do not want.

"Frankly speaking, I am doubting myself if I did accept you people as someone whom I can associate."

That was a threat. He didn't have to say it so bluntly for them to understand that. That statement alone is a blatant and effective threat.

He could cut them off, and he knows they do not want that. Being his contact means they get to enjoy privileges that he gives out to them. Some tech and information they received without even needing to buy from him.

More than the perks they received from their respective agencies for being his contact, it was this that they didn't want to be taken from them.

He stared at them, leaving the ball in their court. In the end, it was his now favorite agent, Fontaine who first spoke with her thick accent.

"So, what will the spy do now?"

With a smile, they started their discussion again.

. . . . .

"What is the status of the Vongola affairs?" a serious voice asked. The person kneeling in front of the person asking spoke with the same serious demeanor.

"They seem to have finally found an heir."

The almost silent scratching of the pen on the papers stopped abruptly. Now that it was gone, the silence in the room became even more deafening.

"Is this the CEDEF's son?"

"It seems so. He did arrange for his son to be told about this world. But there is still no official statement released."

The scratching of the pen started again after a few seconds of pause.

"Monitor the Famiglia. We can't be caught unawares again."

"Yes, Bermuda-sama."

TBC.


A/N:

Ooh... mafia's enforcer came out to play...

My creative juices for this fic are slowly coming back, but not enough to be able to continue where I left off. I really like how I wrote this. Hopefully inspiration strike me again.


Edited: 02/05/2022