Their time in the restaurant was a lot more pleasant, and they caught up on what happened with her family since Yang was away. Yang promised to tell more about her side of the story next time they met. This lead to semi-loud discussion between her and Tai about Yang coming home, and while Yang did tell them she missed them while she was away, that she now has responsibilities to take care of, as well as more adventures to be had. This had been her goal since she was little after all, the goal of living an adventure-filled life. Ruby was clearly disappointed both in the path of evil she had chosen, and that she wasn't coming back, and promised to not give up on Yang in regards to both of these things.
Once their meal was over, she lead them to her office and sent them back home via her Tower Gate, with promises to keep the other end in Patch as long as they promised to make sure no animals stumbled onto it instead.
With her family, once again gone, she had to get back to work. Unfortunately, contrary to what she promised to the Schnees, she did not have the money to pay for all the dust. Unlike the Kingdom of Atlas which had seriously improved their economy and military sector since the Great War, the rest of Kingdoms stagnated. She had to somehow reignite her country's economy to even stand a chance of remilitarizing to the extent of her dreams. For now, she planned to take on some debt, way less than she would have had to take had the prices gone up as Jacques wanted. She planned on quickly resolving the debt problem, if she couldn't stop it entirely.
First, she needed more information. Mistral was her destination then.
Getting there was easy, teleportation made the trip as fast as a flash. She went to the bar her ally owned. She felt kinda nostalgic.
She entered the bar, and walked over to Malachite's table.
"Hello, Malachite", Yang politely greeted her.
Miss Malachite looked up from the documents she was reading and smiled at Yang.
"Ah, the Overlord. Or should I call you the Emperor now?", Malachite said with some humor, "I believe this is the first time I have seen your face. You look younger than I expected"
Indeed, the last two times she had hid her face behind illusions of darkness. Now she saw no need.
"You may call me 'Yang'. We are friends after all, aren't we?"
"I suppose that's one way to describe our alliance.", Malachite said with soft laughter, "But I do not believe you have come her to catch up."
Yang nodded, unsurprised. Malachite seemed to know when you wanted something. Experience, probably.
"I've been hearing about this up-and-coming criminal mastermind in Vale. The news can't seem to ever shut up about him", Yang started talking.
"Yes, I've heard about him. Mr. Torchwick, right?"
"Exactly. I wanted more information about him.", Yang confirmed.
"If you want to strike a deal with him, or an alliance with him, I would urge caution", Malachite warned her, "He used to serve me. His ambition knows no bounds, and his loyalty is far weaker than his ambition. He messed with my underlings for power, and eventually even attempted to take my place. I tried to assassinate him, twice, and I failed twice. Do not underestimate him, or the girl that shadows him around for she is even more capable than him in combat."
"I just want to suggest a mutually beneficial deal to him. I'll make sure to keep your advice in mind. You don't have a problem with that?"
"Just make sure to kill him when he eventually betrays you.", Malachite asked.
"I promise."
"Then I have no problem with it. The information you want is likely his location, correct?"
Yang nodded.
"Then seek out Junior Xiong in Vale's underworld. He serves similar purpose there as I do here, although, obviously I do it better"
"Obviously", Yang agreed.
Malachite had one of her bodyguards, the female one, hand her an empty piece of paper and wrote down something on it, passing it to Yang.
"Here are the directions on how to find his nightclub.", Malachite said while describing how Junior looked.
Yang thanked her and stood up to leave. She took a few steps and stopped and turned to face her ally.
"I don't get the impression that you're the kind of gal to like being in second place", Yang stated.
"I am not", Malachite confirmed.
Yang nodded, her suspicions confirmed.
"Contact me when you decide to be the first. You helped me before, I'll help you too."
"I will", Malachite agreed, "I do not believe it is far off."
Yang understood the implications behind her words, and so did Malachite it seemed. With a final nod to her, she returned to the abandoned warehouse that stored her Tower Gate, and used it to get to her office. She had a few hours left to burn before Junior opened his business for the night.
She spent some of those few hours making changes to laws, in specific some labor laws. Sure, no prosecutor would dare to try and charge her, but she probably should give herself an exception to the labor laws. After all, she didn't really pay her Minions and their work hours far outstripped the allowance of labor laws that existed in Vacuo. And, hey, modifying labor laws negatively seems like something an Evil figure would do, so it fit her image. The rest of the time she spent studying the strange phenomena that had occurred back when her family visited her. When she was extremely angry, she seemingly began leaking darkness that formed, without her say so, an illusion, and once her anger reached its peak it momentarily changed that illusion to another. She really didn't know she could do that unconsciously. Even more so, she didn't think it was possible to use Evil Magic to form such colorful and detailed illusions without being much more skilled and definitely focused. She thought she could replicate the void illusion, and she had succeeded, so that could come in handy if she ever needed a scare factor. Her attempts to form an illusion of the Infernal Abyss seemed to be fruitless, however. She did not seem to have the required skill to replicate something so detailed and complex. While her illusion of the Abyss carried no sound of the tortured beings within, nor the oppressing aura of the place or its Godly Master, it was still very impressive especially considering she couldn't replicate it no matter how hard she tried. Frustrated she flung some Evil Energy wildly around the room. The thrown Evil Energy reached the corners of the room and momentarily flashed red before it vanished.
"There!", she shouted to herself voice full of excitement, "Progress! Finally!"
Still, she wasn't sure what she had done differently this time.
"Anger, Sire", Gnarl commented.
Being used to him popping in her mind whenever he felt like observing or advising her, she didn't jump in surprise, even though surprised she surely felt.
"I wasn't aware you were looking at my training", Yang commented.
"Only bits of it, Master. I have other things to do as well", Gnarl replied.
"Anyway, you said 'Anger'? What'd you mean?", Yang asked with curiosity.
"Unlike your other attempts where you prioritized control, Sire, it seems that in both of your successful attempts, it was anger that was fueling you, not control"
"Why does that matter?, Yang asked confused, "Illusions need control"
"Most Evil Magic can be affected by the emotions of the caster-", Gnarl said before Yang interrupted him with, "Yeah, I know".
"Sire, please, let me talk."
"Yeah, sorry about that", Yang apologized, "Go ahead.
"As I was saying, most Evil Magic can be affected by the emotions of the caster. Anger and Fear are prime examples. Anger is antithesis to control, but to spells that require little control, or with a sufficiently mentally powerful caster -in Willpower, not necessarily brains-, Anger can provide a big boost to the power of Evil Spells. Normal Magic is far more controlled and static, and emotions play very little part in the casting of such spells. On the other hand, Light Magic is similar in structure to Evil Magic, and especially the Healing Arts of the Light Magic very heavily rely on emotion, although Light Magic fueled by dark or evil desires has been known to disastrously backfire on all but the most talented casters. Going back to Evil Magic, as another example I mentioned fear. Where Anger can provide power, sufficient fear can cause Evil Spells to fizzle out or collapse on itself. The more powerful and complex the Evil Spell is the more dangerous it is for caster to cast it while being afraid. All this I have already taught you, Sire.", Gnarl began his lecture.
"You did", Yang confirmed.
"It is important to know that there are exceptions to this, however. While a Master in Evil Magic is an exception to most rules in itself, there are other exceptions. Not all of them you must learn, Master. Some you will come to inherently understand with practice. Going back to the Fear example, while it is true that fear can cause spells to become useless, some Evil Spells feed on Fear and Desperation. Sacrificial Rituals of ones own body feed on Desperation easily enough, for there is very little situations where the caster is willing to sacrifice parts of his own body if he is not desperate."
"Like Litchdom, right?", Yang inquire.
"Exactly, Sire.", Gnarl said pleased, "The Magic required to become even the weakest of Liches feeds on fear, of Death in most cases, and Desperation to escape ones Mortal Body. Of course, caster good enough need not feed the spell with emotion, but it is always a useful increase in power."
Yang nodded in understanding and motioned for him to continue.
"Some illusionary spells also feed on Fear. Most often those are the very spells that aim to induce fear in ones own opponents. Fear of being cut down by them can turn into a rather frightening illusion.", Gnarl continued his lesson.
"But I created the image of the Infernal Abyss with Anger, not Fear.", Yang pointed out.
"Indeed, you did. Illusionary Arts are complex, and in my opinion mostly useless. What good is an illusion, when a good Evil Spell can destroy you enemies?"
"Focus, Gnarl", Yang commanded.
"Yes, yes, so...Well, Sire, like I said Illusionary Arts are rather complex. They are by itself somewhat of a weird exception to most rules. Some spells of Illusion can substitute some amount of skill with sufficient emotion, that in itself being a paradox.", Gnarl explained
Yang looked very confused and so Gnarl hurried to explain.
"Can you tell me what happened when you cast the first successful illusion of the Infernal Abyss?", Gnarl inquired.
Yang knew he definitely knew the answer, so it seemed that he was going somewhere with this.
"It appeared for a moment then immediately shattered.", Yang replied.
"Exactly! And that's why it's a paradox!"
"...I don't think I get it", Yang admitted.
"You substituted the skill required to create as detailed illusion as the one you cast with sufficient Anger. However as I mentioned before Anger is antithesis to control, and the spell lacked the sufficient required control to stay stable and active. And so it collapsed on itself.", Gnarl explained.
"I am starting to see why you don't really like Illusion Magic.", Yang slowly said, "So, what, it's impossible to have both? Both help of emotion and control enough to keep the illusion in place?"
"Certainly possible, Sire", Gnarl answered her, "Caster with sufficient willpower can make use of, for example, Anger without succumbing to its effects."
"And you've been teaching me how to strengthen my willpower to resist the corruption brought forth by the Evil Energies.", Yang noted.
"Looks like you will have a chance to use those lessons on something else than resisting corruption, then".
"Wait, there is something I'm still confused about. Why did my anger trigger the illusion of Infernal Abyss?", Yang asked.
"There could be very many possible reasons, Master.", Gnarl started, "Illusion spells that are not specifically guided by the caster, or in your case cast unconsciously, Illusion spell draws from places or memories you most associate with said emotion."
"I associate Anger with Hell?", she said confused.
"It could be subconscious, Sire. Maybe it's Anger borne out of Envy for the Third Overlord's power. Perhaps it is anger based on your dislike of him torturing the souls that are in his domain. Or perhaps it is something different."
"Like what?", Yang asked
"Well, if there wasn't a really fitting emotion or a place you associate with Anger it could be that it went for a default option, or perhaps, paradoxically, the default overwrote all other options.", Gnarl guessed an explanation.
"The default option?", Yang asked.
"I'm not entirely sure what it would be for most creatures, but we lot, Sire, we are the creatures of Evil.", Gnarl said.
"Yes, I am very well aware.", Yang said with a bit of annoyance that he was repeating things she already knew.
"What place do we Evil creatures, even ones not carrying Magical Senses, are most connected to?", Gnarl asked, wanting her to figure out the answer.
Yang though for a second, and her eyes widened at the realization.
"That's why it was the Infernal Abyss!"
Evil Creatures were particularly connected to the Infernal Abyss. Every truly Evil creature felt the Infernal Abyss at just the edge of their senses -and those who could not use senses could still feel it's presence always seemingly at the furthest corner of their mind-, and those that would direct their senses to pay particular attention to the Infernal Abyss could then, for the duration of attention, feel all that Yang's apprentice experienced when Yang let him use her senses to 'see' the Infernal Abyss. That did not mean that the Master of the Abyss controlled all those creatures or that they served his will, yet even so a connection to that place was there. The Brother Gods watched over Humanity before they left, the Mother Goddess watched over the Elves, and the Third Overlord watched over all the Evil creatures with the exception of Grimm who were under the Brother God's jurisdiction. Other races like Dwarves and trolls, and the rest, had no God who have deigned to watch over them. While they were the product of the Mother Goddess' creation, she favored the Elves above the rest of her creations. The Elves in turned looked after the forest and the animals therein, for they too were their Goddess' creations.
"That's my thinking as well, Sire. And that's not a bad default option. Most non-Evil creatures would find the Abyss terrifying.", Gnarl agreed.
Yang focused on her anger, her frustration with the failures of casting this spell properly, and with her frustration at just how badly her fight with Theodore went ,anger at the gap between her power and the possible powers of other Headmasters, she stewed in that feeling, kept it close, and in a blast of Evil Energy she released it. The darkness began turning red, and Yang tried slamming her willpower on the spell to keep it in place. The keyword being 'tried' as she found it difficult to do so through the fog in one's mind that Anger tended to bring. Still, some small amount of willpower she was able to use to keep the spell in place for a bit longer as an image of something began forming, and then the spell shattered.
"It seems your Anger was insufficient to cross the gap of skill, Sire.", Gnarl commented, "And not enough of your willpower was directed at the spell"
Yang screamed in frustration.
"Don't worry, Lord, with practice you can master this spell. While I maintain that the spell is useless, it does give you a much needed practice of using your willpower in conjecture with your emotions, experience that will help you both to further strengthen your willpower as well as better cast your spells."
She continued practicing this spell until it was evening came about and it was time for her to seek out the man she heard so much about, Roman Torchwick. She used her Tower Gate to teleport to Island of Patch. She surrounded herself with an illusion of darkness making her face covered by it, and her armor appear instead as a very dark clock. She took a bullhead, and paid for it too, to Vale. Since Patch was close by, it only took 48 minutes. From there she made her way to the location her trusty ally had specified, the location being Junior's Bar.
Once she arrived it it was already nearly ten, and she saw Junior's bar opening up, bouncers exiting the building and getting ready to start their job on providing outside security as well as check the age of their would-be customers.
Yang walked up to the bouncers, and they asked her for her ID. It seemed they had nothing against letting suspicious looking people in. Probably that's the kind of clientele Junior wanted anyhow.
That was the first issue, she supposed. She wasn't against showing her ID that labeled her the Emperor of the Unholy Ultimus Empire, she had the ID made once she took over, but she wanted to keep her presence her as secret as possible, hence the illusion. This was as good of time as any to see how much she managed to improve her illusions in the 5-ish ours she had to practice since her meeting with Malachite ended. She gave her ID, and cast a simple and non-complicated illusion on it. It would make the five on her age turn into an eight, while the one beforehand would remain unchanged. The letters of her name would also seem somewhat blurry, which she had no doubt they would attribute to the night's sky. And if the lights above them meant to illuminate the incoming customers for easier time viewing their documentation suddenly seemed much duller, well, she was sure they'll see it as nothing more than an unlucky coincidence. When their eyes started to turn to her image on the ID, the colors of her hair in the image blackened, and so did her skin. She appeared like a raven-haired and deeply black-skinned woman.
"Ultimus Empire", one of the male bouncers noted to himself before asking her, "How's life in that desert hellhole?"
"A bit too much desert for my taste", Yang admitted using one of her voice changing spells to slightly deepen her voice, "Although the heat is very nice if you keep out the desert".
"We don't get many of your kind here", another one noted without any malice.
"We Vacuans were reclusive in more ways then one even before the Emperor took power", Yang answered recalling the attitudes and the culture of her subjects. She had heard from newspapers in her Empire, and she had seen it confirmed in her brief interaction with her subjects.
"Vacuans?", the first one inquired, "You don't support your Emperor?"
"I do support my Emperor", she countered, "It's just that she hasn't seen fit to rename our identity"
Honestly, she just hadn't had the time to be bothered by that. That and she hadn't come up with any decent alternative name. Besides, erasing their identity felt wrong. One of the reasons she was against the usage of the Evil Presence spell as it dominated the victim and rewrote them until all they desired was to please their Master.
The bouncers nodded their heads accepting her reasoning.
"One last question", the first bouncer said, "And sorry for overloading you with them, I'm just curious about all this new stuff that's been happening."
Yang nodded. She could certainly understand the curiosity.
"Is your Emperor as bad as the media portrays her to be?", he asked.
"The Emperor is an Evil woman.", Yang started, "She's certainly completely different from the previous government. Once she got in office she rewrote many previous laws, made exceptions for herself in existing laws, wrote many new ones, and she is said to be working on redoing our constitution. But! She is powerful, capable, effective, and above all, despite how her actions may seem she does seem to be trying to help us. The conflict with Atlas for example is proof that she recognizes a potential enemy and instead of tip-toeing around the issue, she said they were potential enemies and that we need to stop being weak. She has shown interest in restoring our pride, and securing the means to make our independence safe! And the security of the villages! She's an Evil woman, but we respect her, and does who don't, fear her."
The end of her speech had gotten a bit heated, clearly being something she is passionate about. In a way, she just gave herself an ad campaign in third person.
"Well, it's clear that you think highly of her.", the questioner said.
"Well, you ID seems in order, so go ahead in, Miss", the second bouncer said as he opened the door.
And so, Yang walked in. She looked around the nightclub. The guests haven't yet begun to trickle in, but the music was already blaring. This looked like a place she might like to hang out and dance someday. She walked over to the bar and sat down.
"Could you actually look any more suspicious?" a sharply dressed man in a black vest over a white dress shirt, a red tie, black gloves and black dress pants asked her. He had gray eyes, short black hair, along with a matching beard and mustache. Even if Yang stood up, he'd still tower over her being quite tall. He stood at the other side of the bar, cleaning some cups and glasses. It seemed he was in a bartender role.
"My priority is not getting my face recognized. The suspicious look is not a problem for me", Yang replied, "Can I presume you are Junior? You looked like the description I got"
"Yeah, that's me. What do you want, kid?", he asked cutting right to the point.
"I got past your bouncers, didn't I?"
"And you still look far too short to be eighteen. But, that's fine, if you make fraudulent documents that's on you.", he said before asking again with a serious tone, "So, what do you want? People don't just look for me for no reason. They always want something."
"Torchwick", Yang said simply, "I want to find him."
"You're shit out of luck then, girl, because even if I had that information, I wouldn't sell out one of my best customers."
"But he comes here?", Yang asked.
"You a cop?", he counter-asked.
"I'm not even from Vale. Even if I was a cop, I wouldn't have a reason or authority to arrest him.", Yang said simply.
Junior stared at her for a few moments and nodded.
"I'd like to say I'm good at telling when people are obviously lying, and you don't seem to be. Where are you from anyway?"
"The Unholy Ultimus Empire", Yang said, "Praise be to the Emperor"
He got a curious look on his face.
"Does she really force you all to say that all the time?", he asked with genuine curiosity.
"Only when writing about her and talking to her face. She demands respect. It's actually a misdemeanor to not address her with some sort of acceptable honorific like "your Highness", "your Majesty", or simply "Emperor".", she answered.
It was actually a misdemeanor. Gnarl suggested it, and she thought it was kinda funny, so she made it a law few days ago.
"Wouldn't want to live there, then", Junior said, "Hate giving respect to people who haven't earned it."
"Wouldn't taking down the strongest huntsmen ever make her worth of respect?", Yang asked trying to keep the offense of her voice.
"That makes her notable, and someone to keep an eye on. There's more to respect for me than just strength."
"Like what?", Yang asked.
"Loyalty, for one.", he answered simply.
Yang nodded
"I can respect that"
"Anyway, girlie-", Junior started to say, and Yang seriously considered just blasting him with the Evil Presence spell for al that disrespect and mockery of her, "-you wanted info on Roman?"
"Yeah", Yang replied.
"This is not a really big secret. Everyone knows he comes here once in a while. Not daily, but he comes when he needs to hire some men, or needs information"
"Everyone? Even cops?"
"They have nothing concrete, but they all suspect this. Roman is good enough to not get tracked getting here"
"And the clients here are more interested in dancing and alcohol to pay attention?", Yang wagered a guess.
"And them being alcohol-filled makes them pretty poor witnesses", Junior agreed.
Yang nodded, it made sense.
"So, since you might be waiting for a while, anything I can get you?", Junior asked professionally.
"Anything you'd recommend for a cute girl like me? Preferably something sweet."
"You like strawberries?", Junior asked.
"Sure, love them", Yang replied.
"Strawberry Sunrise for you then. I think you'll like it", he said as he began to prepare it.
Once she gets her order, she tastes it.
"That was a good recommendation. This tastes great.", Yang said happily as she paid up.
"I am very good at my job", Junior said simply.
Yang waited with her drink, and then with another, and one more after that, for the next two hours. She had no assurances that he would make it today, but she wouldn't let doubt stay her hand. She will wait for a few more hours, and if he doesn't show up today, she'll do it tomorrow too, and on and on until she catches him.
Once the clock hit twelve, the doors opened, and a man with orange hair, black bowler hat, and a white suit walked in, like he owned the place. She couldn't see his pants clearly, but they appeared black in color. The man walked up to the bar seemingly walking to talk to Junior before noticing Yang.
"Well, what is a pretty thing like you doing here all alone? Nursing away your troubles with a drink?", the man asked.
"Waiting for someone actually", Yang replied with her mouth forming a small smile as she guessed her efforts were not in vain.
"How about you take some of this lien and wait somewhere else? I have business with the barkeep, private I'm afraid.", The man charmingly said while handing her some lien for couple of more drinks.
Yang chuckled.
"Sorry, can't do that. You're Torchwick, I guess?"
The man, now identified as Roman Torchwick, gave a small exaggerated bow, and lifting his bowler hat for a second in a greeting.
"The very same, I'm proud to admit. But now I stand at a disadvantage, Miss. May I get your name?"
"Only if you let me help you.", Yang replied.
"Is that a proposition? Sorry, not interested in such help right now", he said while faking remorse.
Normally she would be offended, but she laughed it off.
"Do you always try to make normal things sound like sex?", she asked.
"Well, I am very handsome. Why wouldn't girls be falling head over heels for me?", he replied.
"So modest too. Only a bit more and I might start thinking you're a saint", Yang sarcastically said.
"Admit it, you think I'm handsome", Torchwick pressed.
Yang could admit that to herself. There was the physical charm, but his self confidence was attractive in itself. But that wasn't why she was here.
"Are you a betting man, Mr. Torchwick?", she said instead.
"Only on bets I can't lose", he replied.
"Then here's my bet. Tell me what you want from Junior, in the least incriminating way if you must, and I will provide it for you. Free of charge. If I do, I want to have a private discussion with you on your lonesome. If I can't, I'll bugger right off, and even give you my wallet to boot. Win win for you either way", Yang proposed.
Torchwick thought about it for a while.
"Fine, I'll humor you, though if you're fishing for information, I'll leave you disappointed", he said in agreement to her proposal.
"And here I though a man like you couldn't leave a pretty girl disappointed", Yang teased him.
His raised his eyebrow on his sole visible eye.
"Now who's the one making sexual innuendos?", he replied in a lighthearted tone before turning a bit more serious, "I'm planning something, if you must now, and I need some helping hands"
"Every project needs workers, perfectly normal. ", Yang agreed delighted on the inside that he wasn't looking for information.
"But the project is a bit on the secretive side, so I need trusted and capable men.", he continued.
"To make sure it doesn't leak before it's finished, of course", Yang said pretending as if they weren't talking about a robbery of some kind.
"Of course.", Torchwick agreed, "Now, how would you solve my little conundrum?"
"How many men would you need?", Yang inquired.
"Oh, about ten would suffice perfectly, but I must admit, I am very picky on quality".
"What would you say if I gave you fifteen? Each stronger than an average man, no electronics on them, and best of all, completely free?"
"I'd say that sounds far too good to be true", Torchwick said, "and I think I'm being rather polite by not calling it a scam, honestly."
"Such a gentlemen to spare a lady's feelings", Yang said in a joking tone, "but seriously, try them out. You'll be surprised. What do you have to lose?"
"Aside from being surrounded and attacked by fifteen men?"
"Please.", Yang said clearly not buying his excuse, "If Malachite couldn't kill you with all her power and connections, what chance do fifteen men have?"
Yang noticed that these words but him on guard.
"You seem to be rather well informed for someone I have never met", he said, his voice lacking any lighthearted tone.
"I consider myself resourceful woman.", she answered his unspoken question, "But I'll make the deal even better. I'm so confident that you will be impressed by them, that I am willing to be a hostage while you test them out for a day or two. If you even suspect them of treachery, you can just kill me, or use me as leverage."
"Now that is definitely to good to be true.", Torchwick said his voice carrying a note of suspicion.
It really wasn't any danger to Yang. She could probably burn any ropes if she was tied up, and even if she was guarded by hundred men, she could just teleport out. But he didn't know that.
"Try me, Torchwick. Get some rope, tie me up. I'll wait. Bring some of your men to guard me if you are insecure", she challenged him.
"I do hope this isn't some sort of sex thing", he said attempting to return some of his previous humor into his words.
He snaps his fingers, and Yang feels herself be tied up tightly with ropes. She wasn't surprised. She could sense someone trailing Torchwick. She couldn't see anyone, but it'd take a very powerful, and magical, illusion to be able to fool her senses. "Well, not necessarily powerful.", she corrected herself in her mind, "Only one that was cast by a very talented wizard, talented enough to be as detailed with the illusion to mask even the Life Force within the person they were trying to hide."
"Where are the promised men, then?", Torchwick asked, "Will you try to lead me to your base?"
Yang shook her head.
"Unnecessary.", she replied, "Although, if you could take me somewhere out of the way, like the backrooms or something like that? That'd be nice."
Torchwick shrugged and seeing no harm in it led her to the backrooms after getting permission from Junior. It would make trying to talk to this girl far easier, and if she was a threat, far less messy to remove.
While Yang was being led, she noticed that Torchwick's impressive illusionist had cast an illusion over her ropes, making them seem invisible to not attract any attention.
"Smart", she thought to herself.
Yang was forcibly sat down on a plain chair in what looked to be the supply room for the bar's alcohol and snacks.
"Well, Miss?", Torchwick said, "You promised me fifteen men."
"I did", Yang said with a nod.
She used her powers to summon a Minion Gate near her, from which fifteen Minions popped out of.
"Fifteen men, as promised. You will find them much more useful than their appearance would indicate"
Torchwick seemed taken aback by their sudden appearance, and Yang felt a sharp blade near her neck. Clearly the illusionist saw her as a threat now.
"You're her, then.", Torchwick said, "I saw these creatures described in the news. They do your will, and carry your orders don't they? The question is why would someone like you risk it all to meet someone like me?
Yang nodded, and the shadows disappeared, her illusion gone. That certainly caught Torchwick's attention.
"I am the Emperor of Unholy Ultimus Empire, yes.", Yang confirmed, "I did not want anyone recognizing me in Vale, or here much less, hence the disguise. I'm sure you understand such tactics"
He nodded, he sure understood.
"This is a farce then", Torchwick concluded, "Not you wanting to meet me, that part is true. But you were never in any danger, were you?"
Yang shook her head.
"Afraid not. The Minions are loyal to me, and I was thinking of suggesting as holding me as a hostage to make certain that you can punish me if I were to betray you"
"But I would guess you can teleport out, just like you can teleport in.", Torchwick correctly guessed.
"Exactly, which is why I'm not offering that anymore. You're to smart for that", Yang confirmed as she snapped her fingers and a careful application of her telekinesis spell unraveled the ropes. She felt the blade press harder to her skin, but as Torchwick held his hand in a stop motion, the blade retreated.
"You seem a lady of many talents", Torchwick said, "Too many that I could pass of as a simple semblance"
Yang showed a smug smile.
"A lady doesn't give out her secrets."
"That's true, I suppose, unless you are me.", Torchwick said with a smug look, "Ladies hurry to tell me all of their secrets".
"Oh, no!", Yang said with a pretend-fear, "Such a fiend! Will you steal this poor maiden's secrets too?"
"I'm sure I will", he confirmed with a confident tone, "Now, you said you wanted a private talk. What did you want. I can guess you wanted some sort of mutual work agreement".
Yang stopped pretending, and grew serious, and nodded.
"I am willing to lend you those Minions, like promised. Do the heist you planned, I won't take even anything from it. Call it a test run"
"They are very recognizable, though, which would be a potential connection to you.", Torchwick pointed out.
"I don't care. But, I would appreciate as little connections as possible. Destroyed recording tapes as well as maybe some outfits for the Minions would do wonders. Later, of course, after you tested them."
"You don't expect me to use them on a difficult hit from the start, do you?", he asked.
"Of course not."
Torchwick thought this over.
"And if I were to use them for more heists...?", he inquired.
"Depends on our business relationship.", Yang replied, "I am willing to lend them at a very low price for other hits, unless we become good allies, though I've been warned against that."
Torchwick looked at her critically.
"You are not with her, are you?", he asked, "I can't imagine she would send a friend rather than another assassin."
"Malachite? I don't work for her. I don't work for anyone", Yang answered.
Torchwick smiled and Yang had a feeling that this answer gave Torchwick more information than she realized.
He changed the topic from Malachite back to their possible agreement.
"Is that all you offer?", Torchwick asked.
"I offer my services, as help.", she replied, "Including the teleportation which should sound pretty good for you."
"That would make my jobs easier", he confirmed, "What do you want in return?"
"You are well connected in the criminal underworld, right?"
"Sure am, lady", he confirmed confidently, "Can't get as far as I do without making some connections"
"Have you heard what happened in Kuchinashi?", Yang asked instead.
Torchwick immediately understood what she meant.
"That was your job, I take it.", he said as a statement, "And given that the Bitch in Mistral took over soon after, I'm guessing it was some sort of favor for her"
Yang nodded impressed. He was scary smart. She understood now why Malachite saw him as such a threat.
"It wouldn't make sense for you to try to offload guns, even illegally made, or dust, given your situation with Atlas", he mussed to himself, "That means you want to get rid of drugs. Entire warehouses worth of drugs."
She could only nod again, still in surprise at his deduction abilities.
He shook his head.
"I don't really deal with drugs."
"Lots of money", Yang said, "You only need to get the stuff to someone who'd sell it to whoever's buying. We split that half half. I got it, you got it to someone who gives us tons of money."
He thought about it.
"And in return you help with my heists?"
"I want to avoid the whole Malachite thing", she said, "We'd be partners. If I need some help from the Vale's criminal underworld, or something stolen, I come to you. You need my abilities, I help you. No one with power over the other, both helping each other out because it is beneficial"
"I don't easily do partners, love", Torchwick said shaking his head in refusal, "As I'm sure you've heard, I like to be on the top."
"And I don't do the underling thing either", Yang said, "Just think about it. Whichever way you decide to go, I am still willing to do the drug thing with you."
Torcwick laughed, long and hard, and Yang felt offended. She was sure this was going well.
"You are a bold one, aren't you, Ms. Emperor?", Torchwick said, "You are quite literally betting millions if not more of lien on the fact that I want your abilities than to steal all the money for myself. You literally cannot afford for me to say no to the partnership"
Yang blushed, embarrassed at being so easily read. Aside from threats, she had no real assurances that he won't run off with her drugs.
"I like you", he decided, "This kind of commitment and boldness is refreshing, and I certainly am happy to see you giving the middle finger to Vacuo and Atlas"
Yang was relieved, it seemed this might work out after all.
"We have a deal then?"
"Maybe. Tell me what the Bitch is planning. No way she would be okay with this if she didn't have something bigger on her mind, and even a bigger need of you."
Yang thought about how much she should reveal. After a few minutes she carefully said, "We lot don't like to be number two, you know?"
His eyes widened, meaning clear to him, and he cursed.
"When?"
"'Soon' she said", Yang replied.
He seems to think it over for quite a long time.
"The question is, are you here to spy on me, or would you be the one leaking secrets to me?", the question seemed less directed to her and more so him just thinking out loud.
Yang's eyes flashed red.
"I don't work for anyone", she stressed.
He shook his head.
"That's not the important thing. We all have loyalties of some kind, as much as some would doubt that about me. Joining you would be beneficial, you certainly make a good case. And as long as I am useful, you'd shield me from that woman. But, I promised to myself I would not live that life."
"Malachite will not touch you.", Yang assured him, "She needs me, and I want you.
It showed how much this situation was important to him that he didn't even attempt to make her words into a sexual joke.
"I don't want to hide behind your skirt from her. That's not why I came here, and not why I am making a name here for myself"
"What are you gonna do then?", she asked.
The serious demeanor vanished, and he flashed her a charming smile.
"Let's work together then. You'll be the springboard I'll use to spring myself up the top of Vale's criminal world."
"That's just what a girl wants to hear, that she'll be a tool.", she said sarcastically.
Torchwick rolled his eyes, and held out his hand to her.
"Well?", he inquired, "Together?"
She shook his hand.
"What about Malachite?", Yang asked.
He smiled
"I may not control all of Vale's underworld yet, but she'll find it hard to find me now that I know she will soon redirect most of her attention to me. Besides, I know how her assassins, and she, work, don't worry about me. Just provide me what I need, and I will provide what you need."
Yang nodded.
"Now take me to see those drugs, and I can get to work."
Yang summoned a Tower Gate, and soon they were gone, with the illusionist following close behind.