Hello everyone it is good to be writing again, Sorry if this was late coming out my college courses for this semester had a lot more projects that took up my time. Im disappointed in myself for not posting anything for the new RWBY season or on Halloween. But Im back and glad to start posting again! I want to thank everyone everyone for still reading and and extra thank you for the people that message me to write more, I really appreciate hearing from your guys it helps motivate me to stay at it.
But you know the drill I will talk more down below so please enjoy the new Chapter!
Dealing With The Devil
Hunter of the Void Chapter 13 Rough
Tonight had defiantly taken a turn for Junior and the Twins. One second they were struggling to keep their business together, almost taking bets as to which rival gang would attack first. Then suddenly given a deal that could save face in the Crime world.
Junior looked down to the stack of cards in his hands, turning them over as he counted in his head. While lien was their go to payment, it would not help them recover their reputation or faith lost by their defeat. Client's expected professionalism to protect their investments, while enemies stayed away from a costly fight with them. Their current images showing the opposite.
He glanced back to the Twins, while not on edge anymore they still had their guard and persona up. They brandished their weapons in what he hoped, seemed to be a tough but non-aggressive way. However Miltia bite her lip to hold back from wincing, as Melanie was starting to favor her one leg shifting her weight off the shacking limb.
Junior turned back to their guest leaning against his desk, noting how his arms were cross over his chest simply waiting for an answer. Apparently he also notice the girls struggling as he motioned to the over turned couch behind them. Both girls looked at their former seat and together casted a scowl at the man. But Junior waved them to sit. They already lost their tough image no point in hurting themselves for the act.
Junior appreciated the curtsey for the girls, even as they shot cold looks to the man before taking the seat in a huff. They would turned their nose up at any other time but now they kept their sights on him. His actions earlier showed he was no normal bounty hunter. And dealing with people that acted like their new masked friend here, tends to lead to more trouble than their worth. Especially if the guy was going after Roman Torchwick now of all times.
The theft was notorious in the past, even without his creepy mute shadow. Adding his sudden crime spree of Dust just put a larger target on his back. Junior also had a feeling Roman was just playing his role as a theft too well. He was acting too brash almost wanting to be seen, while seamlessly have access to toys he never used before. 'Since when did he use a bullhead?' Someone had to be backing him for that. For the Dust thefts or something larger in mind he did not know yet. But between himself and Roman they were both just doing what they were good at, it was simply business. Even if Roman was a client from time to time, his actions were making things harder by stirring up trouble. If he got caught or killed and Junior stayed out of it he should be no worse for wear. He just had to keep his hands clean.
Which brings him back to the bounty hunter in the room. Junior could accept the payment and give him everything he had, even ask for more to have a constant tab on any new leads. But he had something else in mind. The man before him was skilled, unknown but skilled. IF he could work a deal he could make use of those skills to get his gang back on top.
"Time to turn a client into an employee." He thought to himself.
"Alright, yes I know Roman." Junior started, breaking the silence with his business persona restored. "The guy comes by looking for information now and then. Most recently on shipment dates for Dust. But last night was the first time in a month since I see his face. He wanted to borrow some of my boys for his next job and he paid up front."
"I figured that out already." The masked man cut in his voice carrying an unimpressed tone.
Junior bite back a frown. "You did your homework it seems." It was another slap in the face but he had to take it for now and silently curse the man out in his mind. "Since you seem to know so much already." Hiding his annoyance as best he could, and gestured to the man "Why don't you just tell me what you want to know about him then?"
The mask man stayed in his relaxed state, yet his voice took on a serious edge meaning that they were finally getting down to business. "First would be how Roman fights. While he is a theft he should have a history of getting his hands dirty as well. He won't go down without a fight, so besides that trick cane of his, does he use anything else or have a known semblance?"
Junior already had basic notes on Roman and was confident he had anything the man ask. He nodded for him to continue. "Second would be his underlings. Does he hire thugs at random or are they from a group? Also if he has someone with a more permanent position, anyone he keeps to his side. Maybe even a female partner?" Junior could guess he meant Neo with the obvious way he asked.
"The last thing is where he goes. Since he has yet to be caught it means he is staying in a well hidden location or is constantly moving. Judging from the amought of Dust he stole, he also has to move it around or stored in a very secure place. Finding out where it's located or how it's transferred will lead me closer to him."
"Is there anything you could add to that?" The mask man ask.
Thought out and to the point, better than most bounty hunter Junior ran into. Already knowing about Romans cane, and the blunt hint at Neo showed the man was already on Romans trail. He was not asking for help but just to find Roman faster. The meaning behind the last questions was obvious too.
'I'm hiring you for conveyance, not out of need.'
Still if all Junior had on Roman was a few background notes he would have ended up as a bartender then an info broker.
"You only hit the tip of the Goliath." Junior replied with an undaunted smirk, reaching into his pocket he pulled out his scroll. As he flicked through a few files Miltia stopped her sister from getting up with a soft smile and moved to the wall behind him. Finding the right file. He tossed the device back to the girl who grabbed it rolling her eyes at the rehearsed act but slide the device into a slit in the wall.
Snapping it closed the scroll disappeared into the brick. Miltia stepped away to join her sister once again on the couch both turning their face from the wall. A slight humming could be heard as Junior stepped beside it. In a proud voice. "This is what I have to add."
In a flash that lit up the room, the wall came to life as documents, maps, images, and lines connecting it all together appeared before them with Romans face at the center of it.
Junior silently reveled at one upping the masked man. While he could not see his face his guard did drop slightly, he imaged it was a look of surprise as he walked forward to inspect the screen. "And the girls said I was just compensating." He thought turning to the twins his judgment proven right for the purchase. Yet he only saw their flat expression as they just pointed behind him as the masked man was already looking over the chart.
Rushing over to the chart to stay involved he started by answering the first question. "As you said he is a theft first. So IF he can make a getaway, he is more likely to run then be bothered with a fight. But if he is cornered he can hold his own with the skill just below a Huntsman. That trick cane seems to be his only tool used as it is strong enough to clash with any Hunter weapon."
Junior looked back to the masked man who he could not tell was listening or seemingly ignoring him.
He felt like he was talking to the wall adding to his annoyance of the man, but not deterred he continued going to all the marked stores he robbed on the map. "Moving on to his patterns. Roman has been leading a bunch of robberies all over the territory for a few months now. Like hiring my boys for some of the jobs he normal just picks up a few thugs anywhere he can. However he was mistaken to also be involved with Faunus thefts as well. This was dismissed as just White Fang acts as he was never seen with them so far." Bring up the Faunus brought the masked man's attention to him. "The difference with the Faunus thefts was that they burned most of their stores down or damaged them. Roman would hit and run with the store hardly touched. But both hitting the same types of stores is too weird to not notice. However with the White Fang moving into the city they would normally never work with a human, so like I said it was dismissed."
"As for his real help, he has a frequent partnership with a psycho mute name Neopolitan or Neo for short." The man hinted at Neo before but it was safe to just go over what he knew about her, he paid for the information anyway. "Like you said Neo acts as his bodyguard and partner, while taking orders from him she tends to act on her own a lot. She is strong and cruel so expect a tough fight with her. However she has not been seen with him since he started going after Dust but it's possible she could be involved too. That girl might look cute but she'll gut yea with a smile." The masked man shifted a little, he seemed interested about the girl. "You can't miss her either short but you defiantly can't call her a kid with her body. Wearing a brown, white, and pink themed from her hair and clothes to her shifting eyes."
"Pink, brown hair and eyes with a short stature…" The man mimicked still looking at her photo.
While the man was occupied Junior braised himself for what he was about to do. Clearing his throat to get the Twins attention they were still watching over the man weapons at the ready. They gave a confused look but their eyes widen as Junior gave them a signal to not act. In unison they mouthed silently, "What the Fuck are you Doing!"
He then reach to the side panel and he hit a few buttons that turned the entire system off. Expectedly this upset the man that was looking at it and walked to stand mask to face with Junior.
Steeling himself from still disturbing mask he push on. "Everything on that file is what you asked for and more, and while you covered the cost I have something else in mind." Junior said handing the lien back. To his surprise the man did not shove the lien back at him or threaten and demand for the data. "It also relates to you going after Roman so"
Junior went silent as a hand came up to stop him. He expected the worst from the man but instead he let out an almost tired sign. "Let me guess, you want me to do a job for you instead, right? And somehow it gonna help me find Roman?"
Junior turned back to Twins still wide eye looking between the two men sharing his confused look. They motioned for him to continue. "Yes?"
Another sign followed as he shook his head muttering something to himself before answering. "Wants the job and what are you offing me instead of me just paying you for the data?"
Junior was almost too taken back to talk, he couldn't believe the guy was taking the deal so easily. Going with the mood he typed into the panel again as a map of the city appeared.
Pointing to the outer edge of the map near the water. "In the docks it's know that one of the shipment companies is acting as a smuggler for everything that is illegal passing through the Walls. While the location of the business changes from building to building they are all owned by a man named Arancia. Like the business he travels from building to building overlooking it to make sure things run smooth. But there is a ledger that he keeps with him at all times that holds all the records from his deals every item where and when it shipped. With the am ought of Dust Roman took he has to have it stored someplace, and Arancia is the only one that can handle that much Dust."
"But more import for me are the names of the clients." He thought to himself. With that ledger he would have all the black mail he needed to get back on his feet and get his business running again.
He was so relieved that he forgot he just told the man exactly what he needed and how to get it.
Junior rushed to fix his mistake, if the hunter got the ledger and kept it, there was no reason to turn it over to him. "When you get the ledger I will be more than willing to help you track Roman or any other targets you are after, I can also set you up with anything you need."
"I need your contact address." The mask man asked, hand out stretched as he continued to study the map.
Junior blinked at the hand, "Sure here my card." Junior reached into his jacket and pulled out a business card with his private number on it. The man took the care and put in his pocket and turned back to Junior.
"It will take a few days to find the right factor when its being used but I will contact you if I need anything." The man walked to the same dark corner he appeared in. "One last thing before I leave."
"Yea?" Junior asked more than wishing the freak would just leave already. A few lien then landed at his feet. "Like I said that's your down payment." Again he felt his anger boil with in him at the disrespect it showed. But Lien was lien, and he reached down to grab it.
(Thunk)
A blade then pierced the floor right between his fingers and the cards. Junior flinched back his hand but another grabbed his own in a vice grip keeping it close to the sharp edge. A shadow then loomed beside him as he realized the man crouched next to him.
"Now listen, you and the two girls behind you are the only ones that know about me in this city. So you can keep quiet. And I'll consider helping you out when our interest are the same. You even can walk away with some lien in your pocket." Corvo pointed down to the cards. "The second thing that could happen is that people find out about me and start asking question and Roman goes dark." Junior felt his hand being pulled closer to the blade, its metal digging between his fingers cutting his skin. "If that happens, then I know who fucked up and let Roman and the city know. IF that happens it would be very concerning for your health." With that the man disappeared leaving Junior on the ground holding his hand. The Twins seeing their boss freed rushed forward to pick him up as he was still shaken.
(Vvvvrrrb)
All three looked to his desk as his private scroll vibrated with a new message.
"Don't Fuck up"
The Outsider
Before we get to the notes Can i just say want to that the new season of RWBY is not changing a whole lot with this story if anything it gave me a lot more to work with. Also im just really enjoying this Season over all. XD
SO for this chapter Yes Corvo is going to take up the name of the outsider, I will explain that along with other details from this chapter so there will be context. Along with Corvo finally getting back into the action and we get the plot going again.
Important Note when working on this chapter I dont know why but I kind of felt something was off. I might be over thinking it but let me know what you all think.
And with that Im calling it a night so Thank you all for Reading, please comment, review, or just Pm me if you want. See you all soon!