The man let out a sigh as he shifted in his leather chair, the faint creak of well oiled springs the only sound in the room save the hum of the computer on his desk.
The video of the press conference was playing on a loop, though the sound was off so he could ignore the banal ramblings of the video's recorder. He picked up a glass off the desk swirling the liquid inside the crystal slightly before he took a sip.
This posed a problem.
Not the new Ward, Druid, her existence was a blessing, any new healer was, particularly if she was as skilled as the report indicated. The lizard tiger was a bit odd however, and spoke that she was far more than a healer. Bio-tinkers were... a complicated subject after all. One could not help to draw the line between one and the dead Nilbog, the idiot Blasto, or the Slaughter House 9's Bonesaw.
Still with Nilbog dead and Ellisburg slowly having been restored as a city, albeit a much smaller, one after excessive cleansing for anything that might have been left behind, Biotinkers were not as feared as something like Masters were.
If this girl Druid could heal as claimed that would go a long way to lessen the stigma. Doubly so if she healed pets. People loved their cats, dogs and such after all.
Perhaps he should see about branching out into veterinary medicine.
A thought for later.
No, Druid was not a problem, he didn't even care if she healed any of the lesser races, after all that was more a way to focus his people than anything he lived by. Blacks and Jews had money same as the whites, who was he to turn it away?
No she was not the issue.
Alucard was worth noting. He was dangerous clearly, and was well known to have a dislike of those of certain doctrines, such as the ones his followers practiced.
That the man took out the Teeth and made an Endbringer wary of him was bad news. Not that the last was public knowledge, though he had been there when Legend had asked him not to come to any more Simurgh fights.
But even that cape was not as much of an issue as he could be. He was still unsure if Alucard really was a man or just a projection that had taken on a life of it's own.
His sources had Slayer quitting the Protectorate in Boston a few years ago and Alucard left with her after a rather interesting lawsuit. His local informants had heard that Slayer was in the city, but was not rejoining the Protectorate.
Perhaps there was a falling out between the two, maybe he should see about trying to recruit her if she popped up, a blonde haired woman of her stature, and power set would be quite welcome, though he expected that was a pipe dream.
No, the problem was that there was a new Director in the chair at PRT. Meadows was clever, but easily buckled to outside pressure or monetary concerns from the city. He knew nothing about this Piggot aside from what little information had leaked that she was a former PRT agent called back from retirement. Rumors of her being in the Ellisburg incident were thus far unconfirmed.
He didn't like unknowns, and that the PRT head brought her in personally was also of worry.
He needed more information.
He pulled open a drawer on his desk, reaching into it, and up he pulled the cell phone mounted in the recess out and flipped it open typing in a number.
It rang twice before it was picked up.
"Yes?"
"Send Victor to scout out the new Director, have Rune assist him in case of any issue. If they are found out, they are to retreat, not engage. Do you understand."
"Yes Kaiser"
The man watched the screen as the video concluded. He sat back in his Laz-e-boy and considered.
The heads of the families stood in the room, silent as the grave as he contemplated.
Many saw him as little more than a raging beast, a monster to fear, while this is true and proper, it was not all.
One did not get to the position he held on fear alone. Fear alone lead to a knife in the back, the desperate trying anything they could to destroy him.
No, fear was a tool to be used, as was greed and loyalty, and he made use of all of that to keep the families in line. But they needed to be content, to be comfortable with how things worked and to know that while they would never overcome him, that he would be content to let them do their own thing and hold their own power for the most part.
He cared not if their methods were legal or not beyond a small set of rules he had imposed, the biggest of which was any one caught dealing with the CUI would be made an example of.
Slowly at that.
As for the current situation, there were only a few things that held his interest. A new director would be a bit of a shake up for a while, but nothing they could not over come.
The Ward was of interest and was immediately put on the do not engage list. Any healer was a boon to the city, and the dragon tiger had amused him.
Alucard was the one of interest. The second para human to make an Endbringer flee on their own.
Lung being the first.
He wanted to fight this man, to test himself against this self proclaimed vampire.
But that could wait.
"No one is to touch the Ward, other wise nothing has changed." Lung spoke to those in the room, receiving nods and bows as all of them fled the as quickly as they could, leaving the Dragon to lounge in his den.
"That woman is interesting."
She spoke with a small smirk on her face sitting back in her chair as the video ended. The thrumming beat of the club below her office filling the void as the announcer went silent.
"How so boss?" the man sitting across the desk from her questioned. Gregor likely already had a good idea, but he liked playing dumb at times. Either he simply wanted to see if their ideas matched up or it was so she would explain for the others present in her office.
Newter didn't so much as sit in a chair as perch on it. His chair was a gaudy high backed thing tucked in the corner of the room and covered when not in use. With his powers she didn't want to test if his sweat would cause problems if it built up on a chair or not. Assigned seating was childish, but the boy hadn't argued and it was cheaper than cleaning it after every meeting.
Grue simply stood by the door. The boy was a little too serious at times, unlike his sister who was a menace even without powers, but she appreciated the professionalism.
"Wonder what that Druid girl looks like under the mask, she had pretty eyes after all." Newter mused going in the wrong direction with his thoughts, but he was a teenager what could you expect.
"You should wonder more if she could help you." Faultline offered. " If she can heal perhaps she could figure out something about your biology. But I wasn't talking about her."
"Director Piggot." Gregor nodded.
"Indeed. What sort of PRT director sends a para human our way rather than trying to recruit them herself, especially a tinker?" Faultline offered. " How is that going by the way?"
"Trainwreck is suspicious, but receptive so far, the discussion of payments has indeed kept his attention. " Gregor offered." He is also a Case 53. The girl however has been more receptive to the idea of the Wards than anything we offered. She seems scared of her own power."
That happens, and it's not a loss to us if we never had her in the first place. Keep on the Tinker though, I doubt the ABB will be after him, the E88 maybe, but that's questionable. The Merchants however would likely love another tinker."
"He doesn't seem interested in them." Gregor offered.
"Good. Keep on him as I said. And I should probably meet with this Director Piggot to see why she sent him our way." Faultline muttered.
"Maybe send a fruit basket?" Newter offered.
"Yeah that would go over well with the press... make sure Regent doesn't do that please." Faultline sighed.
"He might be a troll, but I doubt he'd..." Grue considered. "Yeah I'll stop him."
The tiny room was pitch black, but that hardly mattered after all. A confession booth was supposed to be dark so as no one but the pastor could see your sins. A small wooden door slid open on the wall above the bench he was on, a small patch of light almost blinding against the pitch black darkness.
"Forgive me father, for mine duty is not yet done for you."
"Speak child. Tell me what troubles you."
"Have you seen the news of the day father?"
"I have."
" What are we to do?"
There was a breathy pause.
"The child is of great interest if we can get her, the woman in charge is no one of consequence. The one that is of the greatest concern is the one that causes our Angel to flee. The demon must be destroyed at all cost. For now however simply watch and learn from their actions. I am speaking with others on the best course of action, and we pray to the Angel for guidance on this matter, but it is clear from her actions that this is the work for men, not the divine. Rest well child in that we serve the Lord fully in these trying times."
" Thank you father."
" Hey boss, what are we gonna do about this new director, and the vampire and woodsy chick?"
"Who the fucking shit stained cracker barrel bullshit are you talking about?"
"It was all over the news boss, the capes got new people. Umm that Alucard guy, a new PRT director and some forest kid that can heal and make dragon cats or something."
"What in the gods damned shit fucking cunt pounding ass slapping shit does that have to do with the price of fucking beans in China?"
"Umm what?"
"Nothing!! That's what the fuck it means. Who gives a shit if they got more people, they're the same slow ass bitches we've been running rings around for fucking years." Skidmark shouted. "Some new bitch in charge after the previous old bag keeled over, who cares, same fucking rules different cock sucking face. Vampire ass hat will get hooked on our supply he bites any of us, and unless that little cunt is making that fucking cat thing of hers shit drugs I don't give a fuck. We run this fucking town and no new blood is gonna change that shit at all."
