Chapter 21: Minion Recruiting R(emnant)
"Resistance is useless."
"Are you happy with your career path?"
"Is this where you belong?"
"We're a friendly army."
"Do you want to be a leader?"
"Join us and you can really shine!"
"You could be a star!"
"I can really help your network."
"Join us! The benefits are solid."
"If you won't join us, leave now!"
"It shouldn't have come to this."
"Think this through."
"You're making a wise decision."
"What are your terms?"
"How much do you want?"
"Would you do it for 20,000 coins?"
"You've got a good eye."
"I'll make an example of you."
"Let's shift some paradigms."
"You'll get three meals and a snack."
"You won't have to work weekends."
"What kind of hourly rate are you looking for?"
"Fine, do your own thing."
"You have five seconds to decide."
"OK. You're qualified."
"This is for your own good."
"Welcome to our journey."
"You won't regret it."
"I'd love your help."
"Let's do this together!"
"You're smart, you know that?"
"It's a done deal."
"This is a win-win."
- Ludwig Von Koopa. The Cunning Deal Maker
AN: Alright, new chapter done, I don't have many excuses to say this time, jobless, and currently looking for one, so my priority will not be this story I'm afraid.
And apparently, this site's notification system is broken, and the issue has been ongoing for about 2 months. If this still doesn't get fixed soon or gets worse, I am considering moving to Ao3.
- The first weekend of Beaconn's new semester, in the downtown of Vale. Morning Hour.
The sound of footsteps drowning in the lively noise of the vehicles and chatting in the streets of Vale. Following the lead from a single tip, the marching of the footstep traverses periodically turned left and right as the pace goes on, followed by the decreasing noise of the vehicles and men, until eventually, all that is left was the sound of footsteps in a silent street, the area transformed from colorful decorated front appearance, into a less friendly, stern industrial look, hidden behind the towering structure of the highways and surround by much more rundown building complex, located in the sparsely populated area of the city.
The time had finally come for the Koopa Family, the time for some business, and most importantly…
Conquest.
With some of them staying back at Beacon to avoid suspicion, Ludwig, leading his little team, along with the loyal servant King Bob-omb and King Boo accompanied them, had ventured into the city of Vale for a… fake grocery trip, they headed toward their destined goal, an information center disguised as a nightclub called Three Little Bears.
Stopping his foot right at the front of the building, Ludwig inspected the place up and down. From the appearance, it certainly doesn't look the part you would expect a nightclub, hidden behind what appears to be the look of a 3-store tall red-brick industrial-style architecture, instead of a more modern & clean architecture. Then again, this is a different world, so different sense in styles, definitions, and the matter.
But look can be deceived, and more importantly, this place was located in the industrial section of the city instead of the commercial or tourism area. In the sense of business, this was a terrible spot.
That is, if you are unaware of this location's true purpose.
An info broker's den. Right in the heart area where the city's good move-in-and-out, where the first-hand deals are made, and the best place to do illegal business, close to the industrial business, and away from the public eyes. The business of the club is just an outward image, an image made to cover the real secret.
It took King Bob-omb sometime during the past few weeks, but the old gentleman bomb was lucky and successful in his endeavor of finding this place, the headquarters of the previous mafia empire of Vale before overthrown by the current Kingpin Roman Torchwick's rose in power and influence.
Although he laments the fact that he had to resort to some unsavory method to get the information from some street thugs. Thankfully, he hasn't needed to get his hands dirty… yet. A simple demonstration of producing an explosive bomb right in front of the thugs was enough of a crazy bargain.
Tell me or I blast you into smithereens. A very bold and straightforward trick. But it gets the job done.
'Hopefully, this business won't go sour.' Despite knowing their usual luck in operation, the Koopaling leader prayed. Hoping that the stars of this world would favor him.
- In Junior's club. Junior Xiong's viewpoint.
The Current Mafia Boss of the Xiong Family sighed as he placed his cigarette in the ashtray, exhausting the tobacco smoke out from his mouth alone with his irritation. It should have been obvious. Really. The man was a walking streak of bad luck. The first time his family crosses paths with Roman Trochwick, his dad pays the damn price with his life. And now the second time done by him for a simple deal of rental labor, he immediately lost 3 men to the jail a few hours later on the very same day. With no way to bail them out without raising suspicion…
Admittedly they're just disposable goons, but still. It was his men, his properties, his idiots.
With his family's syndicate crippled due to the complete failure operation of a war with the Spider, they were forced to withdraw into low-profiles and quickly lost control of Vale's Police Department, the once untouchable organization revert into a mere underground club.
Luckily, former City Manager Jimmy Vanille died along with every dirty little secret deal he had made with his family, as every possible piece of evidence went ablaze when his estate was removed from the surface of the planet. The whole incident was later falsified as a tragedy of the detonation of a large amount of illegal Dust possession. The former City Manager was framed to be a greedy politician illegally storing Dust for some black-market second-hand deal to fatten his pocket, their men who were still infiltrated in the VPD back then were able to salvage and sabotage the whole investigation process, providing a believeable cover-up story for their gang.
Roman Torchwick, a mere street thug at the time, for all his worth, played a critical hand in ruining Spider's long-term masterful plan by revealing the hoax of Lady Browning's Preparatory Academy For Girls, a fake upper-class school made to secretly fill the whole Vale with their secret spies and assassins trained for Spider, so the Mistral criminal gang can infiltrate the whole upper-class society of Vale, slowly breaking down and corrupt the Kingdom from the inside and then turning the whole Kingdom into their property. When the whole deal was exposed through VNN, it immediately made a huge headline and led to uproar and protests throughout the whole city, Spider had no choice but to retreat back to Mistral when Ozpin, Glynda Goodwitch along with their fearsome Beacon Academy army got personally involved in the whole cleansing process of arresting the leftover parties.
It was through sheer dumb luck he and whatever was left of his family empire were spared from arrest and jail time.
Now, with Spider's influence gone, and his family empire taken down from the throne, Roman, like the filthy snake that man is, easily swiped in and took the overlord spot. All he could do now was just a simple dumb business of nightclubs filled with horny and dumb annoying customers, and sometimes a little information broking here and there to meet the ends, with two extra packages dangling at his side also.
If only there were a chance to improve this shitty situation…
"Boss." His men called, and Junior had to bite back an aggressive curse as he sighed, what now?
He glared at his wristwatch, it's not even the preparation time, shooting whoever dumbass that dares to interrupt his alone time with a tired and irate glare, Junior growled. "What? It better be important."
"Those Huntsmen, the one that booked our place with the big money weeks ago, they are back again, says they're here to meet you. Brings a whole group of teenagers with them too." The goon called from the upper deck.
Say what now? Junior Xiong furrowed his brows, the group that booked his whole place with a generous sum of Liens? Here to meet him? He doesn't remember having any scheduled meetings with them. Nor does this club operate in these hours.
More importantly, a group of teenagers?
Curious, the club owner looked toward the table located in the corner of the dancefloor, where the twins were. With brief eye contact and a neck-jerk gesture, the twins immediately get his message. Although the white one muttered something under her breath. Not that he cares.
"Let them in, don't pull any guns unless I made the signal, and any idiots that fail to get the message will face the consequences and do the trash duty for the whole week, am I understood?"
The goon made a salute and rushed back toward the entrance.
Extinguishing the cigarette in the bin with a somewhat forceful jam, the mafia boss glared into the bar table's reflective surface and fixed his red tie. Now, let's see what this is all about.
- (Time Skip) -
- Third POV.
Junior Xiong carefully eyed the group of newcomers in his place. A group of turtle Faunus that wear awkward big spiky turtle shells on their backs? Not the weirdest thing he ever saw, or was it their physical trait? And a colorful batch too.
They're probably in the same age range as the twins, and judging by their choice of wear, the likelihood of them being Huntsman-in-training is very strong. Great, more dumb teenagers with superhuman power.
It reeks the smell of trouble. If you ask his honest option.
But these gentlemen pay a healthy sum of money from their last visit, and he would be a disgrace of a businessman to not secure such generous customers.
It is a stranger visit indeed, are they here for part-time jobs? That can't be, their attire looks too expensive and wealthy for that to be the case, couldn't be the issue of Liens. Here for a drink? He doesn't allow underage drinking, especially dumb Huntsman teenagers that might end up doing dumb shit that could lead to the school back tracing all the way to his doorstep just to hold him accountable.
Probably here for his real "Job" then. Alright, let's get this over with.
"I see you bring a colorful batch of apprentices with you." He begins, hoping that his addressing of the Goliaths in the room will get him some quick answers. Yet unknown to him, his choice of word had just set off a landmine that shouldn't be touched.
Across him, the mustache man maintained his poke face, but gones all the friendliness he had the last time he was here, now his choice of tone was anything but friendly. "Under any normal situation, I would pummel you through the floor for such disrespect toward the royals. But I will let it slide just this once, since you obviously had no idea who you were speaking to." A promising danger and hostility were present in his straining voice.
Junior tensed. Okay, whatever the heck they're after, this is not a relaxed situation. Shit.
The Twins beside him also tense up, ready to draw their weapons should the situation escalate.
Behind the mustache man, the man in the white suit with a long hair braid groaned while slapping his forehead. "Aww Bob, not this crap again…"
Ignoring everything around him, the mustachio old man gestured his hand to the teenage group. "You're in the presence of the Royal Koopa family, I suggest you kneel to atone for your foolishness and show some manners. Or I'll make you."
"What?" Was all Junior could respond to the absurd request. What royal? What?
"Enough." As if answering to this madness for him, the stern voice that belonged to the Faunus with wing-like blue hair commanded.
"My sincere apologies, Lord Ludwig." In a split second, the old man immediately kneeled as he held his head low. Like an obedient dog that knows its place, who had accidentally provoked his master's irk, timidly waiting for whatever punishment awaits.
With a wave of hand, the Faunus dismissed the underling. He then turns to face the club owner.
"I apologize for my servant's forwardness, they tend to get too defensive when it comes to our dignity. I hope this doesn't strain our potential business partnership. That being said, dear proprietor, I was hoping if we may propose a business, and if it's alright with you, may we sit down and talk civilly?" His sharp eyes gazed pricingly at Junior's soul, making the man gulp unconsciously despite being the bigger man in the house.
- (Time Skip) -
'What is my life?' Was Junior's first arranged out thoughts. After getting into his hidden office in the backroom, both sides proceed to sit down and get comfort despite the intense atmosphere, and then have a really bizarre long talk.
To put it simply, he thought he saw it all, there was no way there could be someone even more egoistic and arrogant than Roman Torchwick. But apparently, life wants to fuck with him and prove him wrong.
This group. This group that was, apparently, currently resident in Beacon Academy, both studying and teaching, wants to invest in the underground criminal world of Vale, for a reason that sounds absolutely mad.
A whole family originated from Vacuo, with a father who apparently was ambitious enough to want to build his own kingdom. A new fifth Kingdom in the world. And for that endeavor, they need time, funds, men, resources, and networks. With the last listed requirement leading them to his doorstep.
And now they propose the business of him to be their go-between middleman, due to his reputation of being the know-it-all in Vale, utilizing his connection and credentials.
But it also needs to be remembered and to mention the fact the age of the monarchy was long gone, after the Great War, as the biggest victor, the King of Vale personally declared the end of the monarch system, and helped establish the new age of democracy, giving the power to the people.
So if anyone were to try to bring back the system of monarchy, at best, they would be seen as an enemy of society (mostly by the council fir sure). At worst? A delusional lunatic to be laughed at.
In all honestly, he wasn't sure what emotion should be used in this situation. Irrate? No. Hysterical funny? Nope. Amused? Nu-uh. Anger? Not it. Confused? Sounds about right.
Slowly, Junior Xiong tiredly let go of a long hold-in breath as he brought a hand to his neck and contemplated his next action and response.
Across him, the wing hair Faunus bares an unfathomable look, there are no readable emotions behind his eyes or body language, yet the ulterior motive he had is as obvious as the broken moon in the sky on a clear day, right in front of his nose no less.
On any day, Junior would tell his men to throw jokes like this right into the dumpster, the dock, the grinder, or the Dust boiler even. Yet, the seriousness in the kid's voice tells him that he is serious. That this was no joke.
Should he tell the kid to buzz off, or humor him? In all honesty, perhaps his deceased father was right, he really was a poor judger when it comes to character. Considered that his last business deal ends with his men behind the bar, and the deal was made with Roman Torchwick of all people.
"It appears that you're overwhelmed." The Faunus spoke.
- Ludwig's viewpoint.
Seating right across the info broker, the status quo self-proclaimed leader of the Koopalings frowned in his mind. It seems that he had overestimated the situation, he had hoped that he disguised their world-conquering family business as a simple man's earnest dream. And decorated his request as a formal business deal, things should work smoothly. Apparently, he had calculated it wrong.
It was to be expected, he should have known, that this is a different world, not the same common sense, perspective, or approach as theirs.
Strange indeed, unless he's wrong (Which is never), business is called business because it's a trade of benefits, a practice of making one's living.
A shame. Seems like he had to use Plan B(uy off). A little temptation motivates the best out of people, so they can build and establish their own community in the long run.
And hopefully, they don't have to resort to Plan C(rush), he wasn't that confident about their luck of crushing a mafia gang in the middle of the day without drawing unwanted attention. If possible, he wants to keep any business and operation here as secret as possible, away from Ozpin's network.
Plan D(estroy) is for obstacles that stood in their way of conquering. By the way.
The Koopaling in human disguise draws a deep breath, it is still within the considerations of his stratagem, if Remnant's currency doesn't offer enough worth, perhaps a different disposable valuable asset would work.
'Ok, let's see how this would do.' The Koopaling in human disguise then proceeded to pull out 3 Gold Coins and offer them on the table, immediately gaining him the reaction of absolutely dumbfounded shock from the broker and his bodyguards.
'So gold really is that valuable in here. Good, I had an affordable budget with me.' Consider this his personal little investment, he's in desperate need of actual connection and a reliable network.
And once he reunites with the kingdom, he'll have the Lakitus squads opening their info centers across Remnant. Establish their own brand of news business perhaps…
Or maybe he needs to buy out a few local News studios or bribe some news reporter. So many necessities that need to be done…
Say what you want, but one simply cannot deny the sheer influence propaganda had.
The sooner they secured their control over the public opinion over Remnant, the sooner they could start their world domination business.
Let's hope he doesn't have to resort to using Bowser's money for every little business or investment, he only has so much (pocket change) war fund with him.
And hopefully, Lord Bowser won't revoke his title as the leader of Koopalings for spending his money without his consultation.
Yes, despite being a trillionaire King who was born with a golden spoon in his mouth, and who also gets everything on a golden plate, Bowser can be really stingy with his (mostly stolen & raid) treasury sometimes…
Pushing his multi-layer thoughts aside, Ludwig offered. "I apologize for my previous offer, I was not aware that my offering was too stingy for the market price in this line of work. That being said, I intended to make up for my rudeness, so would these… suffice?"
He watched the 3 agape like a Cheep Cheep on land, With an expression that might be a mix of disbelief and questioning their sanity.
Ludwig frowned his gaze, was he perhaps misunderstanding Ozpin & Goodwitch's reaction? 'Was it not enough?' He wasn't too sure how the money value worked in Remnant, but back in their world, this pathetic amount wasn't even enough to afford a single Mushroom. (5 Coins)
Feeling just a little bit sorry, he then proceeded to pull 2 more coins out. "Or perhaps you have a price in mind? Let's hear it."
The girl in red slowly backed into the wall, shoulder slumped, her lime-green eyes widened like plates, looked like half of her soul was leaving, that someone just killed her puppet.
Opposite, the girl in white put her hands on her forehead to support her shocking experience, a raw emotion of questioning her life flashed in her lime-green eyes.
The Broker, despite being the most mature person in the room, however, quickly pulls up his hand in a surrender manner. "WAIT, WAIT! WAIT! WAIT! PAUSE!"
Ludwig arched a brow but kept his poker face, carefully regarded the man before him, reading into every possible detail and hints from the man's whole body language.
"I…" The man halted his mouth, obviously trying to come to terms with his own sanity and words, and was failing.
Ludwig feels his body tensed up, depending on the response he got, it would determine the outcome of this negotiation.
And he desperately hoped this negotiation would go in his favor.
"Well?" Asked the Koopaling.
- Outside the confined room, in the dancefloor.
The LRW of team LLRW sat at the bar counter, killing their time while they waited for their leader to finish this so-called business meeting.
"Think he'll make it?" Asked Wendy, slurping her glass of Cucumber Margarita Mocktail. (Biology Parents or not, Bowser will not have his children underage drinking.)
"Heck if I know, if it fails, then we can smash this place to bits aboveboard." Roy nonchalantly replied, motioning the poor apprehensive bartender to refill his Roy Rogers Mocktail.
Although judging by his tone, he secretly hoped the deal would go south. Something Wendy immediately picked up with an eye roll. How typical…
But true to speaking. It has been a while since they last conquered or destroyed something… their evilness nature is itchy for some havoc.
"Man, Lemmy absolutely would love this place." Larry commented, slurping his Club Soda and Lime while eyeing the whole dance floor, although it lacks the disco ball. Knowing their second brother, Lemmy is physically incapable of resisting the dancing floor and grooves. Disco or not.
"Assuming they'll allow him inside." Roy playfully interjected. His worry wasn't without its ground or logic. Given that Lemmy still doesn't look the age and part even after being transformed into a human. Stunt growth and late puberty be damned.
But knowing Lemmy and his sensitivity about his height, he would probably trash the whole place for refusing services.
Behind them, the goons of the club all watched the three with intense monitoring gazes, hands ready to draw their weapon should the slightest suspicious action be spotted, hoping that their advantageous numbers would provide them leverage in the situation.
Unbeknownst to them, they never possessed even a fraction of chance with their combined might, the three children at the bar were way beyond their league, and could very easily mop the whole place with them, without breaking a sweat. Although hilariously to mention, Roy hates sweeping…
Outside the club boss' office, King Bob-omb and King Boo were on stand-by duty as they await Lord Ludwig's private negotiation to end, while casually discussing their next move regarding the cunning Koopaling's elaborate plan.
"So, once we get their service, we try to dig out the secret of this world? While regrouping with the Kingdom?" Boo asked.
"If all goes well, assuming we can locate the Kingdom, that and we're the only missing people that is." Bob-omb pondered. Assuming everyone is indeed separated, their grand plan of conquering may be postponed indefinitely.
That is also takes into consideration regarding the possibility of their people unintentionally antagonizing the natives of Remnant without Lord Bowser's order. In which King Bob-omb couldn't deny the thought had crossed his mind during the very first hour he ended up in Beacon.
So very glad none of them jumped the gun. Imagine the drama, inconvenience, and issue that follows.
"Knowing our luck, I doubt." The ghost huffed, before changing the topic. "Not to mention, the problem of my brother."
"Given that we don't know when he will strike, was there any possible way to narrow down the time frame?"
"Not… really, knowing him, he most certainly would carefully prepare his plans and set up the stage and stake to suit his ego. But he'll also play cautiously as he detests hiccups or accidents. That Luigi is the perfect example of all his three downfalls. But since the green dude is not here on this planet, I'm very sure my brother is well aware of that fact." He then tilted his head, imagining himself in his brother's shoes. "Which means, he'll take his sweet time preparing a flawless plan to ensure his conquering of the school. Despite his overly inflated ego and complacency, he's not the type that would act without a plan in mind. "
"So we're best to expect for a ghost army them?"
Boo shrugged. "For certain, given that there's a ghost type of Grimm that exists, I bet he'll gather a whole legion of them under his mind control." Recalling his brother's scheme of utilizing that big-ass fake diamond composed of condensed dark magic energy. "Assuming he can mind controlling those things." He finished.
Bob-omb strokes his mustache, recalling the mysterious jester Dimentio that interference with Beacon's entry exam. "Given that we had seen one guy capable of ordering Grimms, we simply can not brush off the possibility that your brother will be capable of the same feat too. I believe it is best if we keep a lookout for any ghost Grimm activities around Vale."
"Or outside the kingdom border. For all we know, he could be hiding anywhere." He threw his hands up frustratingly. "And it's not taking in the issue of how did he get here in the first place."
"Hmmm, how troublesome indeed." Despite the stressful nature of the mystery, the old Bob-omb king calmly folds his arms and contemplates.
The perplexing mystery of how one gets to this reality was still a Hot Bob-omb in their hands. Even if it was indeed the case of a never-discovered Wrap Pipe link, it still leaves the puzzle of who's aware of its existence, and where this Pipe might located in Remnant. Back home, drifters (terms for people that end up in the wrong place) aren't a rarity thanks to taking a wrong turn in Wrap Pipes… or the pipe itself takes a wrong turn.
'We may not be the first people that end up in Remnant.' He thought. The possibility is still there. Due to the many shared similarities between their worlds, and the words from Ozpin that some of Remnant's fairy tales or old legends of the ancient times actually possessed some degree of truth in them. There might be something from their world mixed among Remnant's legends.
'We might have to give all the legends and stories another closer inspection, there might be something we have initially missed.' He thought to himself, It wouldn't hurt to be safe anyway.
But lastly, the most important and alarming issue, if there IS a pipe and a stable wrap link, the IS the likely potentialing complication that Mario WILL somehow end up meddling with their conquering business… again. He shivers at the thought.
'Please, Star Spirits, as a Bob-omb, I know I may not have the cleanest record nor gloves, but please, don't let the plumber interfere with our business in this world.' He silently prayed.
"Only if that's it." Boo replied, cracking a strained grin despite his earlier foul mood. "There's just one little problem with his plan. One that might turn the table."
The bomb baron raised an eyebrow to his statement. "Hon? How so?"
Instead of circling around the unknown secret to create suspension, Boo surprisingly revealed his foreknowledge without putting up an attitude. "When I was receiving the foresight. I saw that crazy coot 's house-clean device."
"You mean his ghost vacuum?" This was news to King Bob-omb, back then, Boo didn't mention this piece of knowledge when they were with Ozpin. He then realized. "Wait, you held in information?"
King Boo shrugged. "Until we can be sure that headmaster is to be trusted, it's best if we keep some ace up our sleeves. I may be whimsical and wanton, but I ain't no fool, mind you very much okay?"
The bomb monarch nodded in approval, agreeing with the decision. "True. There might be more things he's still withholding."
The ghost shrugged again, before continuing. "Yep, although I don't know how did that vacuum ended up in here in a different reality. The fact that Ozpin said the event of every vision shown by the crown WILL happen no matter how one tries to avoid it." He folds his arms. "So at the very least, we'll be possessing the means to defeat my psycho brother… in the hand of one student."
"Who?"
"That damn blondie with a sword and shield." Boo grumbled. Still salty that he lost his 10-coin bet with Goomboss.
The bomb slowly inclined, recalling the one student who fits the description. Satisfied with the answer, for now. "I see… Let's hope that everything will turn in our favor." What matters is they will have a trump card, they can worry about the details later. Right now, they need to focus on creating a strategy.
"Yeah, hope that everything will crumble for him." Says that, but Boo's voice was a begrudging one.
There's still something Boo didn't share with them. Bob-omb studies his friend, trying to search for any hint. Before he decides that he needs to take the initiative. "I supposed having the vacuum was one of the many reasons why you're willing to train the kids. No?"
The ghost monarch huffed while subconsciously looking away. "Among the many reasons. Don't get me wrong, I'm not doing it because I CARE about them dumb kids." He rolled his eyes and gagged at the specific word, even doing the air-quote fingers to stress his point. "I'm doing this because I refuse to let that guy do as he pleases, especially his sick pleasure. Anything but that." He scorned as he tightened a fist angrily, making a few pops with his hardened knuckles, the fist convulsed violently as it synchronized with his instant and boiling anger. A look of long-standing grievances flashed in his sullen lavender eyes.
The old bomb watches his friend in silence, contemplating whether should he do something about it, but ultimately decides right now is not the proper time, he makes a mental note to have a private talk with his ghastly friend at a later date before returning to their guarding duty.
Still, just dropping the matter like this leaves a bad taste in his newfound mouth… And so the old Bob-omb gave his support. "Don't stress yourself too much over the matter, can't have you in a poor mental state when we're supposed to focus on teaching a bunch of kids."
"Besides, we're in this together." The final word seems to improve the ghost's sulking mood, as his fist released.
- Behind them, in Junior Xiong's office.
"Kid, who… exactly are you?" Shooting the child sitting across him with a sharp and studying look, a recomposed Junior Xiong asked. A client comes for info, he gives info, and they pay the money, done deal. They never come here, you never know them, and both parties never know each other nor ever crossroad. The fewer ties you had, the fewer backtracks and after-issues. That's how it works in this line of work, he should never ask the client for their personal information.
But the kid in front of him is shrouded in such great mystery. Mystery that should not be possible in this day of age.
And it honestly unnerved him.
The eyebrow of the Faunus kid raised and formed a funny look, his lips twitched a few times, probably surpassing an amused smile. "Would you believe me if I told you I'm merely just a simple son who wants to support his own father's dream?" He rhetorically inquired back, smoothly dodging the question and turning the question against him.
Oh now he's the bad guy? The audacity.
Junior hardens his gaze but keeps his professionalism, kid is definitely not dumb, and is good at hiding emotions. He'll give him that. But unfortunately, all these bombastic acts and that half-heart lie fools nobody, that and he's the real criminal professional at present.
He could understand building a new settlement, or a city, but building a whole kingdom? That's not possible or rational. There had to be a bigger goal and motivation behind such ambition.
"And I was raised by a Beowolf pack." Junior sarcastically replied as he placed the gold coin down with some force.
No reaction. Not even a flinch.
He hardened his glare further and hissed silently, his eyelids almost forming into a thin line due to how hard they were closing. "I believe it's social etiquette to introduce yourself when doing business. No?"
The Faunus only formed an unreadable smile on his lip, a dry chuck left his lips. "That depends if you're willing to accept my propose."
The frowning thin line on Junior's lip extends further, this is getting nowhere, and the brat is really testing his patient. He exhausts a sigh. "Ok, how about this. Let's say I'm interested, but. I need to know who I'm working with." He gestured a thumb toward himself. "I'm an info broker who knows everything going on in Vale." Then gestured to Ludwig, finger-pointing. "But you. I know almost nothing about beyond being my client. And here you're asking me to form a partnership with you, while investing my time, my money."
Ludwig raised yet another funny eyebrow. "I believe that I have introduced myself to you enough. I'm just an aspiring Huntsman studying in Beacon. Me and my family hail from Vacuo. And my father had a dream of building his own kingdom." He innocently tilted his head. "Was those not personal enough already?"
The mafia boss' face extruded inwardly into a wrinkly dough. Buried his face in his hands as he released a frustrated groan.
The big guy stays like that for a short moment of stillness, before reaching into his pocket, pulling out a cigarette pack and a lighter, and proceeding to silently smoke his irritation away.
This behavior continued on for almost half a minute in an uneasy and restless silence. Finally…
"No deal." He bluntly answered without hesitation. It physically pains him, so much money, enough for an early retirement, but he's making the right choice. He can't be fooled by the sweet words again. Or he ends up like his deceased father.
That seems to not be what the kid was hoping to receive. As his expression finally changed.
To further nail the point, Junior repeats himself. "You heard me, no deal."
Eyebrows and his eyelid lowered ever slightly, Ludwig inquired. "Oh? May I ask why is that?"
"Can you guarantee that this business with you won't backfire on me?" Junior leaned in, purposely angling his head so a shadow would cast over his face. Adding the flavor of Intimation. "For all I know, I might become a pawn in your game."
The kid stayed silent, Junior took that as a sign to continue. "Make no mistake… you've proposed one hella of an alluring deal to me. Really. But I have recently been duped by my latest client, who offered a very good deal like yours too. You might have heard of him by the name of Roman Torchwick all over the news."
Across him, the Koopling in disguise silently noted down the name of the late Kingpin of Vale. Another potential enemy.
Continuing, Junior stressed his concern. "But the fact that you just walk into my place, throwing money to my face, acting like you're above me, and expect me to just take it? Honestly, cut me some slacks, kid." He jabbed his cigarette in the ashtray with some considerable amount of might, bending the roll of tobacco. While the twins silently moved behind Ludwig's seat. "Cauze I dunno if I should consider you too brave or too stupid."
"If I say please?" Ignoring the bodyguards that are right behind him, instead of refuting or attempting to repackage his deal. Ludwig innocently stated.
The mafia boss deadpanned. "Kid, I had a whole organization under me to run and look after. Unless I could make sure this little… business of yous actually pays off. Or knowing that you weren't some spies sent by your academy headmaster to pull some strings. I'm afraid you have to look somewhere else… Cause wherever you're after, you ain't finding them in here."
Facing the rejection, Ludwig closed his eyes and finally frowned. "Is that so?..."
"I can pretend this conversation and meeting never happened. Provided that you walk out of my club and never return." The mafia boss made his concession. Now, all that is left is either the kid starting to get honest with his real goal, or up and leave. Or he had to get physical.
Unfortunately, the mafia man really had no idea what kind of beast he just provoked.
Ludwig draws a long sigh, his head and shoulder slumped. "A shame." Really.
But ultimately just a minor inconvenience. "And here I was thinking that there won't be any need for violence." He dryly replied.
As if they had been waiting for this sign of hostility right from the beginning, the twins made their first action of the day, in a split second, they swiftly brandished their weapons out right at Ludwig's neck from both sides. Holding him at gunpoint.
A hand claw and heel-blade. He noted as he eyed left and right. Remaining still but unfazed.
In an almost amused but obviously faked tone, Ludwig spoke. "I take it that is my cue to leave? Correct?"
"Just get out and never come back." Deadpanned the mafia boss.
"I'm afraid that's not happening." Fine, Plan F(orce) it is.
Right as his sentence finished, Ludwig's whole body glowed blue, taking all three by shock, and before the twin could strike, in a puff of smoke, he split into three clones and sprinted into action. Each clone kicked off and tackled all three enemies respectively.
Clearly not expecting the brat to have the gall to pick a fight, all three gangsters were taken by surprise.
Ludwig 1 (The Real Deal) pushes the lady in white onto the floor, sitting over her so she won't be able to kick him with her heels. While restraining her arms and pinning her against the floor.
Ludwig 2 pushes the lady in red into the wall, pressing her arms against the wall while gripping tightly so she won't be able to slash him with those claws.
Ludwig 3 hopped and tackled the mafia boss with all his weight and might. Causing the sofa to flip off and sending them both tumble on the floor.
"Bad choice. Mr. Proprietor. Bad choice." The Koopaling tautly teased as the man tried to get him off, to no available.
With a kick to the stomach, Ludwig sent the big man flying toward a nearby cupboard. Effectively knocking the man down and causing the furniture to fall on top of him.
Junior Xiong grunted in obvious pain, but the man was far from being defeated. With an angry growl, he swiftly tosses the furniture at the damn brat.
Obviously expecting the retaliation, Ludwig 3 steps to the side to dodge the hurling object. He was met with the big man swinging his fist right toward his face.
Already having his fair share of brawling experience with Smash, Ludwig ever slightly tilted his head, dodging the fist swiftly. With the enemy in the range of contact, he grappled the man by the elbow and the shirt. Ludwig casually tosses the man across the room, performing an Over-the-shoulder throw.
The mafia boss sore toward the door, and as expected, his body frame plus the kinetic energy broke open the door.
Right outside, all the goons watched their boss being tossed out of his office in shock.
Instead of being startled like them, King Bob-omb and King Boo casually eyed the still-down mafia man with clear anticipation.
"Yep, totally goes south." Was Boo's regard toward the situation.
Dusting his hands, Ludwig 3 walks out of the room with mild annoyance. "Just some technical issue about our terms. Don't worry, this deal isn't off yet. I just need to sweeten the offering."
"Whatever sails your boat." Boo jeered. Earning him a tick mark on the Koopaling's forehead.
"I take that now it's our cue to wreck this place?" Asked Bob-omb.
"Just knock down the goons while I re-negotiate with their boss, don't kill anyone, they don't have extra life like us." The Koopaling clone carefully ordered his loyal henchmen, not forgetting the important difference between their people.
The ghost king grumbled in displeasure but didn't protest further.
Turning, Ludwig instructed the bomb monarch. "And don't use any bombs or explosives, nor self-destruction, I really wanna seal this deal." He narrows his eyes condemnly at the living bomb.
"As you wish."
"Don't just stand and watch, GET THEM!" Pushing through his headache, the still-on-the-floor club owner yelled toward his minions.
Right after his outburst, the goons break out from their shock and rush toward them with their guns and red axes in their hands.
"Shall we?" Bob-omb casually eyed his partner.
"After you." Boo politely gesture him to make the first move.
At the bar, right after hearing the door crush, Roy took that as his signal and had already started working on swiping the dancefloor. Plowing down any idiots that dare to approach him or allow him to get into punch range.
Behind the Koopaling brawler, Wendy tiredly sipped her mocktail at the bar while the brawl unfolded around. Not wanting to get involved with this barbarousness.
Larry meanwhile, downed his drink in one gulp, thanked the bartender for the drink, and placed the glass on the bar table, before taking out his racket and joining the multi-men-melee.
"Boys." The female Koopaling dryly comments as she does an eye roll.
Right behind, a wary goon slowly approaches closer to the unaware lady, before pulling out a red axe and raising it overhead, preparing for a sneaking blow to cleavage her head skull into two pieces.
Enjoying her drink without even looking back once, Wendy casually lifted her free hand and proceeded to curl her index finger.
Right on the motion command, a golden ring appeared around the goon's neck, and rapidly shrunk in an instant, choking the poor man alive. That caused him to drop his weapon.
"It's extremely rude to interrupt a lady her fun time, don't cha think?" The sadist mistress apatheticly stated.
Once the poor guy was almost out of the air and near passing away, Wendy finally released the binding ring, sparring the life, but not before swiftly delivering a high-kick right into the head. Knocking the guy into the next week.
Opposite her, the bartender looked at the cruelty completely horrified. He contemplated whether should he even attempt to fight this devil or continue serving her as if nothing happened.
"Refill, dear bartender~ " Said she-devil smiling innocently while holding out her empty glass.
Needless to say, the bartender immediately served her refill like an obedient slave.
- Back in Junior Xiong's office.
"Unhand me! Pervert!" Pinning against the wall, Miltia Malachite scorned as she tried to free herself from the rude bastard's grip, but she soon discovered that the guy was way stronger than he looked, despite being in the same age range as her.
"I'm afraid not." The guy smoothly trifles with her. "Can't have you swung such dangerous tools around, you might break something precious. And that would be a real shame."
He closed in toward her face, whispering in a deep and enchanting voice. "Besides, I would've preferred to not damage a delicate flower such as you."
Gaging in disgust at the flirting attempt despite a faint tint of redness rushing toward her cheek, Miltia snapped out of it and focused on the task at hand. Thinking quickly, she realizes that her legs are free, so she raises her knees all the way up as hard as she can.
The knees's destination? The perv's groin area, where the "family jewel" located.
"HURK!" Immediately, the perv's smugness and composition were all gone, face turning pale white while all features shrunk inwardly, and a raspy whine escaped his lips. Before bursting into a puff of white smoke?
Despite the confusing result, the girl in red didn't have the time to dwell on the matter, now earning back her freedom, Miltia immediately went to rescue her sister. Who was still pinned down on the floor by the bastard.
Eyes on her enemy, without any remorse nor moral stander, Miltia sprinted forward and punched her weaponized hand toward the target's head, the blood-red claw marked right in line with the back skull, with the intention to puncture the brain.
Ludwig, still restraining the lady in white, took notice of the disappearance of his clone as the shared spiritual link faded, and realized it was an obvious signal that his enemy had freed herself.
Without even looking behind to confirm his suspicion, Ludwig launched off from where he was, narrowly dodging the assassin's attempt just in time.
"Tsk!" Scowling as she had missed, despite her want to check on her dear sister, Milita pursued after her target. Knowing her own shortcomings in her fighting style, plus the unsure factor of her sister's condition of combating, she had to settle this affray ASAP!
Seeing the incoming Fortissimo of vermilion, Ludwig unsheathed his rapier just in time to meet the Agitato slamming against him in full force, the powerful Colour created by the red-maiden was thunderous, and the tide of rapid strikes that was like a Presto, it easily topped over and drown-out his Melody.
'What a beautiful Solo.' He savor the melody despite being pushed back. 'Although something is lacking…' He noted.
Unfortunately for dear red Soparno, he IS a Composer and Conductor, and leading is his forte.
Holding himself steadfast, Ludwig awaited the lady's next approach, as Miltia brought her deadly claws forward once more, just when their weapon was about to collide, the Koopaling initiated his comeback. With a powerful twist and skilled footwork, just like your traditional Koopa Shell Spin, Ludwig rotates horizontally at a breakneck speed, in addition to the rapier in his hands, effectively turning himself into a miniature whirlwind that cleavages.
Clearly not expecting the move, the girl in red was knocked and pushed back by the sudden and enormous force that slammed into her hands.
Gracefully decelerating his speed to a halt, Ludwig began to put his newest fruit of labor into motion, pressed the Dust button installed in the sword's handle, and activated the elemental ammo, he called forward his recently mastered newfound power. Aura.
'Let's see the quality of this new instrument's timbre.'
Wielding the willpower as he would to magic, Ludwig guild the inner strength to command the Dust ammo, and ignite the tip of his blade in bright red flames. Wielding the weapon as his trusty wand, Ludwig unleashed a mock-up version of his wild-spread fireball blasts.
Shocked but still head clear, Milita swiped her arms outwardly in a crossed arc to slice apart the flame balls. Just in time to see the pointy tip of a sword advancing toward her pretty face.
"!" Eyes widening, she realized she had been had, with her arms spread out, there was no way for her to recover in time to block the strike or dodge.
"CLANG!"
Luckily, fate intervened, as the end of a heel slammed into the blade from below.
Both the boy in blue and the girl in red watched as a white blur emerged between them.
"The heck do you think you're doing to my sister?" Spoken almost detached of emotion, eyes fixated on her assassination target, Melanie Malachite furiously demanded as she sent a look that would murder Grimm right on the spot.
Already expecting the lady in white to join in the playing from the beginning, Ludwig backed away into a confident distance before recomposing his fighting stance.
"A duet, as expected." Making yet another musical remark only he would get, Ludwig finds himself smiling. This answered his early question, the other half of the red solo is lacking.
'I wonder if these two sang?' He pondered. What would their voice sound like? What's their range? Preference?
Shaking his head, he quickly cast away these playful thoughts, he was in the middle of battle and work, this was no proper time nor place for tomfoolery. Perhaps his dear siblings' antic were rubbing off on him.
Regardless, he'll just try to not hurt them too much.
"Mil. You alright?"
"I'm fine. Mel."
The twins performed a quick check on each other's well-being, all while their furious gazes remained stationary on their target.
A gaze of Whomp-like fury with an absolute focus trace like Mr.I's.
Ludwig would be lying if he said he was not intimidated in the slightest, just a teeny tiny little, but no one needs to know about that.
Not wasting any chance, the twin made their advance as soon as the boy's attention shifted.
Narrowly tilted his upper torso just in time, Ludwig watched as a dangerous heel blade of lady white passed by his face, followed right by the claws of lady red trying to gash him open in his waist, the duet of assassin slammed right into him in full volume.
A low-swipe, slash at the neck, kick combo to the chest, double cross, flank.
The human Koopa did his best in parrying and dodging all the strikes, but these are leaps and bounds beyond what a normal Olympics fencing athlete would expect or allowed, plus the fact he doesn't have the leisure of Guarding Shield from the Smash Bros Dimension, meaning he couldn't perform Perfect Shield to initiate a counterattack.
The Koopaling fallback as he skidded into a corner, breathing slightly accelerated, although it pains him to admit it. Despite having the experience of Smash Bros, there's still a limit to how much he can handle.
"What's the matter?" The white taunted.
"Out of your league?" Add on from the red.
A tint of annoyance flashed across Ludwig's face. Ok, now they're just asking for it. Playing dirty it is.
Aware that he was outmatched by the disadvantaged number and their aggressive style, he shall secure this victory with the secret he has been kept up in his sleeves. His Koopa heritage.
With a twist of his back muscle, the human-Koopaling retrieved into his shell form, followed by his outer appearance transformed into the exact image of said spiky shell.
Upon seeing the strange yet unknown move, the twins stopped their assault and backed into a safer distance.
Accelerating his spinning, Ludwig proceeded to bounce around all over the confined office space like a pinball, forcefully breaking the twins' rhythm and interrupting their footwork. All while carefully avoiding his secret objective.
"What kind of attack is this?!" Militia growled as she parried away the spinning shell thingy.
"Child's playing." Melanie kicked away the top-spin-like shell as she sneered. Unorthodox it may be, the attack was simply uninspiring and easy to read.
Unaware to them, Ludwig heard them loud and clear. Child's play? He silently scoffed. How dare they!
"Too easy? Then how about THIS!" Immediately, two more copy clones appeared and joined the table, making the already cramped space more crowded, spiking up the difficulty of the pinball board drastically.
Clearly not expecting the rise of difficulty, the assassin twin was damaged from all sides, with a swift and coordinated maneuver, Ludwig smashed the ladies together back to back.
"Mil! We're closing the floor!" Gritting through the pain, Melanie ordered to her lil'sis. Who immediately understands what needs to be done.
Grabbing both's wrists, Militia proceeded to swing her big'sis around in a roundhouse arc, who extended her heel out to kick away the shells.
Upon being knocked out, the clones disappeared in smoke puffs, leaving the real one exposed. Not losing their pace, Melanie touched down to swap with her lil'sis, and throw her toward the target.
Using the momentum, Militia unleashed a cross-slash on Ludwig. Her claw blades grazed harshly on the Koopaling's shell.
Didn't lose their sync and kept their grace despite the intense situation. Ludwig noted. But sadly for the twin, he barely feels those scratches.
Knocking against the wall, Ludwig slowed down his spinning, okay, he had sampled quite enough, he CAN handle these two just fine. Time to end the performance.
Carefully, the Koopaling eyed the whole room, looking for anything that could be used to his advantage, his gaze landed on the coffee table that was knocked to the side and, more importantly, the pile of ashes that was spilled out from the ashtray. Right by the twins.
'There.' He smiled with his gaze.
Coming out from the shell, Ludwig proceeded with a fakeout by pointing his newly acquired Remnant weapon toward the twins, to which the two reacted accordingly as they immediately got in a defensive stance upon seeing the musket.
Smiling deviously as the two fell for his fraud, Ludwig aimed his barrel toward his real target, and fired a bullet of Wind Dust on the smoke ash.
The result was immediate, clouds of unbreathable smoke particles blew right into their faces, accidentally swallowing up the harmful air right from the nostril, the two coughed in an agonizing lung choke.
Using the chance, Ludwig teleported right behind them and playfully apologized in advance.
"Sorry about this."
He then proceeded to brutally smash them right in the backhead. Sending the two down to the floor.
Fanning away the dirty air, Ludwig retried to restrain the two, this time, he made sure to keep the two completely pinned, by appointing 2 copy clones each.
Right on time, a beat-up Junior Xiong was thrown back into his office.
The humiliated mafia boss tried to crawl back up, only to find himself face to face with the cheeky brat that tried to strike deals with him moments ago, staring down at him. The angel, including the lights made the boy's face covered in shadows, and Junior swore he saw the eye glow like a demon, accompanied by an eerie smile.
"Well." Said monster speaks. "Aren't you a difficult piece to work with? But no matter, I had great need of you. So how about this?" Purposefully tilted his head in full jesting energy. "Since you've forced my hands, Dear proprietor, may I interest you with another deal?"
The club owner fearfully looked back, seeing all his men laying defeat in stack-up piles, and saw the intruders all displaying the same shadow-covered devilish look, slowly turning back, he saw his two best fighters were subdued. Junior gulped nervously. If his late father was still around, he definitely would say this.
You done goofed, didn't you?
To be…
Continued…
After note: So, during the middle point of this chapter, I realize, I've been a little bit too nice with the mafia gang, and thanks to my alternation, Junior's club didn't get smashed by Yang, so I thought: "Let's correct this mistake shall we?"
