"Now would be a ruinous time for war. Especially if it is not of our choosing and on two fronts." The owner of Vyx, Margot, sat back down in conclusion.
Makes sense, Sevika reasoned. Besides an influx of mercenaries, her brothels wouldn't be big winners in a war. Particularly a protracted one.
"Does it make sense to compare the two? One, a small gang of self-appointed hero children; the other, a hetexched-up Piltover," the bio-enhanced yordle wondered.
"I agree, Smeech. They don't equate, but we have been underestimating the Firelights for a while now. We of all people should understand that a small criminal gang can grow fast and strong down here in the fissures," Chross said without looking up from one of his reports.
Margot made a diamond shape with her fingers. "Why are we down here? Our cultivar is a far better meeting place, even at night."
Because it would be easier to handle any immediate threat you and the others could present. And the Last Drop is a good headquarters, even its basement.
"Just to expedite it at this hour," Chross claimed.
"We may be dealing the hellions a major blow right now," Renni revealed. "Silco has ordered a dozen of the chemtanks to attack the Firelights leadership at the main scrapyard."
Chross and Sevika looked at each other. Sevika waited for the head of the intelligence network to speak first. "The problem child Jinx will also be there. My sources tell me she was planning on meeting someone tonight and perhaps the Firelights are among the people she is settling old scores with."
Don't know everything, do you, Chross?
Flick. Sevika and the other chembarons looked to the Slickjaw leader. Flick. Finn stood tall and walked behind his chair. He played with his lighter, as was his habit. "If they exterminate the infestation, then I'll fully fund a triumphant parade for Silco, Jinx, and the chemtanks. But if this leaves us with more lost chemtanks, Jinx blowing up shit she ought not to blow up, and Silco being unable to handle the menace, then we've got a problem we must solve."
The years Sevika had spent at the card table kept her from blinking at that. Was he actually threatening a coup? Him?! She would see the crown passed to Jinx before she let the blood, sweat, and tears spent for the Zaun result in him directing the cause.
"It still seems like a much smaller problem than the question of Piltover. Not only is Marcus' departure a loss for our control of our own affairs, but the Pilities will want a pound of flesh for it. Not to mention our lack of leverage on the acting sheriff," Smeech insisted.
Margot laughed. "The combusted constable."
"Sheriff Derek is a relative unknown. He's done the run-of-the-mill looking the other way and incidental graft, but he does not have as clear pressure points as Marcus does, er, did," Chross contended. He was still focused on his papers.
Renni leaned in. "We need to create leverage, then. And not just over the Sheriff."
"Yes," Finn nodded. "The strength of Piltover is in their hextech. We've got to neutralize that advantage, at least temporarily to disincentivize hostile action from them."
Finn and Renni have already talked this out. They have some mediocre plan and want the rest to commit to it to diffuse responsibility for if it fails.
Finn continued to play with his lighter. "We need to–"
Thwack! The door above was thrown open. Silco descended the stairs with a small bag and a bloody knife. He looked more enraged than anytime Sevika could remember.
"Pardon the interruption," he jeered. "I have a few instructions. It would be mutually beneficial to comply. Smeech and Margot, you'll need to increase tribute for now. We need more funds to replace our losses and for future problems. Renni, find replacements for the lost chemtanks. Work with Finn on their training. Finn, find the Firelights hideout. Now. Chross, help Finn and get the new sheriff under our thumb."
He paused and turned to Sevika. "Were there concerns brought up at this impromptu meeting I'm not considering?"
Frowning, Sevika slowly nodded. The lieutenant conveyed the topic to her longtime comrade without words.
"Jinx," he said, as if the word itself was exhausting. He reached into the bag and took one of her lengthy braids. Sevika's eyes widened but settled faster than the chembarons as she realized what it actually meant. Probably.
"I won't insult you all by lying," Silco lied. "Jinx has been acting more erratic and violent than usual, but with method. She has, against my better judgment but with my approval, decided to infiltrate the Firelights to undermine them from within."
After a pause, Chross must have felt more confident than the others. "That is along the lines of what I was theorizing. And Sevika had relayed a plan to put a mole with them. Though Jinx is… an unconventional choice."
Is Chross convinced, playing along to save face, or keeping his options open? He's the only chembaron that I couldn't clean out at the card table.
Silco nodded. "The boldness of will determine its success. 'Would the cunning scheming crime lord Silco do something as obvious as have his adoptee be a spy?' We discussed acting against our immediate interests and fighting us to convince them. Jinx… was committed."
After some silence, Renni asked. "How many chemtanks were lost on this ruse?"
"Five, all but one by her hand. And a sixth after," Silco wiped the blood on his blade on the severed braid. "Keep the act as well as practical, but don't endanger her more than she already is."
A few more heartbeats and Silco closed his switchblade. He walked over to Finn and took out his cigar. Hesitantly, the chembaron used his lighter on the tip of his boss' cigar. "We will cover individual concerns at the scheduled meeting later. For now, we all have work to do. Sevika."
When she got on her feet he was almost already out the door. She followed up through the club to his office. After she closed the door behind her, he swept his desk clean in fury. She pretended she wasn't seeing anything as he tipped it over, not a lean feat given its and its contents weight. He picked up the fiddle and held it over head for a few rapid breaths, but finally must have reached a calming point and set it down unceremoniously instead.
Sevika took a breath and a step forward. "The act did buy you time, especially depending on how Chross falls. What are our next real steps?"
Huffing, Silco poured himself a drink with unsteady hands. She considered trying to cut him off, but bad memories from her youth stilled her tongue.
"We have too many players on the board. We need to pacify them." He drank.
Sevika nodded. "Which one?"
Instead of answering, he placed his glass on the chair and pointed at the other side of the desk. Repressing a sigh, Seivka moved there and helped bring it upright. Looking down at a map for a moment, Silco's eyes at last softened. "Ones."