I do not own Legend of Korra or any aforementioned literary articles.
Chapter 3:
Third person pov:
One year has passed since Lao's sixteenth birthday and getting his inheritance, he took Shady Shin up on his offer, Shin began him with money collection from their business's, and businesses under their protection.
Since Lao accepted the offer, Lee and Tia took Shady Shin's offer. Both acted as muscle/advisors to Lao in his jobs for the Triple Threat Triad.
When it came to protection collection, he was brutal but fair when it came to his duties.
He would even cover the debts of businesses if they could not pay but in return they would have to give him a majority stake in their business.
After three months of doing money collection, he built a reputation as an effective yet reasonably person.
Then, Shin had him start raiding enemy triad businesses, shipments, and taking both their cash and merchandise.
Lao made it that there would be no blow back from the enemy triad onto him and his people, to make this possible Lao and his associates would also hit Triple Threat businesses, but this was done without the Triad's permission or knowledge.
His associates and him would split the cash that they stole and the cash from the fenced goods from their illegal raids, after three months of raiding he had to move since the cops started to investigate his brand of robberies.
After his last raid he had an idea to make money but also stay below the radar, underground fights where any form of fighting was open to join, non-bending fighting styles like chi blocking were allowed to join so was any form of bending and sub groups of bending were allowed.
Lao oversaw everything involving the fights while Tia acted as security for the fights, and Lee took bets and kept the books.
Over the course of three months his fights gained the reputation of being the most thrilling, least likely to cheat you or make you take a dive, and lucrative if you are successful, soon his fights gained the moniker of the Pit, it is the epitome of greater the danger, the greater return.
After three months of fights, he got another idea to open a bar and restaurant, and he named it the Emerald Badgermole, soon became quite popular among various triads, police, and civilians, over the course of the three months the Emerald Badgermole gained the reputation of being neutral ground, a place where everyone can just sit and enjoy a drink no matter who was sitting next to you be it cop, civilian or a triad member.
Laughing and singing could be heard from out on the street from the Emerald Badgermole, outside stood a figure flanked on both sides by guards was making their way to the Emerald Badgermole.
They walked through its signature emerald door, to see a menagerie of patrons mingling, and having merry time together.
The figure along with their guards walked to the bar and stopped in front of the bar waiting for the bartender.
"I will be with you in a moment!" Bartender yells, pouring someone a drink at a table.
He walks back over to the bar, "What can I get for_," He asked, stopping mid-sentence to finally take the time to look at the figures.
"Oh, it's you Chief Beifong, what would you like?" He asked, putting on a cheerful smile.
Her eyes bore in to him with a blank stare," I would like to talk to the owner of this place?" She asked, removing her gloves from her hands
"May I ask what this is about?" He asked, nervously
"Police business." She stated, curtly
The bartender just points to the stairs in the back where two sentries were standing before a stairway.
"They will let the boss know you're here." He said, giving a signal to the guards
One of the guards walked up the stairs, upon returning he waved them over.
Lin and her men make there way to the stairs until they are stopped by one of the guards, "Only you go up chief, they stay here." He says with no room for argument in his voice.
She turns to her men and nods to them, and makes her way up the stairs.
Once reaching the top she knocked on the door, and hears a voice say, "come in."
Lin pov:
Walking into the room, I see a teenage boy sitting at a desk facing towards the door, he looked about 17 years old, lithe 5' 11", with pearlescent skin, angular facial features, short raven black hair, the most defining feature is his eyes, left is light jade green, and the right is crystal clear blue.
He is wearing a dark grey three-piece suit, with matching dark grey shoes, and a bronze flying boar pendant.
I could not look away, stared at it for the longest time until old memories came to the forefront of my mind.
Flashback: Begins
I placed Lao's basket on the doorstep of the orphanage with the notes, and bronze flying boar necklace placed on the dark green blanket he was wrapped up in.
As I start to walk away, Lao started to wail," Sorry." I whispered, trying not cry.
I began to walk away, and began to move faster before I changed my mind.
Flashback: Ends
As the memory faded out, I could hear a voice, someone was calling out for me it was the boy, "Officer, are you ok?" He asked, sounding worried
Blinking a couple times, "I'm fine," I said, taking the seat in front of his desk.
"Ok why are you here?" He asked, looking back at his record book.
"I've noticed this place has become popular for my officers and while walking downstairs I noticed that there were triad members mingling with civilians and my officers." I said, staring the kid down.
"That does not really answer my question, madam." He said, stilling looking down at his book.
"What I want to know is who you are?" I asked, getting annoyed at his rudeness.
Putting down his pen, he looked up from his book, "I am the proud owner of the Emerald Badgermole." He stated with an unblinking stare.
I started to get angry at his lack of a true answer.
"But who are you, what is your name?" I growled with my voice rising.
"My name is Lao." He stated simply
The minute he said his name I froze up, memories started to come.
Flashback: Begins
Katara hands my crying son to the me, upon taking him, he instantly stopped crying and watched me with wide eyes.
"What are you going to name him?" Katara asked, smiling warmly
"Lao, Lao Beifong after his grandfather." I said, looking down at my son joyfully.
Flashback: Ends
"I have to be going now." I said, standing up, I rushed to the door not looking back at him.
Heading down the stairs, and left the bar not even checking if my men were following me.
Lao pov:
Chief Beifong was stranger than I thought she would be, "ok back to work," I said, going back to counting my money and record keeping.