I wake up to my alarm clock and start training again. I train as much as possible just in case anything happens. At first, I was troubled as to where exactly I could train my spells then I realized I could just jog to central park and do the training down. I guess I succeeded in finding a new training ground for my bigger spells. That's one less worry for me I guess. I jog down to central park and start my own training.
After morning training I go to my part-time work. I don't have to work part-time but I do due to my food intake. Despite aunt and uncle being utterly despising they do seem to still have a little bit of heart. They pay for my apartment for now and for a little bit of food.
However, a little bit is not enough for my food intake at all so I resorted to working in order to be able to afford my own food intake. And since I can cook for myself I can just buy ingredients and cook myself. Of course, I try to make it as balanced as possible while still keeping it delicious.
Due to healing magic, I can now tell what vitamins somethings are made up of and what vitamins or proteins I need. However, it really becomes annoying since I constantly know the state my body is in. Basically, if I'm lacking something I will know and it feels annoying since you know something is off with your body's balance.
If I were to give a reference it would be when you cut your leg and you try to start walking; it doesn't hurt much but it's hella uncomfortable. Basically, that's how I feel when my body is off balance so I become aware of what nutrients to look for. This has given me the ability to be able to tell any food's composition by using some healing magic on it.
I finish my morning run more tired than I did before. This is due to me doing extra things like expanding my range to using a little bit off my elements while running to maintaining myself cool since I'm using a jacket in order to make it habitual to cover myself with wind magic unconsciously among other things. I head to my job which is basically working at a register in a supermarket as well as food stocking and some truck unloading.
However, even here I don't want to waste time working too much so I usually work on my body enhancement doing the things I have to do and fatigue-relieving to make it more efficient. Heating myself when I feel somewhat cold and using wind when too hot. Hopefully, it will help me with fine control of both and eventually just make it habitual.
I don't have a second to lose if I want to become able to completely use my magic to the highest degree I possibly can. And magic power and fine control isn't the only thing I try training. I also use my sensing and voice hearing to keep tabs on what's going on at the supermarket for some training. I can't really afford to waste a single bit of time. I finish my part-time job at around 1 p.m. After that, I have a slight snack and head out to central park where I usually train.
After training comes practical training, that is to say patrolling at night. I usually do this after I have regained all my mana. I only use about 1/4 of my mana with everything I do around the streets, but I can't be too safe. For now, I will only patrol since the deal is in one week, for now, I will just patrol the streets without having much of an object. The more I patrol the more rumors I hear about the organizations running the underground.
It seems that one of them was moving in as if to eliminate the other two shifting the power balance. Not that it matters much since all of them won't exist by the end of the summer. I don't know why, but it almost seemed taboo to say the actual organization names when I was on the streets, either that or I missed when they said it before I could hear their conversations.
My information gathering is better than normal though since I can hear things from afar so I know more about the movement of the streets around here. As usual, I have my black hoodie along with my black mask to hide my face and walk around. I walk on an alley trying to sense anything happening around me until someone stops in front of me and calls out.
"Dark menace, I suppose?"(???)
Dark menace is what people from the underground call me around here. I jump back and prepare myself to fight.
"Relax now would ya." He puts his hands up in his air. He's wearing a mask you could get from any festival around and is about my height. Wearing some casual clothes. I try to sense for some weapons and I sense a pistol hidden on his right coats right pocket and a knife on his waist. " I don't mean you any harm, see." He turns around showing off his waist in order for me to see there's no gun on it. No shit, yours is hidden." There's no way to harm you with this knife from her right."
"Take off your coat and then I'll put my guard down."
"Very perceptive are you. Fine, I'll slowly put my coat down." he does so." But my knife-"
"Yeah, I got it, you can't be completely defenseless around here this time of night. So, state your business."
"I'm glad you understand. In that case, allow me to introduce myself, I'm known as M. around here."
If I remember correctly he's a very well known information seller around these parts. He doesn't care to which side, as long you have the money, he will give information. He's neutral to some extent unless his information network is threatened. Because of his neutrality and the extremely wide network he has a bit of immunity.
"So what does such a big fish want with me?"
"Cutting to the chase are we?"
"I was always told to stay away from the bad crowd."
He starts laughing.
"So the rumors are true then, you don't belong to anyone and you act as a vigilante of sorts."
"That's right, does that pose a problem?"
"Not at all, anyways to get to the point. I want to enlist our services in order to provide you with information."
".... I don't have the money to pay you for your information, now scram." I start walking away
"Now, now what I'm looking from you isn't money, but rather an information."
"Information? From me?"
"You think I haven't realized that you move suspiciously well around these streets. But, no matter how much skill you have there's no way you would have caught the number of people you have in this last week and a half. You must be getting information from a reliable source. However, you haven't paid any of my informants and you haven't been spotted approaching other information organizations. Even if you did, you sometimes end up in conflict even our organization was unaware about so you must have a secret on-"
"Get to the point already or I'll assume you are just stalling for time." Well, I don't sense anybody dangerous within a 30-meter radius but you can't be too cautious.
"Instead of money, I want information from you. We will exchange information for information. I'm sure there are some things you want to know that you are not sure about. As a show of good faith, I will allow you one free question."
... I guess I could use to learn about the name of the organizations mainly deal with as well as the people in high places for each one. I could act as if I know the name of the organization and ask what they mainly deal with. As for my second question, I could use some exchanging.
"In that case what do the three major organizations deal with and what are the names of their top people?"
"Woah, slow down that's two questions."
"I know, but it is supposed to be an information exchange right? In that case, don't you think that we can exchange some more information, I'm sure I have some extra information that might be useful."
"What do you got?
"Do you know about the deal down by the docks that will happen?"
"Yeah, I know about Lotus flower's deal. A big cocaine cargo will arrive here sometime this week. That's not very useful."
Lotus flower, that's one name down.
"In that case, it might be useless to know when exactly, at what time, how much of the cargo, at which bay and what the passwords will be used as well as what will be exchanged and the amount of money that it will be exchanged for? Well, you don't have to answer my second question if you already know all of this."
"..."
"Anyways, show your good faith for now and then we'll exchange information some other time."
"If what you're saying that you know is true, how did you- No I guess I shouldn't ask that. Can I find your information reliable though."
" I'm planning on this being a long term relationship so don't worry about wrong information."
"I see, in that case First of Crimson night. Crimson night focuses heavily on drug buying and some drug distribution. They have some dealings with the Mexican gangs south of the U.S. and have the biggest drug ring in NYC. Next is Lotus flower, they suddenly established themselves 2 years ago and have been gaining power since.
They also deal with drug buying however not as heavily as Crimson Night. Their biggest strong point is dealing with weapons trafficking and drug distribution. Due to their big weapon arsenal, the Lotus Flower has the biggest territory, so in turn, the other gangs usually deal with the collection while Lotus Flower deals with distribution. However, nobody is sure who their weapon distributor is or where they are from. Finally, the blood crips deal with drugs but mainly work on human trafficking and prostitution. They are the second largest drug distributors in the city.
The bloody crips don't have much in terms of firepower but due to their huge contribution in the human trafficking scene, they have huge influence within the minorities in New York City. That's all for the gangs. So, let's hear your information and then we'll exchange a bit more."
I see, now, not only do I know their names but specialties. Okay, looks like it's me for now. But first...
"Before I start let me say this, I hope for a long relationship," I say extremely menacingly.
"...Yes, I understand."
"Alright, this is what I know..."
I told him about the deal with the drugs as well about the 10,000 ounces of drugs. The exact password about the fishes. The fact that the boat will arrive at 19:00 and that they will meet at 19:30 with the man, and lastly about the 2.5 milllion dollars the deal will be.
"That's some information you got there."
"I have my ways. Now, the names and if possible facial features of the organizations' top men."