Chapter 8 - Negotiation

Returning to the lobby he had previously left, Leon followed Gino to the all glass elevator. Upon entering the elevator Gino pressed the button to rise to the first floor, and they began their ascent. Reaching the top floor Gino looked towards Leon to see his surprised expression, but was disappointed to find that he was unimpressed by the grandiose and luxurious scene that laid before them.

After stepping out from the elevator Leon scanned the room before him. There was a large mahogany conference table in the center of the room, which was placed below a dazzling chandelier that sparkled as the light rays, received from the sun permeating through the glass walls around them, penetrated the crystalline formations on the chandelier that seemed to dance from the touch of this warm light.

There was a massive flat-screen TV that hung on the wall behind this massive table and was playing old and sweet jazz that had originated from the streets of this very city, further setting the business oriented and rich atmosphere surrounding them.

At the head of this monstrous table, sat a young man in his mid-twenties that was wearing a white suit adorned with gold lacing on the edges, and a red handkerchief from his suit-coat pocket.

The aura this man exuded was one of pure dominance and a calm composure that many would perceive as impenetrable.

Sitting to his left was Lawrence that sported a black suit adorned with gold lacing on the edges, and a red handkerchief as well.

As the two men entered the room from the elevator, a smile began to creep across the edges of Lawrence's mouth, while the man at the head gestured for Leon to sit to his right.

Accepting the man's invitation, Leon took his seat next to the man, rested his feet on the expensive mahogany table, folded his hands on his lap, and smiled warmly towards this young boss.

Leon noticed a twitch on the corner of Lawrence's smile, but was content to see the boss's expression remained unchanged and had continued to exude his calmness. Breaking the frozen silence, Leon got straight to business.

"I would like to introduce myself to the leader of this FallenStar organization as Leon Jackson. Although everyone here seems to recognize me as a reaper, I entreat you to refer to me as brother Leon only."

Finishing his sentence Leon sat up straight and extended his hand towards the boss next to him and awaited his response. The boss finally let out a wry smile and accepted Leon's gesture before introducing himself.

"I am the boss of the FallenStar organization and I'm known as Jay. I heard my lower subordinates gave you a hassle yesterday, and invited brother Leon here to express my apologies."

Seeing that Jay was being sincere, Leon relaxed slightly before bringing up the information he wanted to relay to the organization, in order to gain their support.

"I heard through the grapevine that you guys were having some trouble locating one of your gang operatives recently. What if I told you I happened to have information on his whereabouts?"

Leon refolded his hands in his lap and gazed promptly at both the men at the table.

Lawrence donned a shocked expression and even his boss had trouble hiding a surprised look before quickly calculating what he would lose and gain by accepting this important and helpful piece of information.

"What did brother Leon have in mind as compensation?"

After debating for a couple moments, Jay finally answered with another question, hoping that he wouldn't have their wealth pulled through their teeth.

"As you gentlemen already know, my skill set is quite broad and so are my connections for gathering information... That being said your boss Jay here hasn't witnessed my strength yet, so I propose a sparring match against your best operative, here, at this time, before I reveal any more of my intentions."

With a satisfied grin, Leon stood up from his position at the table and fixed his school suit jacket as he awaited an answer. Lawrence and Jay glanced at each other, and both could be seen reaching a conclusion before both their heads nodded in silent agreement, while together they stood up as well.

"We have a facility in the basement of this establishment meant for training and testing new members. Your match shall be held their immediately."

Gesturing towards Leon to follow Lawrence to the underground arena, Jay pulled out a track-phone and immediately dialed the number of his most trusted operative with powerful killing arts to alert him of the situation.

Upon hanging up, Jay followed Lawrence and Leon to the underground fighting arena where they tested out new incoming members wanting to enter into the association, as well as holding regular street fights in order to gain some extra cash from frivolous rich patrons who wanted some excitement.

After descending many floors the elevator doors finally opened, revealing a massive underground fighting ring that was located at the center of "the pit." Leon remembered a rumor from his past life that the FallenStar gang had originally developed through the use of fighting rings in order to gain more funding to solidify their organization and recruit new members.

What Leon saw before him solidified this rumor he had previously heard, and increased his excitement to be able to finally let loose without the restraints of the society around him holding back his gruesome and eye catching techniques.

Entering the ring at the bottom of the countless rows of seating surrounding them, Leon engaged in some special breathing techniques he had acquired from his previous life, as well as some light stretching to loosen up the small muscle mass he was slowly accumulating on his body.

Once finally prepared Leon turned as he felt the aura of a powerful person entering the room, and curled his lower lip into a smile as he recognized the man descending the flights of stairs to enter the arena.

'What a coincidence that I would meet one of the bastards that will betray this organization in a couple years, and will be one of the people that helps my brother take over my company in the future.'

After these thoughts rose to the surface of his mind, Leon came to the only conclusion all his thoughts followed.

'This man must die now before any harm can be done to me or the organization I will be taking over!'

As the man with a scar that penetrated from the corner of his upper lip to the bottom entered the ring, a chill could be felt creeping down his neck as he met the youth's gaze before him.

"Let's see if all your big words have any backing to them."

After finishing the previous sentence the man rushed forward towards Leon, as Jay and Lawrence watched from the side very closely.

The man suddenly took out a small blade that was reminiscent of a Japanese kunai, and hurled it towards Leon's neck before throwing a kick from the opposite side. The scarred face man was quite confident in his skills, but was still on edge from the previously felt premonition of the youth and intently kept his eyes on the youth the entire time.

As his leg was about to reach the side of the youth's rib-cage a flicker of movement was seen in front of him, but it was to late to react now.

Seeing the positioning of the perfectly thrown knife and kick, Leon understood he was dealing with a master of assassination, and immediately became serious while simultaneously releasing his heartless and bone-chilling aura.

Catching the knife between the fingers on his left hand, Leon quickly switched into a edge out reverse knife grip, and plunged the blade into the tendons on the man's leg that was about to hit him.

A blood curdling scream resounded throughout "the pit" as Leon ruthlessly tore the blade out from the man's leg and spun around the man's back utilizing his footwork.

Upon touching his back against his opponent's Leon swaggered off the stage as a small slash appeared on the operative's jugular vein located on his neck with the knife sticking out from the man's back.

As the operative fell to his knees, still unable to believe that his body couldn't keep up with his eyes watching the movements of the youth before him, he was greeted by the unfathomable void of death his killer had departed from.

Leon still donning his cold and heartless expression from the slaughter he had just performed in front of these two men, cracked his neck back and forth before calming down.

Glancing towards the dumbfounded Jay and a frightened Lawrence, Leon smiled coldly and quietly exclaimed his intentions in a firm voice.

"I apologize for your loss, but luckily you will be reimbursed for that man in double!

Upon the blood of the strongest spilled here in this arena, I solidify the position I have when conducting business with this organization, as well as the benefits you will all receive by accepting me as the hidden operative of the FallenStar gang."