Chereads / Metal Puppets / Chapter 53 - Chapter 53

Chapter 53 - Chapter 53

Markus hated everything about the man sitting across from him.

"He's like me," Markus thought, keeping his face neutral as a brief moment of surprise flashed across Doyle's face when Markus had told him who he was. Doyle, to his credit, hid his expression moments afterward. The tell had been brief, but for an experienced man like Markus, that twitch and the self-control needed to hide it were all too recognizable. 

It was drive that had gotten Markus to the position of power he now held, and he saw that same drive in Doyle - leading from the front, sticking his neck out, swooping in to grab power where he can. 

"He's a goldfish, he will get bigger if given a bigger bowl to swim in."

Markus had of course done his share of research on Doyle prior to setting up the meeting. He knew that the man sitting before him had seized leadership by staging a coup at the exact perfect moment. He also knew that the gang that Markus now led was growing and gaining territory.

Others in the circles that Markus ran in may have discounted Doyle as a simple thug, but Markus knew there was something more. 

More importantly, Doyle had done the one thing that most great leaders do and surrounded himself by competent, intelligent, and loyal people. The hawkish woman that sat next to the gang leader had eyes that burned with a mixture of acumen and alertness which made her as dangerous as her companion. 

And that's why Markus hated Doyle. Given enough time, he could be competition. That wouldn't do of course, so at some point Markus would have to nip the situation in the bud - after Doyle had served his purpose. If Doyle was allowed to grow to a point where he seized control over the gangs in the city, he would find out that the gangs were in fact just pawns of a larger game of control. Yes, Doyle was the type of man that would attempt to climb higher if he knew there were more rungs on the ladder, and it was Markus' responsibility to make sure that didn't happen. 

But for now, Doyle, even as a pawn, was an important piece. Doyle had something that Markus needed. 

**

Doyle hoped that the man across the table from him hadn't noticed the brief look of surprise that he knew had flashed across his face a moment earlier.

"Stupid!" Doyle cursed himself internally. Many of the backroom dealings that Doyle had encountered in the past had been with soft merchants or politicians, too opulent and too lazy to actually go and get their hands dirty when they wanted things done. This Markus however, well it was now obvious to Doyle that Markus was the type that got things done on his own. The man had the build, and the scars to prove it. 

"He's a little like me," Doyle thought. "That means he's dangerous."

The two sat in uncomfortable silence for a few moments, neither one seemingly willing to break the tension. Each looked at the other, measuring.

To Doyle's surprise, it was Markus that broke the stalemate, seizing control of the conversation.

"So, my informants tell me that you have what we need." Markus said.

"Right," Doyle said, taken aback by the fact that Markus had spoken first. He paused a moment to gather his thoughts, selecting each word carefully.

"The thing is, there's a bit a of "premium" on those resources now. There's been a recent shortage, which I'm sure you are aware."

Markus said nothing, just looking at Doyle with dark eyes. There was a slight narrowing of the eyelids, but only for the briefest of moments. Doyle had seen that look before. He had seen it on underlings who eventually turned out to be trouble. It was a flash... of hate? It disappeared too quickly for Doyle to be sure. 

"Fine," Doyle thought. "Hate me for holding all the cards right now. I don't care, as long as you pay."

"There are... others that I could go to you know," Markus returned. 

Doyle looked for any emotion on the man's face like he had seen with that flash earlier. There was nothing.

"I thought that you were pressed for time. My resources are ready to go." Doyle retorted. "Do you really want to wait to set something up with someone else?"

"Fine," Markus said dismissively. "The agreed price, plus half."

Doyle blinked at this. That was well above what he had intended to ask for. The agreed price had already been a ridiculous amount, well more that what he would usually take in over the course of a year. He been prepare to perhaps haggle an additional 10% out of the man, but that amount was mind boggling.

"Double." Doyle pushed his luck. He had too. For his larger plan to work, he would need every last coin he could get his hands on. Perhaps he could get Markus up a few more percentage points.

"Done." the mustached man said. "But I keep them."

Doyle raised an eyebrow, "Keep them?"

"The metalmancers. Instead of lending them to me, I buy them outright."

Doyle's legs ached at that word and he unconsciously rubbed them as he thought. His mind was racing now. The initial agreement was that the freaks under his control would be sent to help out Markus with some sort of nearby salvage operation. Sure, they brought in some great money, but the sheer amount Markus was talking about was life changing. 

Plus, he would be clear of those... abominations. 

He nodded dumbly. Despite getting what he wanted, he knew that he had lost and control over the conversation. Markus had objectively bought him.

"Excellent, you know where I am, so send them to me as soon as possible." Markus stood and suddenly started walking towards the door, ready to show them out now that the deal was done. This sudden action caused Doyle and his female companion to scramble out of their chairs to follow.

"And, I need you to do one more thing for me." Markus said.

"What's that?" Doyle asked.

"Some... competition of mine is sending some metalmancers of their own. I need you to take care of them for me."

Doyle smiled at this. Taking people out was his specialty. 

**

Markus watched the two retreat into the fog with their entourage, pleased that he gotten what he had gotten out of the negotiations. Double the fee was pretty cash compared the the potential haul of salvage that he had gotten word about. Besides, he could just get the money back once he took care of Doyle.

He hated even having to deal with the man in the first place. If only the two metalmancers that he had under his employ hadn't disappeared late last fall. Oh well, he was sure that the ones he was acquiring would be loyal given that they were being freed from being under the thumb of one of the city's gangs. 

"There's also another unknown piece in play," he thought. The young female metalmancer that had ruined his ambush of Terry's cart had been a wildcard. None of his men had been seriously wounded, but the bites inflicted by the little metal spiders did bring down the effectiveness of his men. 

Markus had a devious image flash across his mind. He visualized the young metalmancer and Doyle taking each other out, killing two birds with one stone. 

"I can only hope," he thought.