Some time before...
Zao: .... I ... I can get anything you need. Anything! Just name it!
Zao begs gen and John as he's expression shifts from despair to hope.
Gen: ideas. We don't know the center walls well enough nor the schedule the highers go by.
Zao: .... Ah. Right. I do.
John: sit up and talk then. Give us some ideas.
Zao sits up and gently looks him in the face.
Gen: talk.
Zao: ah... the tower is the same on both sides. Everything is replicated to look exactly the same. Some rooms decorated slightly different, but all in all it's the same. Due to your last "job", the meeting was held back to be rescheduled in the next two days. However, during that time they will be there for exactly twenty-four hours from noon then to noon the next day. Once that is done, they will go to their designated housing on either side of the wall, instead of returning to their offices in the tower. During this time, only half the guards will be on duty, while the other are sent out to patrol the streets in the middle area without reentry. Those on duty will be guarding the highers. This should be enough time to study the tower layout. And find out all of its secrets.
Gen: The highers housing hold secrets as well, don't they?
Zao:....? How...? Never mind. Then check them, too. Find anything you can that well completely destroy their power for good.
John: .... You said help you. What will you do in the meantime?
Zao: I will do all I can to collect more information for you on all of the rooms in the tower since I have access to them.
Gen: .... Fine. What do we do once we find the things we're looking for?
Zao: give it to me or someone you trust. I'll need it to give to the Guardian staying at the inn. I'm sure she can take care of it from there.
John:.... No. That's no good.
Gen looks to John confused.
Zao: What do you mean?
John: there won't be enough time from when that guardian of yours leaves and comes back. By the time she gets back the highers might have already thought of something to counter the cavalry.
Zao: ....!! Tch! What now then?!
Gen: ....we use this place.
Zao: eh?!
Gen: *whistle*
Vacallo: Sup, red?
Vacallo and the other appear behind Gen and John.
Zao: the mafia?! Are you nuts?!
John: Not as nuts as you are, apparently.
Zao: ...!! No! No I can't go that low!
Gen: You were ready to go far lower than this, Zao. Don't piss out now.
Zao only looks at them.
John: go to the tower and tell them you only left to cool your head. Go back to you daily life as a guard and don't come back here unless it's an emergency.
Gen: If it is, tell them. They'll let us know. And no one will get in trouble in the meantime, since not even the highers fuck with the black market.
Zao:.... Fine. So what do you want as payment.
Gen: You asked for help.
John: There's no price for a cry for help.
Zao is amazed. He never imagined thieves to have a chivalrous side.
Zao: Then I'll be going.
He leaves.
Present...
Vacallo: So what's the plan, boss?
Gen looks at the man and grins from ear to ear.
Gen: we'll be making an exception today. This crazy plan of his will get everyone out of the gutter and back on the streets. I think I'm gonna like how this'll turn out.