Apparently the Gunsmith had always done this kind of tactic.
First Valefar would "save" the potential human being from a particularly sticky situation, like near death or moments leading up to a terrible moment, before enforcing them to pay up in the form of a great sin. Said sin would depend on how much suffering the human being went through.
The Gunsmith's been doing this to humanity for a time that not even he himself has counted. Chance assumed that practice was as old as Morrisey itself.
"He's not the only one doing this." Valefar spoke. "Other demons have done to other humans all around the world as far as I'm aware of. So, I'm assuming Satriano told you everything about what he wants?"
"This is what you meant by Drip Work?" Chance asked.
Satriano told Chance in a short lengthened conversation. He had a problem a while back, in the form of a certain hot shot named Luke Brady. The man seemed harmless at first, wasn't really capable of killing a man, at least not based on his white suit and sleek black hair.
"But he was capable of playing people like damn fools in Little Italy and beyond.." Satriano shouted. "I couldn't really sit on my ass while that man's taking things as he likes, or down right disrespecting Italians like myself. The only reason I'd want him dead was because he got off a certain criminal charge. Scratch that, not a certain charge, but a series of charges, the kind that involves women. I'm talking about those both in Little Italy and the city in general."
"The only reason Joey never got to rub out Luke, was mainly because of who Luke was hanging out with." Valefar said "Mayor Tomlinson, Senator Rourke from Scarburrow, the list goes on."
"This is a perfect opportunity for you, to get my soul?" Chance asked.
"Remember, you were in war, you killed men in the name of defending your country. Killing is killing regardless of reason. You think Hell provides free passes for self defense killing?" Valefar asked. "I thought not. Anyway, like I said, I saved your life, now you take another. It's a sin that's worth paying for, considering you went through Hell back and forth."
Chance clenched his fists and furrowed his eyebrows. Killing wasn't anything to be proud of. Not that he was a goody two shoes, but the idea of killing a man, it really can get to someone's nerves.
Worst case scenario would be somebody's brain and soul getting tainted with killing. Haverton agents were always advised to carry a service pistol, just like an officer of the MPD. But from what he understood, is that even the most senior of Havertons only used their gun when absolutely necessary.
We're members of the law, not killers, Chance thought.
But he was going to do drip work now for Valefar, on behalf of Satriano.
"I did some investigative work of my own regarding Luke, while you were out there going one on one with Bright." The Representative smiled as Chance rolled his eyes. "Hangs out at the bar at the Full Moon Hotel. Guy's got an obsession with hanging out with women, I mean, all that freedom and you decide to spend your time with some woman you'll most likely never get together with?"
"What's your relationship with Barbie Keane?"
"OH FUCK OFF." Valefar said as the fire emerged from his eyes. They were smaller in size, but Chance could see how shiny the flames were. "So I dig her because of her thighs, so what? I keep reminding myself that I am a demon, and that I am not to be attached to any human."
Chance gave a small smile and raised his eyebrow.
Valefar grumbled. Reaching into his suit pocket, he threw a semi large piece of red cloth to Chance. "Wear that by the time you put a bullet in Luke, and give me your Haverton badge. Make absolutely sure you're not caught by the cops, cause I'm sure you don't want to hurt your fellow lawmen, am I right or am I right?"
"Also." Valefar added as he used his hand to bring Chance to the trunk of his car. The Representative grinned as he opened it.
Chance saw there was a set of clothes, but his eyes widened in surprise at what was next to the clothes. "You're kidding me."
"And don't forget to say this phrase." Valefar handed him a small paper card with writing on it. "Have fun."
***
Within the cold air of the city, Bright was heading Northwest. Within that area of Morissey was a smaller borough of apartments and neighborhoods known as Barker's.
The place got its name from the Barker Motor Company, which used to pump out carriages in the late 1800s, and cars during the early 20s, but went bust by the time the Crash arrived in the 30s.
Another good reason the borough got its name was the fact that many dogs were stationed there during the early days of Morissey's discovery.
Bright knew this. You don't really have to read a lot in order to understand the history of a particular place. In his case, his source of knowledge was from Hunch Harvey.
Bright turned back into his original form. He landed at the back of a two story like mansion. The mansion itself still had that 18th century style, it's original design in Morissey's past life, during a time where America had gone through it's revolution and achieved its independence. At the corner of the upper left window, Bright saw a female figure with stunning but thin white hair. She disappeared from view.
Next, he heard a door open, and out came the face of Hunch. Hunch's face was big in size, tall as well. Back then, Wesley Riskell and his friends joked about Hunch's big ass fish like face. They never mocked him again by the time he killed 2 men in a fistfight, using only his fists, and came out with only a small scar underneath his left eye.
Hunch was wearing a dark green suit with spikes on his shoulder. That walrus mustache was as clear as day, and that was a result of his Hellfire Arm, Misery.
"Johnson called me, he said you did some cleaning up." Hunch said in a stuttered tone. "For fuck's sake, get yourself in here! You'll never know if somebody in HAST will have a Hellfire Arm that makes them invisible."
Poor bastard, Bright thought of Hunch as he went inside the old mansion. The place was full of old furniture from the 19th century, and spider webs were all over the place.
"How's your wife?" the crimson Dripper asked.
"Very funny." Hunch replied. "How do you think she is?"
"I am worried that all that anger she had from her past life will compromise your location."
"Oh really? You think I didn't hear about Ryder's Island? People are talking about it all over this place, and I bet those city reporters are gonna get the scoop on this! They're gonna ask each and every single person they can find. Ask the average person what do they knew or what do they think of the situation, fucking rubbish if you ask me, can't leave people to themselves."
"Honestly, I don't know how long we can keep this up." Hunch added.
"I killed that detective looking for you."
"Killing him doesn't make a damn difference. Somebody's gonna replace him! How the hell are we gonna get the other Hellfire Arms? Wait. You did make the deal with Valefar, right? Right?"
You think too much, Bright thought of Hunch. "Yes I did. Don't forget, we also need to find the Fiend that freed the Arms in the first place."
"The hell? In the middle of all this? Also, why didn't you tell me we got another Dripper? Guy by the name of Trent? Black told me!"
"Again, you worry too much. He's not gonna join us, not necessarily for a while." Bright spoke. "Besides, I gave Trent a special assignment."
***
The Full Moon Hotel.
What a place that lives up to its name, a giant crescent moon slapped in front of the building itself, with a couple of stars accompanying the moon, Chance thought as he drove Valefar's car and was dressed in different clothes.
Gone was his usual Haverton suit. Now he was in a dark blue suit, accompanied by a red shirt and black tie. Next to him were a couple of things that he saw in the trunk.
Grenades, bullets, and a Tommy Gun.
He sighed as he was faced with this situation. Here he was with drip work, from Valefar and Satriano, mostly from the former who felt this was a better pay. He remembered Valefar's words before he left to get here.
'Only reason I'm asking for Luke Brady's life, cause I can't really pick a target myself. Too many damn sinners in Morissey, so I asked Satriano if there's a guy he's pissed off with, and when Luke came up, maybe you could deal with him instead.'
Chance pulled up the red cloth over the bottom part of his face, his eyes still being able to see clearly. He got out of the car, and jogged across the street, Tommy Gun in one hand.
He kicked the glass door, before he punched a guard with the butt of the rifle, then fired a couple of rounds up to the higher end of the ceiling. The people screamed and ducked for cover before Chance aimed his rifle at another guard with his own gun.
"One more step and you're dead." Chance said forcefully. This wasn't like the war. "Luke Brady! Bring yourself out!" he stopped before he noticed a blond woman wearing a red dress. He approached her and grabbed her by the arm.
"Please, don't."
"Brady! I know you like women, surely you wouldn't let this lady's brains get blown out, would ya? I'll shoot her and every other person here for each 10 seconds you don't come out! 6 people within a minute! You want that!?"
Dammit! Chance thought deep inside, this wasn't right.
But Valefar might try to kill him if he did back out.
Chance heard footsteps from the far end of the right. He saw a brown haired man with blue eyes, wearing a dark suit and yellow tie. "Let her go." he said. This was his target.
Chance let go of his 'hostage'. "Go on, get out. Bring everyone else out."
"What?"
"Just do it." Chance asked before he turned to Luke Brady. "I guess you only appear when damsels are in distress huh?" he said with tough talk.
"Who sent you? How much they're paying?" Luke asked.
Chance fired his Tommy Gun. Sending a spray of bullets to Luke's side. The target ducked for cover and crawled to the left end of the hotel, just before the elevators.
Luke pulled out a gun, and fired his own set of shots. Bullets passed Chance as he ducked behind the front desk. When he peeked out, he saw Luke running for the stairs.
"Better kill him fast before the heat comes along." he said to himself.
It was only a matter of time until a witness called the MPD and HAST.