"I've got an important function next weekend; would you join me as my plus one? You'll be surprised by the people in attendance." Smirking, Leo decided to bait this scout. He had long set his mind on making her his subordinate – a mole in the Red Mafia, and he knew just how to get it. Earlier, he had asked the system how the 'Informant' skill book reward worked.
[You can choose one person to gift the skill to. They will become loyal to you and forever be your informant. Their information gathering and disguise skills will get a boost along with their passive deception so that they become a useful informant.]
Thinking back to the plan he had hatched with the revelations provided by the systems answer, Leo couldn't help but grin. Lily looked at him curiously, "You alright, Leo?"
"No worries, Lily, I'm just excited to go hunting."
"Hunting?"
Ignoring Lily's question, Leo finished his drink and stood up, walking into the sea of people. Looking around Leo couldn't marvel at the usefulness of the information gathering skill. It allowed him to know a little about everyone, and even if there was very little usable information it basically told him who everyone was.
"Boss, who is that girl? You've basically not been phased by even the upper echelon socialites, but she seemed to capture your attention. What's special about her?"
Having followed his new boss around like a dog, Jack was confused at Leo's actions. Having kept calm and collected throughout the evening so far, that calm was thrown out the window when he saw the bargirl.
"Jack, what do you know of my skills?"
"I heard from Mr Night, that you know a little about everyone thanks to the system. To complement this skill, you are very adept at blackmail."
"Well, Jack. My skill made her much more interesting than the rest of the boring attendees at this ball."
"Will you tell me why?"
"You'll find out at the grand opening of the bar, but I'll give you a hint. She works for someone very surprising. Now, let's go find some prey."
Looking around, Leo spotted a relatively young man standing in the corner of the ballroom holding a glass of red wine. A nonchalant face with a pair of bored blue eyes, a head of brown curly hair was topped of with a smirk. A classic tuxedo completed the look of a man who did not belong to this scene.
Checking out the system, Leo finally found his last target.
[Jonathan Wykes, son of the Admiral of The Royal Britannia Fleet. A washed-out military prodigy, dishonourably discharged due to the being set up by the General of the Royal Britannia Armed Forces and an Air Chief Marshal within the Air Force.]
Now, this was interesting. A prodigy that fell at the hands of righteous, honour filled appointed military officers. He could be a very good addition to the syndicate. As Leo was thinking over whether to invite Jonathan into the fold, he decided that that was a decision for Alex. As the leader Alex had the final say in everything. Leo decided to attract the young man's curiosity and invite him to meet Alex. Having chosen his direction, Leo walked up to the bored man, swiping a glass of wine from the tray of a passing waiter.
"Now, do you know what I really hate?" Leo walked up to Jonathan while looking him in the eye.
"I do not, what do you hate?"
"I cannot stand hypocrites. Especially righteous law-abiding citizens plotting behind the shadow of the law, using their legal power to make illegal moves. I find it disgusting, an amazing game of chess ruined using hidden moves in the dark."
"Interesting idea, while I do not really harbour much dislike to the powers in the dark, I do believe that they should not make rash hidden moves. Much like your analogy to chess, a rash move will bring down the whole position."
"Nice to meet you. By the looks of it, you must be a military man. No second-generation rich kid would have a posture that straight."
"How perceptive, Jonathan Wykes, son of the Admiral of our Navy. But you got something wrong – I'm an ex-military man."
"Damn, so close."
"Let me try, not a rich kid, bearing is too confident and not arrogant enough. Not politics too, not sly enough; your plan seemed open from the get-go. You're also not military, that one is obvious by your posture and the hulking loyal dog behind you. You also do not have the bloody scent of the underworld. You're either a self-established entrepreneur or I'm blind."
"You're very far my dear Jonathan. I am Leo Di Veriza, son of Anthony Di Veriza and Amanda Heyfeld."
"Ah, entertainment. Loved your father's movie by the way – absolute masterpiece. But I'll have to give it to you, your acting is up there with your fathers."
"Oh, you would be wrong to assume that I am like my father. He can only lower his head in front of the big names, I'm different. I wouldn't really care about a General or a Chief Marshall. I would refer to myself as a chess player."
Taking a quick breath, Jonathan was surprised. This young kid in front of him had outplayed him at every step of the conversation, as a military prodigy skilled in battlefield strategy to be outplayed so easily was horrifying. The level of manoeuvrability that this actor's son had displayed far outdid what his skill should be from his upbringing.
"I will tell you a little secret that very few people know. As you treat squadrons on the battlefield, that is how I treat people in the upper echelons. Pushing who need to be pushed; pulling who needs to be pulled. What I am asked to do I shall do, and you, Jonathan Wykes, are very interesting."
"You really are not an ordinary actor's son. You're suggesting that at your young tender age you have already found someone to lower your head to?"
"Sometimes there are people so extra-ordinary that you cannot help but lower your head."
"I know what you mean, I had a person like that in the Marines."
"Alright, my evening is coming to an end. I enjoyed myself thoroughly, especially meeting you. I will give you some advice Mr Wykes, there's a grand opening of an establishment backed by the heiress of the Morrigan group. I sincerely suggest you attend."
"Why would I go to the opening of some random bar?"
"You never know when luck might find you; you never know who you may meet. You also have no idea as to the ability of those people. Maybe they need a military man. Goodbye Mr Wykes, I hope to see you again."
Walking away, Leo looked around for his parents. Meeting up with them, the trio left the ballroom under the watchful eye of the Wolf of the Plains.