He then pushed the center before tracing an unknown symbol within the glowing disc with his index finger.
With his eyes still fixated on the 'gallery', he connected the channel. A heavy feminine voice from an unmotivated someone spoke through the device.
"This is the Command Department's leader, I don't care what kind of idea you have for territory control, Cat, so what the hell do you want this time?"
"March Hare, what is your plan for the left centerfold of the southwest area near the Red Marauder?"
"Huh, ain't it obvious? We either maintain the border or let it get taken by either the Red Madass, Sucrose Point, or the Yugen Extra. Knowing that the 'Turf Treaty' from the ancient who-knows-who has still mattered till this day, we won't be advancing to either side in any case scenario."
"Are you informed of the infrastructure material storage building near that area?"
"Yeah, the intelligence dept reported to me what you were doing. So the hell are you actually doing?"
"How about we abandon that area and shrank our border to the edge of the nearest apartments within the Vascular?"
"Hmm, we have already talked about this. But now that you mentioned it, I guess our plan about preserving the human resources and bleeding either the Yugen Extra and the Red Marauder that will fight for that key point, is a plausible course of action at this time."
"By of course, I also got the help from the Phantasmal Leprechaun."
"The Phantasmal what!?"
The malicious grin that Cheshire Cat wore became more unhinged, as if something had possessed the calm and uncaring man. "I'm planning to start a war in the near future. Go file for permission to meet with the 'Jabberwocky' for me."
"There haven't been any reports about the Phantasmal Leprechaun being under your command till now, how come nobody told me this sooner!?"
"I told them to hide it until it ripened."
"I won't tolerate this behavior even more."
"'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves. Did gyre and gimble in the wabe'."
"... 'All mimsy were the borogoves, and the mome raths outgrabe'."
"I'm not playing any games, March Hare."
"Fine... we will explore this plan deeper under the court with the 'Red Queen'."
As the static noise elated, the communication channel was forcefully removed from the other side.
"Seems like all of you will be meeting with the old man," I said with a sneer.
"The Jabberwocky have been trying to find a reason on how to stir up all of the four major Syndicates without alerting the 'Sloth' as much."
Right, the major driving force of the City's veins.
"Even if they won't do much as much?"
"Even if they won't do much."
The Seven Sins, calling them a humongous group of Syndicates was a heavy understatement on how much impact and deep their roots had belonged.
Without them, the amount of danger and the lack of rules within the Lowstreet would become the end of this civilization.
And because of them, the Heads of every District couldn't tamper the underworld beneath their breath.
Each of the Seven Sins had their own method of handling their territory. District 67's Lowstreet was in the grasp of the 'Sloth'.
Just like its name, there weren't many rules that were enforced here. Combined with the existence of Streetlight Talon as one of its Subsidiaries, District 67's Lowstreet became one of the safest out of all Lowstreets out there. And that wasn't even an exaggeration, which shows how shitty the veins of the actual City were.
For the Sloth especially, they didn't care much about their territory, as long as the affiliated Syndicates pay a monthly royalty.
What are the benefits of being affiliated with the Seven Sins, one may ask? Depends on what sin we were talking about, but it was mostly different for each of them.
Being a Sin's Subsidiary of the Sloth would give you an unlimited freedom of what you do without being ever bothered by the Sloth itself. Which was somehow fitting for them and the adventurous Streetlight Talons.
Just don't forget about paying monthly, or else they will immediately terminate the affiliate contract.
In contrast, the 'Wrath' would ensure every Subsidiaries of their to pay royalty with blood, and to always be prepared of being dispatched somewhere for constant conflict. In exchange for great technological patents and resources to thrive.
And much more.
Most of the Seven Sins worked in a mysterious way, and they couldn't be eradicated or removed from the City in any way without damaging the ecosystem and the lives of the innocent.
As if they had been there from the very start of the City's creation.
"Must be a pain in the ass, huh? Needing to pay a royalty to the most obnoxious 'Seven Sins' out of the others. How are they today, anyway?"
With all of that set, we closed the entrance as we pulled the hinge of the giant door of the building. After the gift was fully wrapped, we dusted our hands like at the end of every annoying chore.
"The Sloth hasn't made any movement nor left any trace for the last three years." Toronto pulled out another cigarette, immediately tried to light the tip with a lighter. "Their Royalty Collectors are still as active as ever though."
"Alright, with this, I have no more ties with the Streetlight Talon," I said as I started to remove the prototype uniform.
"That multilayered coat is now yours." The Cheshire Cat blew his smoke right at my face. "The Yugen Extra didn't know who the hell wore that uniform until the next monday. Likewise, the utility of the coat is enough as an extra payment, along with the 3,000,000 Solus that will be sent in the form of a new wallet card, knowing that you probably didn't have one.
"Don't mind the heavy payment, Gilga had sent her report about your action on forcing that stubborn woman aside, avoiding her foolish imminent death."
"No problem." I slouched, having no ill intent in mind as I knew this little cat's desire. "Seeing the dead of my kin won't be satisfactory, anyway."
"Hmm? I thought 'Arcadians' hate each other."
"You sure knew a lot, huh."
"They didn't call me the Cheshire Cat for nothing, Leprechaun."
Aside from all of the dandy things he said, he managed to sneak in an important detail.
After a solid silence for a couple of seconds, I grabbed the necktie of this man, after taking my time with the timing as Nusa fell from the stupor of liquor in the background, avoiding the Streetlight Talons' attention.