"Please, everyone, have a seat,"
The delegates from different gangs sat on the prestigiously crafted chairs of the meeting room table. The soldiers stand behind their bosses, while the maids and butlers serve wine and distribute folders respectively.
The room is quite large and ornated with golden designs of a fist, the wallpaper is meticulously drawn patterns of a skeletal figure. On the ceiling is a chandelier dressed with a thousand crystalized assortments that those with exotic tastes can only comprehend. On the floor is a fine fur carpet that looks expensively detailed with silk etches of random abstracts.
Pretentiously, Gian sits on a throne at the center of the fancy table. Dressed in his off-white suit, his fierce stature radiates a commanding aura enabling the whole room to be in silence. The awe atmosphere is only interrupted by the sound of pouring wine and crisping papers that the servants are distributing.
At his back is a painting of him and a woman framed in gold. Thunder can be heard outside, it is still pouring rain, and the wind occasionally knocks on the glass windows. Living on a flying chunk of land sure brings the inconveniences of living on a normal island.
Inconvenience is the word to describe this floating estate. The workings of the crude machinery that enable this island's flight are such a fickle affair. Each day, the engines burn tons of fuel to convert into energy not only to sustain altitude but also to supply the electrical demands of the estate.
Costello, quietly sits annoyed, feeling disrespected by the events earlier. The assistant mechanics tends to his slightly damaged parts, especially his metal jaw area. Across him, to the other end of the table, is Gian enjoying his wine poured in a huge golden goblet, smirking.
The Lostandos Outfit underboss sits beside Costello, also with the assisting mechanics mending her cracked porcelain skin. She scowls at Judan who is standing behind Gian, quietly reciprocating her anger.
In the corner of the room is Elvira, supervising her maids. Standing beside her is Mako, still dressed in an old and ragged maid outfit, idling by and looking a bit confused. He just woke up and feels exhausted, he stands by idling and drowsy.
The boss of the Pink Flamingos, Bose, sits beside Gian. He looks bored and tired. His assistants and bodyguards are behind him, reading their own copies of the distributed documents. Bose, grunts in every paragraph he reads, "I wish Kidd was here..."
Niko sits in front of the Pink Flamingos, beside his don, Gian. He is now wearing a brown jumpsuit, his fancy outfit was destroyed earlier. He sips his wine as eyes back and forth at Gian and Costello. The rumble that happened prior was expected but Costello did not anticipate being thrown, now he has to answer to his own boss about what happened to their destroyed airships.
Niko knew Costello's assumption, it is the brand of their gang. Everyone knows that the Five Fingers are a stubborn bunch, especially Gian, who was a former member himself. The only way to a Five Finger's heart is to punch their guts out, and Gian managed to do that.
"Are we not starting or are we just reading these papers that don't prove anything?" Costello bitterly hurls the papers in the air, the pieces slowly descend on top of the table. "More wine,"
Niko looks at Gian, but the don was just smirking behind his goblet. "We will start once everyone understands the gravity of our situation."
One of the servants holding a wine bottle approaches Costello and pours his glass, "I understand, we do understand. Really. The ruckus you did earlier proves your guilt!"
"We believe it proves the opposite, Costy." Niko sighs.
"Don't call me Costy!"
"I'm sorry, but-"
"Apologize to our guests!"
The room went silent. Everyone knows Costello is having his trademark tantrum because he still feels embarrassed being tossed around. Gian's smirk is just making Costello feel worse. Bose realized this, he realize how childish everyone is in the Families.
So childish in fact, Bose thought he shouldn't have come and he should've sent someone to talk with this immature bunch. He has heard stories of the Families' infighting and how a war took place before but he couldn't believe how it devolved into petty misunderstandings and elementary teasings.
Bose sat there along with his crew, dismayed by the display of one of the most powerful crime organizations in Lostandos. To be fair, he thought, he only met Gian and his family, Costello, and Stella; maybe the rest of the Families are respectable as he thought they would be.
The bickering and loud petty arguments between Niko and Costello continue passionately. The doctor is famous for his quick wits and knows how to bait the Five Fingers' consigliere. Bose thought he really wished he made Kidd come with him. Kidd is still on the hunt, the Pink Flamingos are also leading their own investigation. But upon seeing an opportunity to end it here, Bose agreed to meet his old friends and talk about it.
Alas, the pseudo-Grand Reunion of the Giant Crime Family, happening in such a strong storm. Bose expected a luncheon, this bores him to death, even the wine taste bland even with its expensive price tag.
"Hey!" Bose shouted accompanied by a loud and strong bang of his hand on the table, resulting in a crack, gaining the attention of everyone in the room.
Gian stopped smirking while still holding the goblet up to his face. Niko and Costello ceased their petty shouting matches. Stella gazes at the man, she is interested. While Elvira and Judan stand attentively. Mako, meanwhile, almost squeal like a mouse startled by the thunder outside.
Thunder indeed roared at the same time. "Can you just tell us what's up?" Bose removes his hand from the table.
Niko went silent, he clears his throat, "Of course," he sorts some papers and sips his wine, "Last week, an OG from the Pink Flamingos was brutally murdered and his stash of Gangsta Powder was taken-"
"Tell us something we don't know."
Niko glances at Gian and returns his attention to Bose, he fixes his suit "As you all may know, our business in the Families involves contract killing-"
"I know. What else?" Bose impatiently scowls, "I didn't come here for lectures. I want to know what happened to Big Pops, and who did it. Just tell me, straight up."
Niko clears his throat, he looks at Costello giving him a smirk, "We did not kill Big Poppa but someone certainly paid us to do so,"
"I know,"
Surprised, Gian's face became expressionless. Judan and Elvira look at each other. Niko, taken aback, lifts his brows, "What?"
Costello and Stella are both shocked by this revelation. They know none of their own gang did it. "What do you mean?" Costello asks.
"I know the Giant Gang took the job," Bose replied, drinks his wine, and groans "Because I put the price on him. I ordered Big Poppa's death,"
The room went silent. Everyone is a bit surprised even Mako who was just listening quietly. Meanwhile, Bose and his entourage maintained their stoic expression, everyone in the Rainbow Clan knows that Big Poppa will not live enjoying his retirement.
"What?" Costello hastily stands up, he spills his wine, "What is the meaning of this?" his metal jaw grinds.
Gian can be heard growling, it is rather fortunate for everyone he is not wearing his huge gauntlets anymore, "You dare come to my property with this shit?"
"What is the Rainbow Clan up to?" Niko tries to defuse the situation, he would like to hear Bose first.
"Big Poppa..." Bose said sullenly, "He was one of the best. We were the first members of the Pink Flamingo. We took the mid-eastern streets of the undercity. Lostandos was our bitch. When the First Gang War happened, I'm sure everyone here remembers, we lost a lot of our boys."
"I did not invite you here to tell us a history lesson," Costello clenches his fist and his metal jaw grinding loudly.
"Big Poppa wasn't the same after the war. That's why we put him on the edge of the undercity so he won't bother no one." Bose chugs down his wine and empties his glass, "He was an addict, uncontrollable, and always using our powder."
"Is that why you wanted to get rid of him so that you can continue monopolizing the supply of powder?" The very curious Niko tries to write down what Bose just said.
"Yes," Bose's assistant takes out a folder and hands it to him, "Big Poppa was selling powder to almost everyone. Wannabes, gangtards, and even stupid kids. We couldn't risk the Yard sniffing on us like that. That's why we decided to put a price on his head."
"Why didn't you do it yourself then, giving us a problem and all," Judan interjects in disdain, "Why the fuck would you pay us for your shitty problems?"
"Well, I certainly did not pay you to steal his powder." Bose narrows his eyes and places the folder he was holding on top of the table, "You fucked up so don't blame me. I thought your business was built on trust?"
"Indeed." Gian suddenly said as he puts his hands on the table.
"Your fuck-up made the Inter-City involved in this, they think we in a verge of a Gang War," Bose slides the folder to Niko, "My top guy inside the Yard gave me a copy of their investigation."
"What the fuck, you got a rat inside the police? How the fuck are we supposed to trust you then!" Judan shouted aggressively while holding his rifle.
Feeling disrespected, Bose stands from his chair, "Who the fuck you think you are, boy?"
"Boy?"
Niko takes the folder and starts reading its contents, "Judan, that's enough." he turns to every page and skims through it, "Care to tell us what this means?"
"Trust," Bose said, "It's us telling you that we don't want beef,"
"And that file guarantees that you're being honest?" Gian scoffs and shakes his head, 'What's in it?"
"Can't you read?"
Niko smiles, "It says a city-wide crackdown of gangs led by the Anti-Gangsta Unit is taking place soon,"
"When?" Costello asks as he sits down once again, "This is rather serious, Gian, we better alert the rest of the Families,"
"Before you do that," Bose raises his hand and points at Mako, "Is this the kid who snorted Big Poppa's powder?"
"Yes." Niko gestures to Mako to approach the table.
Mako walks slowly, head down, "A-a-at your service..."
"What the fuck?" Stella said in disgust, "You got a kid wearing a maid outfit doing you nasty shit here, Niko?"
"What, no!" Niko embarrassingly replied, "This attire is entirely Elvira's fault!"
"He's our gift to you nonetheless," Gian grabs Mako's head with his hand, "He can tell you what happened, free of charge. We even gave him an Installation in case you want to make this kid into one of your muscles,"
"No thanks," Bose looks at his bodyguards, "My crew is enough, we don't want to babysit no wannabes. Just tell us what happened, kid."
Mako kept quiet, trembling. Niko taps him on the shoulder, Mako looks up at him, "Uh, my friends got the powder from Big Poppa, w-w-we didn't kill him!"
Everyone in the room laughs, and the snickers echoed. Only Niko smiled, "Of course, Mako, we believe you. Please, continue."
"Well, that's it, alright? We thought we could use the high to make a name, be gangsta and shit..."
Again, the room filled with laughter. Costello shed a tear, "And then you made a mess at the Academy, got yourself arrested, is that right? You and your friends are stupid!"
Mako clenched his fist, "Right..."
"So you don't know who killed Big Poppa? Why the fuck am I even talking to you then," Bose waves his wine glass, demanding to be filled some more.
Niko nods, "Mako, continue. Is there anything else you would like to tell us?"
"Well..." Mako stops, he is thinking about it.
"Well what, bitch?" Judan impatiently listens.
"We got this one friend, they were the ones who got the powder from Big Poppa." Mako gulps and wipes off the sweat on his forehead.
"Is he from a gang or what?" Asks Bose, who's drinking another round of wine.
"They're not a boy..." Mako took a quick slow glance at Bose.
"Why should I care if she's a bitch? So is she even part of your wannabe crew?"
"Well, I'm not really sure if they're even a girl, alright?"
Bose throws the glass of wine at Mako, "Just answer the fucking question!"
Niko catches the glass but the wine splashes at Mako's face. A faint fading laughter can be heard.
"Just answer him, kid," Gian said in a stern voice that sent a shiver to Mako's body.
Mako trembles once again, feeling fearful for his life, "Alright, uh, we started hanging out a few months ago... So I don't even know, alright?" his voice cracks and some chuckles can be heard, "But, but I know they're solid and all, I just don't know a lot about them, alright? We just did some powder, please, we just did some powder, we just did powder, please."
Stella look disgusted, "Enough, we get it, you did powder."
Bose looks bored of Mako's words, "Get this bitch-ass kid outta here, why do I care about his story?"
"Because I believe that friend of his is part of all of this," Niko said and showed a page on the file, it is a paper regarding Sora's information, a lot of details are unknown, "Isn't this suspicious?"
Bose audibly scoffs and takes a sip of his wine, "So, what? Bitch an orphan, must've been a street rat, slinging powder, and sucking dick,"
"SORA'S NOT A BITCH!" Mako suddenly shouted, his nose electrified, and the letters on his nasal Installation lit up.
The room went quiet. Even the servants were surprised, especially Elvira. Judan smirks thinking that Mako's going to die in the very room they're in. Gian just looks at Mako while still holding him on his head, he might as well pinch his brains out. Costello and Stella look unimpressed while Bose is unbothered by Mako's disrespect towards him. Niko frowns at the possibilities of what Mako might do next.
But Mako himself was surprised, he wasn't so sure why he shouted, "I'm sorry. I- I'm sorry..." Mako bowed and went down on his knees, "Please, I'm sorry, alright?"
"That's what I thought," Bose gestures to be served wine once again, he turns his attention to Mako, "This Sora bitch must've been your first fuck, you stupid gangtard."
The room echoed in chuckles and giggles then everything came back to normal. The servants pour everyone to the table a glass of wine. Everyone ignored Mako who is still on his knees. Niko couldn't help him so he continues to read the folder.
Niko's eyes widen, "Wait a minute..."
"What?" Gian's tone sounds uninterested.
"Bose! Did you even read this file!?" Niko ask the Pink Flamingo's boss who was chugging a bottle.
"No," Bose burps, "Some of it,"
"They're going to raid us here tonight!" Niko shouted as he shows the paper and pointed at the date of the document, it says an operation to arrest the Giant Crime Family at the estate had been approved and scheduled.
"Oh shit," Bose said.
Then suddenly thunder roared, and the windows exploded. Its splintered shards flew inwards, and huge chunks of shrapnel punctured the ones near the windows. A burning wave of fire engulfed the room, burning the linens and curtains. The wallpaper melts in sheer heat. The wooden materials of the room were set ablaze. The blast is followed by a blinding and deafening bang. The estate has been bombarded and everything went into flames.