"The East District used to have the best deals. There were many people and it was easy to steal from, enough to support the Four Great Thieves and a bunch of other thieves. But now, with fewer targets and still too many thieves, it's impossible to divvy it up. Many thieves from the East District have been forced to go rob elsewhere."
"They're strangers in strange lands, and when spotted by the thieves of other districts, it easily turns into fights. In just a few months, the number of clients who come to me to fence their stolen goods has halved. If this continues, I'll even struggle to fill my belly."
Collapse Head sighed deeply, "Who knew I was naturally faint of blood? Otherwise, who would want to be a fence in this damned city and suffer the tyranny of the mob?"
Catwoman also sighed in agreement, "Being a Flying Thief isn't easy either. Ever since those big bosses turned to the cold storage business, they've had fewer high-end jewels. Naturally, there's not much stock in the safe. Even going once a month, there's nothing new. I've been barely getting by selling my old stock."
She ordered a drink and said while sipping, "Actually, I came to you to ask, do you have any knowledge of, uh, how should I put it, mystical stuff?"
Collapse Head caught the hidden meaning in Catwoman's words. He looked around and then signaled for her to come over. They moved to the back door of the bar. Squinting his eyes, he looked at Catwoman and said, "So, you've got a lead?"
"Good girl, we've been partners for so many years, could you please help me out? My wife and her sister are working part-time for Penny's mother, but they don't have talents like yours, and they only started learning as adults. Their techniques are bad; they earn very little money. My daughter is still attending primary school in the Fifth Phase Project. The whole family is counting on this for food. If you have any leads, you have to let me know!"
Catwoman shook her head, "It's not exactly a lead. I have a good friend who assists at the church. He heard Father Daniel say that the mystic world is currently in disarray. The wizards and witches seem to be as desperate as ants on a hot pan…"
Clearing his throat, Collapse Head's eyes widened as he looked at Catwoman, "There really are wizards, huh? I only met a Gypsy witch who could make water spin in a cup many years ago."
"Of course, there are. Mother Chen in Chinatown can even make knives fly. I've seen it."
"Well, how does this relate to us?"
"I've heard they lost their powers, that's why they're so desperate. Gotham holds the key to restoring their powers. Father Daniel stated that within the next week, they will be arriving in Gotham."
"My friend is physically weak but kind-hearted, with a devout faith. The priest is quite fond of him, so he shared a bit more information. The cost of studying magic is enormous. The gemstones and precious metals aren't affordable for ordinary people, let alone magical tools like magic wands."
Collapse Head's eyes lit up. Clicking his tongue, he ask uncertainly, "Surely we can't deal with them?"
"Could dealing with them be worse than dealing with the Gotham gangs?" Catwoman leaned forward, holding Collapse's gaze, "Don't forget why they're coming here. They're powerless now, and in a hurry!"
His eyes darted around quickly. As an experienced fence, he certainly knew what kind of people are an easy target. Unprepared out-of-towners, especially those rushing to catch their transport, were no different from lambs waiting to be slaughtered in the eyes of thieves.
"How do you figure?" Collapse Head asked further.
"We surely can't handle this on our own." Catwoman laid out the main issue first, "They are plentiful and pose a certain threat. And there's going to be a massive influx in a short time. If everyone rushed to steal from them, wouldn't we be just looking for trouble stepping on each other's toes?"
Collapse Head nodded in agreement. He thought what Catwoman said made sense. The last time Gotham experienced such a sudden influx of outsiders was when Batman made a name in Metropolis.
At that time, Mayor Roy, wanting to maintain Gotham's tourism industry, cracked down on theft at train stations and airports. The mob, looking to fleece their customers, was also on high alert against thieves. They did not get much from it.
But this time, these people are not tourists; they're just in search of something. They may even cause trouble in the city. They won't stay for long and surely will not abide by any rules. Neither the city government nor the gang will welcome them, perhaps providing an opportunity for the thieves.
This thought crossed Collapse Head's mind, prompting him to make a quick decision. No one who could survive such dire circumstances in Gotham was a fool. "I'll go to the Gold Cup bar now to find Golden Hand. He's the leader of all fences and middlemen in the East District, and he knows just about every thief in the district."
"That won't be enough. You need to find someone who knows all the thieves in Gotham."
Surprised, Collapse Head gaped at Catwoman, "Is that what you're after? Stop joking, Catwoman. You have to tell me the truth. Who's coming here?"
Laughing and crossing her arms, Catwoman said, "The wizards may be wealthy, but they've been disconnected from society for a longer time. The magical tools on them can sell for some money, but it's not a huge amount. Have you ever heard of vampires?"
Collapse Head frowned heavily, "Of course, I have. My dad told me that decades ago they would boldly bite people in the street. But ever since the gangs started developing, most of the flying rats have been killed off."
"Vampires will be coming to Gotham with the wizards, and it's not the low-ranking rats. Have you ever heard of the Blood Clan's Thirteen Families? They are old European nobles who have lived for five to six hundred years on average. Any arbitrary thing they have is worth a fortune as an antique. Do you think these country bumpkins from the East District can recognize them?"
Collapse Head involuntarily drew a breath, but had to admit Catwoman was right.
Despite being one of the Four Great Thieves of the East District, Catwoman mostly operates between the affluent areas of the West and South Districts, as well as museums, as they belong to old money. Their thieves need a good eye and knowledge of art to steal fast and accurately.
Compared to that, the thieves of the East District mainly target the new rich, mob bosses, rather rich people in poor areas, and occasional rich businessmen visiting. If you ask them to pick pockets or steal money, they surely can. But recognizing antiques might be asking for too much.
Knowing the rarity of this opportunity, Collapse Head clenched his teeth and finally said,
"I will find Golden Hand. He has a method to contact the leaders from the other districts. And if not, I'll get the kids under my thumb to go find Boss Kapoor. He's Falcone's favorite at the moment. If the godfather orders, won't that bring a group of thieves?"