Padrino Part 10

Their fair city had all gone straight to hell, and their power over the crime of Fringe Island was beginning to dwindle down to a mere ragtag operation that merely opposes a much larger threat. This was unacceptable! Link McCoy had no other choice than to dig at the very bottom of the barrel in his desperation, and contact perhaps the most dangerous man on his list. While the Padrino was the figurehead that ran the city, the true mastermind of a much larger organization was pulling the strings. Enter Sharp Francis, or as he is known in the wide world, Captain No Beard. The hairless barbarian-looking man stood at his window, peering out into the setting sun as it painted the sky a beautiful purple and orange. Such a barrage of colors soothed him in a very strange sort of way.

The Red Mafia, Batz and Ellis Darkwood were in attendance, but only as listeners. Francis's subordinates were also in attendance: Manson, who sat with a small pendent necklace in his hand, twirling it around and wrapping it around his finger over and over again. He sat with a blank frown stuck to his face, sighing and checking his watch every two minutes. Benedict Lo sat beside him, she listened to none of this, merely sitting and reading a magazine cover to cover. She seemed to be stuck on the same page for the whole conversation. The third and most recent addition to the No Beards was L. Ron, who grinned toward Ellis, making kissy faces at her from behind his sunglasses, while she merely smoked a cigarette and entertained the notion of several kicks to his groin area.

Link: That's where we strand, Mr. Sharp. We are absolutely over whelmed by the sudden chaos that has spread through our entire operation. If we do not act soon, our branch of your organization will cease to exist.

Francis: Hmph. [To Link's surprise, a wide grin spread across No Beard's face, as seen in the window's translucent reflection.] Well, we cannot let that happen, now can we? I will admit that such chaos gives me a glorious tingle down my spine. It is such a well-organized chaos, a type of disorder that took years upon years of planning to come to reality, and yet here it is. It is obvious that there is a much larger game afoot, and to not be part of it would upset me.

Francis turned to Link and looked him in the eye, the grin still spread wide across his face. This brought a frown on Link's face, as if Francis were not taking the situation serious. His only slight comfort was that Francis would act out of vanity, and jealousy of not being invited to the events unfolding.

Link: Then you will help us?

Francis: But of course! What would I be if not a dastardly, cowardly wretch were I to turn the other way. However, this will require us to take the game up a notch or two.

Link: What do you mean?

Francis: Oh, come now, you must know what I refer to. When we first began our little agreement, you alluded to a certain place in this building. [Link's expression became somewhat serious.] To handle such an unstoppable force as chaos, another form of chaos must manifest, counter act it, and then create order.

Link: You do know what you are asking of me, don't you?

Francis: In such a dire situation, I will not pull my punches, and nor should you. Consider it a mutual course of action between the two of us.

Link: This was to be a secret among colleagues, not even my closest subordinates know of this.

Francis: If you do not open the Padrino's vault, there may be no more family to speak of. Do this, and we will have victory, and our business shall return to its glorious reign.

Link's face became dark, not only because Francis was speaking of the Red Mafia's most well-guarded secret, but because the infamous pirate, No Beard was right. If this chaos was to continue, all of the years of hard work and sacrifice would be for nothing. He looked back to Francis, who patiently awaited his reply, that hairless face grinning. He swallowed hard, and nodded.

Link: Very well, Mr. Sharp. I will escort you there, personally.

Francis: Excellent, victory will be ours.

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