Around a month had passed since the exposal of the AXON Director, Rowan Callaghan, and a new status quo had begun forming, from the ashes of the last. Albeit less officers were out patrolling the streets, the ones left, being actual Sowei citizens were far more motivated to follow their orders. Owen McCord got his old job back at last, now again being the Chief of Police in Soweiland, and the Noir Assassin, as well as the now emerging Jet Eagle, continued protecting the great capital from the shadows and the limelight respectively.
However, in the meantime, the Sowei underworld was in a state resembling a balloon, awaiting to burst. The actions of the Sowei vigilantes, as well as the departure of AXON, were all that was needed to signal to the string pullers of the other Soweiland, that this was their time.
And the inciting incident occurred one evening, when the Chief of Police got a rather intriguing call from an officer, patrolling around the southern outskirts of Sowei City.
"It's another raid, sir, but this one's different…" The officer said over the private police line.
"Explain." McCord demanded, urging his to hurry along.
"Well, I'm sure you're aware of the Royal Guard warehouse situated out here, it's the target of the raid. The soldiers on duty are handling it, it seems, but there's many more of the gangsters than the guardsmen." The officer continued.
"And why did you request to speak to me specifically, Officer Bales? Just request a couple more men and go and aid the Royal Guard!" McCord told him, ready to end the communication, but before he could, Officer Bales finally got to the point.
"It's the Black Island Mafia, sir! And Mr. Butler! They're back!" He exclaimed.
"I see." McCord responded following a short silence, caressing his stubble. "Noir Assassin. I know you're listening on this conversation. Swing by the warehouse, backup is on its way."
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And indeed, he was listening. The Noir Assassin had already begun heading to the scene a while ago, and had nearly reached his destination. His grapple gun had been repaired, so he was flying through the streets of Sowei City. Eventually he reached the scene.
In the compound around the warehouse, three Royal Guardsmen were fighting back against what seemed like 10-15 guys in suits with pistols, led by a guy with black hair and a grey streak, a sharp jaw and a large scar across his right eye, dressed in buttoned shirt, a black bowtie and suspenders. His knuckles shone in the lamplight, so seemingly he was wearing iron fists.
Jon also took notice of Officer Bales' patrol car. Bales was hiding, waiting for backup to arrive. Jon didn't have that luxury, and jumped straight into the fray, swinging into one of the mafiosos, and knocking him aside.
"It's the Noir Assassin!" One of them yelled out.
"Get him!" Another added.
"Focus on the cargo! The Assassin is mine!" The bulky guy with the iron fists said, and rushed at Jon. Jon was warding off a few grunts, sweeping one's legs and then jump-kicking one in the jaw, when he heard the scarred gentleman call out his name. He turned around, and the massive man had already winded up a punch the he delivered on Jon's chest, throwing him back with tremendous force, and making him crash into the metal fence behind him.
"You must be the leader of this little excursion, then?" Jon deduced upon regaining his composure. He unsheathed the Night's Edge, and quickly went to fight the man again.
"I am but the humble second in command, simply serving the whims of the Big Tuscan… You may know me simply as Mr. Butler." He introduced himself, grabbing Jon's blade between both hands, and tossing him sideways. The Noir Assassin did a flip in midair ad landed on his feet.
'Tuscan?' Jon thought. 'Now that's a man I'd like to have a chat with.' He jumped up and grabbed one of Mr. Butler's suspenders, then climbed on his back, wrapping his own legs around his neck, before grappling to nearby pole and smashing his back into it. Butler grabbed him by the shirt and tossed him off of him.
"I hear you defeated Aaron Knoxx in battle! Suffice to say, the tactics you used against him won't work on me!" Mr. Butler went in for a right hook, which Jon ducked under, then an overhead blow, that the Soweiland vigilante rolled out of the way of, before jumping up and kicking the man's jaw, a move that for a mere second winded him.
"How could you come across that information?" Jon asked, taking out his grappling gun to use as a flail, like he had done in his duel with Aaron. He swung it around, hitting Mr. Butler twice, but without knocking him down, and then, on the third strike, Butler caught the wire with his open palm, then swung Jon overhead, slamming him against the pavement.
"News travels quickly in the underworld." Mr. Butler said, staring down at the fallen hero, while adjusting his sleeve. He failed to notice Jon shooting both of his legs upwards, hitting him in the stomach. The large man doubled over, and Jon jumped to kick him in the back of the head, but the man grabbed him by the foot and slammed him down, then again!
Before he could do it a third time, a bird-like screech echoed in the area, and Mr. Butler turned to see Jet Eagle flying at him with his jetpack on full power, with his fist extended outwards. Like an Eagle swooping in to catch his pray, Jet Eagle's fist connected with Mr. Butler's fist and knocked him aside.
"Jet Eagle saves the day again! You're welcome, you third grade vigilante!" Jet Eagle exclaimed, and began flexing his muscles.
The cavalry had arrived, consisting of half a dozen cruisers and Jet Eagle.
"Boss, the cops are here!" Shouted the getaway driver, with his nasally voice.
"Drive, fool! Quickly!" Screamed Mr. Butler, who had gotten up by then. The driver obliged, beginning to exit the compound around the warehouse, smacking whatever came in his way. Butler began running away, but Jet Eagle was quickly turning around, determined to hit him from the front. As the jet-powered superhero made his way closer and closer, Mr. Butler readied up, and one the Eagle was in ranged, smacked him with his palm in the back of the head, and he crashed on the ground, his face breaking the pavement beneath in two.
Butler jumped over Jet Eagle, swung on a light and over the fence, landing on the hood of the van they had come in with, just as it finally pushed through the police cruisers and into the road. From inside the van, a crook tossed out a belt of grenades they had stolen, which exploded in midair in an attempt to cover their tracks. A few cruisers pursued them.
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"So, the Black Island Mafia… What can you tell me?" Jon asked. He and Chief McCord had met up on the roof of the precinct following the brawl on the Royal Guard warehouse.
"They've been an issue for a while, since I first got placed here under Gaspar. Ol' Fred had struck some kinda deal with 'em, but now that he's gone, his son broke it off and they've been operating in Soweiland freely. When Callaghan was in charge, they kidnapped his right hand, Craig, and we shut their operations down, as well as arresting one of their leaders." McCord explained, recalling the events of the Battle of Black Island.
"And their leader, the Big Tuscan?" Jon continued.
"It's Tony Tuscan. The owner of Little Fish Casino. We know it's him, but he covers his tracks, and we never have any evidence he's related to them. He's a real piece of work… but he keeps donating money to the government, and he's heavily taxed." McCord shrugged. Jon closed his eyes.
"Surely we can open a new investigation?" He thought out loud.
"Not at present. The Prime Minister forbids it. His son was among the victims on the Isle Monroe catastrophe, and the search team still hasn't managed to turn up the lad's body." McCord rejected the notion. His hands were tied.
Jon of course knew why Dex's body hadn't been found. His dapper old friend had been victim to an explosion. But from beyond the grave, Dex Tuscan had armed our Soweiland vigilante with incredible knowledge of his father's behaviours, that he could use to his advantage. Don scratched his chin, an act which McCord noticed.
"Surely you don't intend to appeal to his humanity, do you?" McCord asked, raising an eyebrow. Jon didn't respond, and swung off, hoping to catch a ride to Stormhaven.
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Across the city, inside Royal Guard headquarters, Defence Minister Achilleas O'Lop was being briefed regarding the events of the raid on the Royal Guard warehouse. A guardsman had reported to him, in General Starman's old office, a simple and straightforward room, for a simple and straightforward man.
"They what?" O'Lop exclaimed, slamming his fist against the desk when he found out. "What are our losses?"
"They didn't take too much, fortunately, thanks to the quick response from the Noir Assassin. No deaths, either. But still, we are down at least 20 thousand pounds worth of equipment, now in the hands of the largest crime syndicate in Soweiland." The soldier explained. Achilleas took a deep breath, running his fingers through his hair, that had grown to around shoulder length.
"Those heathens will pay! How dare they defile the name of the great Royal Guard! Thank the heavens for the Noir Assassin… I will have to meet with him in person…" O'Lop said.
"What are your orders now, sir?" The soldier asked again, crossing his arms.
"We increase the manpower stationed in that warehouse. At least 6 people patrolling at a time. We can't have any other factions get ideas." O'Lop ordered, and sent the soldier away, who saluted him and walked out.
"And as for the Black Island Mafia… I may not be able to launch an investigation by legal channels at the moment, but there are certainly other ways to get things done! Secretary, quickly! Compose an affidavit to the Noir Assassin! The Royal Guard requires his services!" Declared O'Lop, and the secretary quickly brought the man pen and paper.
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Over on Black Island, was situated the biggest hotspot of the criminal underworld of Soweiland: Little Fish - Casino and Lounge, a feat of architecture that consisted of a small rectangular building attached to a large glass dome, showing a view of the sky and the beach at all times of the day, which is where all the attractions were.
The owner, Tony Tuscan had a little office to himself atop the building, overlooking the bustling lounge through a large window. His office was like a museum, with gold and ivory artifacts and gems decorating the walls, furniture made of expensive mahogany and a chair resembling a throne fit for a king.
At present, he was staring out his window at the port, where a boat was docked and was taking out crates of cargo that was to be sent to one of his warehouses. Stolen weapons from the Royal Guard, it was his plan to humiliate the Guard and upgrade the armoury of the Black Island Mafia.
Because in truth, Tony Tuscan led a double life. Wealthy entrepreneur and philanthropist by day, and wicked mob boss by night.
"I assume the mission was a success, Jeeves?" Tony asked upon hearing his door open. The only person who would dare enter the office of the Big Tuscan unannounced, Mr. Butler, or rather, Carter Jeeves, had entered.
"Of course, sir." Jeeves confirmed.
"Good!" Tony turned around, smiling. "We may as well had been bashing people with those old guns, they'd do more damage that way."
"We did have an unfortunate encounter with the Noir Assassin, and that new guy, the Mighty Eagle, I believe." Jeeves added. Tony burst out laughing, loudly and pompously, the hairs of his thick moustache whistling as he did so.
"It's Jet Eagle, man. And he's irrelevant, just some greenhorn who's in too deep. The Noir Assassin though, he interests me… Truly unprecedented, that man." Tony pointed out, scratching his stubble.
"Indeed, sir. To show up one day, and within around a month grow to defeat the greatest assassin in the country, it's fascinating. I am curious as to what drives him." Jeeves gave his own thoughts.
"Well, whatever it is, I hope it drives him off a cliff. He's the only person in the country that can touch us, governmental assurances don't concern him." Tony pointed out.
"I think, sir, we may have overestimated the threat he poses. I fought him myself, he's no older than 20 years old… and while his victories are undoubtedly impressive-" Jeeves attempted to say, but Tony shushed him.
"Come now, Carter. Surely, you've learned not to underestimate your opponents by now. I seem to recall you losing in combat to a 20-year-old girl!" Tony interrupted him, smiling at his associate.
"That woman's strength was improbable…" Jeeves retorted, but Tony only heartily laughed at him.
The two men then turned around to take a seat around the desk and discuss their next moves, only to find the Noir Assassin staring at them from outside the window, his coat waving in the wind life a flag.
"Open the window, Tuscan." Jon said, then slightly lifted the handle of his blade out of the sheath, a glimmer of the sharp titanium being reflect from the lights that were inside the office. Jeeves quickly assumed a fighting stance, but Tony put his arm in front of him, signalling him to stop, which he did.
After that, Tony opened the window and Jon let himself in.
"Ah, Mr. Noir Assassin. What brings you to me office? Did you get stifled by a dealer?" Tony asked, grinning. Jon wasn't having it.
"Cut the crap, Tuscan. I know you're the boss of the Black Island Mafia." Jon stated, taking out his katana and pointing it straight at Tony's neck. Tony, moved the blade away with two fingers, bearing a disgusted expression on his face.
"Ah, that ridiculous rumour. I assure you, I am but a simple entrepreneur. No shady business going on here. Now, please leave, or I'll be forced to call the police. You aren't above the law, you know." Tony brushed him off, ready to dismiss him from his office and move on. He was just an annoying teenager after all.
"Your son doesn't seem to think you're such a simple man." Jon pointed out. Tony's brow furrowed. "Ah. I see." The mob boss said.
"In that case, I must thank you Noir Assassin. You have been the greatest benefactor in the history of the Black Island Mafia!" Tony exclaimed, and started clapping his hands, and laughing.
"You think this is a joke, Tuscan!? I'll cut you down where you stand, scoundrel!" Jon shouted, but Tony just laughed.
"You have done a marvellous job preventing all my rivals from encroaching on my territory while I've been remodelling my resources, as well as getting rid of AXON! I'm impressed, honestly. Our unwilling partnership, I'm guessing, has come to an end." Tony pointed out, referring to the various gang operations Jon had stopped over the past month. None affiliated with his own operations.
"I suppose I have to thank my idiot son too, for going and dying. Now I can't be investigated, at least for a while. He thought he was all that, trying to stand against a shark, when he was but a measly cod." Tony continued, walking round the room, not truly realising who it was he was talking to.
In a fit of rage, Jon shot in front of Tony, putting his blade on his neck and shouting: "How dare you speak about him in this manner?! Dex was a hero!"
"Ah. So you knew my son. I guess there really were survivors from that island. And the great Soweiland Vigilante was amongst them? What a story to sell to the press!" Tony exclaimed, laughing again in a mocking tone, as Jon figured out what it was the he just did.
"You'll soon come to realise that you need me. As I always say, there's always a bigger fish, in this case, rival crime syndicates, that I'm protecting this country from. I always give so much to the people of Soweiland, isn't it fair I take a little back once in a while?" Tony asked rhetorically.
"I'm certain I can handle them. I have done so very well thus far." Jon pointed out, but Tony just gave him a look of pity.
"Please, you've fought bits and pieces. If my rivals fully move in, you'll wish you had me back. You? Little fish, swimming in a bowl. To those guys, we're just breakfast. So, you'll stand out of my way, capische? Consider the information I acquired about you just a little motivator, yeah?" Tony finally said, and shooed Jon away.
The Noir Assassin had no choice but to comply, and left, with lots of thoughts going through his mind. Was he really us unable as Tony framed him to be? And was the Big Tuscan as untouchable as he thought?
Jon would have to rethink his strategy, and fortunately for him, a set of opportunities would arise that would aid him in his quest to finish off the Black Island Mafia for good.
If he had any say, this resurrection of the Black Island Mafia would be short-lived.