Demon of War

The Plan

"Agreed." Arthur St John said knowing he was completely screwed with what he was learning now. "What can I do to lessen my sentence?" he asked hopeful.

"Arthur, we are both fully aware of your history and how useful you could be. I need an introduction to the Boss, can you arrange it?" Levi asked him as Arthur went pale white.

"Levi, that is not a world you want any part of. No matter how much power you believe you have amassed." Arthur said shuddering at some of the things he had done in his past before he escaped that life.

"Mr. St John, if you think a few hoodlums even gives me a moments pause, you are sadly mistaken. I have no desire to join their world if that is your concern, I do however have some business with them that needs addressed. If you can get me in front of the big boss, we can discuss the details of what your sentence shall be. I am sure I can think of a few ways you could be useful to the Empire without rotting in a jail cell." Levi told him bluntly as his men and the Detective stood there waiting for them to finish.

"Sorry to interrupt, but Octavia St John has been arrested and is on her way to the station now." Detective Drake said.

Arthur flinched as he heard that, knowing the next time he saw her would be when he detailed exactly what she had convinced him to do. "Can I provide the audio and video files for everything I did for her, or must I testify?" he asked looking at Levi.

"You will have to testify just to verify the authenticity of the videos." Drake said as he was a representative of the court.

Arthur St John looked at Levi and set his face in near perfect stone. "So be it. The first thing you must know Mr. Strauss, is that there is not one boss of the Underworld, but 3 just for this city. Together with the other major hubs, they make up the 9 Bosses of the Underworld. I can get you before the 3 here, and might be able to get an audience with one of the 3 from the Capitol. It however will cost more than you may be prepared to pay." he said firmly as he pulled a cigar from his box and cut the end. He had not smoked one in years, but he knew his life could be now measured in days, so he would enjoy the small things when he could for as long as he could.

Levi pulled a cigarette out of his pocket and tossed it to the old man, before lighting one himself. "Cost is a matter of perspective. If you were going to suggest it would cost me your freedom, I had already decided on as much. However you will not be returning to life as you knew it either. What do you want? I have no time for games." he said as Arthur looked at the lone cigarette and knew he could never get his hands on another, even with all of his resources and power. They were reserved for extremely powerful people, and he was not one of them.

"These are from..." Arthur trailed off as he looked at the man sitting across from him who struck a wood match against the desk and lit his own before leaning forward so Arthur could do the same.

"Yes they are, and it will be the finest one you've ever had." Levi replied as the other man lit his cigarette from the match before Levi shook it out.

"You ask for a meeting with men who could possibly be more powerful than the Emperor Mr. Strauss. People I long ago stopped associating with and will have to call in many favors to get an audience with them." Arthur told him as Levi chuckled.

"Mr. St John, I am not the Emperor. I assure you there are many men more powerful than he is in a straight up fight. Do you know why they call me The Demon?" he asked as Arthur shook his head no and took a drag. "You have heard the tales I am sure?" he asked.

"Which one of the fantasies do you expect me to believe? 30,000 men at Westfold? 15,000 at Diamond Head?" he asked.

Levi laughed as he heard that. "Is that all they claim? I would have thought more than that made it back to the cities."

"They did, I however happen to know a few things about men of power, and you are sorely lacking in that department." Arthur said simply as Levi burst into laughter.

"Arthur, the fools to weak to conceal themselves do not worry me in the least. Perhaps you remember before my sentence I was once one of those men on the Top 100 list of best warriors in the Empire?" Levi asked and he nodded.

"The 9 employ the top 50, and use them as bodyguards." Arthur said with apprehension. "I was informed once you learn to use an Aura, it can never again be completely hidden."

Levi nodded as he heard the same when he was taught it. "Partially accurate. Most men once they learn can never stop it all entirely. Even they do not truly concern me, unless they happen to be using that power to do harm to the Empire as the 9 are currently doing. As far as you calling for an audience, I am afraid that is not what I want at all. You see I only wish to know where they will be at a certain time. Gaining an audience I will handle myself." Levi said coldly as he used the ashtray on the desk.

Arthur in that moment understood, the man in front of him was not afraid because one of the men he faced had the power of an Aura. "May I make one request than?" he asked as he smiled.

"Certainly, it is the cost of doing business. If you can tell me where they will be, you will not only get your freedom but anything you desire within reason." Levi replied.

"I understand that you need assistance at the base, I would like to take a post that I can get more of these." he said lifting the cigarette. "Plus I would like to watch without fear of dying." he finished before taking another drag.

"The post I will not do, but I can make an allowance for you to have them delivered when you would like. I will even include some of the 101st Brandy. As far as killing the 9, they are too valuable to waste like that. There will be no fear of death unless they refuse to cooperate, and I am sure they will send the goons you mentioned. I will even include whichever of your estates you wish, and 100 million credits to start your new life over." Levi said as he took tje last drag from his cigarette and put it out.

Arthur St John wrote down an address with a date and time before he handed it to Levi. "All 9 will be at that location when indicated for the next Underworld Gathering. It seems they are concerned with you encroaching on their territory." he said before leaning back and enjoying the last if his own cigarette.

"Detective Drake, assign a patrolman to allow him to gather what possessions he may. Afterwards take him to this address, and inform the Horsemen he is my guest until I arrive. He is to be given Royal treatment until Inarrive tomorrow." Levi said handing him a card.

"Yes sir." Drake said before Levinset the nearly full pack on the table and walked out of the door leaving the rest of them to watch.

Levi went to the hotel he was still in, and was surprised to see 2 of the men he had referred to waiting for him in the lobby.

"We have a table waiting." Death said to him as the two men stood.

"Excellent, I am hungry." Levi replied as the host immediately lead them to a table. None of them said a word until they reached the table and the host asked for their drink order. "Bring 5 bottles of your best swill." Levi answered as the mans eyes went wide.

"Sir I must inform you that our best Bourbon is 150,000 credits per bottle. The manager will require prepayment for one let alone 5." the host said as Levi smiled and handed him his card. "Tell the chef we want the best meal he has ever prepared, and that the cost does not matter. Once the bottles and glasses are delivered we do not wish to be disturbed until the first course is ready. We can pour our own drinks thanks." Levi replied to him as the man nodded and shook his head.

"The new trainees arrive in the morning." Hammer said as soon as they were alone.

"I will be there." Levi answered. "When you return you will have a guest, white glove." he told them knowing they would understand and both nodded.

"Do we have a plan to locate the Underground Warlords yet?" Death asked him as he pulled out the paper he had already memorized.

"Surveil this location and have a platoon ready to secure the perimeter once I have entered." Levi said.

"You taking all the fun?" Hammer asked with a smile.

"Oh I am sure some of them will eventually try and escape. They however are not the issue." Levi said and the two knew what he meant as the manager came over carrying the card.

"Gentlemen, I am afraid there must be a bit of a misunderstanding." the man said as Levi looked at him.

"The only misunderstanding is you believing their is a misunderstanding. 5 bottles of your 150,000 bourbon, 3 glasses, a bucket of ice, and the best meal your chefs have ever prepared for 3 people." Levi answered him as the mans eyes went wide.

"Sir, that would be a million credits." the man exclaimed.

"Your point?" Levi asked him coldly.

"The processing company-" he began when he was cut off.

"Will not bat one eyelash about it. Now if you are finished with your misunderstanding we were having a private conversation that we asked not be disrupted except for our food and drink. If you continue to have a misunderstanding about those instructions, I am sure your competitors will not." Hammer said looking at the man as his Aura began to escape just a bit.

"You are prepared to prepay for the meal and drinks?" the man asked.

"You are holding my card for that very reason. Once it is done, you can tell the chef he can add his best dessert to the order free of charge for your misunderstanding basic instructions. The card can be returned with the waitress who you can add a 20 percent tip for, and if I learn one cent was redirected away from her by this establishment you will not enjoy the consequences. My tip for the kitchen will depend on how good their best is." Levi told him as the mans eyes went wide.

"Very good sir." the man said before scurrying away like he had just been s*****d.

"Trainees?" Death asked as he smiled at the Dante and time. The trainees would have 2 days before this assignment.

"For the perimeter yes, the surveillance, no. I want there to be no chance of revealing ourselves before." he answered as the waitress brought 3 ice buckets on a tray that held all 5 bottles as well as their glasses.

"Good evening Gentlemen, I am Miranda and will be your server tonight. Is there anything else Incan get you before the appetizers arrive?" she asked.

"Privacy." Death said simply.

"Forgive him my dear, he has lost his manners most days. There is not anything else we will need before appetizers, as I am sure you have other tables to attend to as well." Levi said as she smiled.

"Very well gentlemen, enjoy your meal." she said knowing that they were serious now.

"Understood General, how long until the real troops arrive?" Hammer asked.

"6 weeks. We have a lot of work to do between now and than." Levi said as he pulled out a cigarette and lit it while they each grabbed a bottle and poured themselves a glass. "To the dance." Levi said using the same toast they used every time they were about to go into battle.

Each of them raised the glass before downing it, the liquor burning more than the drink they were used to.