Okumura Syndicate

Chapter 62: Meeting or debate?

The room became dead quiet as the higher ranking members took their seats at the head of the table. Aster and Craaq in particular were particularly fearful, seeing as it's their first meeting. "Ahem...", Edward called out, clearing his throat. "I am not disappointed in any of you for the events of last week, so no need to be alarmed...", continued the boss.

There was a sigh of relief from across the meeting hall and many people's nerves were eased. "However, there is another reason I called you all to this meeting; this applies to those who were fighting last week, no matter which battlefield you were on, as well as other important members of this organisation. We need to lure this anti-crime group to us, and crush them when all of our forces are nearby."

"So you're saying you know the identity of the traitorous associate?", asked Rou. Aster remained quiet as the orders not to reveal Lin's identity still applied. "Sadly no, they didn't reveal their true names, but we know their goals, and clearly it's to disband the syndicate.", Edward declared. Aster grew angry, how dare he not reveal an important piece in the puzzle.

How Aster saw it, if Rou knew his brother was who they were fighting, maybe he knows a weakness. Edward's stance also seemed more justified than his usual convoluted nonsense. Seeing his brother again could cause Rou to close off from everyone, as he did temporarily before. However, what Aster didn't see is why on earth Edward wouldn't tell Rou right away, because the feeling of betrayal if he found out any of us fighting within the cave had lied, he would almost certainly retaliate.

"I had a feeling one of those groups was involved. Why else would they attack both the Okumura and Renegard syndicates?", said Rou, responding to Edward. Vox, who was sat to the right of Edward, thought for a little while before elaborating a plan, "You say they've been attacking Renegard as well? Maybe it's a good idea to organize an event where all crime families are there at once. If we're lucky, the Renegard members will form a temporary truce, fighting alongside our most powerful members.", suggested the fae.

Catoria put her hands together, "And what if they don't join forces? And who's to say the group wouldn't wait until the other syndicates have left, knowing it's a trap, and attack us when there's few of us there to defend ourselves.", she announced. Edward turned to Catoria, "I'm ninety percent sure that if that does happen, we'll be prepared, this is three people we're talking about. The only reason we lost that fight is because of two reasons, Rou's group was absent and they were planning to escape in the first place.", the vampire took a breath in after elaborating.

"Weren't there eleven people already deployed where you were fighting these bastards?", informed Viper. Aster raised his hand, and Rou gave him permission to speak. "We could do nothing in that fight, they put up a barrier for starters, and after 3 minutes of fighting the leader of the group, debilitating blisters formed on my skin. I'm surprised Craaq didn't get the same injuries, either way, no one else's abilities could even match that guy, not to mention we didn't even see what his lackeys could do. If Rou were there, or even Demitris, we could've possibly subdued them...".

Demitris became ashamed, knowing it was his fault they couldn't make it. However, Fleur began giving a point before he could announce it. "It seems the groups weren't thought out. Had there been a balance in ability between groups, I'm sure we could've won. I wish I could've had at least some fighting ability to help Aster and Craaq thrash him, but I was too useless to realise that until it was too late.", Craaq was concerned for Fleur and took her by the shoulder. "No one expected the fight to pan out like it did. You didn't learn to fight until this week because you weren't ready to face the truth.", the anthro bunny embraced Fleur, her anxiety calmed a little due to her soldier's kind words.

Edward quieted everyone down, "I didn't call this meeting to find out who was at fault. I called us all here so we can work past our mistake in that fight. If we don't do anything and simply wallow in our errors, this syndicate will be disgraced and that would be worse for everyone's dignity than what we've already faced. What if there's a wider network of crime groups? What will you do then if you're simply pointing blame at others? Nothing! We have to plan what we can so we can advance rather than remaining stagnant!".

The boss had a point, everyone was only thinking about themselves and the parts they played in the previous fight, nothing close to the close knit nature of a crime family. "I think I agree with the boss...", Aster declared. The room was shocked that the intruder was agreeing with him, but they let him speak before making any judgements. Aster continued, "I think we need our most powerful forces on standby no matter what, and we need a concrete plan for that. If I, the man everyone feels is out of place can see that, why can't anybody else?".