A Man of Honor.

Chapter 47: Back in Business.

"The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him." ~ Nicolo Machiavelli The Prince.

"Where are we going?" Anna asked as we drove in the back of the sedan.

"I have no idea." I told her honestly as I watched the streets of Vale pass me by.

It felt good to be back in the city. With the small sabbatical over I was eager to get to work and for my first day back Neo had suggested we do something a little different and dodged any question of what exactly we were doing today. The fact that Anna was coming along with us somewhat put any concerns at ease since I figured that there was no way that Neo or Roman would allow Anna to attend any business unsuitable for a child. I suppose they wanted to get me back into the game doing something relatively simple.

"When are we going to get there? We've been driving forever!" Anna told us, clearly bored from the long drive. Longshore certainly was a hell of a commute but I personally had enjoyed it, sitting comfortably in the passenger seat as we drove into the city proper with Neo behind the wheel.

"Well I don't know since it's a surprise to me as well." I told her honestly, a little annoyed with her complaining but trying to keep my spirits up and not lose my temper. "But you wanted to get out of the house and here we are getting out of the house."

"But we're just driving, I'm bored." Anna told me.

I sighed. "Well we're back in Vale, so it shouldn't be too long now. On the drive back we can pick up something to entertain you on the drive back. But only if you're good and stop complaining every five minutes."

"Alright." She said to me with a frown.

Neo smiled a little bit at me and took a turn into a driveway.

"It looks like we're here." I told Anna and we pulled in past a gate that read Sister's Emma's Home for Homeless Children.

"An orphanage?" I asked her.

Neo gave me a little smile before parking the car in the lot and stepping out with the rest of us.

"What are we doing here?" I asked Neo as I stepped out with my cane looking at the tall old brick building and the empty playground out front behind an iron fence.

"This - is - where - I - lived - before - Roman - found - me." She told me with a small smile.

"So that's why that priest mentioned Sister Emma's?" I asked her.

Neo nodded to me.

"So again... why are we here?" I asked her.

A bell rang from inside the orphanage.

"We're - here - because - it's - recess." Neo said, stepping forward as a nun opened the door letting a tidal wave of children run out towards the playground but they stopped when they saw Neo greeting them with a wide smile and a silent wave of her hand.

"It's Neo!" I heard one of the children cry before they all moved to flock towards her with the sister following close after.

"Did you bring us anything today, Neo!?"

"It's been forever since we saw you!"

"Yay, she's really here!"

It was madness, soon enough we found ourselves being swarmed by the children with the sister wading through them. "Children! Children! Give Miss Torchwick and her friends some space!" She ordered them, stepping up. The sister gave Neo a friendly smile. "It's good to see you, who is your friend?"