MafiA's Gamble

SEVENTEEN

Pre-war Underground strategist planning and analyzations

    The declaration of the Underground War had the strategists on every side scrambling to make preparations. None were fools, no, bless them, they had all reached the same conclusions. From the very beginning, this war was a preset default, there could only be so many courses of action. Tensions ran high, and across the Underground, strategists took the leadership.

Eleyne walked into Headquarters briskly, bringing along with her a board and some playing chips. Throwing it down in front of the others crowded around the large center table, she began to explain everyone's current standing point. "Alright." Her hand moved fluidly across the board, pieces and chips flying all over in a graceful fashion. "This chip represents us, the MafiA, this one here represents K Tech, and that far one represents AG. Now, MafiA here has lost a card, and K Tech has now gained a bartering card. For reasons unknown, Yuki has been kidnapped by K Tech. Now, here's the thing. Lia immediately noted when we brought in the HADES, that it was only ¾ complete. Unless AG over here had some sort of trick up their sleeves, there is no way they could have finished the weapon within three days, let alone test it in five. Suspicions were not ignored, and thanks to Lia's persistence, MafiA has been able to piece together the real story. K Tech had tampered with the data, falsifying the dates." Alice, understanding where Eleyne was going all this, pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes, bearing a dark and cold glare. "So that's what was behind K Tech's recent activity in the Black Market." Eleyne nodded. "Yes. Since the very beginning, K Tech had always made use of their special privileges in the handling of the Black Market, the privileges they earned by furnishing the utmost defense mechanisms for them to hide under. This means we must assume K Tech knew about the HADES all along and purposely set out a trap for the MafiA. We foolishly fell for the bait, thinking we had a solid reason to head out to AG's territory and steal their weapon from under their noses. This is where the kidnapping of Yuki comes into play. K Tech anticipated this hustle from the MafiA, and acted accordingly. Lia has already confirmed that the majority of the completion procedures for the HADES happen to be complicated coding and programming. She can only do so much outside of her field, especially alone. K Tech has purposely stolen our last remaining puzzle piece, which simultaneously becomes their advantage, and our chance at overturning the tables. The moment we retrieve Yuki and complete the HADES, the game is over."

     "Now.. we as AG also have a few certain options. Obviously, MafiA's going to center their actions around their Codebreaker, in an attempt to complete our HADES. In this case, we can either kill the Codebreaker, in which case both K Tech and MafiA lose an advantage, or we raid the MafiA and take back what is rightfully ours, since as of current standing, it's the only upheaval MafiA has over us." Shadow Fang sat grimly behind his large wooden desk, analyzing the situation before him for he and AG alike. "MafiA must then be planning to attack K Tech, which leaves their base, and therefore, the HADES vulnerable. Again, this scenario provides two scenarios. One, we take this time to go attack MafiA, or two, we third party and ensure K Tech's defeat. The only thing left to consider is that K Tech has been too quiet. There remains an undeniable risk that K Tech, the sly rat, has laid out its trap, awaiting its prey with glistening, sharp eyes. I suggest we wait and see if MafiA has been unfortunately lured into falsehood before we act."

     "Yuki, at this point, every course of action is structured around MafiA's choice to risk it all and attack K Tech in hopes that you're still there." Ley looked at Yuki with amusement twinkling in his eyes. "If they wait, they must be considering the possibility...-"

      "...that K Tech can kill her anytime they want," finished Dawn, a displeased frown on her face. Krystal agreed. "That's right. We can't waste time. Who knows when this Puppeteer guy will lose interest in his new toy?"

     "So.. then what you're saying is that in their rushed panic- !" Before she could continue, Ley cut into her speech. "That's right, Yuki, I'm setting up K Tech so it will completely shut down MafiA once they attack it. It will be an elaborate trap. But of course I won't actually kill you. Otherwise, my only source of entertainment will dissipate." His satisfied smile was quickly replaced by a bored sigh. "It's really such a shame that everyone and everything is so predictable. If only something interesting were to happen..." 

     "Grandfather, if I may propose a suggestion..." Shadow Fang looked up from his plans. "Ah. Raito. Well, go on?" "I've recently learned that the sister of the Puppeteer, that is, the only living family member he cares about, works with MafiA." Shadow Fang narrowed his eyes and a sly smile spread across his face. "Is that so?" "Yes, I am sure. I went through such lengths to obtain this information, going as far as using my title as Dark Knight." "Well then, this changes things. Excellent work, my dearest grandson."

      Back at Headquarters, Eleyne sat alone at the big table, placing the chips around once more to gain one last insight into strategics. Just then, she felt a chill shudder down her spine, and she was hit with a wave of uneasiness that she tried to shrug off. She felt as if something terrible was in its making, though eventually she muttered under her breath, "Well, it wouldn't hurt to just deal with it later. 

     As for Ley, he watched the big grandfather clock strike midnight, and he half smiled. "It seems the first stage of the war is finally going to happen." Around the same time Raito hid behind a wall, his hand on his earpiece. "They are moving out. Our mission starts. Now."

    "I believe in you guys. Let's do this!" "Yeah!" MafiA had moved their first pawn atop the board.