A Man of Honor.

Chapter 51: Bait and Switch.

"If an injury has to be done to a man it should be so severe that his vengeance need not be feared." ~ Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince.

I had managed to get the information on the layout of the club easily enough from Junior. He knew we were springing a trap but we already had an idea of how it was going to go down anyways. I managed to get some scroll pictures of some floor plans that Junior had along with some false news about the security system being down for updates. Roman and Neo actually stood quietly in the corner when I next called Ozpin to tell him that I had managed to get what he needed and set up that meeting with Grigori.

"This was faster than expected." Ozpin said over the line.

"Money moves fast in this business." I explained to him. "Junior is always looking for investors in his nightclubs. He's planning on starting a few more so it was more of a mass deal kind of arrangement." I explained to Ozpin, lying through my teeth at him.

"And he didn't notice you taking pictures of the very floor of the club for the meeting?" Ozpin asked me.

"I took pictures of all the clubs he's buying and refurbishing." I explained to Ozpin. "Since I have some experience owning a club he didn't think it strange that I wanted to take some pictures and consider ideas for improvements."

"That's quite devious." Ozpin told me.

"Yeah well it cost me almost everything." I told him.

"And you're sure that won't raise eyebrows?" Ozpin asked me.

"No, Nicky is losing the war and the call for a ceasefire and a peace meeting wasn't completely unexpected. As far as everyone is concerned we may have already won this war and we need to start reestablishing business along multiple fronts." That was partially true, but it was more about preparing for the Bratva coup and eventual alliance.

"I see, they're being a bit overconfident it seems then." Ozpin said, that made Roman smirk quietly with amusement.

"It's kind of hard not to feel a little confident since Nicky has all but lost. Your plan is simply a trap." I explained to him.

"When an enemy is over confident it is usually the best time to strike." Ozpin said to me.

"He - should - take - some - of - his - own - advice." Neo signed to Roman. I smiled a bit at her but she completely ignored me. Her disposition towards me hadn't eased a bit in the last couple of days.

"Well it's going to take more than just some overconfidence to finish this." I told him. "Nicky isn't exactly well liked, so Roman is going to be arriving with some steep demands or it's right back to shootings in the streets."

"Mr. Tochwick's demands are irreverent, I'll leave the details to James and his team but hopefully they won't be leaving the place alive." Ozpin told me. "Afterwards what happens on the streets of Vale will no longer be a problem."

"You sound a little relieved yourself." I told Ozpin.

"I will admit that scattering our enemies will certainly be a relief." Ozpin told me. "Not to mention Miss Belladonna will stop bothering me once you're back safe and sound at Beacon."

"Uh-huh." I said to him, the last thing I wanted to talk to Ozpin about was Blake. Especially with both Roman and Neo right there. I had been banishing her from my mind since I told Roman the truth. I was sure she wouldn't understand or agree with my course of action, I missed her, she was the one thing I regretted about all of this, but I had made my bed. "Is that all?"

"Grigori still wants to meet you for this intel. He'll meet you tomorrow at the Lux Hotel, room twenty three twelve." Ozpin explained to me.

"I don't understand why he wants to meet with me." I explained to him.