The Emperor's Dragon

Stacking The Deck

"Leave the bottle," Commissioner Kouki Sozo said.

He was at Haita-Teki. It was an exclusive restaurant that offered a street izakaya den feel without the risk of a real izakaya den. No one was going to overhear any conversation here, except the chef and he was paid to be professionally deaf. Haita-Teki had made their reputation that way, with several rooms that were set up with full floor to ceiling screens, and fans to give the impression that he was sitting on the street. One of the rooms also had the drip of rain for that full immersion experience.

Kouki poured the sake and downed the cup when the door opened. He turned slightly and smiled. "Sheeba!" He called as the chef also yelled, "Irasshaimase!"

"Kouki," Sheeba said as he came over and took the seat next to him. "Sapporo Beer," he ordered.

"You still drink that shit?"

"You still drink that," Sheeba Yadav countered but he was smiling. "I was surprised to get your call," he added as the chef put down a tankard of beer. "Nasu dengaku and yakitori," Sheeba ordered.

The Commissioner laughed. It was somewhat bitter.

Sheeba looked at him. "It's not as fun at the top as you thought?" He asked.

"I never thought it would be fun," Kouki countered.

"It's just politics."

"Now you know that's not true. It's heroics," Sozo countered.

"Yeah, that's worse," Sheeba announced.

"Better than law," Kouki pointed out before sighing. "It's going okay," he said seriously.

"Good to hear," he said before taking a swig of beer. "Though, there is something, or you wouldn't have called."

"There's always something, but yes, this time that something could involve you."

Sheeba snorted. He had been invited, so of course there was something that could involve him. But dancing about the topic is what they did. It's how they'd become friends by dancing around friendship all those years ago.

"Yeah, laugh it up. It's not like you have to deal with your predecessors' issues," Kouki said softly.

Sheeba gave him a look.

"Do you remember All Might's battle with Toxic Chainsaw?" The Commissioner asked.

"Not really," Yadav murmured. He only followed heroes in so far as they generated business.

"One might have thought you did, given you are pursuing a request for information."

"I'm not," Sheeba said firmly.

"Beacon is," Kouki told him.

"We are?"

Sozo nodded briefly. "You are," he confirmed.

Sheeba thought about what he knew about All Might and that particular battle. It wasn't much. All Might was the number one hero and took out a lot of villains. For those who made a study of heroics, they could give details but he really didn't know. All Might's agency took care of any legal issues the man encountered and if they couldn't then the Commission did. This was really far more Kouki's gig, given he was the Commissioner. But apparently Beacon, which was one of the firms he sponsored, had put in a Request For Information. That meant the regular request had been denied and this request was accompanied by legal documentation. Beacon was a firm that did a lot of pro-bono work. It looked good and added to his reputation but given that Kouki had asked him here, they had stumbled on something hot.

He took a swig of beer as he thought. "I'm going to need more details about the case," Sheeba said. He could probably find it from what Kouki had told him but it would be easier with more details. And... he wouldn't deny he was curious.