A Man of Honor.

Chapter 61: Stacked Deck.

"If they're talking behind your back, it means you're ahead of them!" ~ Unknown.

The following day was spent entirely at home. Almost being assassinated meant that I had to be careful wherever I went. It wasn't like those previous attempts on my life when I was a disposable associate or a relatively new family member. I was acting Don, which meant that my life was actually worth something now. So much so that someone had already paid a lot of money to try and kill me, and they were likely to spend a lot more to do it.

This was a problem because I had a lot of people I needed to meet face to face to do my business. I needed to keep in contact with Sienna and Tukson and see if George had gotten into contact with them and I dared not do that over a scroll call.

The news had managed to report on the assassination attempt as well. Names were left completely out of the report but low and behold the Vale media managed to spin it rather positively. They called all the shooting and fighting in the streets a minor gang confrontation that had been swiftly put down by seven Beacon students who just so happened to be right there, ready to defend the innocent civilians who had come there just to enjoy the nightlife. RWBY and my old team had turned into propaganda to convince the masses that the city was safe enough to hold the Vytal festival and tournament despite the massive crime wave that had been put behind the city with the end of the war. This was clearly the Vale Council doing damage control, there was no mention in the news about old Atlesians drones being used. Ironwood and the Atlas Military were still catching flak for their little faunus hooker scandal. This would clearly exacerbate the already delicate situation.

It seemed ridiculous that Ozpin and Ironwood were putting so much effort into seeing the tournament go by smoothly. A part of me pondered on why Cinder and Adam seemed to be readying their little plan to be taking place during the tournament. As a terrorist, I understood that they probably wanted it to come off as a symbolic gesture, but I still found it to be a risk with the city packed not only with Ironwood's troops, but with huntsmen and huntresses in training as well. It was certainly ambitious.

Melanie had left sometime during the night after I crashed on my couch. Apparently Fat Mike had let Miltia in and the two of them left before I could even thank Melanie for saving my life. Inadvertently or not I was grateful to her.

And since I had confined myself to my penthouse apartment for the day, it meant that I had my crew running back and forth delivering messages on my behalf or bringing them to me. It was hardly how I was accustomed to doing business, but I managed for a day.

For the most part we focused on trying to investigate just who had arranged the assassination. All evidence was pointing to this little group of Vacuan assassins, all the bodies we recovered were indeed of Vacuans and they all carried blades made from Vacuan steel. But aside from that, it was still a mystery as the evidence was still being gathered. What's more I had to deal with my crew nursing the wounds to their bodies and pride.

"How's the hand?" I asked Dove as I prepared my dinner, peeling cloves of garlic. I had to get an associate to go out and get groceries for my meals. I couldn't even do my own shopping while I was in lockdown like this.

Dove flexed the nubs that had once been his pinky and ring finger. His aura had already sealed the wounds leaving him with the missing parts.

"I'm going to need some practice if I have a hope of wielding a blade for you." Dove said, trying not to act too sour about it. "I really wish I practiced more with my left hand now."

I nodded. It couldn't be easy losing something like that. Just shearing off the first knuckle of my pinky for Junior had been hard enough, but this was much different.