Slow through the Dark

⚙️ Prologue - Insight ⌛️

W: Unconscious Body, Mention/Implying of Death

⚜️

Any criminal would be a fool not to take advantage of the disarray of Ninjago City after the Ninja defeated the traitor princess. Petty thieves are no different, well this thief wasn't a petty one. This one was skilled, it was a talent of quietly making their way anywhere. And for the right price for your desired item, they would get it for you with few questions.

That's what the back alleys said at least, the Hanzo was well-known in the criminal underworld. Not many knew the Hanzo personally; The Hanzo kept his identity under tight wraps. Rumors swirl effortlessly of who did and didn't; among those rumors were just rumors, but even rumors have a layer of truth to them.

Ronin usually did his own work, but this one needed to be done with the only evidence being it was taken. The only reason anyone knew about the Hanzo was through recommendations and bragging of those who got what they wanted without the NCPD on their tails. Ronin didn't want to end up in Kryptarium Prison for this one, and he didn't need the Ninja scolding him because the city was trying to rebuild and decided to follow the "trends" of his peers.

One of the quiet gangs he had sold a few...particular items to, had the Hanzo get some extra cash for them recently. Which meant they were his best route to the Hanzo.

"He is ready for you Ronin," the lackie that led him spoke as he widened the door for Ronin to enter. The room was lit by some dull light bulbs on a chandelier above the long table. At the head of the table was the gang leader with a fireplace lit behind him, giving an eerie lighting to the man sitting in the seat. The walls surrounding them were barren of windows but adored with torches, that served to light the room more so than the chandelier. The beautiful object acting more as decoration than as substance.

"Jean," Ronin grinned at the younger man. "How long has it been?"

"What is your business Ronin?"

Ronin sighed, how can someone so dramatic be so unentertaining?

"Well, I've caught on about a thief that gets anything without a spec of evidence. You're one of the few who don't want me dead that has most recently gotten his services, there isn't a chance you could tell me how to get him would you?" Ronin kept a suitable smile on his face.

Jean let out a groan, "Yes I could." He paused, looking Ronin over for a moment, "For a small price." Ronin suppressed his own groan at the idea of having to pay for such smal- well the information was more invaluable really. Considering the Hanzo's level in a skill he had plenty of years of experience in.

"And what would this small price be?" Ronin's head tilted with the inquiry.

"Any chance you have some of that sleepers leaves from the old geezer on you," Jean raised his eyebrow, a smirk was barely kept at bay from the gang leader. Ronin instinctively covered a lower pocket on his jacket, he frowned at the action and cursed under his breath when he realized he had done. A too-wide smile spread on Jean's face, "Good, set it on the table and I'll tell you how to contact the Hanzo."

Ronin considered it, he could find another person, but there weren't many who would ask for such a small price, let alone let him live long enough to ask. And it would be too much of a risk to ask someone who got in contact pre the latest Ninjago crisis. The Hanzo for all his skills, wouldn't be so foolish to not change his form of contact.

Ronin's jaw tensed before slapping the bag of leaves onto the table. Jean's chin lifted in the victory, "Good. The Hanzo sits at coffee shops or other public spaces, this month it's the food truck court near the harbor." Ronin's eyebrows rose, he's been there not too long ago. To think he could have found him on his own. "The Hanzo does it to plan their current list of clients," Jean continued. "And to line up new ones. They have a few rules."

"Rules," Ronin's eyes narrowed. "What kind?"

"One: You don't draw attention," Ronin snorted but Jean frowned at him, "do whatever so no one can tell, the Hanzo would prefer not getting outed in any way. Two: If you can't pay the price set it won't be done. Usually money, half the next visit, the rest when the Hanzo tells you they got what you want." Ronin nodded, shouldn't be hard. "Three," Jean leaned forward, "this is more of a warning we pass around, under no circumstances can you back out, tip off someone, set the Hanzo up, anything."

Ronin's brows came down, "Why? What happens?"

Jean looked at his right hand man, the man made his way to the end of the table and grabbed the bag of sleepers leaves. Jean pointed a finger at one of the men stationed at the door Ronin had come through. Jean's right hand took a leaf out and handed it to the man, the man frowned at the leaf before putting it in his mouth and started chewing the gray plant fiber. No sooner did the man pass out, the leaves were quickest when ingested right from the source. It took longer with drinks or putting in a meal, but doing the other ways was more common as it was easier to inconspicuous.

Jean smiled before turning back to Ronin while his right made his way back to hand him the bag.

"You're taken out," Jean stated with a shrug as some of his goons dragged the unconscious man out of the room.

"Define "taken out,"" Ronin's mouth became thin.

"The Hanzo uproots you, takes whatever and the rest is given to the authorities, your enemies, any type of information, piles the evidence, and in the end comes for the final blow all her own."

Ronin let the information set in, there's no way Jean could be serious. But...

"The Leather Strings?" Jean nodded at the question. "Mariot?" Jean leaned back and raised an eyebrow, "What do you think?" Ronin frowned, "I think that if you're telling the truth and not over dramatizing this Hanzo, then perhaps he really is one to worry about."

"Good," Jean said after shifting in his seat, "Don't double cross the Hanzo, not even your ninja pals wouldn't be able to help you if you did. And they've helped out of a few already, but the Hanzo won't stop till their path has reached its full marks."  Ronin just frowned at the low level gang leader, now he couldn't tell if Jean was just being his theatrical self or if this was a moment of Jean being in pure range of the story he told.

"Get out before I decide to hand you to the Crane," Jean hissed out, his irritation more than evident.

"Don't need to tell me twice," Ronin said before making his way out. The same lackie from before opening the door for him to leave. Ronin made haste, if didn't want to draw attention like the Hanzo's rule then he needed to get himself cleaned up. Ronin didn't follow laws, and rules almost as much, but in the underworld of Ninjago sometimes their rules were how you survived.