Pokemon Urban Black

Chapter 8

"Disgusting. Beautiful. Sickening."

Godlove stood atop an expensive polished marble floor in front of a garishly brilliant fountain in the high-ceilinged, sunlit room. At the fountain's center was the crystal-sculpted visage of the legendary Ho-oh, its wings expanding as if it were prepping for flight as spouts of water arched over it in crosshatching patterns. He could imagine that it alone was worth well over most of what he owned. And this was just his host's foyer.

"Filthy rich," he added for good measure.

"You act like it's your first time." The drawl came from a nearby ivory-haired man with nonchalance sewn into his every feature. He'd also been strolling by the opulent work of art but didn't spare it so much as a glance.

"Guzma, are you telling me that you're not revolted by how excessive this place is? What are we on, level 300?" They had moved on, and a moment later Godlove found himself scowling at a scaled-down sculpture of Kyogre, an ancient whale-like creature, that looked like it was worth more than his entire business.

"333," Guzma corrected. His eyes looked as tired as his tone of voice. The young woman next to him in gothic fashion and multicolored pigtails that reached down to the backs of her knees remained silent as they moved on deeper into the estate.

They were in the home of Ryme Montero, one of the oldest godmothers of Blue Light City's underworld and one of the richest women on the planet. Long retired and well into her 90s, Ryme had converted the Montero family empire into almost wholly legitimate money, establishing real corporations in dozens of industries—from real estate to energy mining. In terms of the underworld, the Montero family now only regulated the major gang heads and established a set of rules for their business dealings.

When Godlove arrived at the Montero estate with his right-hand man, Colin, and Luci the Liepard, he observed the other visitors. Some of them also arrived with their Majuu at their sides. Exertions and reminders of power. Some kept them in Pokéballs, but that did not make them any less dangerous. No individual here was incapable, and that fact kept them all alert.

The day's meeting was in the sunroom, of which the walls were windows that allowed the day's bright rays to spill over them like the fingers of heaven. Godlove and most of the members here were not used to so much sun on a regular basis, nor were they accustomed to grass and trees like those that had been planted here, transforming it into a rainforest vacation getaway. Bird Pokémon lounged around a small pond, and a man-made waterfall spilled into a grotto nearby.

Godlove and a dozen or so other undercity leaders arrived at the large circular stone table, which had been set with brunch. The smell of warm biscuits and sizzling meats hooked them by the nostrils. No one would be so modest as to decline the food. Montero only dined on meals served by world-class chefs.

Already seated, old and frail, but with a sharp mind and keen eyes, was Ryme Montero. She had long, lustrous silver hair and dark skin, with incisive eyebrows that made her features look that much more severe. She wasn't a cold woman, but she was one who operated without preamble or facade. She'd played the ruthless ruler role many decades ago. This was a godmother whom the city, both high and low, respected.

Godlove took his seat—the seat always designated for him when the undercity family met. He was only a few chairs away from Ryme. To his left would be Guzma, leader of the Skulls, while to the right would be... ah yes... the main event. The person they'd all been waiting on...

Even among others of great affluence, she was arguably the best-dressed. She wore a white pantsuit, with a flattering bodice beneath a robe-like jacket. Her heels made her already substantial height even more so, so that she towered over nearly every man there. Her hair fell in long crimson tresses to her mid-back, and dark shades hid her eyes. Behind her, a large cobra slithered in, purple-scaled, the bright colors of its hood a deadly beautiful sight.