That pretty much sounds like the reason Chiaki worked for Akiko at all. Grey market and black market are tolerable, and comparable to what most large corporations do and don't get caught. Constant violence and assassination isn't.

I also figure Akiko's smart enough not to take on the Lair Legion because there's no profit in it. The only reason she might send Chiaki to that meeting at all is if the war they're igniting might affect her business. For instance, if it results in the Lair Legion cracking down on *all* organized crime.

As a side note: If the Lair Legion *did* decide to crack down on all organized crime, Chiaki would probably warn them - most notably Hatman at least - that it's a war they can't win because the most important elements are very adept and hiding and re-emerging. It's also one of those cases where Chiaki might butt heads with the LL, at least opinion-wise.





In that case it's very likely that the Zoot Suit Gang would give Deadeyes kickbacks just to keep him out of their business. Besides, Frankie would be the first to say that a little respect goes a long way. Plus he'd secretly figure that if Deadeyes "loses his mind" and goes after direct control, or if someone kills Deadeyes and takes over, it'll be tougher to get rid of the Zoots once they're firmly rooted in everything.

That's pretty much Frankie's entire money-making strategy, by the way - get his fingers in as much as possible and skim a little off the top. It makes him really slippery in terms of prosecution, because nobody can really prove he's doing anything illegal. He's just profiting off of everyone else who is, like subcontracting.





Ironically, he probably could take on the Lair Legion. But just like with Frankie and Akiko, there's no money in it.





Frankie might have shown up just for his own personal entertainment. Probably would have called them clowns, and then walked out.