> > If Hatman needs some insight into the criminal underworld all he has to do is ask Chiaki. Unless, of course, he's afraid of getting the answer. She also probably has an idea of what's going on in GMY, which might be helpful to the Lair Legion.
>
> I didn't explore this aspect since this isn't really a Lair Legion story, but I assume that there's a whole lot of intelligence-gathering going on, with input not just from Chiaki but also SPUD, Indiana Gnome, Champagne, the Scholar Ghouls, Hallie, Gideon Book, Con Johnstantine, and other even less authodox sources.
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Noted.
> Jay's natural reaction is to turn first to his team-mates, so its probably Yuki Shiron and Lee Bookman who pull this stuff together for team briefings. The LL keep a big holographic threat board in their Operations Room and you can bet there's a tag there now for Deadeyes (as there are for Akiko and Frankie and Mayor Klein); for the moment they're all green-flagged "watch and wait".
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I thought there might be a slight trust issue involved too. Jay knows that Chiaki used to be into things he'd rather not know about, and he probably also would rather know if she's still in contact with those people. He also knows that Chiaki is a woman of many secrets, that out of a sense of honor she might refuse tell him things he would like to know - and because he doesn't want that kind of conflict with her, he doesn't ask, and looks for the information his own way instead.
But that could also lead to him not asking when she is willing to tell. Chiaki always has a lot on her mind to sort through - she doesn't usually take initiative and tell the Lair Legion everything she hears unless she senses imminent danger. In other words, some of the things Jay might want to know, he won't because he "never asked".
Oh, and I'm sure Jay also doesn't want to know about Yuki chatting up Frankie for information.
> > I guess if Vendredi dislikes Chinese so much he might take offense to Liu Xi?
>
> I'm maybe doing an injustice to the 1930s but I don't expect Ventredi to have modern views on racial equality. But he's also mentioning what he believes are the largest overseas criminal cartels muscling in on the US - the Russian mafia, the Tongs, and the criminals who formerly participated in the IRA. Ventredi's old Italian; he doesn't like the Irish.
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As I said once before, if Vendredi becomes insulting to Liu Xi he can expect cursing in two different languages.
And ironically, before I forget to mention it, the Psychic Samurai is as good at making threats that aren't really threats as Vendredi. She learned from the best, Akiko Masamune.
> > And I'm wondering if there's going to be a meeting at some point between Vendredi and Frankie of the Zoot Suit Gang. After all, they're nearly in the same territory, but Vendredi thinks Frankie is classy. And Vendredi needs the numbers Frankie has for control of GMY.
>
> Ventredi would probably cut a deal with Frankie for his grandfather's sake. I've been careful to keep regular gangster cast like Akiko (and by default Frankie) at arms length though, because Deadeyes is a shade nastier than they are and close association might harm their character concepts, and because if Deadeyes eventually gets brought down it means they can stay out of a storyline that might otherwise bring them into final conflict with the LL.
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Frankie has always been slippery enough to avoid conflict with the LL. Why do you think he talks to Yuki so readily?
Akiko is the funniest mystery, in that regard, that I accidentally created. Chiaki is technically retired from her gang, but she keeps close ties to Akiko, and also to the Lair Legion. You have to wonder if Chiaki is in that precarious position purposely or by accident, and whether Akiko planned it that way in part. Because it does indeed keep Akiko from being under the Lair Legion spotlight, since most of her actions are transparent through Chiaki.
> My assumption is that the Zoot Suit Gang operate independently in both GMY and Paradopolis, and where they're in alliance territory they hand over their "license fee" as per agreement. If they come in as muscle to help out one of the five families or whoever then the money passes the other way.
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The Zoots style is to stay under the radar, yet remain dangerous enough to scare the other neighborhood gangs.
> In terms of gang activity, I don't really see the Zooters or Akiko being much into drug running or the nastier elements of prostitution. They're probably more into the illegal betting syndicates, fight clubs, loan sharking, protection, and fencing. The Zoot Suit Gang at least probably still operate as a "caper" gang, planning one-off crimes against rich targets; after all, that's the interesting bit.
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The Zoots have the numbers to take on the GMY PD - so it's likely they don't because take payoffs from or do "business with" the crooked police and chiefs in the city. They also specialize in clubs, gambling (and naturally loan sharking goes with that), grey and black market, and neighborhood protection. They usually outsource the dirty work like assassinations and making examples out of individuals.
Their signatures, that they're famous for, is intimidating and stealing rare items from other high-profile criminals (like the Lynchpin) and getting away with it. It doesn't make them any money, but it does give them street credit.
> Akiko comes from the old Yakuza tradition, which grew from a strange mixture of criminal activity and community social welfare and genuine protection. She probably puts back as much as she takes into her Mangatown and Hong Kong territories in terms of unofficial law enforcement and welfare support - at least for those who acknowledge fealty to her.
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When accused of befriending criminals, Chaiki usually describes Akiko has having more honor and honesty than most of the politicians and police who pretend to run the city while taking money under the table.
> Deadeyes would like to think he does the same for GMY, but he;s actually kidding himself. He's a nasty bastard who likes to play "godfather" and command "respect". He'd donate $1000 to a struggling church but next day have the priest beaten up for saying something he doesn't like. The social veneer is only thin, and only a cover.
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Eventually that might lead to a friendly chat with Yuki. Yuki doesn't make threats, she just breaks things until people listen.
If Chiaki speaks with him at all, though, it'll be on calm, friendly terms. Chiaki didn't earn her reputation as someone who's highly charismatic for nothing.
