doublesmall | [INBOX] fractura.

The one where those bodies were, yeah? Pretty lucky that the guy you put there still seems to be alive... if it were someone who hated you behind it, you'd think they would try to hurt you there too. Then again, I heard a couple of the guys who died weren't your biggest fans either.

[he hums thoughtfully, there-- seems to him like they didn't care enough to target the guy though. oversight, or just not part of the message?]

I know one of ours managed to escape, but we haven't been able to locate her and we don't know if it's because they found her again or not... past that, I've had reports of some of your boys bragging about us taking losses in this kidnapping business. 'Putting us in our place'.

[and at that mention his fingers tense, reflexively; his hands don't form into fists, but it's a very near thing. the thought of it still riles him a little even now.]

If you think the whole incident has ties to the mayor, I'd sure like to find proof of it too. Seems some of your boys are also keen to pin that on us.

[ ugh. the thought makes xie lian's stomach churn too. "taking losses in the kidnapping business"... how completely un-xian-le-like. ] I'll distribute a description of the person who escaped to my bodyguards. With our forces combined, hopefully we can find them before something worse happens. [ and to a few other select parties, but only the kind of people xie lian really, truly trusts. ]

[ he doesn't seem to have much to say about the mayor, though. there's so much inconclusive evidence: the papers found on the east side about the death of the mayor were inconclusive, even if they involved his mother, too. which... ] I'm sure whatever coup is being planned has been around for a while. I found evidence of accusations even to my mother about 'hush money', from someone calling themselves "big brother" and "little brother". You wouldn't have heard anything about that, have you?

[ it's not accusatory--he's pretty sure the mori aren't actually involved, at least to chuuya's knowledge? who knows. ]

I heard about it, yeah-- I was told you were being given the same report, when somebody brought it to me.

[a slight shake of his head follows, though.]

We haven't turned up any potential identities, though, or what exactly it was referring to, so... it sounds like we're on the same page there. In general, maybe, not that that helps either of us much.

[info-wise, anyway. if their end goals match up, then that's fine, but he's not sure they'll learn much if they're working off roughly the same information.]

[ sigh... xie lian doesn't quite rub his temples, but his eyes close briefly. this has been a frustrating game of chess, for osmeone who would much rather just flip over the board. ]

No, it doesn't. [ for the most part, this talk has been rather cooperative. but, something sticks in the back of his mind... xie lian taps his fingers against his paper again, thoughtful. ] The financial problems we've faced are no excuse for this sort of behavior, but.... the retaliation has worried me as well. The longer this goes on, the worse actions underneath us will become. [ and his own are already pretty bad. he doesn't need to say that, though.

xie lian's eyes flick up, all serious, watching the other family leader carefully. ] Did you order the purchase of those gatling guns?

Considering the current climate, I don't think either of us could really be blamed for ensuring we're protected.

[he shrugs slightly, there, resting an elbow on the table and propping himself on it.]

I didn't authorize anything that happened with them, just like I'd expect you would say you didn't authorize the theft of any.

[because he knows both sides evidently had them, according to all of the reports he received on the incident.]

[ xie lian shakes his head. that's a no. his smile is small. his number one priority as ever is safety. ] I just wanted to be sure.

[ so that leaves them with the rest of this chaos. ] We've lost our best lead with the burning of the warehouse district, and the remaining witnesses I know of are incapacitated.

[ ....you know, tongueless. gross. ] What else do you know?

Not a hell of a lot that'd help. Whoever's behind this, they're good at covering their tracks... seems like they're used to this kind of thing.

[it's the kind of work he'd expect from someone with a criminal career, but-- it's frustrating to find they're this elusive.]

Arrest records in this town would be useless.

[ looks at the Baby Police...in reality they're the actual police here... ] It must be someone very familiar with the town, too, with a lot of experience, with access to the inner workings of the family. I'm not particularly forthcoming with information.

[ but maybe someone else is. after all, there are things no one tells xie lian. that's part of the problem. ]

Access to the inner workings of the family-? You feel like they've got someone on the inside leaking information, then?

[that's something troubling, and his brow knits. no wonder nobody's turned up much, if that's the case... having access to either family would give them some advantages, as opposed to someone completely separate.]

[INBOX] fractura.

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