I drove into Bukicho, a sub-district of Little Yukoto. When the majority of people thought of Little Yukoto, this is the place that came to mind. Unlike the rest of the district, this little patch of land was pristine. It almost seemed like a corpo area. A home away from home for the rich and mighty.

Almost. There were still quite a few things that made it stand out. The glowing graffiti across every surface for one. The stench too. Burning drugs were only undercut by the pollution covering the land. It was overwhelming how many drugs mixed together, everything from Tosta to Kook.

Around the sub-district, air purifiers tried to work. They could only do so much with the constant pollution though. And trying to cut out drugs from this place? It'd be like cutting out the heart of a wild animal.

A glowing tag near the entrance stood out the most. It was a neon dragon's head, done artfully in bright green. The rest of the dragon's body was coiled behind it as if the beast was in mid-lunge with glowing fangs outstretched.

The paint itself glowed in the dim ambiance that was almost second nature to Aythryn City. It was nova sure, but it stood out thanks to how common it was. Almost every building held the neon tag. It was a sign- a dominant one at that.

The tag itself was quite present throughout all of Little Yukoto, though nowhere near as active as it was in Bukicho. It made sense. This was the Jade Fang's base of operations, after all.

I moved to my usual parking garage near Bukicho. Someone had hacked the display ads, turning everything into the Jade Fang's tag. It was a mark of territory just as much as one of warning. This was their garage. Don't park here unless you want your vehicle trashed.

Motorcycles and sports cars were scattered around the garage. Some high end stuff too. No one would be stupid enough to hit this place though. Not with the Fang guarding it. It was a sure fire way to end up in a dumpster.

I barely held myself back from approaching a street vendor and worked my way to the Ichiban. The sweet scents of food twirled together into one mouth-watering mixture. It was so, so very hard to resist. My wallet was empty though. Or would be soon enough.

Ichiban was the most dominant street in Bukicho. Its buildings were slapped with neon signs, most being in Ukiyonese. Red dominated the entire street, followed closely by vibrant greens.

A massive holographic gate sat at the entrance with a jade dragon twirled around it. The entrance was probably one of the most iconic things about Ichiban. Whoever had set it up and designed it deserved a serious dose of respect. It was practically an city-wide icon on its own.

The street was packed with people, as it usually was. Throngs of civs, corporate underdogs, low-end gangers, and out-of-uniform FSA troops took up the entire place. It was half tourist trap, half vice trap. All profit for the Jade Fang though. I even managed to spot the half silver armor of Blue Crusade Squires patrolling around.

And of course, the Jade Fang had a high presence. This was their street after all. This entire place was the HQ and primary income point for the gang. I could spot them everywhere, their glowing dragon tattoos a dead giveaway even if the other varied gang paraphernalia wasn't.

Most of them had a mishmash of leather jackets and jeans, fully embodying the Neo-Grease style. Neon lights and vibrant colors peaked through their jackets and clothes like the scales of a dragon. Flashy and flamboyant chrome was even more apparent.

It was truly the heart of gang territory, and yet the street was popping. What can I say? The people of Aythryn City loved to have a good time. The Fangs capitalized on vices better than any other gang. It was their speciality.

Bars, love hotels, brothels, gambling dens, and clubs lined the entire street. Even arcades in the vein of pre-WWIII were present. There was literally something for everyone in Ichiban. And if not on street-level, then the levels above. The higher up a person went? The more lux the goods.

The fact that corpo execs frequent this street said more than anything though. They were a snobby bunch, and places that could fit their requirements were few and far between. If Aythryn City was a cesspool of vices? Ichiban was the heart of it all.

The Blue Crusade Squires 'patrolling' weren't actually looking to make any arrests, even if there were less than legal activities going on all around here. It was practically a lawless zone outside of the Fang's rules.

This place was favored by a bunch of high-level corpos. According to what I heard form some of the Fangs? An attack on Bukicho was a surefire way for Blue Crusade Incorporated to lose their policing contract.

I pathed through the throngs of people, slowly but surely making my way to the center of Ichiban. It wasn't too hard. My typical wardrobe had quite a bit of Jade Fang paraphernalia, so most people gave me space even if I wasn't a 'real' Fang. It was a side effect of getting their hand-me-downs.

At the center of the street, a large dragon's head gate stood off to the side. Several Jade Fangs stood guard, turning away almost everyone but Fangs. Something must've happened. More than usual camped out, holding far heavier arms.

I approached. One of the Fangs, a rather young-looking guy whose skin was still red from fresh tats, stopped me. "Fangs only, slag-"

A rather buff guy with a massive frame clapped the kid over the back, silencing him. "Shiro! It's been a while since I saw you last, mikata."

I couldn't help but grin at the man. For however intimidating the guy looked, he was really just a teddy bear. At least, as long as he wasn't pissed him off. He could quite quickly turn into a grizzly with a vengeance. "Shinobu! Your arm treating you well?"

"'Course. Thanks for recommending that clinic to me. Turns out the Fang's Medek messed up the nerve connections. Damn aho." He rubbed his arm affectionately. "Good as new now! It's like I never even lost it."

"Glad to hear it." He'd been in quite a bit of pain last time I saw him.

"Listen, don't mind the new guys, eh? Still getting them situated." He winked and pushed the kid to stop some other slag from approaching. "Ishimaru-sama call you in?"

"Chek." I really didn't like Ichiban. The scents alone were overwhelming, not to mention the chaos. Not really my kind of place.

"Wouldn't come here for any other reason, eh?"

I shuffled from foot to foot. "Am I that abovious?"

"Not too bad…" Shinobu's expression shifted to one much more serious. He leaned closer, dropping his voice slightly. "Listen, maybe don't accept thi-"

"If it ain't my favorite merc!" A voice cut off the big guy as Ishimaru stumbled out toward the gate. He looked every bit the stereotypical elder, with even a long white beard dangling from his chin. Jade Fang's robes clad him, covering his frame. A katana dangled haphazardly at his hip. "She'sh with me, guysh."

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The Jade Fangs backed away, forcing a bubble out into the street for the elder. It was damn impressive considering how packed the place was. Shinobu nodded at me and mouthed 'good luck' before returning to guard duty.

"Hey, boss." I bowed slightly before the elder.

The old man patted me on the back lightly. "None of that- hic. C'mon! My booth awaitsh!"

I followed him into the small courtyard of the Jade Fang's primary HQ, the Dragoon Saloon. Holographic sakura trees sat all around the yard, dropping little pink petals of light on occasion. Green, lush synthgrass covered the entirety of the courtyard with Fangs scattered about sitting on it. Most had drinks of some kind, relaxing in the beautiful courtyard.

Off to the side sat a small fountain waterfall, trickling endlessly below ground. There was even a micro sun—giving off real heat—free floating just above the center of the courtyard. The sun was always impressive. Didn't look like pure tech. Probably a magitech item of some kind. Or maybe they hired an Adept to cast it every day?

Pagodas sat around, candles gently swaying inside. Plants, real plants, were everywhere, showing off the wealth that the Jade Fangs had. It was almost like walking into a botanical garden. A real one, not the holographic ones that were everywhere.

An arm wrapped around my shoulder. I barely resisted the urge to shake it off out of habit. Almost the entirety of Ishimaru's weight leaned onto me as he used me like a walker. "Ya' know, you shure do look prettshy today. You… you cut your hair or shomethin'?"

Ah, good ole Ishimaru. Sloshed as always. At least he was a kind drunk, if a bit ridiculous at times. I could bear with him. That, and he could probably slice my body in two even while barely managing to walk. I'd rather stay on his good side. "No, my hair is the same length since the last time you saw me… you said you had a job?"

"Oh yesh! Lesh- lesh get inshide." He stopped leaning on me and ambled towards the bar on the other side of the gate. It was designed to look like an ancient pavilion. It even had the black-gray clay tiles and redwood that came to mind when imagining such a building. Or at least the first three floors did. Then it was a sheer building just like its surroundings.

Thunk!

As distracted as I was, I didn't notice Ishimaru going down till it was too late. His face met the synth wood floor quite intimately. A bunch of Fangs glanced over, and the entire courtyard went silent.

I hurriedly stretched out a hand to help the old drunk up. No one laughed—they had too much respect for the elder. Even in his sorry state. The man grabbed onto my arm, hauling himself back up.

"Thanksh, Shiro. Who put that shtep there anyway? Sho reidikulu- redickulu- ridicul- dick. Heh." He chuckled at himself and nearly stumbled again.

I barely managed to support him to his corner booth. The Dragoon Saloon was packed to the brim with Fangs, this booth? Always empty. Reserved for the elder. Likewise where he did most of his business.

"You had a job?" I asked again. Patience was key when dealing with the Jade Fang Elder.

"'Course! Yosh. Um- I think, I think, hmm…" He rubbed his hands across his body and sloppily checked his pockets. "Ah, right! I forgot thish thing wash built-in now."

He tapped his head and a message came across to my phone. No clue how he forgot again. His stuff was probably even older than I was. "It's alright."

He raised his hand, calling over a server. "You- you checksh that out. 'Mma get a drink. Shtarting to get parshed."

I nodded along with him and checked it. It was a picture of several torn-apart Jade Fangs tossed into a pile between two walls. A burning '1%' sat behind the mound. Seven men tossed something onto the corpses. Neo-Jokers by the looks of it. They even had the sculpted bright red hair associated with the gang.

My gut immediately churned at the brutally dismembered corpses. "T-this… this is out of my expertise, Ishimaru. You know I'm-"

He raised a hand, cutting me off as a serious look entered his eyes for the first time. "Look. I don't like shending people to get hurt. Thatsh not how the Jade Fangsh operate. You'll be fine."

"Still though… going over there on official Jade Fang business? People have been strung up for less." I rubbed at my arms uncomfortably. The Jade Fang had a code they operated by at least, but the Neo-Jokers? They were batshit insane.

Ishimaru hummed. "We received that messhhage the other day. All we- hic- need from you ish to go to the placesh and check them out. The Matriarch doeshn't want to attack the Neo-Jokersh off of a picture."

I tried once more. "Aren't there better-"

"Not that aren't full membersh. You're the besht affiliate at getting around undetected, which ish why we called you. Before you refushe, pay is a thoushand Rayn. The Matriarch needsh thish done now, and dishcreetly. And, uh, no one will shushpect a kid…"

Damn! A thousand Rayn? For this? That wasn't the kind of money a gig like this entailed. Maybe two or three hundred at best. It was literally just check out a few places.

Hmm… let's think this through a bit more. Why me? Plausible deniability? It made sense. They wouldn't want to send a Fang to stir things up in Bricktown, the Neo-Joker's territory. Not without making sure they actually did the deed, anyway. I was an affiliate at most, not an actual associate.

My relationship with the Jade Fangs was complicated at best. They were the ones paying for my container home, and my main source of income. I didn't want to join the gang like my parents did, which put me in the perfect situation. They knew they could trust me, and I was low-level enough not to cause any retribution if I was caught.

A setup then? Not that the Neo-Jokers wouldn't do something so blatant. They were insane. A third party would have a lot to gain from a potential gang war though. So what- they hire me? I'm an affiliate they can trust, I guess. Simply go out there and investigate the crime scenes.

Heh- good ole gangs. Looking to make you consider them a family, then using and abusing till you're no longer useful. If only I had someone else to rely on… to bad my Uncle, the good one, is only in town every once in a while. Truly, living in this city with few connections? A major sin.

At the end of the day, the Rayn was good though, and working for the Jade Fangs far exceeded being a flatbacker. Ishimaru always took pretty good care of me, all things considered. Very rarely was I given a job with excessive danger. Sure I lost some money because of that, but I was still alive and relatively unharmed.

A thousand Rayn though... That was a lot of money. It would go a long way to paying off some of my debts. Or I could use some of it for a firepower upgrade. Or even upgrading the tools at my disposal? I had always wanted some more tech stuff like a drone or something. That's be way more expensive though.

By the time I looked up from the images again, Ishimaru had already downed several cups. I swear, his blood was more alcohol than anything else. I'd never seen him even close sober since I'd known him. And I'd known him so I was just a baby, so its been a while.

"Is there anything I should be wary of? Suspected Kinetics, Adepts, or Magus?" I intentionally tried to avoid anything regarding the more magical side of the city. Mostly out of fear of the unknown, but they were just unsettling to be around.

"Probably not if itsh the Neo-Jokersh. And you shouldn't even have to fight." He tapped the table lightly. "Jusht look around."

Right, they were the type of gang that looked down on everything but Cyborgs and Kinetics.

This was just a quick look around. Nothing could possibly go wrong with that. "Hm… send me the locations. I'll check it out."

At the end of the day, I couldn't just pass up a thousand Rayn. It was more than I might make on several petty theft jobs. Maybe I could get some real synth-meat on the menu?

"Yeah yeah…" Another message came across from him. "How long? Matriarch is very intereshted in thish."

I looked down at the message. The Jade Fang had narrowed down the scope, but I would still have to end up searching five spots across the Sintith sub-district for the picture's location. And then they assumed I could actually find something?

"A day, maybe. I don't even know if I'll be able to find something though." I was a best a skilled pickpocket and petty kleptoid, not a badge.

He downed another cup. "Donshu, worry 'bout that. Jusht take shome picturesh of the- hic- schene. We're also gonna' let yoush borrow a few toolsh and shtuff to help out. Jusht try to bring it back in one piece?"

What kinds of tools were they giving me? Something good, hopefully. "Chek."

"Great! Go to Taru and tell him I shent you. He'll getcha loaded up."

Just before standing up, I handed him the phone I pulled from the briefcase. "Could you get one of the runners to check this out? Might be really dangerous. I'll owe you a favor."

He grabbed the phone and tossed it into one of his pockets. "Yosh. Take care, Shiro."

The dismissal was evident. I stood and worked my way back to the entry of the Dragoon Saloon.

Taru was the gun range owner of Ichiban Guns just down the street. Likewise, gun dealer extraordinaire for the Jade Fang. I stopped by and picked up a bag without any any hassle.

Now then, I should head back home and change? Hopefully I wouldn't get pulled into an alley and shanked by a Neo-Joker with something a bit less fangy. Yay, work… hopefully nothing goes horribly wrong in Bricktown.

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