Everything at a Cost

Charon tapped his fingers against the tabletop impatiently, knowing that this was a meeting he didn't want delayed. Jia had been contacted as soon as Marcus had been captured, but the man had yet to arrive at The Golden Dragon. Marcus had been in the North District and was attacked by a few rival gang members that recognized him as one of Charon's men. Since they were in the North District the police actually arrived and arrested all of the men involved. It pissed Charon off though, and he had to get Marcus out of there before someone important got a hold of him.

Charon sat there with Mute and Mason, awaiting Jia's arrival. Charon noted the presence of seven police officers, all waiting casually and paying Charon no mind. They were obviously Jia's men, sent here to make sure the place was safe for their boss to come. Jia had better arrive soon though, Charon was losing his patience.

Jia Tang entered the restaurant shortly after the agreed upon time. His bald head seemed to glisten in the light, as did his yellow silken changshan. He made his way over to the table Charon was sitting at and sat across from him. He raised his hand and bowed his head apologetically. "I sincerely apologize for the delay. You caught me at an inopportune time." He said in his oddly high-pitched voice. He raised his round face to Charon. "Sam assured me that you have been treating his brothers with the dignity they deserve, so you have a friend in me, and you said you needed a favor. What is it you need, friend?"

"Marcus has been captured" Charon said and decided not to dance around the point. He needed Marcus out as soon as he could, he knew too much information. Marcus awas a fighter and could take some torture, but Charon knew that every one had a weakness that could be exploited. Charon was the same way. "I need your help getting him out as quickly and as legally as possible. Can you help me?"

Jia smiled softly at Charon. "Of course, friend! That is what I do. Which district was he captured in?" He asked. He needed a long list of information, and this was as good of a place to start as any. He was willing to let Charon get away with a fairly low price for this first task, as a show that his friendship would carry some weight to the man who could squish him like a bug if he wished. "I also need the date of the capture, and a full name, and general description so that I'm sure I'm freeing the right man."

Charon nodded before pulling out a picture of Marcus and sliding it towards the small man. "He was captured earlier today in the Northern District, had some public disturbance charges pressed on him because he was in a fight" Charon added as he kept his eyes on Jia. "This is very important to me Jia, name your price and I'll make sure that you receive it in full by the end of tomorrow"

Jia nodded thoughtfully. "It will take some doing; my influence in North Sapphire is the weakest of the districts. I will be able to do it, but it'll take a bit of... Extra exertion. As a gesture of good faith, I will offer a discount to you. Five and a half thousand dollars. Normally, getting someone out in North Sapphire would be between eight and nine thousand. But I digress. And, as is my policy, do not pay me until Marcus has returned, which will likely be about a week and a half." He bowed slightly. "I do not wish to rip off a friend, not even unintentionally."

"Can you provide me some information about where Marcus will be and how he is?" Charon questioned. Marcus needed to be okay, Charon couldn't afford to lose anyone. "Five and a half thousand won't be a problem, and I'll try to make sure that this doesn't happen again" Charon said quietly. "I would appreciate however quickly you can operate and sort this out"

"Well, North Sapphire rarely sees gang violence, so the officers there are neither calloused nor enraged towards them, so I'd say so long as he holds his tongue, he will be in mint condition when he gets out; might even be a bit better fed than before. There's only one real prison I know of in there, and it's probably the one with the best funded in the city, so it's of the highest quality, as well as the highest price to bribe." Jia scratched his pencil-thin mustache. "I have no doubt that he will be ready to get right back into the fray when I get him out. I'll also take the liberty of expunging his record. Shouldn't be too hard." He smiled and politely thanked the waitress that came by to give him his drink in his native tongue.

Good news, at least Charon hoped that everything went as perfect as Jia painted the picture. A lot of things could go wrong, Marcus could be killed just for looking at someone wrong. Well...they'd try to kill him. Marcus was apt at defending himself, and was one of Charon's better fighters. He certainly wasn't going to talk, especially not for something as small as a plea deal. "You'll inform me of your progress as you make it I take? I want to know what's happening as its happening, Marcus has been loyal ever since I took over his gang, I won't forget that loyalty now that he needs me the most"

Jia nodded. "I shall inform you of the progress each day until he is free. You have my word on that, Charon." He sat up in his seat. "Rest assured, friend, so long as he does not attempt any, shall we say, 'shenanigans', then getting him out will be more expensive than difficult. It won't be my first man to get out of North Sapphire, and gods know it won't be my last."

"Jia I have a firm belief that money is never a good sign of gratitude, not for men like us at least" Charon remarked. "Tell me honestly, is there anything I might be able to do for you this fine day? The money is rather trivial, there must be something I can do for you as a token of sincere gratitude"

Jia raises his hand again. "Do not worry about it at all. I believe in no payment until the job is complete." He cracked a smile. "That said, I wouldn't say no to not needing to pay for my meal here. It's a bit of a trek back home, and I very much enjoy the beef here."