The Jade Tiger Triad was unique from other triads because it never ran drugs.
Ever. It was something that the founders had sworn on when the Triad started.
There were enough other triads carrying narcotics at any rate. That didn't
mean that members of the Jade Tigers were not immune to being drug addicts
themselves; the numbers were fractional compared to many other gangs. The
main interests of the Jade Tiger Triad were that of import/export, robberies,
gambling, and the recovery of Chinese artifacts scattered all over the world.
A darker side of the Triad consisted of torture and murders.
Manchu had recently become involved in the physical aspect of the torture
and murder. He had been trained, as they all had, to kill. It never was
a question of "if," but a question of "when." Since he had been accepted,
he had heard rumors of a man who patrolled the city dressed as a bat. He
hadn't believed it until he saw the man for himself one night. Shortly there
after, this "Batman" captured two members of the Triad.
Since that night, the topic had become a hot point with the Triad Elders.
Every member of the Triad was briefed on what little was known about him
and how best to avoid him. When the time came that an important murder needed
to be committed, the Elders held a council to decided what to do.
{Our Watchers have noticed his presence around the building. This Batman
must know something is about to happen. The man is becoming an increasing
problem,} Po Sin said.
{If he knows then we must either delay until he is put off, or we must strike
now and strike fast,} said Shing.
This was met with a grumble of frustration from Po Sin. He fanned himself
with his hand as the close air in the meeting room was making him sweat.
The day had been hell from the moment he woke up. First his personal maid
had handed him the wrong clothing, and then she insisted on reminding him
that his breakfast was to be with the other Elders. All he had wanted to
do was sit in his garden, having a leisurely breakfast as he enjoyed the
cool morning air. Instead he was stuck in this hot little room with Shing
and Fai.
{There is another solution,} Fai said, raising a finger.
{Well? Out with it already, Fai. Don't make us wait,} grumbled the old man.
{Xiaohu.}
Po Sin nearly spit his tea out at the mention of the girl. Though she did
good work, he never quite liked her. Her close friendship with one of Gotham's
most promising Jade Tiger vexed him all the more.
{That nuisance? What good would she be?}
{Her ring, Po Sin. She would be the ideal candidate for this job. Already
she has proven to be quite successful with using the ring in the jobs we
have set her to. Her ability to shape shift has been extremely useful when
there was difficulty in passing security.}
{True. Just last week the team she was on managed to collect the items we
were after with little problem. Besides, it is time to send her out on her
first assassination, is it not?} inquired Shing.
Frowning into his teacup, Po Sin asked, {And should she get caught?}
{We will have her instructed to use a feline form for the killing. Once
she has finished, she will leave the building in the guise of a housecat.
If anyone sees her, they will think nothing of it,} Fai said.
With a grunt, Po Sin set his cup down and looked at the two younger men.
{You have this all thought out, don't you? Even if I were to say no, you
would see that she is sent on the job. Very well. Let her go. We'll see
if she even has the nerve to kill.}
Fai and Shing left the meeting happy. They knew there would be a discussion
about this new menace to the Gotham underworld. Still, Triad business needed
doing and if they could push to have it done their way, they would. Neither
one felt any qualms about getting the old man to see things their way. Po
Sin was wrapped in traditions that no one observed anymore. Kueng had not
been as set in his ways as Po Sin. However, the old man was wise in many
of his decisions and fair. The only exception was when Xiaohu was the subject.
Next / First Blood
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