Intimidation [Solo Mission/Iron Wolves]

Mission:

It was only a couple of days after Kohana was enlisted as part of the Iron Wolves, and it was that much time has passed since Kohana put two of Sylpher's men in bad shape. Of course Kohana wanted to make a good first impression that she wasn't messing around. However it might have been excessive since now Kohana has to take over Long-Shanks and Cid's place for the time being. Today Kohana is walking at Sylpher's left flank who seemed to be quite serious. No grin is present and his eyes were solid. Makes the guy pretty intimidating, and from Kohana can see from the toned muscles and faint scar tissue he's at least a good fighter.

Walking down the street with the sun blazing above them as some fluffy white clouds occasionally block the sun's warmth. They were heading towards a local antique store which mostly sold souvenirs and sometimes might attempt to sell an old yet good condition furniture. This shop was also under the Iron Wolves' protection, and as such they keep pests and other gangs from messing with the store. Even if it comes down to shaking them down to the point where they piss themselves.

"Now, whatever you do, do not put a hand on any of these people. If it comes down to a fight, just give them a couple of smacks on the nose and those whelps will cry for their mums." Sylpher informed his recruit, and Kohana looked to the said before saying one word.

"Kay." Today Kohana was at least armed with a collapsible baton clipped onto her belt on the right side. A deep green holster containing three Kunai strapped by a white cloth around her left thigh. Then finally on her left flank is a hip pouch that contains the other weaponry including a couple of bombs. Not that she would really need them, but just having them as an intimidating factor is good enough for her.

Arriving at the antique store it had a glass display of a rocking chair with some pillow cushions of red striped pattern. Beyond held multiple random objects, but none of them held any particular value to Kohana. Inside the store she could see a polished wooden counter with a middle aged man in a dark green velvet vest and a long sleeved, pure white formal shirt. He had mostly white hair with a single monocle on his left eye. Essentially what anyone would expect of a formal attire in a professional manner.

However inside this store are three other people. All of them were men with smug looks on their faces. One of them that seemed to be the ringleader of the trio is saying something that Kohana couldn't hear. But Sylpher had his eye on the guy before they walked inside the store.

"For the last time old man. Pay up, or we'll trash this place. Got it?" The ringleader threatened the man who appeared to be unfazed by it. Instead the guy reached under his counter to bring out a metal club that has thick spikes on it. Tapping lightly against the calloused palm of the other hand, the gentleman looked dead in the guy's eye before retorting.

"Try it, and you'll be lucky to come out of here without five inch punctures with fractured bones on your skull. Nobody will even notice that you're gone, and frankly nobody gives two shits about you upstarts either." Immediately after seeing this display Kohana was impressed with the guy. It wasn't everyday that she gets to see someone owning a business and not afraid to get their hands dirty. In this world Kohana learned the hard way that you can't get anymore with just honest work. Sometimes you gotta put some risks for a bigger reward. Sylpher chuckled as he crossed his mighty arms. The trio however didn't seem to like it that much as each one drew out their weapons. One held a set of rings with an inch blade on each finger. The second had a crossbow that was drawn back with a bolt already in place and had it trained against the gentleman. Ringleader fancied himself with a tanto, but Kohana recognized that he doesn't know how to properly wield it.

"Nobody threatens the Twisted Lions and lives! You just made your-!" The ringleader paused when he finally realized that they weren't alone. Turning his eyes over one shoulder, they were equally surprised at the appearance of Sylpher as the trio immediately turned to face him. Sylpher just glared at them intensely.

"The Twisted Lions is trying to rob our turf now? Well that's a bit new, but we can't be having that. We wolves mind our own business, but take something of ours and we will take it back tenfold. Get the memo yet?" Kohana stared with cold, piercing eyes at these three. Her left bird finger already hooked around the rings to her Kunai at the holster. Ready to draw it and defend herself if it came to it.

"Hah! Wolves? More like disfigured rats that can't match any other gangs around here! In other words," Ringleader brandished his tanto which causes Kohana to unclip her baton from the belt and extend it to it's full length. The guy with the crossbow trained his bolt at Kohana, and then the other two charged after Sylpher. A pull of the trigger it seemed like as Kohana flew past Sylpher in a blur. A bolt was released from the crossbow, but Kohana dropped to her knees sliding across the floor as she drew out one of her Kunai with the left hand and stabs Ringleader into his right ankle with it. In a deft movement, Kohana quickly spun counterclockwise as she pivot towards the crossbow Lion. Where she will raise up on her feet to deliver a crunching slam of her baton across the man's jaw. Enough to break some teeth even as he lurched back while dropping the crossbow to grab at his mouth. Ringleader immediately dropped after she stabbed him, but the third continued to go after Sylpher. One swift and solid punch square in the face from Sylpher was all it took to send the guy sprawling on the ground.

Ringleader cursed in his breath as he reached to pull out the Kunai. However Kohana walked back over to him as he noticed and traded his action to half assed swing his tanto at her. She just stepped out of his reach and deliver a sharp smack against the man's wrist to make him drop the tanto. Unfortunately the Ringleader, despite him clutching his wrist from the pain, decided to try standing on his one leg. With a sigh from her lips, Kohana looked over at Sylpher without saying anything. However, Sylpher dipped his head, and like Kohana was given silent permission she kicked against the back of Ringleader's leg to drive him off-balance. Followed up by a wrap around his neck with her elbow that pulls him back in a leaning position to further off-balance him. With a tight grip of her own and the positioning. Kohana effectively puts the guy into a chokehold.

Sylpher began intimidating the Ringleader, and whenever the guy didn't comply Kohana's grip became tighter to the point where the guy couldn't breathe. Each time he failed to comply, Kohana would choke for longer periods of time. The clerk made the only other conscious Lion to sit down on a bar stool and was quiet. Eventually they got the memo that the Iron Wolves were not a gang to be trifled with. This shop is under the Wolves' protection, and the Iron Wolves uphold their end of the bargain. Once that was covered, Kohana pulled her Kunai out of the Ringleader's ankle and they were allowed to leave. The clerk lowered his steel club under the counter with a sigh of relief.

"Seems like I chose well on who to protect my establishment. Nice timing Sylpher." The clerk reached up to remove his monocle as he brings out a clean white cloth to wipe the glass off.

"Anytime friend. I knew the Twisted Lions were getting bold, but I didn't think it would get this bad." Sylpher admitted as he picked up some of the things that were knocked over. Kohana walked over to the bolt that was wedged into a beam and pulls it out.

"You can blame that fella Crescente Tamasi for that development. From what I hear he has been rallying his forces together threatening to take over Hana's Capital as the true rulers of the sea. Honestly if given enough time they might accomplish that." Kohana's interest was peaked upon hearing this. It was common for gangs to clash with each other, but it was rare that a gang attempts to dominate a whole nation. Mostly because the nation is just better equipped with more resources.

"There is no true rulers of the sea. She is a wild woman that cannot be tamed." Kohana remarked as she goes around to pick up the tanto and the crossbow. The tanto, Kohana noticed, is actually in bad shape. It barely held an edge and that was at the point. Still, Kohana figured she could fence these items for later. The clerk paused for a moment looking over at Kohana as she was analyzing the tanto.

"You must be new. What's your name girl?" Kohana shifted her eyes over at the guy before continuing.

"I prefer Nightbane. Giving out my real name could be problematic on the long-run. Sylpher nodded his head in agreement, and the clerk placed the monocle back to his left eye.

"Nightbane eh? Well you seem to know how to handle yourself in a fight. I figure if you went to one of these underground fights you would not only reap some money, but you'll earn reputation around here very quickly doing that." Now that got Kohana's attention as she knew they existed. But she wasn't that high enough respected to know where they took place. Seeing that she has his attention, the gentleman continued.

"The tournaments is called Iron Fist Tournament. Everything is fair game be it weapons, body, or even chakra if you got it. It takes place in the Ruby District in just two months from now." The information was handy, and it sounded like it was something that doesn't happen often around here. Now she knows the location and when it starts. Gives her plenty of time to train and whatnot. Kohana thanked the man for his information, and with some exchanged words from Sylpher and clerk they took their leave. As they were walking down the bustling streets, Sylpher tapped Kohana's shoulder.

"Good work out there. You only scared the piss out of them." Sylpher breaks into a hearty laugh, and Kohana caught herself giving a small smile. Today was a good day for Kohana, and for the Iron Wolves. However little did she knew things were about to turn on her.

[Exit]