Space Odyssey: Spectre-Chapter 540: Other Gangs of Submundo

Pliro let out a sigh of relief as they finally left the Basilisk territory.

Jace shook his head, "it sounds as if you never managed to outlast any of your women before." Jace then thought of something, "although getting ambushed when unprepared can be quite... Taxing."

"Yes it can be..." Pliro shook off his weariness. "Come on, we need to head to the Submundo Street Gang next. Then we will meet with the people from Luna. Then finally, the Gators. You could even have them make something for you."

"I plan to. Although I might just forge it myself instead." Jace chuckled as they walked onto the main street. Now he was glancing at various stalls looking for certain metals. "Now that we are out of the Basilisks territory, perhaps you can tell me a bit about the other gangs." Jace asked as he pulled himself up onto the Colonel, riding him through the city. Before he could not because he had that gold toothed guy on the back. But now that he could he would.

"You are a forgesmith as well. How many other jobs or positions have you had?" Pliro asked as he waved down a set of guards they were nearing as they were about to arrive at the neutral zone of the city.

"I could tell you. But it would cost you an arm, a leg, and a few other things as well." Jace answered honestly as he glanced at a mirror and confirmed that the tail they lost when they went into the Basilisk territory was following them again.

Initially he had noticed three different people following. The elf was one of them. But the other two stopped when he entered the Basilisk territory. But now all three groups were following him again.

The first group was the Basilisks. But it would seem they sent a different woman this time. A human woman who was staying much farther back as she followed them. This one seemed to be more focused on watching the other tails that Jace and Pliro obtained when they left the Basilisk territory.

The second group that was following them were not at all discreet in their appearance. The bald orc had a black skull tattoo covering his face. So it was easy to tell that he came from the El Muerto Gang. Jace did not know the exact reason they were following them, but he doubted it was good. They did not sound like a gang he wanted to get mixed up with.

The last group that was following them, he could not identify. Mostly because Pliro had yet to tell him about all of the gangs of Submundo. But the last person that was following them kept trying to get close enough to eavesdrop on their conversation. The only reason he kept backing off was because of glances that Jace was sending in his direction.

"Tell me about a few of the other big name gangs in the city." Jace told him as Pliro finished talking with the patrolling group. The entrance gate and guards to the neutral area were not that far away now.

Pliro hummed, "there are a few cartels. But they all hold a small amount of control in the city. They deal in various types of drugs. Typically bringing them in illegally through various smaller vessels. There are only three other groups that I would really call a ’big’ name in Submundo."

"Do the cartels have their own land or something where they obtain their drugs?" Jace asked before he continued.

"Actually, you are right. Typically smaller islands with barely enough space for a village and farm. Since they are so small, the villagers typically assist the cartel in their drug manufacturing efforts since their land is too small to produce food." Pliro confirmed. "But I assume you already managed to figure this out?"

"Something similar happens in the galaxy that I am from. Rare or unordinary drugs are produced on remote planets or moons that do not grow anything. Depending on the government it might be overlooked, especially if the drugs are traded in other nations than the one it is grown inside of." Jace explained as they arrived at the entrance of the neutral area.

The distinction between the two areas was immediately obvious as the neutral area’s streets and buildings were almost shining with how clean they were. They were able to just walk past the guards who nodded at Pliro while they checked other people’s papers.

"There are the NeoYakuza. They have five separate territories in Submundo. Each of which are centered around a gambling hall or casino of some kind. They stick strictly to gambling and have a monopoly on it. They recklessly attack anyone that gets involved in any form of underground gambling." Pliro raised an eyebrow at Jace’s confused expression. "What is confusing you?"

"The NeoYakuza? Are they a derivative of the original Yakuza?" Jace asked.

"I... do not know. I just know they have their hands on almost every human settlement from here to each edge of the galaxy." Pliro shrugged. "They have been around since the end of the twenty-first century when Prima Terra was still in its infantile state. No one actually knows who runs it, but every form of government has reached a neutrality agreement of some kind with them."

That was definitely something that caught Jace’s interest. He would have to look into them later. But that was for later. For now... "What about the last two groups?"

"Gentleman’s Club and Circus Du Lessal." Pliro rubbed the back of his head in annoyance, probably at the thought of the two groups. "The Gentleman’s Club deals in the illegal slave trade, thievery, recreational drugs, and are notorious scam artists."

"The name makes it sound like they are a bunch of nobility." Jace pointed out with a scoff.

But Pliro tilted his head and nodded, "you are not that far off. A lot of them are people who have lost their status of nobility or have gained a status through their illegal dealings. In fact I think that is one of their requirements to become a leading member. To have had a status of nobility or gain one."

Jace shook his head. "I guess this means the corruption among your nobility is just as bad as it is back home." He then thought of something and smirked. "Although, slaughtering a bunch of them always puts them in line."

Pliro flinched and groaned. "We still do have some laws preventing speaking about them in that way." He pointed to a cafe, "we are meeting the contact here."

"The last group?" Jace asked as he dismounted.

"The Circus Du Lessal. There are actually multiple Circus Du groups throughout the galaxy. Each one is named after the ringmaster that controls them. The Lessal group is the one that runs the Circus Du group on these islands." Pliro sighed as he sat down at a table outside.

"Let me guess, they have their members similar to the ancient theme of the circus. Everything from a clown to a bearded lady?" Jace asked as he now knew the identity of the third group that was following him, since the mime was definitely with the Circus Du Lessal.

"Yeah... you are right. Anyways. They were able to spread their renown by teaching all of their members to think on their feet and how to grow an organization from nothing. They are like a set of weeds. Even when you pull all of them out they just seem to come back out of nowhere. Which is how they spread so far." Pliro explained in annoyance. "Anyways, was there a particular reason why you agreed to my sister’s request?"

"Entertainment." Jace answered with a shrug as he sat down and a waiter came over.

"Hello sirs and sir’s horse." The man bowed slightly and the Colonel neighed in response. Surprising the man. "Umm... is there anything I can get for you to drink while you are waiting." The waiter asked as he set down a pair of menus in front of them.

"Waters for all three of us." Jace answered as the Colonel comically looked over Jace’s shoulder at the menu in front of him.

"Very well." The waiter bowed and then left.

Jace went to pick up the menu but sighed and leaned back in his seat as he saw someone approach out of the corner of his eye. "May I join you?" The man requested with a strained smile.

Pliro seemed completely caught off guard. But Jace just pointed at an empty chair at a nearby table. "You will have to grab your own seat. I hope you do not mind." Jace informed him.

"I do not." The man answered as he pulled a chair over and sat on the side of both of them. Pliro still looked wary of the man but Jace just looked back at the menu. "My bosses are in a complete tizzy with how to handle you and your people."

"Good. They would not be doing their jobs if they were not causing you problems. Now what do you want...?" Jace left the question open for the man to insert his name.

The man bowed his head slightly as he introduced himself. "Imperial Investigator Edward Sherlock at your service."