Handler XX: Stock Maestro

He stepped out of his car, looking around.

"Mission complete..." Ave cut in,

"Retroe— Buy, 8am. +5 Intelligence"

Damn...

Bonus rewards?

He closed his eyes as more memories unlocked— things he'd never thought to remember. All details.

Nice.

His eyes scanned the people walking around.

No reporters for such a high end event?

"Sir..." The valet bowed, stretching for the key.

"Thank you" he smiled, passing the key.

What a grand place.

With the long history and everything online, just the building should cost a fortune.

He balanced his mask— a Lion mask. For some reason, Xander said it was the perfect mask.

The entrance was quite as people walked in after being pat down.

Such a high class place.

"Hey"

someone yanked him into a corner as he walked in.

"Wh---" he pulled his arms back sharply, staggering towards the person.

Yvaine.

"That was shocking" he composed himself, scanning the guards that stood besides her.

"Apologies" she chuckled, turning around towards the stairs behind her,

"We're going up there" she pointed upwards to a private spot, walking off.

"You don't have to worry about reporters— I've placed a ban on them for the night" she mused

Woah...

No wonder they're not here.

Was this a way to flex her power to him too?

Not bad.

He glanced at the guards as he followed behind her— the masks on the face covered it, but they were definitely foreigners.

"Why invite me to such a grand place?" He asked, turning to her.

"Motivation" she chuckled,

"We've got to recruit you with the right motivation"

This was motivation? He looked around.

The singers were getting started on their part.

Just the tone of their practice was beautiful.

"And the leader expects greatness from you— you're a bright light we can't just leave to fade off"

This talk about bright light again.

"The tier stuff... How does it work?"

Was it just a big shift in power?

"You..." One of the guards growled at him

"It's okay..." She mused, turning to them as she got off the stairs.

"He's just curious about Lord Sirius' divine light..." She smiled, grabbing the necklace she wore.

Another piece, just like the ring.

"Isn't that right?"

"Yes..." He forced a smile glancing at the guards.

The displeased guard's anger could be seen from his eyes and the shape of his mouth— full blown expression.

The other had no expression— not on his eyes either. Just plain.

An opposite pair.

She stretched her hand towards him as he reached her.

The seats just there... He looked at her hand confused but forced a smile regardless.

"My pleasure" he bowed slightly, taking her hand.

There's a level to self esteem and there's knowing that you're facing a dangerous person.

She was dangerous.

Young, pretty, definitely smart, but equally dangerous.

She hummed, swinging their hands as they walked to the seats.

"Thank you..." She mused, sitting.

There were only two seats so it meant the guards would watch them.

Not that he cared.

"Pardon me..." he cleared his throat as he sat down,

"What's the name of this great group?"

"Not yet..." She whistled, slowly.

"We're not done with our little talk. See... The singers are just getting started too"

Why hide the name so closely if they were going to recruit him?

What happens in the case that he doesn't join them?

Cold creeped through his spine as he thought this.

Of course I know the answer.

Death.

Or something worse.

They looked like a bunch that stands on business.

"Do you know..." She turned to him, snapping his thoughts back,

"This opera house used to be a meeting spot for very, very great men of our group?"

How'd I know that?

He just smiled, shaking his head in false surprise.

"Entertainment. Sports. Technology. Politics. Every major sectors— people in the highest points you can think of"

Did that include the Emperor?

"Now tell me..." She laughed softly, picking the glass on the table besides her.

One of the guards rushed forward and filled her glass immediately.

He shook his head as the offered him the wine too.

"It's good wine" she took a sip, savoring the taste.

Let's just get this over with.

What an unusual situation for such a heavenly tone.

"What happens if I pay the $1 billion?"

She glanced at him, chugging all the wine in the glass before answering.

"You get a seat at the high table"

"What happens after" he leaned forward.

"First..." She leaned her back to the chair.

"There's less than a handful on the high table— heads of families in various sectors that run the world"

She paused, closing her eyes for a second as if she had a sudden enlightenment.

"There's a ton of power that comes with being there" she continued,

"Stopping the media would be a piece of cake"

"What about the responsibilities?" He asked with a sigh.

"We are a mutual organization— you just have to share enough to double the living of our members, yearly"

Hmmm...

Just double, huh?

Well, they've got to have a shit ton of wealth already.

"What about the lower table? Do I have to---"

"No..." She scoffed, "Those are not your problem when you sit at the high table"

What a sharp discrimination.

Those?

"Morlov... Is he a member of the high table?"

She burst into laughter immediately, covering her mouth with a piece of clothing.

"Mr. Morlov isn't— he was sponsored into his position 19 years ago— that's why he's still running around pulling stunts"

"Sponsored?"

If it's 19 years ago...

After he'd signed Marie up as a lamb to the program?

Did that also help him?

I hadn't really looked into his background.

"It took a while to see his potential bloom" she glanced at him, scanning his face.

"A high table member vouched for him and helped to pay his first amount"

What?

Morlov didn't even have the amount?

"Was he in that kind of situation?" He muttered to himself.

"He'd taken over the Morlov Family— jacks of trades, and on the brink of bankruptcy..." She snickered,

"A family he raised back with life insurances" she let out a low, dry, evil laugh.

Wait...

"Pretty smart of him— diabolical Morlov built his family with blood"

Holy shit...

He killed his own family for insurance to build the same family?

That's... Evil.

"You should thread well..." She chuckled, tilting her head as she looked at him,

"How do I meet you again?" He exhaled, leaning his back against the chair.

"You'll meet me as many times as you want if you take the offer" she chuckled, stretching her glass for a refill.

"Once if you decide otherwise"

The tone of her voice was already confirmation. That once meeting if he decided otherwise would definitely not end well.

"Tomorrow— how do I meet you?"

The bodyguard standing next to him stepped forward immediately and handed him a card.

"Call that if you're ready" she mused,

"It works only once"

He turned to her, scanning the card— black scratch card with a single start at the middle.

"Alright..."

She chuckled, standing up and walked towards the rails.

"That'd be all" she said, clapping loudly twice, enough to cut through the tone of the music.

Why'd she---

He gasped, standing up to look, as he heard the screeching fo chairs.

Every single person in the opera house stood up and we're walking out in an orderly manner.

The singers continued as if nothing was happening.

He gulped as he turned to her.

What sort of power...?

"Enjoy the music" she chuckled, turning away to leave.

"May Sirius guide your path"

He sat back down, confused about what just happened.

She'd emptied the place... With a few words and 2 claps.

Damn.

His heart raced faster in excitement.

That's some serious level of power.

He glanced at the bottle and shook his head.

Not now.

By the time he'd walked out, there was nobody, no car on sight.

The valet drove his car, stepped out and quietly handed his key.

No words.

_____

He sat in his car for more than ten minutes, replaying everything just as it happened countless times.

The excitement and superiority on her face as she gave the command.

The order the people filed out as she commanded.

That was honestly so awesome.

The thought that he'd be able to do that.

To explore as far as the power would reach.

The program?

Politics?

Business?

Fuck...

He picked his phone immediately and dialed Isak.

He huffed as the call didn't connect on the first dial.

Will he be asleep right now?

Again...

He blinked as Isak picked immediately this time,

"Hello, Trent..."

"Hello, Isak... I've got a question"

"... Alright"

"The 100 million. I want a new account created without affiliations to me. Confidential account that nobody can see. Is that possible?"

Isak stayed quiet for a while.

It was a weird ask but---

"Yeah. With your tier, we could create another account for your secret trades. You want the 100 million deposited there? We were thinking of---"

"Yes. I want it deposited there, thank you"

Isak paused for a second.

"Alright..."

"I'm not asking this for free" he chuckled, turning the car on,

"Use nothing more than 10 million, you understand?"

"Yes" Isak responded immediately, excited.

"You can pay me the 100 million publicly from this"

"Definitely— I'll sort it out"

"Set the other account up and send the details in the next hour and I'll give you the gift"

"Leave it to me" Isak replied sharply, hanging up.

Time to work for a seat at the high table.