Chapter 50.1- And so the Dragons Danced

SPARKY SPARKY BOOM MAN

“What do you want?” His assistant growled at the man that had barged into his tavern of all places seeking an assassin. The fool stuck out like a sore thumb with his silk robes and his high handed sneer. The sneer that reminded Baki of the men that had hurt him— made him into this abomination of flesh and metal, unable to speak, and barely even able to breathe without extreme pain.

“I am told that your man can eliminate anyone for the right price” The fool even went ahead to speak about an assassination in the open air of the bar. Thankfully, the patrons were well trained enough to pretend they heard nothing, and so Baki returned to polishing the glass while listening in.

“Depends on who you are looking for and how much you can offer for it” Mako was being careless, he realised. This could be anyone. Definitely not one of the City Watch, those ones were too busy trying to keep their heads down while the new Fire Lord tore through their ranks to do anything as silly as a sting operation against him of all people.

“Natsu Wu. I want him dead, and for that I will offer a million gold pieces.” The silence in the bar shifted. Where before it had been cold and flat, now there was something tense and warm about it. Something charged. Something anticipatory. A million gold pieces was enough money for a dozen men to live like kings and never run out till they died. This had to be someone important indeed. Baki slammed his metal arm against the table, in the signal that these men would understand. One by one, they left the store. Some grumbling, others too stubborn to move until he turned his gaze upon them.

At least he wasn’t going to be sending anyone to the hospital today.

When the bar emptied, he turned to Mako and grunted.

“The boss wants to know why you want the Fire Lord dead”

“He’s the boss? Him?” The stuffy noble said. Had to be a nobleman with those clothes, that voice, and that kind of money to toss about. He grunted again to convey his impatience.

“Not important. He wants you to answer.”

“The why is not important. And if he gets it done, I’m willing to make the both of you very rich men. Probably the richest men of your birth in the whole Fire Nation.” Mako definitely liked the sound of that, but Baki knew about sweet talking nobles and their tricks. He grunted again. Mako snapped his head to him in shock, and he grunted again. Get on with it.

“He says if you don’t answer, he’s not interested” Mako conveyed his message, and the man flushed. He flushed from his forehead down to the neck of his fancy robes, and definitely further down than that. How much further? Baki wasn’t much interested in finding out. The snobbish noble was clearly used to getting his way, and while he was tossing around a lot of money, Baki had him made.