[h2][center]Geralt of Rivia[/center][/h2]
[center]Midgar- Sector 8, Detroit [/center]
[center]Lvl 9 (165/90) -> Lvl 9 (167/90) [/center]
[center]Word Count: 796 words[/center]
Benedict's [@Dark Cloud] and Giovanna's [@Lugubrious]

Zenkichi put his hands up after Benedict mentioned arresting him, [color=BFBFBF]"Woah, woah, there, Benny, nobody said anything about any arrests!"[/color] but otherwise let the man continue speaking, narrowing his eyes. So Benedict needed help? Must be quite the pickle he'd found himself in if he needed...this kind of help. Not just backup from another Lieutenant, but a rogue Special Operations agent, a few robots, and this big scary-looking dude with two swords. Why two, though? Zenkichi found his eyes lingering on Geralt a moment longer than the others, confusion not quite showing through, but moved on when the Witcher raised an eyebrow. 

What Benedict said about the city being corrupted from within almost, [i]almost[/i] made Zenkichi roll his eyes. Was...was Benedict not aware of-no, no he wouldn't be. Zenkichi been one of the unlucky few to come face-to-face with that ugly side of Midgar's government and not only keep his life, but his job. It could be confusing to parse who was in on the darkness that lurked behind that door, who knew but kept their head down, and who was blissfully unaware. Was Benedict finally coming to realize that a group of otherwise-loyal Special Operatives wouldn't up and quit just because leadership changed hands? Or had he found yet another conspiracy? 

Giovanna's blatant reaction to Benedict's forthright honesty made Zenkichi smirk a bit. It was nice to know that his co-worker trusted him so much, though he had to agree with Giovanna's frustration. What if he was in on it? What if Zenkichi summoned Valjean right on top of them, dropped a Megido, and started carving through them while his G-Men transformed? Opsec was vital when you were dealing with corruption, and while Zenkichi knew Benedict enough to know he wasn't in on the dark dealings that happened behind closed doors, they couldn't risk him blabbing to somebody who did. 

They both ignored Giovanna's attempts to get Zenkichi to leave, but she gave up quite a bit of information in doing so. It only took a moment to put the pieces together. So [i]they'd[/i] been the ones who cozied up to Khamsin and dealt with the thugs trying to attack the construction site? By all means, it sounded like Khamsin was the one who did most of the damage, especially killing the G-Man, but he couldn't ignore that. It seemed Giovanna wasn't much better than Benedict in that regard, though she clearly [i]thought[/i] she was. 

[color=BFBFBF]"So you're the ones who killed Manananggal?"[/color] Zenkichi coldly interrupted, hands coming down on the table. [color=BFBFBF]"Surely an agent of your caliber realizes that assaulting Public Security agents is a serious offense?"[/color] He was lying through his teeth that he'd believed that, but to be frank, transferring his frustration at Khamsin onto the idiots who'd tried to befriend the lunatic wasn't difficult. The emotion was very real. Geralt's hackles raised, and his hand subtly drifted to his crossbow, ready for a fight.

After a moment however, the cold facade fell, and Zenkichi pushed off the table, standing up mostly straight. [color=BFBFBF]"I'm sorry to hear you're retiring, Lieutenant Pascal. Public Security will be lesser without you there. As a professional courtesy, let me give you and your new friends some advice: Don't talk so much. Now, I have an investigation to run, so if you wouldn't mind, I need to get going. If you need help, you know how to get in touch."[/color] Stepping away from the table of Seekers, he shook his head, looking up to the sky with a long-suffering sigh. [color=BFBFBF]"Always so complicated."[/color] He half-muttered, walking out with his hands in his pockets.

"What just happened?" Geralt wondered as the door closed behind Zenkichi, blinking a few times. "Should we trust him?" The Witcher asked, turning to Benedict. 

Outside the restaurant, Zenkichi and his G-Men spread out after a quick chat, each heading in seemingly different directions, but none actually letting the restaurant out of their sight. The civilians in the plaza, realizing what was about to happen, slowly but assuredly made their way out of the area to avoid the coming trouble. 

Zenkichi himself was in the laziest possible hiding spot, just on the other side of the large statue, staring at his phone. [color=BFBFBF]"What do you know, Pascal...?"[/color] He muttered, shaking his head. He knew he could trust the man, but those friends of his were trouble. Whether they'd be trouble for him, for Public Security, for Midgar...or, he hoped, for Midgar's enemies...he didn't know. 

Akane would never be safe here. Not unless he kept his head down and waited for the right moment. Benedict and his new allies might be that moment, or they might get them killed, and he had to know which it was.