Page 90 of The Dragon 2
The guests had all been seated, their whispers dissolving into anticipation.
The lights dimmed, and a hush fell across the gilded opera house.
The curtain rose.
The overture ofThe Phantom of the Operabegan with a deep, ominous rumble from the organ—a haunting, thunderous note that bloomed into strings trembling. The chandeliers above the stage glinted as the opera's world unfolded: firelight flickering, dancers in powdered wigs and masks.
Jean-Pierre watched it all with amusement. "Why did youtrulycome to Paris, Kenji?"
I put my gaze on the prima donna gliding onto the stage. Her gown was midnight black, bodice tightly corseted. She opened her mouth and let loose a note that shattered something delicate in my bones.
I glanced at him. "I would like to buy weapons from you."
Jean-Pierre turned his head slightly. "How many?"
"Three plane-loads, if possible."
"That's a lot of firepower."
"I'm in need."
He put his view back on the stage. "Yet I've been told that the Japanese have the best weapons."
"Ahhh. My dear father was the one who told you that, I imagine."
"Indeed, the Fox said that the Yakuza armories could supply five wars."
"He wasn’t wrong. But sometimes, to mislead your enemies, you must wield aforeignblade."
Jean-Pierre's gaze sharpened, the corners of his mouth lifting with interest. "French weapons for Japanese problems?"
"No one would know they were French."
He chuckled. "We have red roses carved into the butt of our guns. Certain people would know."
"Those people would be dead before they could tell the tale."
The soprano hit a high note, pure and piercing.
Below, the Phantom's shadow crept into view, half-masked, half-mad. His hand extended toward the singer like he wanted to pull her voice from her throat and keep it as his own.
Jean-Pierre watched.
Minutes passed in silence.
Then, I spoke again. "This weapons deal would not just be business. It would be a gesture of friendship between us."
Jean-Pierre didn't turn to look at me. He watched the stage as though trying to read a message from the dead. "And how deep would that friendship be, Dragon?"
"As deep as your loyalty to this deal, Butcher."
“I would need your assistance with a very big cat.”
“It just so happens to be that trapping big cats is a hobby of mine.”
He smirked. “I give you weapons. You handle your problem, and then you assist me with ourmutualproblem.”
“Once my problem is solved, I will assist you.”
