Taking a few deep breaths, James fixed his appearance and took out his phone. Calling the number Xavier gave him, he heard the man's calm, flat voice on the other side. "Quicker than I expected."
"Just tell me what's important about this place," James said with obvious animosity. Slamming on the pedal, his wheels spun for a second before he shot off, forcing the person driving along to slam on the brakes.
"I don't understand what I have done for you not to like me. It is always helpful to have friends, and I can be yours." James clicked his tongue.
"You run a terrorist organisation," James said coldly, spinning the wheel to overtake the car ahead. Xavier chuckled and sighed.
"Sure, New Horizon has some overzealous believers, but to blame me and the faith for them is quite unfair. I don't control how every man thinks and acts. By your logic, I should call NPPD and NPSD the largest criminal organisation in Newport. I mean, let alone the Lord, I know what your comrades get up to." James couldn't help but stay silent. Xavier laughed on the other end of the phone.
"But I'm not here to debate these things. You want to know what's there?" James waited for a second before Xavier spoke again, "Truthfully, I don't know, I just know it's where my thing is being taken." James's fists curled around the steering wheel, hearing the calm tone Xavier spoke with, unsure if he was lying or telling the truth. Taking a deep breath, he hung up and called the captain.
"I'm heading to Unit 13 in the Warehouse District." Hanging up, James turned the radio on and slowed down, realising he needed to relax. As the radio crackled for a second, he took in the sights of Newport. The fluorescent and neon glow that was ever-present mixed with the never-ending downpour. Advertisements littered the walls of skyscrapers as people walked the streets unbothered by the rain.
It was obvious to James, who was a native of the city, and who wasn't. Those who had grown up never seeing a clear sky didn't bother about the rain, casually strolling through it, whereas the tourists pulled their coats over their heads and ran, trying to find some cover.
"...ay we have mayoral candidate Hopkins with us to discuss the issues Newport faces." James turned the radio up, refocusing. Looking at a passing bus stop, he saw a picture of said candidate. He was a handsome man with a sharp jaw and blonde hair. Despite all that, it wasn't what stood out the most about him—his eyes, a rare green that looked like gems mined out of the ground.
"Thank you, Kate, and please, Samuel is fine." The man cleared his throat and spoke again, "Newport is infested, Kate, with a parasite. And that parasite is corruption. At every level, we see it from the officer who stands on the street corner to the bankers in their penthouse. It will surprise you as I have never told anyone, but I have been approached by numerous people, who shall remain unnamed, to push their agenda or turn a blind eye to certain things."
James frowned, his eyes narrowing. He didn't doubt Samuel's words, but he couldn't help but get a weird feeling about him. He had always been told that this time someone different from the rest would come to power and break the current system, but James felt otherwise. Part of it was that he was too good a person. Anyone who grew up in Newport had to harden themselves a little, but part of it was his gut feeling. A primal feeling that what he was being shown was a complete lie. It was a strange feeling and something he had been ridiculed for many times.
"Well..." Kate's words trailed as she chuckled to ease her tension, "Is it safe to say something like this on the air, Samuel. I mean, many would hate if you found yourself in danger because of it."
"These things are an open secret. Besides, why do you think I didn't say any names?"
"Then let's keep it that way." The two shared a small laugh before Kate carried on, "Now you have made many promises about dealing with corruption, but you have only ever shared a glimpse of what this entails. I hope today I will be lucky enough to be told the entire truth."
Samuel stayed silent, thinking over it. "First." He spoke, "It stems from a lack of action taken against the criminal elements in our city. Drug trafficking, fraud, murder, and anything else. These things have persisted too long. And I think this is an issue that starts at the bottom level. Our police force is underpaid. They are incentivised to work with these criminals"
Jame stopped himself from turning the radio off. "I have never hidden the wealth I was born into, and I plan to mobilise it to better this city. I will see that our brave police officers are paid what they deserve, and in return, I hope they focus on their primary duty, the safety of our city. Now, some will stay in the pockets of these criminals, I have no doubt. That's why I plan to request support from neighbouring cities to help clean up..."
James turned the radio off. It was one thing to pay his people more, but to get outside help. He couldn't help but despise the idea. It was their city, a place where they grew up. Newport wasn't like other cities. Outside help wouldn't understand it.
Speeding up, James turned his siren on and cut his way through traffic, arriving at the warehouse district in three minutes. Parking a distant away, he made his way to Unit 13 and looked at the old building, focusing his ability on his ears to hear inside, but hearing nothing, he sighed in relief and checked around. Every entrance was locked, and not wishing to leave any sign of forced entry, he found some nearby scaffolding on Unit 12 and climbed up to the roof.
Testing how wet it was, he found it stable enough and moved back. Pulling his knife out, he ran across and jumped onto the roof of Unit 13, nearly slipping off, stabbing his knife into the steel roof to hold on. With a deep breath, he stood back up and made his way to one of the vents on the ceiling and kicked it out, peeking in and seeing a nearby catwalk he could drop onto. Dropping down, he groaned in pain but pushed it aside and found somewhere to hide, patiently waiting.
His phone rang as soon as he was comfortable, and looking at the number, he saw Xavier calling him. "What?" Answering, he spoke with a cold tone.
"I see you have made it in the building." James squinted, wondering how he knew, making Xavier chuckle, "I already know what you're thinking. Did you think the title they call me in New Horizon was for show? Anyway, just a heads up, I can't see what's going to happen going forward. Be careful." Xavier hung up, leaving James in silence once more.
Resisting the urge to light a cigarette, James made himself comfortable and watched the entrance. Ten minutes passed, and James heard a car approaching. Lowering himself, he hid behind the railing and watched through the crack, not daring to breathe too loudly. The locks on the door opened, and the woman and man he saw on the footage strolled through silently, holding the briefcase.
James resisted the urge to look at them with his ability, knowing some people could sense it, and watched as the woman took a seat on a nearby crate. Another minute passed, and he heard a second car arriving. Watching the entrance, his pupil dilated. The rhythmic sound of a cane echoed through the entire warehouse as a well-groomed man walked.
His freshly pressed suit sat underneath his grey beard, his combed grey hair hidden beneath a top hat. James gulped, staring at the man. 'The Gentleman. What the fuck have you got me into, Xavier?' There was only one man who could be called The Gentlemen, the man who headed the Gentleman Society. No one knew the man's real name; he always gave a different one when asked. 'I knew he wanted the thing, but to come himself to get it.'
On instinct, he nearly activated his eyes but stopped when his body screamed at him not to. A warning that if he did a fate worse then death would follow. "Alannah." The Gentleman spoke as if he were talking to an old friend. Throwing his cane in the air and catching it, he lowered his head and rested his hand on his chest before taking her hand and kissing it. "It has been too long."
Beside him, two other suited men followed as guards, both wearing fine suits but not as good as The Gentleman's own. "I am glad to see you're still so lively." Alannah said with a happy tone, "It has been too long."
"And yet you are as beautiful as ever." Alannah rolled her eyes and held up the briefcase.
"We got it." There was an excitement in her voice, "He is going to be very happy about this."
The Gentleman smiled and looked around, "He will be. But this isn't the best place to talk." The old man's gaze followed the catwalk, stopping on James. With a polite smile, he waved towards him, "We have an uninvited guest. Have you gotten sloppy, Alannah?"
Alannah spun and reached for her glove, but was stopped as a cane fell on her arm. "He is not important, and we mustn't delay. You three, deal with him." Walking out without a care in the world, the two left the warehouse. James rose and looked at the three on the lower level, reaching for his pistol.
Activating his eyes, he also focused some of his aura on his ears and stayed still, listening to the conversation as the two stepped outside.
"I can only assume Xavier sent him. Only he would know where we were meeting." James finally heard Alannah say with annoyance. The Gentleman groaned at the mention of Xavier's name.
"I was surprised he didn't send more." He paused, "He is listening still. No more until we are gone." James gulped and quickly stopped listening, focusing on the three. Each one glowed with a different colour, yellow, blue and white, inside all of them a purple light that looked like it was eating away at their aura, like it was corrupted.