"No, you can't be serious." James stared at Xavier, who shrugged.
"There were many failures before me. Obviously, the world isn't so easy to manipulate." Seeing James' eyes narrowing, Xavier sighed in disbelief, "They didn't kill children to produce me. It just means they weren't born with the ability they wanted. What happened after, well, I was a baby, I couldn't tell you."
James sighed and nodded, "So all these terrorist attacks in the name of New Horizon..."
"When I say overzealous believers, I mean it. As I already explained, human actions create abilities. Some believe that life is suffering and, therefore, a God who comes into being must be a cruel one. Therefore, they bomb, butcher, you name it, whoever they can to create this."
James sighed and nodded, but feeling the conversation was getting off the rails, redirected it to the board, "We know the Gentleman has your thing. This guy, by your own admission, did good work. I need to know what you lost now, or I can't go further. You know this, I know this."
Xavier nodded and took a sip of wine, "I need something first." James nearly lunged across the table to grab Xavier at how shameless he was. If a gaze could kill, Xavier would have died many times, and seeing his eyes, the man laughed, "Don't be like that. I know you want to solve this. You can't rest if you don't. I mean, why would you keep coming back if you didn't?"
James stayed silent, wanting to counter, but he knew he was right. Xavier took a deep breath and smiled, "A certain someone needs to go. Once again, I could solve it, but it means war in the city. Can you help me?"
James took a deep breath and downed the rest of his wine, "Who?"
Xavier smiled and reached into his breast pocket, pulling out a picture of a man. He was a handsome man who radiated charm even through the picture, his curly hair resting just above his brown eyes. "He's a brothel owner in Maryland, on Bond Street. The establishment is called Secret Desire. A terrible person, really. I'm sure he's in your system if you don't believe me. Check yourself. Names Charles Lazard."
Jams took the picture with a name and address on the back and frowned, "I'm not an executioner of your will, Xavier."
"Don't be like that. We're friends, aren't we?" Xavier leaned on his hand and smiled, "Or are we not?"
"Fuck you."
"Then get out," Xavier said, watching as James stayed still. "Oh, not moving, are we. Does this mean that much to you? What is it, I wonder? Why are you so adamant about this case? How many principles have you betrayed already? What's one more?" Xavier fired the questions like a machine gun. Each one was like a sucker punch to James, who already knew he was breaking everything he held dear by sitting in front of Xavier, and even though it was the devil's manipulations, he couldn't help but want to lean on it.
The chance, the single chance he had been waiting for to prove he was right about Hopkins, was staring at him. Without Xavier, maybe he could find what he wanted, but how long would it take? Ten years, twenty. It was something he knew he should let die; maybe he could return to everyday life, but if he did, he was sure he would die knowing he let that chance slip away. Even if he was proven wrong, it was enough for him, but living in ignorance, when he had a chance, not to. James couldn't think of anything worse.
Grinding his teeth, he reached over with a shaky hand and took the picture. "I'll think on it." Xavier smiled as he poured James another glass.
Lifting his own, he sincerely smiled, "To a long and fruitful partnership, dear Detective." James didn't drink and watched as Xavier drank the rest of the contents of his own glass.
-----------------
The Gentleman casually strolled into a large dining hall and saw a friendly face sitting in silence, eating dinner. Seeing him walk in, the black jogger stood up and walked over with a happy smile and took Lucas in for a hug, "My friend. Brilliant work."
Lucas, without dropping his gentleman persona, elegantly took Cain in his embrace and smiled, "How have we been? Putting on weight?" Cain heartily laughed and stepped back.
"Still making jokes, I guess you are young at heart." Lucas flashed a smile and sat down, picking up his cutlery with grace.
Not making a sound, he cut a bite of meat and slipped it into his mouth. Not letting how much he liked it show on his face, he spoke to himself. "I must give my compliments to the chief. He has outdone himself today." Looking around, he couldn't help but be puzzled, "Where is Magnus?"
"Hello, Lucas." A childlike voice called out before Lucas, and, appearing out of thin air, the young magician materialised. His Sapphire eyes shone with pride as he held his oversized witch hat. "Are you getting rusty?" He was easily the youngest in the room, his soft features showing he had yet to reach twenty.
"When did you put me under your spell?" Indulging Magnus, he said playfully, taking another bite of meat, "When I walked in?" Lucas theorised before shaking his head, "No, you did it outside. Did you play this trick on Cain as well?"
Magnus put his finger over his lip and giggled, "A magician never reveals."
"Of course." Looking at the many empty places and head seat, Lucas frowned, "Are the others not joining us?"
"Just us three today. Oh well." Cain replied. Lucas took another bite of food before swopping up the glass of port next to him and sipping in one elegant movement,
"Did you deal with that problem, Magnus?" Asking the young boy, he carried on eating.
Magnus showed a sad look and nodded, "I don't like doing that. Next time, have Cain solve it."
"Child, we all must do what we can for our goals. I'm sorry for testing you, but you had yet to prove yourself as one of us. But don't be disheartened, you're getting a reward." Magnus poked around at the plate, without saying anything, separating the food he liked and didn't like. His mood picked up instantly as he looked at the two.
"But it did let me learn something new." Looking to the sky, he couldn't help but say with longing, "I think I'm closer to the greatest trick of them all."
"In due time." Lucas turned to Cain, seeing that he wanted to speak.
"How many more pieces do we need?" Cain's tone was stern as he asked, popping a potato in his mouth afterwards.
"I don't know. He will let us know, but off the top of my head, two more, I believe." Lucas let out a sigh, "But Xavier is moving now. We knew it would happen. Although he doesn't seem to want to start a war yet, I think it's only a matter of time."
"You sound worried, Lucas. That is not like you?"
Rolling his eyes, Lucas wiped his mouth with a napkin, "War is bad for business, and Xavier has the resources to keep one running." Thinking back ot the Warehouse, he frowned, "And as with the guy Magnus dealt with, I think we have a new rat poking around."
"Then deal with it." Cain said without care, "It shouldn't be hard." Seeing Lucas' frown deepen and sensing a chance, Cain leapt on the opportunity to tease his friend, "And how is business in Maryland? Still troubled by the Chicken?"
"Don't start that topic, Cain. That zombie keeps coming. I honestly don't know how to deal with him. Luckily, it's only one man."
"If you need help." Cain held up his hand, making a money symbol.
"Let me work on it first. But maybe you could sort out this new rat. This isn't business but something that affects us all." Cain's playful mocking dropped as he nodded.
"Find out what you can. I'll sort it out." With a thankful nod, the three carried on their meal in silence, occasionally bringing up new topics that had happened around the city.