[Mercy Merchant]

Sunday  10 June 2075  0130  Sing's Club  Seattle Chinatown Barrens


Li Ming seems to have a good bit of knowledge of the slaver contacts that provided Sing with his actresses and actors.  She was seriously considering leaving Sing for a man named Qui Jin, who is the man Sing and Ping used to market their porn films.  She has been carrying on an affair with Ping's cameraman for about two years and Sing's bartender for the same time.  Some of her most pleasant memories were of her and her daughter with both men together.  Li Vang is just getting into the industry and actually enjoys fucking in front of the camera.  She is undoubtedly the prettiest and sexiest of the actresses in your stable.  She has fucked her way through just about every employee here, but thinks her mother is a has been in the sex department.

[VegasRigged]

"Li Veng, you are to remain on stage, demonstrate to Li Sheng that you are a valuable asset and she may give you a raise. Li Ming, your husband is dead so leaving him is no longer an issue. Go to Qui Jin and learn all you can about his business. Take notes on a burner and send them to another burner which Li Sheng will arrange to have picked up. I don't suspect we will have reason to move against Mr Jin, so enjoy yourself and don't worry."

I turn to Li Sheng "Is there anything else?"

[Mercy Merchant]

Li Vang almost purrs and looks at Li Sheng with undisguised interest.  Li Ming is far more affected by you reading her mind than her daughter is, but she nods without saying a word.  After both are escorted from the office, Li Sheng turns to you.  "You have given me much to do, Mistress.  I will not let you down.  There is the matter of Lan Bao, the cameraman you asked to see.  He is here now.  Would you like to see him?"

[VegasRigged]

I take a little extra time to conduct his interview, searching specifically for anything Sing might have entrusted to his spy and no other.

When the interview is complete I will speak to Li Sheng alone in her new office, after requesting tha Sylvia sweep the room for bugs.

"Tell me Li Sheng, the day has been eventful, how are feeling?"

[Mercy Merchant]

The cameraman cannot add much that you do not already know or suspect.  He has had sex with just about every actress Ping and Sing have, including Sing's wife and daughter, with the exception of Li Sheng.  He lusted after her but Ping had kept her for himself, often fucking her in front of the cameraman for him to film private movies for Ping.  Lan Bao had felt that Sing trusted him, but went behind his back to have sex with his wife, who took some seducing, and his daughter, who did not need much seducing at all.  In effect, the man knows very little and is only a so so cameraman.  He would very much like to film himself having sex with you.  Apparently his favorite position is to bend the girl across a table and use a small whip on her and he is imagining you in that position.

Li Sheng does not answer you right away, but takes some time to consider her response.  "It has been very eventful, Mistress.  I would never have thought this was going to happen.  I will do everything to not let you down."

[VegasRigged]

I inform Lan Bao that he is to strike himself every time he has a lewd thought about myself or Li Sheng and I will be around to read his mind again in a week to confirm that he has obeyed me.

To Li Sheng "As you have said, you appear very invested in not letting me down and that is good. I wonder though, what would it take not to let yourself down?"

[Mercy Merchant]

Li Sheng looks at you with a shrewd eye.  "That is a difficult question, Mistress.  I am ambitious.  I chaffed under Ping, both literally and figuratively.  He was a pig and I frequently dreamt of what I would do if I had his position and authority.  I think I would have stopped short of killing Sing, too.  At least so soon.  But that would certainly have been in the future.  Now I have influence and power and intend to use it wisely.  I think my new intermediate goal is to gain enough trust that you do not need to invade my mind to know the truth of what I say and feel.  I am impressed by your drive and goals and your ruthless efficiency.  Your magic is being felt in the immediate area and will ripple through the neighborhood.  Will you be here to see the effect and maintain control?"

[VegasRigged]

I take the seat across the desk from her, reclining in a cracked fo leather armchair. "You would have misjudged to give Sing an inch. I took him quickly because Ping was his rival, and to shit on what was once his rivals would have been second best to killing said rival.  Your hesitation would have cost you everything. Now your position is secure enough that I may leave and expect the walls to remain in my absence.

"That you seek to gain my trust is admirable, and that you wish to keep your own mind speaks of a will you will need moving forward. Make no mistake, sooner or later you and I will share thoughts directly, but I see no cause for it to be tonight. Tell me, if twenty gangers walked into this place now, what would you do?"

[Mercy Merchant]

Li Sheng does not hesitate.  "In truth, I do not think I would have time to do anything if they came in now.  Your unholy demon guardian would kill them almost before I could make a decision.  And what he does not kill, the demon Sian would.  You could not have stronger allies, Mistress.  But I rather imagine that you are more interested in knowing what I might do if this happened and you were not here.  To be honest, I do not know, but I have to face the fact that it could happen as you say.  I do not yet have enough control to ensure the loyalty of those here that are armed and I would think that most would abandon me in the face of such a threat.  I could take the money from the safe and hide until I can strike from the shadows against your enemies and regain all I had lost, and then some.  This sort of business is fluid, depending on little more than a place to film and people willing to act fuck in front of the cameras.  I could build this business from the ground up if I needed to."

[VegasRigged]

 My tone is cold, homest and devoid of compassion "That would qualify as failure."

For a moment I let this statement sink in then continue with a little ore life in my voice "We aren't just making pornography here. We are creating a reputation. If twenty armed gangers walk in the front door I expect you to stand before them and be cool and in control as if a thousand demons stood at your back, ready to kill for you. What I have done will have ripples, and people will know who your friends are. They will know that you deal with higher powers and if you can convince them simply by your manner that those powers are in the room then none will strike against you.

"You see, I chose you because you are smart. I chose you because you have ambition. But I als chose you because you are an actor, and when the fury of a thousand worlds depends upon your door you must be utterly without fear. You have said more then once that you will not dissapoint me, so tell me you will do as I command."

[Mercy Merchant]

Li Sheng looks down at the table then back up at you.  "I am ashamed to have already failed you, Mistress.  It will not happen again.  I will do as you command."

[VegasRigged]

I stand up and check the time before responding "Convince me. I chose you  because you are smart. I chose you because you have ambition. I will keep you because you are willing to learn. Now, Madam Sheng, convince me that I made the right choice. I will return in a few days. I expect to find fifteen potential soldiers ready to be interviewed, an improved deal with our distributors and a positive work environment. Good evening."

and I go to find Sylvia.

[Mercy Merchant]

Sylvia has been waiting patiently in the main room of the bar, which is quite busy now.  She nods as you motion to her and comes to stand near you.  "You sure know how to show a girl a good time.  How much longer are we staying here?"

[VegasRigged]

"No longer. Lets go." And I make for the door and head out towards the edge of he barrens casting a detect enemies spell as I leave, and again when I've made it half way.

[Mercy Merchant]

Your initial spell detects two enemies, one on each side of the street ahead of you.  They do not make any overt approach, but their intent is decidedly unfriendly.