It is to be expected. [That they would work harder to clean up in here than out on the street, that is. It's a mafia town--honestly, even during peacetime, people would be unlikely to bat an eyelash at some blood spatter in an alleyway around here.
He moves further into the building, eyes roaming over the floor and the walls.] Search carefully. It is not unlikely that they missed something.
[ Something to point to the culprit, something glaring, something obvious so they can just go after them already. She wants to know more than anything—who and why.
Her eyes are peeled, and she is looking for any small clue. Anything. ]
All I can see is blood here and there. Whoever it was knew what they were doing.
[He doesn't say much aside from that, but his thoughts are moving quickly as he moves further into the warehouse, despite his instincts telling him to keep an eye on the door.
If the killer was this thorough, then they've likely been tracking the kidnapping ring for some time, especially if they were able to capture not one, but three people involved. It makes sense, then, that they're capable and informed--the struggle, here, is that this is Montevallo, and that doesn't narrow down their list of suspects, like, at all. VASTLY UNHELPFUL.
Lan Wangji can be a patient man, though, so he's not terribly frustrated. They knew they were working against pros, after all. Still, it would be nice to find a proper lead--he's unused to feeling so uninformed about what's happening in the city.
Eventually, he speaks up again, as he continues examining every part of his side of the building.]
Do you believe this was done by the Xian Le, or the Mori? [His tone doesn't sound suspicious, or accusatory--it's just a question. She knows more about this than he does.]
[ Shinobu is nowhere near as patient, as calm and serene as she tries her best to be. There is always some resentment and anger swirling because her caring heart can't stand to see these kind of injustices go on. She has no pity or sympathy for the kidnappers, but all these events have done is make the lives of everyone in town worse.
She slows in her movements at his question, and she turns to look at him very carefully. ]
It's someone from the Xian Le. Or he used to be. [ How much does she care to be subtle about this anymore? ] The fires on Valentine's Day declared it for the entire town to see. He's working against the Xian Le.
[A man? She says it with such certainty that it's difficult to think she doesn't know what she's talking about, especially when he knows she's highly capable. The way he pauses in his searching is probably a good sign that he wasn't aware of these details, and he takes a moment to take them in, thoughts racing.
They no longer have the luxury of turning a blind eye to each other's struggles. Haku's betrothal to Mizuki meant he'd always tried to keep somewhat aware of the Xian Le's internal affairs, but a traitor in their midst would've meant far less to him mere months ago, than it does now. Their "enemy lines" have been thoroughly smudged, for better or for worse; the actions of this person have affected all of them, if she believes that the murderer is also the one who started the fires.
If the Yiling Ridge children had gotten caught up in that...]
An accomplice to Madame Wren? [He's going to assume she knows who that is.] Or against her?
[It seems unlikely that they'd be working together--the fire took out many of those warehouses, after all. A retaliation, perhaps?]
[ Whether her conclusion of the murderer and the arsonist are the same is correct is something she has not been able to prove without a doubt, but it's something she feels certain about because the other possibility is too daunting. That would be too many different parties involved, and it would take a completely different strategy to tackle. ]
If they were working together before, there is no way they can be now.
[ All those warehouses gone in a night is as much a declaration of war as it is parting. ]
I don't know if they were once allies or not. I only know that Xian Le members have been attacked, and some of those members were at least tangentially related to the kidnapping ring. Some of them may not be.
[He considers her point, then nods, accepting it. The only way they could know, he supposes, is if they could track the traitor's movements in correspondence with the kidnapping ring. But without any leads, that's difficult to do.
It's a shame, really--if the traitor is so strongly against the kidnappings, they would've made a strong ally. Now, they're as much a public enemy as the kidnappers.]
Have you made a list of suspects? ["A Xian Le man, or a former one" isn't much to go off of, with nothing else to supplement it. But already, he's trying to think it through. His priority is still taking down the kidnapping ring, but if this person had ties to them (especially ties that they cut) then they would be a useful lead in that way, as well.]
I know Jiang Cheng wanted to be stricter about his movements. I don't know if that's still true.
[ She kind of moved out, and she also had a small talk with Jiang Cheng before she did about that. Who knows if his anger of her leaving affected anything? ]
[Hm. Jiang Cheng is...... well, Lan Wangji has a lot of reasons for disliking him, but most of them have to do with his personality and his behavior. It seems unlikely that he'd betray the same family he was so upset about Wei Wuxian and Baren leaving.
Lan Wangji is, at least, professional enough that he only lets himself ruminate on how annoying Jiang Cheng is for a second, before he shifts his focus back to the discussion at hand.]
Is Xie Lian likely to follow those orders? [Lan Wangji can just imagine how hard Chuuya would laugh if he tried to pull something like that... but then, Chuuya was far more prepared to take over his role.]
[It feels important to clarify that, somehow. He and Chuuya are close, but they do not have that sort of relationship. Lan Wangji advises him, follows his orders, and, of course, would protect him with his life--but Chuuya is an independent man, and Lan Wangji often trusts him to know how best to take care of himself.
(Also he doesn't want to be compared to Jiang Cheng, because he apparently still has time to be petty.)
That said, though--]
But you are correct. [If Lan Wangji advised caution (which he usually does), Chuuya would take it into consideration, but it's true that ultimately, he is a leader. There's no way he would sit on the sidelines in Xie Lian's position.]
[ None of Xie Lian's bodyguards are either, considering all the times she's caught him without them around. ]
In the end, all we can do is guide or make suggestions, and if they listen, they'll be better for it.
[ It's about now that the sound of some shady looking fellows outside the building can be heard. They're shuffling in this direction, talking as they walk with no concern of being quiet. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
He moves further into the building, eyes roaming over the floor and the walls.] Search carefully. It is not unlikely that they missed something.
no subject
[ Something to point to the culprit, something glaring, something obvious so they can just go after them already. She wants to know more than anything—who and why.
Her eyes are peeled, and she is looking for any small clue. Anything. ]
All I can see is blood here and there. Whoever it was knew what they were doing.
no subject
[He doesn't say much aside from that, but his thoughts are moving quickly as he moves further into the warehouse, despite his instincts telling him to keep an eye on the door.
If the killer was this thorough, then they've likely been tracking the kidnapping ring for some time, especially if they were able to capture not one, but three people involved. It makes sense, then, that they're capable and informed--the struggle, here, is that this is Montevallo, and that doesn't narrow down their list of suspects, like, at all. VASTLY UNHELPFUL.
Lan Wangji can be a patient man, though, so he's not terribly frustrated. They knew they were working against pros, after all. Still, it would be nice to find a proper lead--he's unused to feeling so uninformed about what's happening in the city.
Eventually, he speaks up again, as he continues examining every part of his side of the building.]
Do you believe this was done by the Xian Le, or the Mori? [His tone doesn't sound suspicious, or accusatory--it's just a question. She knows more about this than he does.]
no subject
She slows in her movements at his question, and she turns to look at him very carefully. ]
It's someone from the Xian Le. Or he used to be. [ How much does she care to be subtle about this anymore? ] The fires on Valentine's Day declared it for the entire town to see. He's working against the Xian Le.
[ A traitor. ]
no subject
They no longer have the luxury of turning a blind eye to each other's struggles. Haku's betrothal to Mizuki meant he'd always tried to keep somewhat aware of the Xian Le's internal affairs, but a traitor in their midst would've meant far less to him mere months ago, than it does now. Their "enemy lines" have been thoroughly smudged, for better or for worse; the actions of this person have affected all of them, if she believes that the murderer is also the one who started the fires.
If the Yiling Ridge children had gotten caught up in that...]
An accomplice to Madame Wren? [He's going to assume she knows who that is.] Or against her?
[It seems unlikely that they'd be working together--the fire took out many of those warehouses, after all. A retaliation, perhaps?]
no subject
If they were working together before, there is no way they can be now.
[ All those warehouses gone in a night is as much a declaration of war as it is parting. ]
I don't know if they were once allies or not. I only know that Xian Le members have been attacked, and some of those members were at least tangentially related to the kidnapping ring. Some of them may not be.
[ She doesn't have confirmation of that. ]
no subject
It's a shame, really--if the traitor is so strongly against the kidnappings, they would've made a strong ally. Now, they're as much a public enemy as the kidnappers.]
Have you made a list of suspects? ["A Xian Le man, or a former one" isn't much to go off of, with nothing else to supplement it. But already, he's trying to think it through. His priority is still taking down the kidnapping ring, but if this person had ties to them (especially ties that they cut) then they would be a useful lead in that way, as well.]
no subject
[ A male with long hair does not narrow down the list that much for her. It only makes her insides churn with who she wishes it isn't. ]
no subject
...well, no one said it would be easy.
He finally turns away from inspecting the building, satisfied that there's nothing left to find, and focuses on her instead.]
Have you noticed any suspicious activity around Xie Lian himself?
no subject
I know Jiang Cheng wanted to be stricter about his movements. I don't know if that's still true.
[ She kind of moved out, and she also had a small talk with Jiang Cheng before she did about that. Who knows if his anger of her leaving affected anything? ]
no subject
Lan Wangji is, at least, professional enough that he only lets himself ruminate on how annoying Jiang Cheng is for a second, before he shifts his focus back to the discussion at hand.]
Is Xie Lian likely to follow those orders? [Lan Wangji can just imagine how hard Chuuya would laugh if he tried to pull something like that... but then, Chuuya was far more prepared to take over his role.]
no subject
No. Not for long. [ Or not at all, for how Xie Lian likes to shoulder every burden, ever flaw as his own. ]
I doubt Chuuya would either.
[ Each leader is different, but they're still leaders. ]
no subject
[It feels important to clarify that, somehow. He and Chuuya are close, but they do not have that sort of relationship. Lan Wangji advises him, follows his orders, and, of course, would protect him with his life--but Chuuya is an independent man, and Lan Wangji often trusts him to know how best to take care of himself.
(Also he doesn't want to be compared to Jiang Cheng, because he apparently still has time to be petty.)
That said, though--]
But you are correct. [If Lan Wangji advised caution (which he usually does), Chuuya would take it into consideration, but it's true that ultimately, he is a leader. There's no way he would sit on the sidelines in Xie Lian's position.]
no subject
[ None of Xie Lian's bodyguards are either, considering all the times she's caught him without them around. ]
In the end, all we can do is guide or make suggestions, and if they listen, they'll be better for it.
[ It's about now that the sound of some shady looking fellows outside the building can be heard. They're shuffling in this direction, talking as they walk with no concern of being quiet. ]