>>5384059Wordlessly your Stand finishes his drink, crushes the can flat against his head, then salutes you before vanishing. At least for now. You take another deep breath, sigh out, then turn your focus onto the screen as you punch in the call. Several moments of tense silence greet you as the call goes through, the screen showing a thin line of static before springing to life, revealing a rather serious looking servant of the house who isn't looking at the camera or telecommunication screen.
“You have reached the Zoldyck Estate.” he says in a rather dry monotone. “Please state the purpose of your call.”
“I am Arctus Cold, of the PTO.” you say, the man actually looking up and seeing you upon hearing your name. “I need to speak with Silva Zoldyck immediately. A serious matter has arisen regarding our mutual enemy, the Lin Kuei.”
“The Lin Kuei were destroyed. Never to be seen...” he starts, trailing off as you raise the severed(and mechanically gutted) head of one of the cyborg Lin Kuei you and Blue Hawaii had dispatched on your ship. Without another word your screen goes black, for a second leaving you thinking he'd actually just cut the call. But less than a minute later the servant returns to the screen, looking a bit paler than before. “Master Silva is in, as is Master Zeno. They will see you now.”
“Thank you for your cooperation.” you tell him, then the image on the screen shifts. It takes a second or three to stabilize, but once the image comes in clear you see both Silva Zoldyck and his father Zeno both sitting on a couch, meeting you at just under Zeno's eye level. Giving you the impression that both are looking down on you, as is the intended effect. “Greetings gentlemen, I apologize for the short notice.”
“Haaaah, never is it good news delivered on short notice.” the eldest living Zoldyck, Zeno says with a sigh. “Very well, let's hear it. What's wrong?”
“I've figured out why I couldn't catch the saboteur I've been hunting.” you say, both of the assassins perking up a bit at this. “Every time I've started closing in on them, they've begun retreating directly behind a security wall I cannot pass.”
“Cannot, or will not?” Silva, the broad-shouldered man who's serious expression reminds you of Karn asks directly.
“Will not.” you clarify, then add. “Because it is your security wall.”
Both of their eyes widen at this, you watching as they both think through a hundred scenarios in seconds without a word. But the older assassin speaks first, his words carefully guarded and measured.