With pace, and not worrying about hiding ourselves, we used the vast freighter pathways and elevators to cross over and ascend The Wealth Core.

    After all, was there a point in trying to be obscure? O-Kenai knew we were coming...

    ...Nevertheless, we would stick to the plan, which among other things...was to get to our secluded vantage point, then observe and listen from afar until the right time came for the three of us to enter the Night Garden. In light of that, when we did finally reach the top level of The Core, Emo was swift to take us from the busy crowds of the Leisure Lounge, and into a silent maintenance corridor which we skulked along until he had stopped.

    Our final position continued to shroud us.

    It also signified that we were in range.

    Through slatted grates in the metal panels in front of us, our A.I.D.A's were able to pick up the signal of Dieng's iMic hidden under his clothing. This meant that all three of us could hear a nearby conversation as it unfolded and blossomed in the Night Garden. Contrary to this, we could also see past the foliage of the pretty green space, just enough to glimpse the backs of Pae and The Pink Lady who were sat on the stone bench at the center of her circular dais. And ultimately, as moonlight flooded in from the transparent feature above, we were witnessing the ex-editor at work as he began to try and lower O-Kenai's, sense of security. After a few seconds of inaudible static, our A.I.D.A's locked onto the opening monolog and amplified a feedback of words. "...So, to start, I'd like to inform everyone that I am Dieng Pae - Orbital Editor of Dwarven Earthian Star - and this evening, I am privileged to be talkin' with my special and most esteemed guest, whom is none other than our cosmic savior - The Pink Lady!"

    I could sense the nervousness in Dieng's voice as he spoke into the holoscreen emanating from his wrist. But helpless, I tried to ignore it and opted for continuing to listen and observe.

    "Now, with the intention of carving out material for a memoir, my guest has insisted on callin' this structured conversation, 'Interview With The Vampire'. And to add," Pae chirped, "I'll be referring to her as the 'RoC' - an acronym for the 'Ripest of Cheeses'.

     "So, RoC, with the formalities done and dusted, I'll move to my first question - of which is obvious to all from way back when - via the BTV Showcase, you insisted on your involvement in Xen Lai's programes being made public... Why?"

    "Simple. I actually wanted to make it to orbit. And having more people and freighters could have jeopardized that - just as we saw with Solaris. And so, by using the Showcase and White Horde footage as a worldwide deterent, I knew it would ensure that if we were to leave Earth, we were going to do so in a small and independent coalition, as opposed to a large collective of nations."

    As my suspicions were confirmed, Dieng nodded like an impressed dog. Seconds later, he yapped out his following question. "RoC, the next thing I wanna know is about something grotesque - what in orbit is that ugly-ass thing around your neck?"

    While I couldn't see what Dieng was talking about, I had a good idea.

    "Pae, you know," O-Kenai chuckled suggestively, "you know."

    "Seriously, I'm stumped," he said, maybe to be, funny.

    "My friend, from years back, it's Xen Lai's manky finger that I had hollowed out, set in resin, and fixed to this necklace."

    "But, why would you even want it?" Dieng whined in jest.

    "Because, it reminds folks that I won't take shit - it looks gangster - and it'll fetch a pretty penny one day! After all, Xen'll be made an Elder as soon as we return to the surface. Well, maybe..."

    "...Right," Pae nodded, understanding her reasons while she played with it. "Okay, okay, I get it now. Alright, movin' on, the focus of my next question has to be on this garden, and that beautiful specimen over there..."

    Again, we couldn't see what Dieng was referring to exactly, but it wasn't long before he and The Pink Lady, elaborated.

    "...RoC, is that, 'thee Sakura Tree'? The one responsible for churnin' out those menancin' blossom petals over the years...?"

    "...It sure is," O-Kenai buzzed. "I made sure to have it excavated and replanted up here, with me, in this beautiful place."

    "Any special reason?" Pae asked.

    "Yup," she quipped without hesitation. "There are two. I love that tree. And before sunrise, I have a feeling that every last one of its pink petals will fall..."

    At the sound of the possible threat, I clambered up, and including Dieng and the others, we all knew that The Pink Lady would start to show her hand at some point.

    I just prayed it wouldn't be a 'Royal Flush'.

    In response, Pae had gone quiet.

    And while mute, he'd lit an obligatory holorette, as Dieng's beloved cigarettes were banned aboard the conglomerate. In and among the holo-vaping, it'd also sounded as though he'd snorted some of what, Olaf had given him...

    Soon enough, Pae was able to sound relaxed, and moved to change the subject. "RoC, for my third question, I thought I'd see if you can shed any light on a historical and infamous event - The Twilight Massacre of 2038 - the very thing which revealed your existence to the world and made you the planet's most wanted felon?"

    "Dieng, of course, I can," O-Kenai responded with glee. "That was the day I told The Jade Empress it was time to move aside. And, when Yuriko didn't, I canceled the bitch..."

    Hastily, Pae puffed on more holorette.

    Meanwhile, I glanced either side of me, trying to see the faces of Olaf and Emo. But thanks to the shadows which embellished us, it was too dark to make out their expressions. I did the only thing I could do, which was to focus back on the conversation.

    "...So, RoC," Dieng paused, maybe reeling from shock, "if memory and myth serve me, everyone's always been led to believe that The Jade Empress was your, mother... And you're sayin' that you, assassinated her?"

    "You god-damn right," The Pink Lady cooed, her tone, merciless. "I stabbed her in the fucking face then cut her up."

    "B-But, why?" he then asked. His voice trembling now.

    "Oh, it's a long story," she began. "But I'll give you the brief version.

    "The year: 2035...

    "The precursor: Mother Nature and the fucking tsunami of all tsunamis...

    "Pae, once Chiba had fucked up Old Japan for good, it took no time at all for the economy to fall. Then before us natives knew it, the government were plying everything into The Relocation and planning to hike us all off to the frickin' Gobi Desert! As a result, it meant there was no longer a Japanese Black Market to run or reap the spoils from. Plus, it wasn't like Ulaanbaatar was bustling with billionaire bad breeds to exploit. And so, I suggested to the old hag that we expand across pastures anew..."

    "...And, what? She didn't agree?"

    "Of course not," O-Kenai confirmed. "And rather than start over in Mongolia, I had a better epiphany."

    "What was that?" Dieng followed up.

    "To be just as ambitious as Ghengis Khan, himself..."

    Pae shifted on the stone bench as if dumbfounded yet intrigued all the same.

    "...Basically, I tried to sell her - and her senior clansman - on seeing beyond the Yakuza Clan and doing what my father had once tried to do. Furthermore, what Yuriko always knew had to be done..."

    And as she said it, I knew what The Pink Lady implied.

    Dieng did, too. "...Which was, to take over all of the worlds' gangster clans, and gain shrouded control of all facets of the world economy?"

    "'Correctamundo'," O-Kenai boomed, without looking at Pae. "Unfortunately, my maker let her senior clansman whisper all too deep in her ears; and as another result; was more concerned about settling on respect and honor among thieves. So, when opportunity presented itself in the calm of twilight, I gutted her, along with every one of her loyal Yakuza pricks, and left their carcasses for the crows on the streets of Tokyo2. Finally, I made sure that pappo drones saw me flee back to the shadows. And on a separate and reluctant note, I'd left her senior clansman alive. In return, our deal was that he would share what he'd witnessed by spreading my legend in the Underworld, as well as advancing my international prospects and life-long plan."

    "That bein', the galvanization of The Rising Clans?" Dieng gathered.

    "Pae, right you are again."

    "Okay, but fast forward to recent times - was any of this related to the terror attacks?"

    "Dieng, you are on fire!" O-Kenai praised, "and again, of course. Despite me being well ahead of the game, my mother's pet thought he was smart enough to try and convince me that he remained loyal, all while trying to assassinate me. Consequently, the fool made various attempts to end me when I lingered in my assortment of international safehouses. And, he almost did once I'd returned to my real lair in New Japan...

    "...Isn't that right, Emo?!" The Pink Lady shouted, her growl echoing out in our direction.