The Ember city

We celebrate as Emma carries me, but stop when we see Edward cuffed and carried away. "Well, I was planning to talk with the Police chief anyway." Turning to Emma, I ask her how many criminals are still running rampant.

"A lot! Criminals still overrun a huge part of the slums!" Frowning, I look at the city. "Well, we should clean them up then." Flying over the roads, we see volunteers armed with firearms push the criminals back.

Getting dropped by Emma near the volunteers, I yell. "Don't mind me, good people, I'm on your side." One of the volunteers gets distracted and get's shot. Jumping to his side, I take off his green shoulder pad to see the wound.

Blood sprayed all over the place, I tore his sleeve and wrapped it around the wound. "It's gonna sting a little bit." Freezing a piece of the bandage, his wound closes up. Not screaming, he grinds his teeth against each other.

Patting him on the shoulder, for being a brave guy. I feel a bullet fly over my head. "Be careful friend, we don't want your brain to be sprayed all over the road!" All of them laugh at it, but the good moment gets interrupted as one of them yells.

"Tram! it's an armored tram!" Peeking from behind the rubble, we see a tram drive along the rail with sheets of metal welded to it. Firing at it, the sheets of metal stop most of the bullets.

"Fall back! Fall back!" Yelling, I point behind the collapsed building in the distance. "Move in small groups five! The rest shoot at the tram!" No one had any other idea, so they listen to me.

As the first group of five runs back, we fire at the tram. Not being able to peek out the gasters stay hidden behind their metal. Starting to speed up, I turn to the volunteers.

"Cover me!" Moving to the rails, I place my hands on them and freeze them. As the rails become a huge piece of ice, the tram slows down. But its metal plow cracks and pushes the ice away.

Looking through the collapsed side building, I spot a group of volunteers. Noticing us they move through the rubble, Signaling them to get away, they instead approach faster.

"Damm it! Get down!" Ignoring me, the side of the tram spots them and with the mounted machine gun mows them down. Cursing, I see Emma fly by. "I got this boss!" Flying over the tram, she drops small packages onto it.

As everyone watches, the small packages explode on top of the Tramp setting it a blaze.

"Charge! Give them no Querter!" Running out of the rubble, me and the volunteers run at the gangsters that are jumping out of the tramp. Firing at us, we run into them with no mercy.

Using my cane like a spear, I stab through one of the guys.

Yelling like crazy, we defeat the remaining thugs. After the battle, we finally have a moment to catch our breath. Spotting a guy with a funny green cap, we shake our hands. "I'm Volunteer captain of the 4th regiment, and I thank you for helping us."

Waving it off, I tell him that it's not matter. Hearing the fighting finally quiet down, I tell the captain that there are other things I have to take care of.

..........

Sitting at a giant table, I read over some documents. "So 30% of the south criminals have caused this huge commotion." Getting a nod from all the present people. I look at Alice. "I believe you have something to say."

Smiling, she uses one of her large white hands to move the hair out of her face. "Yes, as a former crime lord of the south, I believe that there was never before such a failure to control the criminals."

Poking at me, I know that I have no way to defend myself, so I just stay silent.

Seemingly not satisfied, Alice asks. "Where's your pride? Aren't you gonna try and defend yourself?" Shaking my head, I reply. "It's important that I acknowledge my mistakes so I don't make them again."

Not saying anything Alice get's and starts to leave the meeting. "Oh, Right, Just so you know Raven, The north is Watching." Leaving the meeting room, I sigh. "Is there anything else anyone would like to discuss?"

Raising his hand, Gabriel points out that there are not enough places to house all the people now. Over 10% of the slums were destroyed beyond habitability. not counting the whole 30% that suffered damages and need to be repaired.

Rubbing my forehead, I ask. "How much space do the roofs cover?" Looking at each other one of the crime bosses raises his hand. "Around 80% of the top-down view is covered by rooftops." Nodding my head, I smile.

"Rooftop city, We will build small houses on the available rooftops now, How much construction aid did we get, again?" Rummaging through some paperwork, they tell me that 3 construction companies have been state-funded to assist.

Pointing at the map of the city, I circle 3 spaces. "The lower slums, they're easily the least dense place in the slums yet take a huge amount of space. We will condense their population further north to the river and one of the construction companies will build apartment complexes there."

Getting another nod, I point to the ruined areas and order both the others to clear it out, but once enough space is ready, one of them will start construction on another apartment complex.

"And who will build the rooftop city?" Smiling I point at the large refugee camp outside the slums. "The ones in need, they will build it for themselves, we will supply the materials and some internship engineers from engineering and architectural schools."

While others agree, Gabriel and his Arabic friend stand up in protest. "Make the weak work!? Raven, they've suffered enough, they need our help and not be forced to build!"

"Gabriel, I understand. They need our help, and that's why we will support them in every way, we're even giving them a place to build in. A new place to call home."

Cutting me off he slams his hand into the table. "Over 60% of them are wounded and kids! How is the remaining 40% supposed to work?!" Standing up, I smile. "The greater good, We will use the emotions they harbor for their loved ones, into a spirit to take care of them and build the homes!"

Standing proudly, Gabrile stands down and sits back down. "Fine, but what's our plan to make us trust them, the suppose in the underground was never lower."

Throwing a business card into his hands, he looks at me puzzled. "What is this?"

"The Blue Lotus, We will make a company front through which we will send in funds to the ones in need." Before the other criminals stand up in protest, out of fear of being taken over by this front I continue.

"Of course, after this is over, all of us will be able to use the organization as a money-laundering front." Finally coming to a conclusion. The other crime bosses whisper amongst each other before deciding that they're satisfied.

Standing up most of the thugs, get up and leave, but one of them raises his hand. "is the No-infighting rule still active?"

Stopping everyone in their tracks, they look at me.

Leaning over, Gabriel whispers. "well aren't you in a pickle." Tapping the table for a second, I answer. "Yes, it's still active, till the end of this month there shall be no fighting between us!"

Talking amongst them, they give me a nod and leave the meeting room. "God, I hate them." Seeing Gabriel smiling in the corner, he remarks. "Trust me, hates them as well." Getting up he hands me a paper.

"What is this?" Seeing a seal on it, I look at Gabriel. "I was contacted by the royalty to get a meeting with the new crime lord of the south. It's an official invitation, no strings attached, you're a royal guest and if any harm would befall you there it would be a catastrophic problem."

Joking that it can't be as bad as the burning slums, he just parts me on the shoulder.

"Oh, By the way, Edward caused quite a commotion after waking up. He should've waiting for you back home." Trying to ask him how he knows all this he just ignores me and walks away.