"Put your hands up!" A bunch of people in black military grade gear surrounded them. The theme in question was Ricky along with his dock coworkers. They were in the middle of eating lunch when the entire dockyard was swarmed with mercenaries. On the back of their outfit was the symbol of Red Hood.
Ricky mid chew of his sandwich raised his hands with sandwich and water bottle in hand. "Move that way." He along with the others were being moved by gunpoint toward one of the ships that had arrived.
Ricky had noticed right away when it began its 'inspection' process that it was one of the Penguin's things. The ship was probably bringing in an array of illegal items that would be read as something else.
They were eventually grouped up along the side of the ship where a ramp leading up to the ship was located. He could hear gunshots as several mercenaries boarded the ship. Then a moment later a body was pushed over the edge and landed in the water near them.
He did not recognize them until the third body, which was the body of his boss. Seems he was out of job since he was being paid off the books and with cash. Ricky took a deep breath as he sighed.
Meanwhile the mercenaries holding them at gunpoint parted ways as someone walked toward them. The man wore similar gear to the mercenaries. But he had patches of black armor and then his head was covered in a red armored structure.
"Hello, gentlemen and scum of the earth. As of today I am taking control of this dockyard. Fortunately for all of you, I do not have enough manpower to run it just with my mercenaries." Red Hood informed them as his hands made gestures while he spoke. Like he was on the stand in front of an audience. "So that means I need workers like yourselves who-"
"Shut up scum! We work for the Penguin. We do not work for some two bit thug like yourself." The person next to Ricky called out. He actually did not recognize the man. He had never worked with the man that was yelling before.
Ricky sighed and shook his head. "Do all of you think the same? Because if you do I will just shoot you. But if you do not then I need some proof." Red Hood instructed as the guns of the mercenaries cocked.
The person next to Ricky spoke up again. "You think any of us will do something for-" Ricky moved behind the man and grabbed his chin and the top of his head. Then he twisted and there was a crisp snap as the man's neck was broken. A few of the others around him shook their heads while the others sucked in their breath.
"Actually, about half of the dock workers are freelance. We have supervising managers who pay us cash at the end of our shift." Ricky explained as he moved around the body and then kicked him in the water. "Honestly a lot of us will not give a shit who has the docks. As long as we continue to get the same pay and working conditions."
Red Hood seemed taken aback for a moment. "Well then, I suppose that is going to have to change. From now on you work for me." Red Hood grabbed an assault rifle from one of his mercenaries and stepped forward before tossing it at Ricky. "Aside from this guy the so-called freelancers are free to leave, just keep your hands raised and walk toward that container."
Red Hood stood in front of Ricky while Ricky looked back at him. "You want specifically me? Why?"
"Because you seem to understand the underworld. I am guessing it is your experience as a freelancer." Red Hood put an arm around his shoulder and began walking with Ricky. "Now what do you think we should do next to piss off Penguin? I have taken his docks and sunk his casino yacht."
"First, I would like lunch. You interrupted our lunch break." Ricky reminded him. Causing Red Hood to laugh. "Then if you just want to piss off Penguin and only him then you need to go after his businesses. Most of the underground ones work in cooperation with other groups. But there are still underground ones and all of his legitimate ones we can hit."
"Okay but what is his big money maker?" Red Hood nodded in agreement and began walking normally while Ricky carried the assault rifle by the barrel. He then handed it to a mercenary as they walked past them.
Ricky shook his head. "With how much heat you are bringing up you do not want to hit his biggest one."
Red Hood began laughing again and patted Ricky on the back. "I am in agreement, but why do you think that?"
"Because of the vigilantes, the big man will be watching the big money maker. While any of the other vigilantes will be watching the other ones." Ricky pointed out.
"Huh…" Red Hood nodded, "that is exactly right. Okay then what should we hit."
"None of the stationary locations. For now we should hit something mobile. There is actually a rumor that the big man might have missed since he was so busy. But sometime in the night there are running boats coming into the island that should be Penguin's." Ricky explained as he caught sight of what they were walking towards.
It was a modified truck or RV. It looked similar to the police mobile command centers that other cities have. He had seen them on the news before. But the police in Gotham do not have enough funding to have something like that.
"Okay, we can do that tonight. But I do want to hit something else today, before the sun sets and the big man comes out to play." Red Hood instructed as the mobile command center opened up.
"The three clubs are all closed and they are fortresses. The underground casino is also closed. The same would be said of the brothel. The only places that would have people who could spread the word of the embarrassment would be the underground black market and the fish market." Ricky nodded.
"Fish market?" Red Hood looked at Ricky in surprise. "He runs something through the fish market?"
"Yeah, it is the drug distribution center. They are stored inside fish and if a dealer who wears something specific comes up to buy it then they sell the fish with the drugs inside. The price markup is a code for the actual price. But if a normal person buys the fish they take it to the back and move the drugs to another fish while they sell the fish." Ricky explained getting what he could only assume was a look of surprise.
"Then let's go hit this fish market. Come on, we will hit it and then I will pay you and treat you to a tasty meal." Red Hood waved at him. Ricky climbed into the mobile command center as it closed.
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