Adam then headed back inside and led Mira to The Layover, his favorite hotel. He needed to spend a few days in town so getting a room was obviously important. He got his room easily enough, paying for 3 days upfront for a total of 375 caps as well as ensuring he could book a room for Mira too, who paid her own way.
Adam got into his room and decided to put his feet up for a bit, he had some time to kill and decided to share a meal with Mira and Deccanus later so until then he was free. However, within a few minutes of getting unloaded in his room, there was a knock at his door. Adam opened the door and was met with a familiar sight. Black suited men.
"Mr. Baxter?" The black suited man at the front of two other men asked, as if he didn't already know who he was, considering he was standing outside Adam's door.
"Once more I am awed by the speed that your intelligence network works. Though I am surprised it took you this long to approach me if you were going to." Adam mused, joking softly to the man. The man in the black suit looked at his two companions and then looked at Adam again.
"The Boss was informed of your arrival the moment your APC rolled through the gate, however he gave explicit instructions to let you conduct your business uninterrupted. It was only after you came here that we approached." He explained, fully. Adam was surprised they were so forthcoming but nodded gratefully.
"Well I appreciate your discretion." Adam said before he glanced down at the door to Mira's room and then turned back to them.
"Do not worry, you will not be kept from your companions for long." The man assured Adam, practically reading his mind. Adam let off a soft single laugh.
"Lead the way, boys." He smiled and then followed as the man he was speaking to led from the front and the two other men followed from behind.
This time Adam did not even bother bringing his gun, perhaps a bad move, considering that Midway was not trouble free, but he truly did not expect any trouble. Besides, he did not plan to be out and about for too long. He had also gotten more comfortable in his own body by now, he felt more confident in his ability to handle an altercation if one would arise even if he was disarmed. Though learning close combat skills from Deccanus sometime would still be a good thing to remember to do.
He passed through the Guild area with only a half moment's pause at the metal detector and then was led down the hall to the office he knew well by now.
"Mr. Baxter." Mr. Cantelli said with a smile as he stood up from his chair and walked to the other side of the desk. "I'm glad I get the chance to talk with you again." He held out his hand for a handshake, which Adam accepted.
"Luck was on my side, was all." Adam responded, humbly.
"Not at all…" Mr. Cantelli continued as he gestured to his plush guest chair for Adam to sit on and then walked back around the desk to sit down himself. "I believe the outcome of one's actions are due to the sum of their efforts." He smiled as he pulled out a cigar and offered it to Adam. Adam put up his hand in a polite refusal.
"In this case it was due to the efforts of everyone who came out to defend Chicago. Which is what I assume we are talking about?" Adam inferred.
"Indeed." He said as he clipped off a part of the cigar and then lit it, taking a hefty hit of the finely wrapped tobacco. "I shook your hand before you headed out but you really did make it back when so many others didn't. That is a trait so few have these days."
"What? Luck?" Adam asked.
"Survivability." He said as he let off a slow and pleasure filled exhale of smoke, relaxing into his chair a bit. "I knew from the moment I met you, you would go places, but this is already more than my expectations. I'd be annoyed that your premiums have gone up if I was not directly benefiting." He chuckled.
"How do you mean?" Adam inquired further.
"Your connection to me is well known, so let's just say I can and have leveraged that fact to enhance my own standing." He grinned. Adam was not fond of that, was he getting too far into bed with Mr. Cantelli? He was using his name to advance his own greed? That did not sit well with him, but there was little he could do about it at this juncture. It would be a bigger issue if he lived in Midway, but since he lived in the Vault, it seemed an almost moot point.
"I would think a man like you already has all the clout he needs without needing to leverage my name." Adam said back.
"Nonesense. You can never have too much social ammunition. A good businessman can adapt to the changing markets in any situation." He paused to smoke a bit. "You know…" He said as he snuffed out the end of his cigar on the gold plated ash tray on his desk. "I've been alive for a long time. And it's rare to come across an individual who so deeply affects the people around them. It does happen, but it's rare." He smiled. "You are one such individual." He said, pointing with the unlit cigar at Adam.
"Thank you?" Adam said back, confused. Not exactly sure how he should take that.
"It's a compliment." He grinned and then put the cigar away. "You should take it as one."
"If you don't mind me asking, why did you call me in here?" Adam asked, deciding he was done beating around the bush and wanted to get to the point. However Mr. Cantelli almost looked surprised.
"I didn't call you here for any special reason, Mr. Baxter. I called you here because I like you and I would prefer it if our relationship were to grow stronger." He grinned again. Adam looked at him suspiciously, not exactly sure how to take his words.
"I can tell when a man doesn't trust me. I get it. Old man Cantelli has been around the block once or twice. You don't exactly get to where I am without making a few shady deals here and there." He leaned in. "But I am also a man who is very generous to his friends. I do not go around backstabbing people like some venomous bitches that live on the water. No, this man is a good friend to have."
"So you called me here to be… friends?"
"More like, I called you here to tell you I want to be friends. You are a good man, Mr. Baxter, those are rarer than a submarine on land around here. I can appreciate that. And I think we stand to benefit far more by being friends than just keeping up a business relationship." Adam paused, he truly did not know what to say to this. He had always been afraid of getting too close to Mr. Cantelli but this isn't the first time he had reached out with friendship. But this was a mafia, friendship with them might lead him down some dark paths. However he couldn't outright reject him either, not in this current climate, he might just get killed. Or at least boxed out of Midway.
"I can see you are hesitant." Mr. Cantelli said with a practiced smile. "I am not pressuring you into anything. I just wanted to express to you my current feelings. I hope we can get along in the future, Mr. Baxter." He said as he stood up, offering his hand to Adam, indicating with his body language it was time for Adam to get going.
Adam stood up too and shook his hand again.
"I appreciate the conversation, Mr. Cantelli." Adam replied, keeping the response as neutral as possible. Mr. Cantelli sat back down and then gently waved Adam off, giving him permission to leave.
However as Adam reached the door to the office he paused. This was an opportunity, Mr. Cantelli had the resources to help him with the upcoming offensive against Pestilence. He had been incredibly helpful with rounding up people for the battle with Famine. Even though Midway had taken damage he could no doubt get more people ready to fight if needed. There was one major problem though. He didn't trust him.
Unlike the Famine problem that threatened to wipe out Midway entirely save for him and those in Ghoul Town, Pestilence offered a much murkier problem. There was no telling if he could be bought off by Pestilence, or already was, for that matter. Pestilence might be kidnapping people to experiment on them but their goals are probably not total destruction. Perhaps their goal is not even domination, just ascendancy. If they can achieve that they might be fine to just leave. To that end Mr. Cantelli might be willing to take the easy way out.
Even if he had no intention of working with Pestilence whatsoever there were already spies who had cropped up inside multiple organizations that were planted by Pestilence, as evidenced by the surprise attack they pulled on War. If Adam were to tell Mr. Cantelli of the upcoming battle it could get back to the church and that could mess up the plan before it even started.
No, as he first thought keeping this a secret was the smartest move. However maybe he could leverage this 'friendship' of theirs to get something he wanted.
"Before I go I wanted to ask. Do you know where the Gunners are based?" He said, turning around.
"Hm? The Gunners? Yeah, I do, I can send you the location." He said back casually. Adam smiled and nodded to him.
"Thank you, Mr. Cantelli."