Smoke drifted thickly through the air of the darkened room, pitch black shadows cast about the walls, though dim light was kept centrally to illuminate the small group of tables present. The only other light source filtered down through the smoke from the wooden floorboards above their heads. As if in a trance, Amory watched quietly watched the smoke drifting up into the cracks, swirls of light dancing above him. After another breath, he lowered the cigarette that hung between his lips to put it out, his green gaze only then shifting to the other men hunched around the wooden tables of the room. They all chattered, some quietly murmuring in serious undertones, others laughing and exchanging stories. He wasn't quite as social as his associates, not to say he wouldn't be sitting among them if he weren't here for business matters.

His feet rested, crossed neatly atop the table before him as he let out a soft sigh, not quite sure what to expect of this one. His last hit had gone through well, but he had a feeling this was quite different. He had even been granted a short leave beforehand. As he waited, Amory rolled up the sleeves of his shirt and straightened out the vest atop it. It wasn't long when he heard the chair opposite his slide out, a man in a fedora with a grim face sitting down across from him. Instead of speaking, he slid over an envelope and stared at Amory expectantly.

Quirking a curious eyebrow, Amory cleared his throat a little and removed his feet from the table to lean over and open the contents of the envelope. "This is far from the usual protocol," he spoke quietly, observing the pictures and documents within it carefully, "What's the deal with this one?" His gaze paused upon a picture of a man, eyes tracing his longer light brown hair and eyes. At another time, he may have found the look appealing, but this was far from his mind now. Amory had to memorize those features.

"He's in league with some bigger players in the eastern parts of the city. We have been following him and others among his group for some time," he paused, as if to prepare for the enormity of his next words: "We pinpointed this guy as the plan-holder of their entire operations."

Amory's eyebrows lifted, not having expected to be handed such a key man's information. "We can't simply take him out, then." He comments thoughtfully, eyes grazing over the picture once more before setting it down. "I have to trail this man."

"Not only that," the other man's grim tone faded for a moment as he let out a gruff chuckle, "We need your expertise in getting closer than that to him. Talk to the guy. Befriend him. Do what you must to get that information, but do not take him out unless I specifically tell you to do so. Am I clear?"

Again a tad taken back from the abnormality of the situation, Amory's widened eyes remained locked onto the other man, as if searching for the plans that he hadn't been given. What will they do with his people's plans and strategies?

"Got it." Amory nodded curtly, neatly assembling the contents back into their enveloped before the two stood and shook hands firmly.

"Smile a bit, kid. You have to loosen up for this one." The other spoke seriously, but then grinned as he headed to another table.

Amory let a grin lift his lips as he let a low chuckle roll out of him. "'Loosen up', huh?"

Shaking his head, a relaxed smile came to him as he stepped into the back alley. This shouldn't be all that difficult.