Owiz and his "friend", arrived in the landing area. It seemed that they arrived early.
"Any sign of our hosts?" the duros smuggler asked after setting foot on noghri soil, "Reckon we must be early."
« You are probably right, my blue friend, ahah. These Noghri don't seem to have the concept of time. »
Just after saying that, some noises could be heard from the woods. Owiz put his hand to his holster.
A few seconds later, a bird flew out of one of the nearby trees.
"Bah. Just a bird."
The arrival of Vizzi surely increased the level of tension at the gaming table. After all, no one knew him except Gorba.
This meeting started off well, when another Hutt entered the game. Gula.
Vizzi, for a brief moment, was upset. He knew the young Hutt by reputation. A great warrior. The lightsabers around his neck could confirm it. But according to his sources, subtlety was not part of his way of doing things. This first meeting with Gula confirmed Vizzi's information.
He bowed his head slightly to welcome the new Hutt. The man called Drayen welcomed them. He gave the rules of the game. Vizzi nodded his head slightly in approval.
It didn't took long for Gula to monopolise the attention of the table. Fortunately, the conversation was focused on the spice. The various members were proposing ways to ensure and augment the production and safety of the production sites.
"I check."
While continuing to play, Vizzi remained silent. He took his time to study the various participants. Gula was true to his reputation...
The slave exchange was a dark spectacle for Vizzi. Gula represented the cliché of the power-hungry Hutt surrounded by slaves. While Vizzi had a rather negative view of slavery. The practice attracted attention. Especially from the Jedi and other so-called protectors of the galaxy. It was bad for business. Nevertheless, the Brotherhood of the Maw was already attracting attention.
Coming back to slavery, Vizzi do not practice it in his close circle, nor in his business.
The hutt could see that the slave offered to Gorba was placed next to a bodyguard.
He's clever not to fall in a trap. Vizzi thought, while playing.
Gorba took the time to welcome him and reveled the name of Vizzi's Kajidic. The latter no longer had this card in his hand. But he still had plenty under his sleeve.
« My greetings, Lord Gorba. »
Then Gula began his show again. He made a slave girl dance.
Poor creature.
The Flamout show, convinced Vizzi, that doing business with Gula, was dangerous. As the Hutt could be unpredictable. Or at least emotionally unstable. After he finished his speech about the slaves, Vizzi let the white-haired lady interrupt Gula. He would have gladly smiled. He was so in agreement with her. He let her finish before breaking from his silence.
« Allow me to interrupt you, young lord. »
Vizzi said, continuing to play as best he could with a slave now on the gaming table. This Gula really had no respect.
"Don't you think that making Kwenn Station a platform for slavery would draw attention to your operations ? And thus on everyone's operations?"
He marked a pause to make his point. And looked at the young Hutt for the first time.
"It might give the Jedi and other factions eager to attack the Consortium, a reason to do it. And to take over your territories." His attention now turned to the assembled crime lords.
He waited to see their reactions before continuing. But the bright-eyed human tried to calm things down.
"Rest assured, my friends. Increased production means more credits for protection and...labor. Spice will make us all rich as kings, but we have discovered something else which will help ensure our future. Tell them of the adrenal mines on Quesh, mighty Gorba."
The conversation was taking an interesting turn...
He would explain the reason for his presence with them later, after the subject of Quesh was closed. But if it was about what Vizzi thought it was about, then the Consortium would have much more resources...
