We are proud to test the market with The Salty Times for a special one issue only.   Our paper especially caters for the bitter and pessimistic and filled one of my bucketlist criteria before I retire temporarily to Sicily, drink lots of Amaro Averna and maybe come back to America rank with my name changed by the courts to rank as a transvestite under people I don't like in secret and be the laziest member.

 

The Last Entries of A Diary
Author: Salty by Nature
 

The meeting room fell silent as I strolled in late as usual.   The smell of scotch still on my breath, and the vague smell of perfume wafted round me.   The stare where I was late was brushed off with a shrug as I poured from the coffee pot for an aromatic black tar of drink as my head boomed from my scouting mission.   Throwing down a list of people staying at hotels, bed and breakfasts and doss houses in Chicago i grinned as i prepared for my flight out.   Thats everyone, i even had to visit bar's and brothels; you need updates you know how to contact me.

As I approached the door I was told to halt and invited back as I sipped at the warm chicory and coffee mixture that seemed to have been made with the consistency of syrup as I took my seat still sipping unsure whether to keep drinking, but reacting to the caffeine.  We have a list of targets, we need you to keep an eye out for Lilith being one of them, we have a specific list but i can't tell you about who is behind us.  Sipping and sitting back, was just how business was sometimes follow the orders down the chain of command and ask no questions.   A wry smile came of across my face as I mentioned Disorder was in town, a stern look came across Emake's face  as he said he was not to be touched he has his targets to level a playing field.  I quickly heared some of the names mentioned mentioned it seemed an attack on Niflheim, was it to level a playing field, to stir up controversy or just a vengeful strike or make all three. it didn't matter it had been part of the reason I was brought to these shores.

As the whatsapp club on 42nd lit up was time to go to work, the lists were checked and i was handed a flight ticket.   Driving Frankie to Prati's safe house and then Emake to Lilith already up and active, it felt suspicious as if she knew this was coming.  As we approached, Emake slowly rolled down the window before attempting to shoot, the gun jammed but Liliths never.   A spray of red plastered the back window as I sped for my life.   I knew i had to ditch and burn the car, and get Emake's son out of the country but Edwards was nowhere to be found, rumour was it he escaped to NY then on to Philly.

As the car burnt I heared Prati was dead, moments later Yeah fell to friendly fire.   Suddenly South Side seemed a lonely place.  Phone calls flew back and fore via the private mibbit service and notes left at the Whatsapp club on 42nd as errand boys ran back and fore safehouses, a hope change was coming was simply never going to be true though.   As time past the carnage continued as rapidly Hisoka and TonyCosta met grim ends.

Face round various tables questioned the targets but were hushed as the same line was spoken, we have people behind us allowing us to do this even helping us but we must do it a certain way.   With only three dead from New York, one to a family not even involved I travelled to New York for a sit down with Striphe.   I was met with a tired figure who had worked till morning, his eyes weary, his temper high.   How could Emake and Frankie put me in this position, i feel screwed over after how close i thought we were and nothing.  A proposition to join the war was given but was outright refused.   Striphe explained how he would never turn on Disorder and was agrieved by the potential damage to him and his family.  I noticed the letter he was writing as i left with my number, Striphe believed his family days were numbered too; so offered himself as a sacrifice to save them even though this was refused.

Needing to refresh his protection Veliotis was next to fall, an unlucky victim allegedly being in the wrong place at the wrong time.   Suddenly cities decided they may fight now, even if briefly as NY was hit by another wave as a capo and four associates fell.   Frankie was to continue, with people working inside and outside his family his work could continue even with members turning coat and running for other families.   

Frankie was not to be outdone, Malachai was next to fall as Chicago continued to feel the heat as search cries went out for Lilith once more, the stealthy minx escaped manies radar as a second call came out for even those unlinked to the days event to help fake assassination attempts on Frankie; knowing he would be dead soon would be no witness testimony and they would walk free.

Striphe was once again hit, a simple apology sent for the death of ValentinoRossi a hard working wise guy with a lot of protection around him.   A short wave of only taking Frankies total losses to only 8 seemed very suspicious.   Was he not being targeted, did people not want to shoot, were people happy this was happening as long as never happend to them.

With Shaggy and Ermintrude next to fall, suspicion continued to fall as Striphe stood adamant he would still not join as Edwards, Emake's son reached out to other sources including a line of former rogues for help once more and was refused.  Suddenly, news of Frankies death was sent out and a claim of time of peace; but people wondered for how long.


NY Falls Again
BY: ShootEmFirst

As they kinda should of expected it i will make it short.   They should of expected to die, they maybe could of helped themselves by taking someone with them.   They didn't but RUP RUP Striphe and Woodpecker and families as always great for the opressors if you go with no resistance.
 

Yay for Experiments and Experimental Cities, just kidding.
Author: I.B.Bitter
 

In breaking news we now can audition for the chance to a family head, with the lack of target practice left and Frankie's successful run the death and misery/excitement/happiness/hope has brought a chance for new target practice, i mean, family heads to rise.

With Detroit still a desolate wasteland of crime not even comparing to Delaware. LA was launched as basically a repackaged version of exactly the same thing.   With so much death in Detroit, and even the extradition to LA of Detroit families previously just to be brutally murdered you can understand the lack of desire among some to go there.

SteamPunkMax was quick to chime in with 
"Well Mr. Severe (or Ms. - just in case) you are right that the idea doesn’t seem very original, but why change a successful formula? Just because Henry Ford used round wheels on his vehicles it doesn’t mean the next car producer should attempt with triangles or something else just because someone claimed circular shapes already."

Before quickly having his point shot down by both BumbleBee and Severe.   The fact Godfather Disorder could come out but MonsterHair couldn't to such a speech continued to calm the crowd seemed leaders were little more then puppets on a string unable to counter such arguments themselves.

With Disorder also opting for an audition to be a leader, the race to build something up and to possibly be shot down for someone else to steal the members seems to be on.   With many people still claiming links to limited time to live and prosper before being brutally murdered people should realise you have a chance to change things even if little by little.   


 

The Bottom Line on Street Speakers
By: L.Emon

As time passes we constantly hear how street speakers are remembered, those who bring the brightest discussions, are masterful orators or just can use their tongue in a way not many others can.   The question is does it really matter?

As much as I love a good entertainer or someone who can hold a discussion well I will be honest, is less and less i see it.   With businesses running empty so often, customers congregating only at friends businesses and the streets often forlorn except when someone dies or a conversation of possible leadership occurs; as often as is nice to see the streets busy it doesn't matter a lot unless is helping find someone on one of the boulevards or in a backroom of a store.

The fact is we live in a society of precision killing and walls of bodyguards and money is what matters in this world and how you use it.   If for example you can sit under your enemy, build a gun in secret while tuning up your protection, sometimes you get to gain advantages of a situation especially plots your in to steer you forward or if your especially smart politic.

Now politicing is key at stages, that line of communication, that rubbing shoulders with the right people or simply brown nosing your way up the ladders.   The fact is we live in a society where your lineage is important, and your past can crush or create you especially if you work with the same ethic and mix with the right people.   Now politicing isn't always going to save you as we saw with the hard hits delivered by Frankie but if it's a temporary reprieve maybe will help you out till you can do something.

Can street speaking be an avenue, a way to be noticed of course.  So will I remember that steet speaker? maybe; a good mentor i will remember and advise my family line to look up, but will I remember the person who tried to change things for the worse or better in a murderous pre-retirement rampage more most likely.
 

Poll's
By: RUPRUP
 

With all the death's, the people who died and some districts/cities slightly fragile who is next to go; we have a selection who's your favourite to go? Cut the token out Below to vote or study results; who will be the winner?

Vote

Results
 

"I actually enjoyed this publican my friend, I would urge you ta' pursue further editions as there is never a short supply of salt."

Mornings never were for Dutchess, she was more of a night owl. She enjoyed the night life, the mob hours, the late nights she spent in Monster's HQ working away. Dark is where she would come alive. This morning however she was woken up by some shattered glass through her window. At first she thought it was the neighborhood kids playing baseball in the summer time. Then she remembered how none would ever dare to do so within a block of her residence, consider what she had….well thats a story for another day. So yea! Still semi dressed she rolls out of bed and wonders to where she had heard the glass. She finds a newspaper all rolled up. It was of the new variety, title read The Salty Times. She had heard of other kinds of such publications; usually the publications she was more accustomed to receiving were mob related, something along the lines of the Pacific and Onions.

Salt wasn't much of a brand name in the mob communications market. Still half eyed open, she sits down on her kitchen counter, reads the publication as much as she could and then walks over to her bar to make a drink. She slices a L.Emon, takes a pinch of salt by Nature and throws a shot back down her throat. Some salt and lemon to follow…Delicious! She mumbles! Salt never tasted so good. She rolls the paper back up and jumps back into bed as the sun was still out and she wanted no part of the morning routine.