"The inner circle, I assume that isn't the kind of position given out so freely, correct?" I asked. I knew the answer was yes, but I wanted Shaw to expand on his reasoning.
"Indeed, what I'm offering you is an extraordinary offer by the standards of the club, but is it not to be expected after you demonstrated your abilities, capable of utterly flattening Emma?" He explained himself whilst taking a drink from his glass.
At my silence, he continued.
"You'd be joining as the Black Knight, a position that has been vacant for some time."
Although the majority of my knowledge was limited to films, I was aware of the Hellfire Club's chess-themed hierarchy. The Black Knight sat below the Kings and Queens, sitting alongside the Rooks and Bishops.
Reviewing my knowledge made me wonder for a moment; wouldn't there also be a Black Queen and White King? I decided to ask Shaw about the discrepancy.
"So, if you're the Black King, and Emma the White Queen, what about the reverse? The Black Queen and White King."
Shaw smiled at my question, not at all perturbed by my shift in the conversation.
"It's good to be curious," He nodded his head. "The White King position is currently vacant due to the... resignation of the previous title holder."
After speaking of the vacant White King's seat, Shaw paused, visibly making a disgruntled expression.
"The Black Queen, on the other hand... Yes, you'll inevitably meet her, so there's no harm in telling you." He took a gulp from his glass. "Selene."
My expression remained neutral because I genuinely didn't recognise the name.
'Selene...'
It didn't ring any bells.
Perhaps she was some random fodder character? But judging by Shaw's expression, she couldn't be something like that, no, she would have to be someone equally as annoying to him as Emma.
"You don't seem to sound fond of her," I asked, hoping to get some more information.
"Selene is..." He took some time to choose his words, "a complicated individual. We maintain a working relationship, but our interests don't always align."
It was a diplomatic answer, to say the least.
"And she'd be above me in the hierarchy?"
"Well, as per Hellfire's hierarchy, yes, that is technically the case."
"Technically," I repeated, waiting for him to elaborate.
"Selene operates... largely independently, so you won't be seeing much of her." Shaw looked away for a moment, deep in thought. "Let's move back onto the matter of your membership."
I filed away everything he had explained pertaining to 'Selene' as well as the vacant White King's position.
"Right." I leaned back against the club booth sofa. "The Black Knight."
To be honest, the position had a nice ring to it; the title alone could probably net me some fear points.
Shaw seemed slightly relieved to move away from the topic of Selene, taking a breath before speaking again.
"Indeed, if you were to accept the position, it would come with full access to the club's resources. Properties, financial networks, intelligence contacts, command of certain personnel."
He recited the potential benefits I could receive. All of them seemed useful in their own ways.
Of course, I wouldn't just be receiving all of that for free.
"In exchange, I'd expect your attendance at certain club events and your availability when specific situations require your particular capabilities."
From the capabilities I had shown him, there was only one thing he could be referring to.
"Specific situations, meaning Emma." My words weren't a question.
"Among other things," he said smoothly. "The club has various internal and external interests that occasionally require a more direct approach than the rest of the Inner Circle can provide."
In plain language, he was basically hiring me as muscle. Someone who he could use in internal disputes to bear his teeth, as well as in external situations to act as a representative.
The irony was that I had absolutely no problem with that arrangement; I welcomed it. Frightening powerful mutants on Shaw's behalf was exactly what I had hoped to do, so the fact that he was thinking of it as a service to him was almost funny.
Though Shaw clearly still lacked an understanding of my power. Right now, he most likely saw me as a telepath or psychic who could counter someone of Emma's level, which wasn't really the case.
Regardless, with my current superhuman capabilities granted by the Hanma template plus the boosts provided by the Sharingan and my direct method of attack with Dead Bone Pulse, I was confident I'd be able to bully the majority of mutants I'd end up confronting.
I nodded my head before asking another important question.
"And my own time? Outside of club obligations."
He didn't hesitate to answer.
"Your own. I'm not interested in managing your personal affairs; all I need is for you to act when it matters."
It was, I had to admit, a cleaner offer than Fury's.
Actually, it was way better in terms of flexibility and offerings.
The only issue was my lack of leverage over Shaw. Even if Fury didn't know it, I had plenty of shit to use on him, something which wasn't the case with Shaw.
Other than that, I had no reason to disagree.
"Alright."
Shaw's smile widened as he raised his glass.
"Welcome to the Hellfire Club, Black Knight Varis."