Amon's plan was quite simple.

In order to misguide the Dai Lee agents, who would be watching from a distance, they would pretend to engage in a battle. Akashi would end up getting "killed," supposedly, and then he would hide until the queen's guards left. Amon had laid out this plan with great care. As Akashi had mentioned that he has helpers, Amon would have to be more careful. If the fact that he became suspect number one in a mass murder case, even if he didn't bloodbend, they could take him and pin the crime to him, forcing him eventually to show bloodbending, and making him lose all of the followers he had gained so far.

After all, no anti-benders would follow a bender. And Amon was aware of this very well. From talking on equal grounds to knowing his place, Amon realized that he was the one who could lose everything, and not Akashi. Just the fact that Akashi didn't pin him to the murder despite knowing him, and knowing who his brother was, indicated that he had been waiting for this deal.

Thinking about that alone had made Amon feel awe, even though he didn't show it on his face.

After taking the testimony from that one witness, Akashi had found the killer, but he had decided to let his detectives do the job, giving them hints and letting them figure out the rest on their own.

For now, he had to make plans for the future.

Currently, he was at his office, biting on a pencil, legs on the table, eyes on the roof.

For now, the alliance between the Earth Queen and the Equalists seemed to break, and the Equalists decided to team up with him temporarily.

It was logical. After all, the Equalists held nothing but hostility to every bender. How would they form a true alliance with the Earth Kingdom?

The thing was… even after pulling off their plan and succeeding in it, what then?

The moment that happens, Amon would try to take down Akashi.

For now, he managed to control him by manipulating him into thinking that Akashi had a helper, and there is proof that Amon is a killer.

'He'd eventually come to back-stab me. And I'll go to back-stab him. He's after Korra… and that naive girl… her naivety makes it difficult to not protect her.' Akashi sighed. 'And what's there for me to benefit from?

'It would benefit me to make the Equalists and the Earth Queen turn against each other.'

Akashi thought.

But there was another benefit from teaming up with Tarrlok.

Cash.

Yeah, babe.

For Tarrlok and his Equalists, and for the alliance, as a sign of trust, Akashi had let down his demand from 52.5 million to 10 million. It's not like he really believed that he'd get 50 million for Tarrlok in the first place.

But a guaranteed sum of money now is better than later.

-x-X-x-

Being the man of his world, Akashi walked to the chained Tarrlok, the key in his hand.

He started unlocking his chains, one by one.

Tarrlok paused, stared at Akashi for a moment, and then said, "What the hell are you doing? Are you not aware that I can kill you on the spot?"

"Well, for now, you can't." Akashi said calmly, pointing to the door. "I and your brother have reached an agreement. We are all friends now."

Temporarily friends, that is.

Tarrlok stared dumbfounded.

"You think that the matter between you and me is between the Equalists and you!" Tarrlok stood up and snapped at Akashi. "I've personal grudge on you that I can pull you down to the ninth level of hell, and live there forever as your torturer."

"Hey, it all started with you going after me." Akashi patted Tarrlok on the back, pushing him away.

Truth to be told, Tarrlok had been used as a guinea pig. He had used his supposed 'exquisite hard to satisfy' taste and try recipes and see if they worked. And to be fair, Tarrlok was expensive to sustain. Always complaining about being hungry, thirsty, bored, and alone. He had enjoyed food, drinks, hookers, and weed. And Akashi got his money back for his expenses and more.

"It's your fault!" Tarrlok complained, resisting the push, not seeming to want to go.

But Amon, who didn't make a move, seemed to grow tired of this.

Tarrlok found himself walking against his will.

"Wait, Noatak! There is something I have to pick!" Tarrlok shouted.

Amon, whose name seemed to be Noatak, titled his head.

The thing that Tarrlok did was walk to the fridge, and pick up meals prep I let. He took the remaining weed and vodka with him.

"Tsk. Some of these are only good when it's freshly cooked," Tarrlok muttered.

Akashi stared at him in disbelief. But he had some understanding. For once, if he was held captive, was given weed, food, drinks, and bitches… He may not want to leave. After all, people hated jails because of the diddies and the bad food. If prisons had good food, weed, and bitches, no diddies, people may do crimes on purpose.

'Anyways, if there's another benefit besides that money, It would be making Amon fear me by thinking I have a way to resist his bloodbending.' Akashi thought.

-x-X-x-

After letting Tarrlok free, Akashi was having a quite hard time.

People in the office had known that he had earned 2.5 million through the settlement.

And worst, the government had, and they had taken 30% under the names of the fees and all.

People started calling him rich.

And some had a thick skin, coming to him, asking him for money, or to lend them, telling him their stories.

Akashi had a bad mood to begin with. So, his replies were something like, "Do I look like your mother?" "Am I a saint?" "Sure Babe, for every fuck I give you 200 yuan."

And some got their ass kicked.

At any case, after being rude for a few rounds, no one came to bother him.

'Tsk. If you want to be a beggar, go to the streets, or to the bank.' Akashi thought.

Not being stingy or anything, but he believed what he risked his life for was for him and only him.

Very soon, Korra visited him in the office.

"I don't have any more training for you," he said to her, as she came forward to ask him to train him.

"That's so bad." Korra sighed, reaching her pocket and placing a bunch of tickets. "I was planning to practice before the tournament."

"Hmm… You'd still go, even though you know your leader is an asshole." Akashi asked.

"Well, I screamed at him and said I'd resign." Korra chuckled, "The way he started begging on his knees. You should have seen his face."

"So, you forgave him?" he asked.

"No. I just want to kick some ass," admitted Korra. "I've got you these tickets for free, so, in case you wanted to come."

Akashi thought, his heart pounding. There was that urge that he was resisting now. The urge to gamble and make it big.

"I don't know about it." Akashi said, finding it hard to say no.

"Come on, it'll be fun." Korra said, "We'd play, and then, let's drink when I win."