open Nothing personal, it's just business...

[P-Jay 1,987]

calibers ears twitched 'okay now i KNOW someones there. heh, lucky break for him, im hungry.' caliber thought, gathering up his things

 

"shotgun!" he called as he jumped in. making sure his swords with him "so, wheres the first place we're going? oh and make sure i get back here before sakuya gets back. she is my client, after all."

[Gloomfury 243]

@@nx9100,@,

 

"Fantastic." Malachi said as he got in the carriage. "If you don't mind me asking witch construction crew did you hire?  Also did they have a union? Cause I think I could handle that part. Most don't know this but the families have own most of the workers unions. Mine included. But we look after our workers."

[nx9100 1,013]

"Hmmm... I'm not sure," Ennex admitted, as they started rolling down the street.  "I just told one of my managers to contact a crew and send them over.  We will have to find out when we arrive.  With luck, they will be an outfit you are familiar with."  He turned to Caliber.  "It is a new project I-" another glance at Malachi "-correction, we, are working on.  A new casino-entertainment facility."  He smiled.  "And don't worry, Caliber.  We will be back in time to meet up with Sakuya..."

[Unicorncob 5,679]

The pegasus watched in his cover as the carriage rolled off. Once it was out of sight, a smirk crept onto his face.

 

Those idiots! He cackled internally. They may as well have thrown me the keys on their way out!

 

There was nothing stopping him now. He emerged from behind the crate and practically sauntered toward the warehouse, eager to take a look at Ennex's little operation. From what he overheard, Mr Moneybags was having a casino built in town, so no doubt there would be quite a juicy little collection in there.

[P-Jay 1,987]

"good! now, on another note, you look rather wealthy. naturally, you must have some rather valuble items, correct? i have a couple, myself." caliber said proudly.

 

'heh, perfect! i can definetly get at least SOMETHING from him...' caliber thought. 'maybe malachi would have somthing too...'

[Gatekeeper Giggle 2,902]

"Are you sure this is the right place? It looks a little... dilapidated..." Dividend Yield muttered. "And those goons at the door don't look very friendly..."

 

"Of course this is the right place!" Rhythmic Rhapsodist replied. "Now, go up to the guards and tell them we're here to see Mr. Ennex!"

 

Dividend Yield hesitantly walked up to the door and spoke to the guards. "Greetings, my good sirs! My... bodyguard and I are have an appointment with Mr. Ennex!

[nx9100 1,013]

@,  "Valuable items?" Ennex asked.  "Perhaps.  I do have a select number of items and artifacts in my personal collection."  He raised an eyebrow.  "One might wonder what would prompt you to ask about such things?"  He grinned.  "Not planning anything, are we?"

 

--------

 

@,  "Sorry, sirs," one of the guards replied, "The boss isn't here at the moment.  He left to visit a construction project not far from here."  He stepped inside, returning a few moments later with a business card.  "Here is the address, if you wish to meet him there.  Otherwise, you are free to wait inside."

[Gloomfury 243]

@@nx9100, @,

 

 

"Look kid if I did have any Valuable items, why would I give them to you? They could my family heirloom or things my old man got from he-... His old home before coming to Manehattan." He knew almost everyone call his father a demon but he didn't want everyone to know that he really was. "Anyway if Ennex didn't mind parting with some of his valuable items.  I bet you got to be willing to pay out the ass. Cause in this city you can't get anything for free." He puled out one of his cigars aqnd placed it him hs mouth. HE didn't light it out of respect for Ennex, so he just chewed on it.

[P-Jay 1,987]

"i never asked if i could get it for free..." caliber said "who knows, maybe i even have somthing to trade." caliber waved his fire ruby "and even if you don't see anything you like, id be willing to do rather...odd jobs, depending on the item at hand."

 

'that malachi. it sounded like bis daddy was in hell. and if thats true, then thats means malachi is part demon. but i shold have guessed, when his eye started glowing and all...but. this is still only a theory. ill need more proof.' caliber thought.

[Unicorncob 5,679]

Once the pegasus had sneaked into the warehouse, he was...underwhelmed, to say the least. The place was piled high with crates, large enough to fit a full grown pony into. And all of them empty.

 

The hell is all this? He grumbled in his head, after going through a few crates. Did they notice me tailing them and throw me off? I must be losing my edge, or these guys are just that good. A grin crept onto his face. I might finally get a challenge!

 

He glanced upward, hoping to find a stairwell up to an office or something. There had to be more to this place. And if they are using it, then why the pony-sized crates...?

[nx9100 1,013]

@@Gloomfury,@,

 

 "Interesting ruby," Ennex said, watching Caliber wave it around, "Did you receive it as a payment, or find it laying around somewhere?"

 

--------

 

@@Unicorncob,

 

Two stallions, hired thugs mostly, entered through the warehouse loading dock.   Not noticing the pegasus in the shadows, they crossed the floor to a crate sitting in the open.  "Ah, there it is," said one, picking up a clipboard sitting on the crate.  "Alright," he told his companion, "lets get back to the tower.  Boss wants me to pick up that crate of Zebra stuff he had delivered, and Ravage won't be back with more 'supplies' till later in the week."  

 

"Sucks to be them," the other said.  "Ya ever feel bad about this?"

"Nope.  Better them then me!  Come on, I'm starving!"  Clipboard in hoof, they trotted out of the warehouse, pulling the door closed behind them...

[P-Jay 1,987]

caliber grinned. "i...found it. as i found most of my other stuff. incuding this" caliber pulled out his spellbook. "thoughout all my travels, ive never found anypony who can read it. i found this thing next to a statue of discord. you wouldn't know anyone who could read it, would you?"

 

'maybe ill finally get to read it...'

 

 

 

((my book is open to anyone who would like to tell caliber what it is))

[Unicorncob 5,679]

The pegasus swore internally as the two stallions left, gently tapping a hoof on his forehead in frustration. How could he have missed that clipboard?! It might have been a cargo manifest or something!

 

However, he quickly realised all was not lost. He could follow them to this 'tower', find that clipboard and have a little light reading. Since this place sounded like a more public building, he only had to sneak around until he got back to the streets, then he'd be practically invisible.

 

Plus, he was curious to learn about this 'Zebra stuff'. Maybe he could nab a few souvenirs for his mantel at home.

 

With a nod, he jogged back to the door and quietly pulled it open, taking a careful peek through the crack before making his pursuit for the goons.

[nx9100 1,013]

"Hmmm, may I see that?" asked Ennex, reaching for the spell book.  Having handled older items before, he carefully held the book, studying it's cover.  "Interesting..." he muttered, slowly opening the cover, and taking a look at the first page.  "I am not familiar with this text myself, but it does seem familiar."  He closed the cover, and passed it back to Caliber.  "Perhaps Sakuya might know.  She's more familiar with such things then I."  He look to the third occupant of the carriage.  "Or perhaps you, Malachi.  Care to take a look?"

 

--------

 

The two ponies walked down the street, arguing about where to get something to eat, when a brief gust of wind blew past, catching the papers loosely attached to the clipboard.  "Of all the-!" one cried out, trying to gather up about a dozen sheets.  "Quick, help me!"  

 

"Help youself!" the other replied laughing, as his companion finally got them all gathered up. With a scowl, he followed the other down the sidewalk...

 

...one sheet still remained, forgotten on the street.  It was a delivery notice for a small package, including the address of the office tower, signed by Ennex....

[Unicorncob 5,679]

The pegasus rolled his eyes as he watched the spectacle. Nice to see he was dealing with real professionals.

 

His expression softened when he felt a strange sensation under his hoof. Glancing down, he saw he was standing on a rather important looking document. 

Hello, what do we have here? He thought, scooping up the sheet in his hoof and quickly skimmed through it. A delivery invoice, with address and all. Oh and look at this; signed by the pony himself!

 

Taking mental note of the address, he folded up the paper and placed it in his saddlebag before regarding a map of the city on the street. After a minute or so, he'd made his route and began along it.

 

Now he won't even have to sneak inside; he can just make it look like he's being a Good Samaritan and returning an important paper! This was just getting easier by the minute...

[Gloomfury 243]

Malachi looked over to the book a she kept chewing on his cigar. "Sorry, old books and stuff like that aren't really my forte. But I do have a friend who  knows a lot about magic stuff and old books and whatnot. She's a little wacky but she seems to know her stuff. Give her a call and she'll jump at a chance to look at it. Even dew a few spells." He shrugged

[P-Jay 1,987]

"sounds good," caliber said as the carrige came to a stop "sounds like she knows what it might be."

 

'hmmm...i wasn't entirely honest about the book. acually, it was given to me by discord himself. but who would believe that? last time i said that, everyone thought i was crazy.'

[Gatekeeper Giggle 2,902]

Dividend Yield thanked the two door guards, and took the business card. They both walked in the direction of the address printed on the card... But as soon as they got out of hearing distance of the two door guards, they stopped.

 

"Something's wrong. There's no way this Ennex would have simply brushed off our appointment to go visit some 'construction project.'"

 

"I agree. Construction sites are a great place to hide bodies, all you have to do is bury them under the concrete foundation; and the loud noises of construction can easily mask the sounds of gunfire. No doubt this Mr. Ennex wishes to dispose of us quietly." 

 

​"But It doesn't make sense that they would try to kill us! I'm worth trillions of bits, I'm worth much more to them alive. Besides, we can't afford not to meet with Mr. Ennex if we want our plans to proceed."

 

"Yes... Which is why we'll be going into the construction site. We won't be going in unprepared, however..."

 

Rhythmic Rhapsodist went inside a nearby bar and came out a few minutes later with a case of various alcoholic beverages in glass bottles. He then removed the corks out of the bottles and replaced them with rags found in a nearby dumpstnd soaked in alcohol. He used the rest of the rags to pad the case, so the bottles wouldn't clink together or break. 

 

"Here's the plan. You'll go inside the construction site alone, and I'll sneak in behind you. If this Mr. Ennex doesn't have any malevolent intentions toward us, then our meeting can continue as planned. But if he threatens us in any way, I'll use these to torch the whole place with them inside of it. Don't worry, I'll get you out before the place burns." 

 

"I'm sure it won't come to that. Now, lets get going. We've wasted too much time."

 

After a short walk Dividend Yield made it to the construction site. Rhythmic Rhapsodist had taken a different route to the site, there was no doubt that he had already hidden himself inside. With some hesitation, Dividend trotted into the site...

[nx9100 1,013]

As the carriage stopped, Ennex climbed out, beckoning his companions to follow.  "Ah, here we are," he said, once again gazing upon the future casino.  The empty 6-story tower to the right of the lot was being rebuilt into a 5-star hotel, while what appeared to be a n old civic hall on the left would be the new casino itself.  There were several worker ponies wandering around the site each working on a different task, some landscapping, others fixing the buildings.  "Malachi," he said, "do you recognize this group?  I believe they might be a union you are familiar with."  Taking another look around, he noticed an almost-golden pony with a brown mane approaching the site.  Ah yes, he thought, my appointment from this morning.  I hope he doesn't mind the change in venue....

[P-Jay 1,987]

"wooooah" caliber stared at the unfinished building "this looks crazy!" he turned to ennex "how long is it gonna be before its finished?"

 

'heh, a casino. my luck has always been though the roof.' he thought 'the opportunity for bits jus keep going up! but i can't help but wonder, who are THEM?'

Edited February 15, 2015 by Peytonjay

[Unicorncob 5,679]

After a bit of a walk, the pegasus finally found the building listed on the address. Putting on a confident smirk, he approached the ponies guarding the doors and offered them a friendly nod.

 

"Good day, gentlemen," he began, and pointed a hoof to the door, "Would Mister Ennex be in, by any chance? I have something that belongs to him." He reached into his saddlebag and pulled out the document. With the important details mentally noted, he had little use for it now.

[nx9100 1,013]

@,

 

 "Hopefully, not too much longer," Ennex replied.  "Perhaps a few more days, at least for the casino part."  He pointed to the tower.  "The hotel, however, will take a bit longer then that."

 

--------------------

 

@@Unicorncob, 

 

The guard took a look at the document, and assumed he was here to deliver something.  "He is not in," the guard said, "but you can deliver that to his office if you want."  He pushed the door open...

[Unicorncob 5,679]

The pegasus blinked. This guy was actually going to let him in just like that? No asking for identification, or even a name? Sweet Celestia, he was green.

 

"I'll do that, thank you," he nodded, walking in through the door and beginning to think, Now, if I were a crime lord rolling in bits with my own tower, I'd obviously put my office on the top floor. That's what they all do, after all.

 

He stepped into the elevator and took it to the top floor of the tower. And wouldn't you know it; there it was, a door with the pony's name right on it, young mare secretary and all. This guy's really on it.

 

He stepped forward and explained the situation to the mare, who told him to head inside and leave it on the desk. Were Manehattanites that trusting or just that stupid? He walked into the office, and had a little look around. Nice and professional, standard desk and chairs.

He spotted a few...interesting items on the shelf. Some rare-looking artefacts by the look of them. They gave off quite a presence, quite possibly holding some kind of ancient power within them.

 

All he knew was he wanted them.

 

He looked up and noticed part of the ceiling had been patched up. Somepony could easily break in from the roof that way.

Somepony like himself.

 

He placed the document on the desk and thanked the secretary on his way out. As he rode the elevator down and made his way back out into the street, a plan was brewing in his mind.

He'd had a hotel room booked before his arrival, so with luck, his...'equipment' had arrived there safely...

[Gloomfury 243]

@@nx9100,

 

Malachi lit his cigar when he was outside. After striking a match on his horn under his hat he put it to his cigar and took a few puffs. He looked around for little bit at the works, seeing a few faces that he knew, till he saw one of his friends who was supervising the others. He then faced Ennex again. "You're in good hooves, a good friend of mine is the foreman. He dose good work."

[P-Jay 1,987]

"so remind me why we're here? i thought we were going to get something to eat." right on cue, caliber stomach growled "i haven't eaten anything since i got here!"

 

'they brought me here for a reason. what could it be? they must know i dont care for motels. i do like casinos, but it isn't even finished yet! no, somethings about to go down...' caliber touched his sword for comfort 'if they plan to dispose of me, ill have to be ready. you never know with a guy a heart that dark...' he thought, looking at ennex 'i wonder, what'll happen...'