[center][h2]The Heist - Featuring the Sly Fox, [color=slategray]Mie Yukima[/color]. The Elder Monk, [color=f7941d]Mirt[/color]. The Paradoxical Cleric, [color=8dc73f]Anyon[/color].[/h2][/center]

[color=slategray]“You’re not a great salesman, are you?”[/color] Mie snickered. The old monk really wasn’t doing a good job of selling this little venture. Pros and cons. Pros, it’d probably be fun and there was a chance she could get some money. Cons, it was probably dangerous, and she might get in trouble. Hm. So no real Cons either way. 

[color=slategray]“But,”[/color] Mie’s usual smirk didn’t leave her features. [color=slategray]“I’m bored so I’ll humor you. I could use a bit of fun, and what better way than to swindle someone out of their money. So what’s the plan, boss man?”[/color]

[color=f7941d]“The plan, dear fox, is to find this warehouse and take our cut.”[/color] Mirt grinned, feeling 30 years younger than he was, as the mischievous nature of their new mission crept up on his sensibilities. 

The seal belonging the the letter was addressed to a Larchmond family, powerful merchant class turned royals after their great grandfather seized swathes of city land and began stockpiling anything they could get their hands on. Years down the road that warehouse operation had become a force to be reckoned with, complete with its own privatized security force and a list of suppliers from across the city from the tip of its crown to the soles of the poorest citizens shoes. 

They dealt something to everyone.

No doubt the fox girl would know these were top brass they would likely be robbing. 

[color=f7941d]“There is an order for foodstuffs, clothing, medical supplies, and weaponry. If I’m to secure the position as a third-person supplier for this family I’ll need someone who knows their way around a business transaction to get me through the door.”[/color] Even as the words left his mouth, Mirts hand was on Mies back eagerly pushing them forward. No doubt Anyon would follow but if not there would be time to send a message for where they would meet up. She was critical to bare-knuckle part of this trip. 

[hr]

[center][h3]Midway Worries[/h3][/center]

Initially, Mirts confidence was at its absolute limits when foot met pavement to go to this golden quarter warehouse but since then it had deflated considerably. Mostly because Mirt, a foreigner to the city, did not know where anything actually was, and thus needed to over rely on Mie for assistance.

[color=f7941d]“Apologies for my blunderous sense of direction. The city is larger than I knew.”[/color]

[color=slategray]"You sure you're not just a senile old man?"[/color] Mie retorted. This little venture was starting to sound dangerous. Right up her alley, really. The Larchmond's were some of the elite of the city. Trying to rob and trick them was a fool's errand, but she could respect a fool if they showed her a good time. 

[color=slategray] "Fine, fine, I'll lead the way though."[/color] Mie sighed in a playfully annoyed manner. [color=slategray]"Just make sure you buy me a drink later. Golden Quarter's this way."[/color] As she took the lead, the fox kept her ears open, making a quick checklist. Blade? Check. Vial of poison? Check. A merchant could never be too careful, and going unarmed would be a death sentence in this day and age.

[color=slategray]"So tell me...what do you know of the Larchmond family? They're some of the Elite of this city. Getting involved with them on a business level is certainly good for profits."[/color] This warehouse would be easy enough to find. She knew what storehouses looked like. Guarded, locked and supply wagons. [color=slategray]"I wouldn't be surprised if they have any shady business practices behind the scenes. All good merchants do, heh!"[/color]

[color=f7941d]“From what I hear, it is quite a vast bit of shade. We are taking supplies to some sort of gambling arena. Properly barbaric. Wagers made in the hundreds, and now in need of resupply.”[/color] Holding onto the unsealed letter, Mirt couldn't escape thinking it had all been a little too easy. Finding a courier at a brothel? It was a bizarre city.

As the three strolled leisurely through the rumbling trade district, the elder of the group felt a twinge in his heart as workers went about their business without even a sideways glance.

[color=f7941d]“For a moment this place reminded me of home. Dozens, hundreds, of my people performing their duties day in and day out without a thought. Eager to be started, eager to finish. All to find a piece of happiness for themselves.”[/color] Of course in his homeland the work was usually of martial training, hunting, preparing clothing for the harsh winters, and endless prayers to their gods for what meager warmth the glorious sun could provide. Here in this foreign land the sun beat the ground with an intensity Mirt couldn't have ever fathomed. [color=f7941d]“Were you raised here in this city, Mie?”[/color]

[color=slategray]"Gambling house...?"[/color] Mie's ears twitched in thought. Now that...actually sounded like something she could get in on. Huhm. Maybe she should let the old man get in over his head? The Larchmond's certainly wouldn't mind a little fox such as herself helping to supply some more...exotic things. Inserting herself into the situation would be easy.

[color=slategray]"Ah, no."[/color] Mie replied dismissively. [color=slategray]"I was raised in a small village out in the countryside. Moved to Kararagi to learn business and a bit of self defense during the war. Since things have calmed down a bit, I came back and work out of the capital a lot, at my sisters place. People here are usually eager for exotic goods from Gusteko, Kararagi, or Volakia. Makes me a nice little profit."[/color] A rather brief overview of her life, and certainly not telling of the whole story, but for Mie there simply wasn't much to say about it. Digging up the past got no one anywhere.

[color=slategray]"...If I may make a suggestion, though."[/color] She quickly changed subjects. [color=slategray]"If it's a gambling den you intend to shut down, would it not be better to give this information to the guard? No reason for yourself to get involved." She paused, a grin forming. "...I also know some people who could clean it up quite...nicely."[/color]

[color=f7941d]“You misunderstand our intentions madam,”[/color] Mirt glanced at the looming buildings as they approached a polished iron gate seperating the various businesses from the dozens of warehouses lining the area. [color=f7941d]“I am here to shut down a piece of it,”[/color] Hooking his thumbat Anyon trailing behind, the lithe woman had already begun various short stretches as a predatory grin spread upon her face. [color=f7941d]“She is here to teach these men manners,”[/color] His index finger came to rest pointing idly at Mie, the two of them standing side by side, [color=f7941d]“And you are here to swindel every fat gambler with a purse of their coin, take everything of value you can carry, and get these greedy pigs to bet against Anyon. By the time they get wise we will be long gone with their fortunes.”[/color]

It was a simple enough plan on paper but the process would be straining and Mirt, his homeland rife with gambling on a warriors prowess, was no stranger to the subtle art of raising someones expectations about a fighter before blindsiding them when the coins were stacked well out of his favor.

Though he had never participated in the gambling part. Mirt had often been the fighter being wagered on.

[hr]

[center][h3]Larchmond private warehouse, building C - Anyon / Mirt / Mie[/h3][/center]

Like most every building, the warehouse in question looked pointedly cheap. Run down disheveled. The bricks were crumbling and the paint was cracked or overrun with graffiti, its roof showed it had taken a beating from its dozens of years in the elements and looked close to collapse.

At its front gate was a single armed soldier in leather armor with a longsword on their belt, the handles grip was worn out from use. Their eyes roamed the newcomers top to bottom looking for weapons or hidden threats. Finding none or not fearing their use, the guard called for them to halt a respectful distance away with an upraised hand and a shout.

[b]“Halt! Stand and state your business.”[/b] The mans hand casually rested on the hilt of the longsword. Likely it could be drawn in an instant. 

Mirt, impersonating a haughty nobleman, merely gave an indignant shrug and a roll of his eyes, ushering his ‘servant’ to answer the question for him. Before they had approached, Mirt had given Anyon orders to stand behind him and let Mie act as his voice, passing the letter and giving the fox woman the passcode he had taken by force.

[color=slategray][i]How greedy.[/i][/color]

Mie couldn't say she didn't like their intentions. Take from the rich, line your own pockets. The whole 'teaching them manners' thing, was likely just an excuse. The fact they were being honest with their more human desires was amusing. Was she wrong? Perhaps, but that thought was neither here nor there. They had soon arrived at their destination. A single guard was the only thing standing between them and their destination.

[color=slategray][i]Play time, ufufufu~[/i][/color]

[color=slategray]"How rude."[/color] Mie took a few steps closer to the guard in question. Half of deception was merely looking and acting the part, something she believed she was quite skilled at. [color=slategray]"The fact you do not recognize one of Lord Larchmond's associates is disgraceful. I suppose I shouldn't expect anything else from the uneducated grunts. You're merely doing your job, afterall."[/color] A pause. The Fox coldly walked closer still. Didn't want to oversell it too much. Waving a hand dismissively, she gave the password.[color=slategray]"'Cattail'"[/color]

Suspicion turned to dust in the face of the thrown name. The pass code had been correctly stated and the guardsman, bowing to his superiors, stepped aside and blew a series of whistles that received a reply moments later from the other side of the massive doors.
Close to 10 feet tall and just as wide, the rusty metal doors slid open without a sound on well oiled tracks. Only enough for Mirt, Anyon, and the Fox Herald of his, to walk in single file before the doors closed behind them.

The difference from the exterior to its interior could not have been any more different. From the outside it seemed like a nearly dilapidated warehouse complete with a failing roof.
Inside was a an entirely new structure build within the failing ruins of its exterior. Polished walls, smooth stone floors, rows of stacked product neatly organized along sturdy shelves. Everything was hidden behind wooden crates so as to prevent thieves that managed to get in from identifying the more expensive items without wasting precious time. Often resulting in a swift capture.

The process of acquiring the goods was rather simple. Anyon was told to fetch a wagon and by the time she returned, the items required to be moved had been placed in a tidy stack near the front doors, arranged to be loaded so that the heaviest items were on the bottom and fragile or foodstuffs on the top.
A route had been pitched to avoid scrutinization and within the hour the three were leading a relatively large pile of goods across the smooth stone paths into the city.

The poorer side of the city, far to the outer ring. 

Mirt, for all his bluster, couldn't hide his unease and had quietly conversed with Anyon before stepping aside to speak with Mie. 

[color=f7941d]“We picked out some clothing from the warehouse while the others were loading cargo. While in this gamblers ring it is important that you distance yourself from us. A brothel lends their services as eye candy and hostesses during fights, and are treated as all but invisible. Can you sacrifice your dignity to go where we can't?”[/color]

There was an unflattering uniform server girls wore but he left that out for now.

[color=slategray]"Oh..."[/color] Mie smirked upon hearing talk of dignity and brothels. [color=slategray]"How lascivious. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you simply wanted to see me in a revealing outfit yourself."[/color] She mused, her grin never fading. [color=slategray]"But dignity is a funny thing, foolish monk. It varies from person to person, and suffice to say I am unafraid of flaunting my good looks."[/color]

Mirt blushed a little out of embarassment. There had indeed been some improper thoughts towards the fox girls looks, and his own eagerness towards seeing the beautiful specimen in something more revealing, but his own pride concerning the Headmistress' request of aid had him constantly checking his own temptations. [color=f7941d]"I can assure you such was not the case." [/color] The lie of it was plain as day across his face. 
To his right, Anyon gave a dry and exasperated sigh before chiming in, [color=8dc73f]"I don't have to wear that piece of string do I?"[/color]

In the distance, their destination loomed. A clustered gaggle of run down homes. Below their roofs lay a network of tunnels few but the privileged knew of.

[@zelosse][@ZekariVoblis][@Rune_Alchemist][@BrokenPromise]