-Cassiel, what have you gotten yourself into?! I can smell blood!

  -I didn't get myself into anything. Just a bunch of thugs getting rowdy on my way back. But I managed to keep it out of the public eye, don't fret.

  -I was worried. The city's in a bit of a turmoil right now.

  -''Tell me about it.'' I replied knowingly.

  -The death of Ministro Carracci was announced on the radio not too long ago. Do you know anything about it?

  -I was there to see it when it happened.

  -My goodness Cassiel, what have you really gotten yourself into?!

  -I didn't get myself into anything. I just saw it from a distance away.

  -From your roughed up uniform I gather it wasn't a smooth investigation?

  -Except for the end part of it, it actually was. And I found a great many deal about things in this city.

  -''Tell me.'' My lupa prompted.

  I had recounted to her all that I found out, and confirmed between ourselves several important matters as well. Things were more than they seemed, and we had to be more vigilant than ever as the turmoil grew.

  -''So Texas and Lappland Saluzzo themselves are here as well. And in a time when the power struggle is heating up as the gambit is drawing to a close.'' Said Provence.

  -It is in less than a year that the new city will be completed, but I wasn't expecting this.

  -Volsinii has not known peace these last few months Cassiel. Things were already on the move.

  -''And blood will inevitably be spilled in great quantities when such large amounts of power and influence are involved.'' I spoke.

  -''Yes, unfortunately...'' Provence answered back, with a tone gloomier than the weather outside.

  -''And it's the people below them that always suffer the most. The people that have to endure this constant dance of knives.'' The air of her tone now sounded exasperated, angered.

  -''It is a state of affairs that I have always despised.'' She spoke with a determined and ill pleased voice.

  -I believe you.

  She sighed heavily. Looking displeased as she gazed aside.

  -''Are you thinking of anything?'' I asked.

  -''Nothing that will help us. Their power struggles will continue with or without us. We will change nothing by getting involved.'' She said with a finality, as if closing a matter she had no solution to.

  -''Found anything from the restaurant?'' I asked, changing the subject at the same time.

  -I have. It seems that a small gang of resourceful individuals are planning to make a heist at your friend's mansion in the near future. We could very well use them as cover for our own ends.

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  Friend, she used that term loosely, for she knew the matters as well as I did. I didn't need to hide anything from her. And she very well knew the risks and the stakes at hand. I told her many times before we left for this, that she needn't come. But she was adamant. She would help me in my struggle, remaining by my side no matter what. And I was grateful to have known such a faithful partner in life.

  It was from that point onwards that we totally avoided any interference with the constantly escalating strife that was brewing in Volsinii. Using it to our advantage to further our own ends as the conflict would overshadow our plans even better than I would have ever expected.

  We would constantly listen to the news on the radio, as well as using my hacking device to monitor in to the different radio chatters of the famiglia's hit men. Grasping a good knowing of the pulse of the city. Texas for her part seemed in a dirty mess. Having been arrested. Brought to a trial that was busted in. Freed somehow. And then brought back to doing the dirty work for the Bellones.

  It was such that the official title of Ministro dei Lavori Pubblici would be officially handed to current Ministro Rubio of the Dipartimento di Sicurezza Alimentare di Volsinii (Department of Food Safety). It would be the chosen moment that our heist would take place. Closely paralleled to the small team of robbers that we would use as cover.

  -''Best estimate is that there are at least forty guards. Most probably mercenaries of experienced level at the least. But I wouldn't put it beyond him having hired only expert veterans.'' I spoke, reviewing the plan with Provence before I continued.

  -I will attach the charges here, here, and here. The EMP fryer I will place on the main grid here, and the secondary one here. It will be sure to fry all of their electrical systems and possibly their security lines too. Though no doubt there are backup generators and black boxes on the estate.

  -It's a dangerous plan Cassiel. We will risk the whole local infrastructure going off, and possibly hundreds of lives.

  -I've inspected the infrastructure of the utility pipes carefully. Placing the explosive charges at these key points will only affect the connections with the manor and no further.

  -Will all that smoke and blasting cover us more than it will garner attention?

  -I believe it will. And we have the thieves to use as scapegoats. The security systems will pick them up before anything else.

  -Where will I be in all this?

  -I want you to take vantage point on the highest building nearest to the manor and monitor everything from there. Mister Grape will be with you as an additional measure for both of your protection.

  -Not a chance we're letting you go inside alone!

  -''I need you there to thin out the mercenaries guarding the place. It may very well be that I will have to make an escape through the estate, since the way in will be a fiery Hell at that point. And neither of us will be alone.'' I said as I tapped one of the two boxes besides me.

  -''More meepoos?'' She asked as I opened one of them.

  -Custom made by Mayer's. They are deadly fellas with a far more advanced programming even by her specialized ones. They recognise us as sole owners and subjects of their protection. They have built it custom weaponry including ranged stun guns, smoke and explosive grenades, flash bangs, and pneumatic shuriken launchers.

  -''Hrr-woof!'' Protested mister Grape.

  -''We're not replacing you buddy. But these are disposable, you are not.'' I said, amazingly managing to placate him quick with that.

  -They also come with an advanced set of sensor arrays. Nobody will be able to sneak up on us while we have these besides us. One for each to guard our backs while we do our work.

  -Mayer's truly adept to have built these so fast for us. Let's say I am somewhat reassured. What do you need me besides providing cover fire?

  -Keep an eye on the general situation. Prepare to man our car and extract me if need be. However, break radio silence only and only if you deem it vital. We broke through many communication lines to listen in to them. There's no telling if someone else may have the same capability we do. Better to leave them in the dark about our presence as much as we can.

  -How about our timetable?

  -Early morning tomorrow. The smoke and the appointment of the new Ministro, as well as the hustle and bustle of the start of the day should be enough cover for our operation.

  -''Our plan looks solid. But there are still too many unknowns.'' She spoke, trying to hide her concern for me.

  -There are always unknowns. It's just how life is. Whether in peace or in war. But we will pull through.

  -And just in time. The transport company is slated to come in the morning to move the entire artefact collection to his new domain.

  -The operation will be well underway by that time.

  -It's a big place for an ancient Sarkaz. Is there no other way to do this?

  -Unless we came with a tank, and I wouldn't feel safe enough even in that. No, a surgical strike is needed. Even if a rushed one that will make the wound bleed heavily.

  -Just get out alive if everything fails. I don't want to lose you.

  -I very much plan to leave alive. I know my priorities Provence, and the one up top is us.

  -''I am glad to hear that.'' Provence spoke reassured.

  -Just follow our plan and its timetable. Precision will be needed at the beginning.

  -You can trust this lupa to deliver.