(POI) (Broker) Center Star Pawn

[The Doctor]

Loden walked into the shop and examined what was around him. He noticed the other woman inside, eyes narrowed glancing at her up and down before hearing the voice of another.

"I can help you over on this side," said the other voice. It was a woman standing away from the other lady helping with the other customer.

Loden walked up and gave a wave with his hand. He didn't like how the business was going to be conducted so close to another but he had a way of getting some quiet. "Yo," he said out loud with a smile on his face. It was a crooked grin with a soft chuckle. His ocean blue eyes gleamed in the light. "Beautiful day," he continued while taking another quick look around him. "I'm sorry but me and my colleague are in a bit of a hurry we have big orders to fill," he said walking up to the where the woman was. "For one I have a client with high orders and he's incredibly picky with what he wants," he said with another chuckle.

"By the by," he stopped just in front of the counter. "Do you happen to have a paper and something to write with," he said giving a slight head movement towards the other customer. He was giving a sign that he really did not wish to speak out loud and hoped this woman understood his gesture.

[Deleted]

"All of that is fine. Time isn't an issue, but I can't just wait around here forever either. I've got business in this country that needs handling. How often should I check back?

"As for Dye, don't feel bad if you can't find anything. The person I'm looking for is secretive in the extreme. Loki...well, I'd be surprised if you HADN'T heard of her. Always needs to make everything such dramatic display."

[ᖫᖭØMNÏᖫᖭ]

Post 1 of 2

@tellar

Athena searched through plenty. For much of that period it was extensive getting close to an answer only be blocked right out of it by a deadend. This whole Dye thing was leading nowhere. None of this information lingered enough to reach a good lead to present times. So that part was a scrap. This Loki person had a ton on her sure. But that is not who she was told to research. Everything else was void now. Her left eyebrow twitched in annoyment. Hearing the woman speak again at least brought her attention to something else.

She raised her upper body from its bowed position, back to upright. Training her eyes on the woman before her. Her speech was a bit strained at first, but it cleared out to be less agitated within the middle carrying on in the same way. "All of that can be arranged. As for this Dye person, it isn't really that I can't find anything its more of the consistency of the information. It doesn't stick well. But if you want check back on Wednesdays and Fridays of every week. Deals travel to and fro randomly, but those seem to be the best days. Hopefully these books won't collect dust by then." She explained, passing off a small chuckle with that last bit.

[Solus]

Taking over GM'ing for The Doctor  The Roar of the Falls to lighten Omni's workload.

S

miling back at Loden -who had not even introduced himself, how rude- Yoel kept her head straight, keeping her unseeing eyes trained in the direction of the speech. ”Do not worry sir, we put the utmost importance on not only the privacy of our clientele, but we also pride ourselves on the quality of our services.” She spoke with a smile, giving no reaction whatsoever to the gesture made by Loden. When asked for writing gear the woman would nod. ”Just a second sir.” She said, stepping a few feet to the side behind the counter, grabbing something from behind it by pure memory. Half a second later Yoel stepped in front of Loden again, placing a small notepad usually used for writing receipts in front of him along with a pen that sported the company logo.

[The Roar of the Falls]

It took ages for the teller to get around to them and take their request, Isabella none the more patient after such a lengthy stand. She'd come too far in such a short time and lost a ton of progress and space. "Tch, took forever..." She couldn't have been more cross if she tried to even with the professional attitude of the broker. "Let's be quick about it, Loden. Time is wasting." Her lip twitched, irritated and short on time and patience.

[The Doctor]

"You got it," Loden said glancing to the young woman with a nod.

He turned towards the agent and gave a nod. He took the paper and pen and glanced back at young companion. First he needed to overflow with requests. The more requests the better. He started with writing down items.

The items he wrote were

• Nodachi, blade made of Elysian Bronze - perfect craftsmen, damage. - Cost 212,625
  
• Pair of Gauntlets and Greaves, made of umbrite (writes down sizes, type, look) - perfect craftsmen - Defense - Cost 75,938 each
  
• Polearm, Tridant, 6 feet long, made of stormium - advanced craftsmen, damage - Cost 243,000
  
• Fixed Karambit knife made out of Abyssal Mithral, 4 inches in length. - perfect craftsmen, damage - Cost 18,985
  
• Anti- Gravitic Ore rifle crossbow, perfect craftsmen, range increment. - Cost 121,500

Then on the bottom he wrote down "Need information on," he said calmly.

He would then hand the paper and pen back to the person. "The first part is a list of equipment my employer sent me out to put into advertising. It is my understanding that this kind of work order needs a payment of 10% of item cost which I can do now." he said calmly glancing at his companion giving a slight shake in the head, trying to let her know this was just a way of "breaking the ice". If she figured that out or not would be up in the air.

"The second part is information." he continued, giving his attention back to the man helping them. "Payment is dependent on information available obviously. Just need a direction if possible." he continued calmly with a soft sigh. "I know it's vague but with what I wrote down it should be enough to narrow it down enough, especially here," he said pointing to the wording 'Someone of high standing position in the Waterfall Village.'

[Solus]

R

aising the paper to return it the blind girl noticed that you were done by the sound of the crumbling paper. She would grasp for it, almost missing it on the first try, barely able to grab it at the corner. Holding the paper for a few moments as Loden explained his intentions. ”Please excuse me for a second sir, I need to check this with my colleague…” she would say, hobbling over to the other guy for a few seconds who would study the paper. A written note for a blind person. Yeah, that did not seem particularly efficient. A few minutes later she would return. ”Yes sir, we have done this arrangement of 10% before, as long as you pay up-front. We unfortunately do not do credit.”

She would pocket the paper, looking at you as much as she could with eyes obscured by a blindfold. ”For a ‘last known’ location. What would be your starting offer if such information were available?” She asked, a sly smile around her mouth.

[The Roar of the Falls]

While Isabella waited she paced, short distances, three steps, her tiny legs not carrying her far. Her mood and sour, contrite and her patience short to snap with the time she had being so short. Why had Evangeline made her badge expiration so short? Isabella needed time to track down a case this old. That cold dread in her belly had melted into an acidbath with a cloying miasma in her gut. When the woman cam back reaching out all clumsily with the audacity to bargain with the price of such information the hairs on the back of Isabella's neck bristled.

She grit her teeth but she wasn't a strong individual, they didn't crack or chip Kaoru's would have but it hurt her to strain such delicate muscles. Lashing out would get them nowhere. "Loden just..." She felt heavy suddenly, the titan Atlas carrying the world on his back and looking upon the people on it with disdain. "What's the going rate for being a decent human being these days worth?" She huffed, slapping her hand on the end of the counter. Negotiations weren't her thing but she just threw out numbers, "A starting offer? Continued business with your company for starters but if an amount must be proffered I'd be willing to part with 8000 ryo, comfortably."

[Deleted]

Since she had other matters to attend to, and anything she could achieve here was complete for the time being barring checking back to see if any information regarding Dye had come up, or else if someone had been found to perform the ritual she wanted done, or made the trade for her books, Claire would bow her head respectfully to the sighted individuals in the building and turn to the exit.

"Thank you in advance for your assistance. For the record, if you happen to need to reach me my name is Claire. Claire Sakurai of Konohagakure. You can have that for free."

With that she strode confidently out into the world, strapping her pouches back onto her leg but leaving her books behind.

/exit

[The Doctor]

Loden, without hesitation reached into his jacket and pulled out a stack of Ryo. The stack was 90,000 Ryo. "This is for the first request." He said to the woman, responding about the up-front cost with no credit.

Then came the condition. What kind of information would the Doctor be willing to give up? Actually another question came to his mind. How would she contribute to get this information that is needed. He waited for her reply while glancing at the blind woman's sly smile. Something about it he did not like but there was nothing he could really do since this was a Broker.

Loden could see she was uncomfortable. He also could see that negotiations was not her strong suit. He just stood there quiet, listening to her. 'Human decency? Not something the B.I.N.G.O. are known for,' the Doctor thought to himself.

Then Isabella made an offer. It was a lowball offer however the Doctor understood since they were looking for a direction to search. He turned his attention to Isabella and smiled. He decided to help out. Without looking at the clerk he spoke. "I can add 52,000 to the pot. Will that make it sweeter?" he asked curiously before turning his attention to the blind woman. "She is of high stature, and 60,000 does seem nice for an idea of where she may have been," he continued before taking in a deep breath. He honestly did not want to do this, but if it was for a better cause. He exhaled and gave a nod.

"Approximately 2 years ago a disease took over the country of Sound. There was a team of Doctors and Ninja who organized together by the previous Otokage to combat this disease. I have papers pertaining to this disease. Trials, experimentations, and a cure. I can offer this information, however I would need more than a direction about this person. I would need to know her exact location." he said calmly with a straight face.

[Solus]

S

ilently the woman stood unabashed at the appearance of a big stack of cash. Mainly because she could not see it, her sensation being limited to the sound of crumpling bills. ”Rounded up you come down at 75,000 Ryo as a fee for the items.” She stated calmly, rapping her fingers on the table. The accusation of inhuman conduct did not seem to unfazed the blind woman either, nor did the obvious teeth gritting. ”Ma’am, we do not work with indecent offers. You are suggesting the price of a standard large shield. We do not have the time or humour for jokes of such a nature.” Direct but honest. Loden seemed to be far more accommodating in this situation, bringing the price up to 60,000 Ryo and new information. Information, which if sold repeatedly or piecemeal would also rbing in a few bucks. Naturally, this immediately bumped Loden to the position of chief negotiator and practically pushed Isabella out of the picture.

Quickly the blind woman added up the profits. ”Hrmmm, 135,000 Ryo and intel for the whereabouts of your mystery person.” The man who had helped the other customer -who had by now left- appeared from the back of the shop, carrying a big brown envelope of A4 size. ”We can offer you the information right now, a ‘last seen location’ including some interesting security footage.” she spoke, tapping the counter as her blindfolded head was aimed firmly at Loden. ”We will accept the money now and put the information of credit as a gesture to a…. ‘return customer’…”

[The Roar of the Falls]

These were the same people who sold books to all walks of life for the blood of 'criminals' or supposedly so. This whole event threw her world into question. This wasn't justice, and while she'd have blow the whole wall out of the broker it wasn't going to serve hr purpose. She didn't take the quip in return with anything more than a deaf tune of her ears but the man in the back had brought up something... .security footage. A nervous knot twisted up Isabella's gut, wrung her dry and left her in the burning heat of her own anticipation.

"Fo--footage?" The thought that someone had seen her and had the footage turned her dried husk into kindling for a whole new fire. Even with nostrils flared she held her tongue, literally, biting till she tasted blood. She was in an official business building and she didn't want to... end up in a B.I.N.G.O book for all the wrong reasons.

[The Doctor]

(I spoke to Solus in the Cbox and it's just money transfer, just writing this out just in case there is any confusion later on. If I am however wrong in this, please let me know Solus)

Loden's eyes narrowed some as he was hearing what the man was requesting. It was quite a bit of Ryo for this information. He heard the only word coming from the young woman next to him, and immediately could tell she was concerned.

he didn't hesitate. "Fine you have yourself a deal," he said calmly as he took out the rest of the Ryo. "75,000 Ryo for the items, and 135,000 Ryo for the information," he said placing the Ryo onto the table. He waited calmly for a response or what this person would say.

"We both appreciate this information," Loden said calmly without a sigh. He stood there calmly, stoic, without concern. He was entering his detective mode, which luckily was something Loden could do as well thanks to the alias he created for the man. He wondered however what he would see. Who would he see? What would he see? What was the state of this? How long ago was this tape taken? All questions and yet no answers as of now.

[Solus]

N

odding in deep agreement the woman reached her heand for the sound of crumpling bills and gave them to the man holding the package. He inspected the bills for a few seconds, trying to determine if it was the correct amount. ”It’s here…” He said, placing the package on the counter. ”Very well. Your lady was last seen in Sukuinushi no Shinseina Basho in Kaze no Kuni. She participated in a tournament there. For all intents and purposes she is dead, slain by her opponent. However… There is no body. This holo-disk contains some tasty security footage from one of the hallways bordering the arena. As your target’s body was transported from the arena to the morgue it just poofs out of existence, most likely summoned to another location. What they intend to do with the body is a mystery but I think you two can think of the possible implications.” He said, sliding the envelope that apparently contained said holo-tape over the table to Loden -who was after all the one to purchase the information- before slumping back into a pose with his arms crossed in front of his chest.

[The Roar of the Falls]

There was a tape. There was a tape. There was a tape.

The thought played over and over in her head and impatience rattled around in her skull as she realized the scope of things, just how deep this really went. Her eyes stared at the package and for a moment she just drew one long blank. Loden was there but that was the conclusion of their business. He needed to take a back seat to her ambition.

Rosie went to a tourny and lost. Killed by another ninja and then her body just disappeared? No. Too many loose ends, she'd have to drag herself around the world tracking down all these people. She still had info she needed.

She trusted Loden to pick up the parcel so she could step forward and blurt, "Do you have any information of the last know where abouts of Schatzi Rutherford? Anything not found in a typical village registry like name, age, rank or anything of that sort. Pertinent information. Last known location. Known affiliates. Aliases. Criminal records." She dug in her pocket to up end a satchel of coins, "I'm willing to pay one-hundred and fifty thousand ryo for any this information if you have it on hand. Please."

She looked as desperate as she sounded and that was the only reasons she was happy that teller had been blind. If she was connected... by the fucking gods help her.

[The Doctor]

Loden felt unprepared. He made a mental note to at least install a surveillance monitor device to his RideBack at a later date. He stored it within his memory palace while listening to the B.I.N.G.O representative.

He listened carefully to what she was saying. The holotape had surveillance of the transport. Her last known location was Sukuinushi no Shinseina Basho in Kaze no Kuni. While she was being transported to the morgue the body disappeared. Perhaps the film showed how the body was transported. He was curious how it looked, and what transpired. He would have to study this tape, and do some research. He hoped he would be able to keep a copy of the tape.

Before Isabella spoke Loden took the holotape and placed it in one of his many pouches found inside his jacket. First they would have to see the tape, which meant they would have to go to a shop. Before he could speak that's when he heard his young companion speak. He could hear the frantic sound coming from her. There was a hint of desperation. He glanced towards her while keeping his hands to his sides. She was desperate. Loden stood there quietly, allowing her to speak, allowing to see what would come next.

[Solus]

F

eeling the nervousness emanating from the young woman the blind girl would lean forward, patting the back of Isabella’s hand. ”It is okay, we will help you however we can.” She said soothingly as Athenas disappeared in the back of the store, probably looking if they had any information on this person in the first place. As you could hear him rummage in the back the sightless lady continued to pat your hand. ”I can see she was dear to you love. Worry not, we might be able to help you find her back.” She said, conveniently neglecting the part where this help would only be offered for the right price.

After what seemed to be ages Athenas continued, whispering something to Yoel behind his hand, who in turn rapped her fingers ponderously on the table for a few moments before stepping back. It seemed that Athenas was now your new trading partner ”We have little information on the individual you described. We can provide you with a travel direction for 200,000 Ryo, a function for 100,000 Ryo. Other individuals of interest travelling in the same direction around the same time, 300,000 Ryo. Of course, additional fees would have to be incurred for information on the location, other individuals and ‘parallel information’…”

[The Roar of the Falls]

Isabella had picked up from her previous partner and lover Kaoru the steely jade fact that nothing in this world was free. Even after they'd split and she quit to return to that.. gang of hers, Isabella took those lessons to heart. After their little spiff earlier there was nothing this woman could do to soothe her. Sharks always circled when they smelled blood and Brokers definitely came from a certain school of hard knocks. Perhaps that was why their tellers were blind? They always said you could tell a person who was disjointed from their own humanity by the glassy look in their eyes. It must make leeching money so much easier. Part of her was just lashing out too.

While the man in the back shuffled around for info she sighed, defeated in a way.

Snatching her hand away from the blind woman, Isabella sized up the man before her with all her tiny height and gave neither the blind woman nor the man her weakness of needing Rosalie back. "I am willing to pay upwards of 300,00 ryo but I do not want this spoken out loud nor do I want copies. I thank you for helping me acquire the tap but if this Station building had it then I am fearful to think that perhaps there are copies too and if someone comes in here looking for it and it's not here there will be issues, you understand where I am coming from, yes?" Though she was with her eyes trained on him hard she didn't lose any of that desperate touch, it was too late to hide it.

"Would permit me a mercy? I would like you to write down this information for me on a spare document. I need only the direction of Schatzi Rutherford and the function. Write this down for me now and I will ponder an extra 50,000 as an apology and for your compliance in the face of my rude manners. I do not expect you to show me a morsel of information till I pay otherwise, I just want to see and hear how so much money can be handed over for such little information. I've... also expenses to justify to my Kage..." She needed to appease them after that abysmal offer earlier. She offered the man her hand, small as it was, the strength of a nation behind it. Hopefully Evangeline wouldn't kill her for blowing over half of the money she'd given her so quickly only to get so little info.

But this was important wasn't it?

[The Doctor]

Loden stood quietly to himself listening to the two negotiate. He did not want to interfere with this negotiation. He knew if he said something he would perhaps ruin it. Instead he stood quietly. He didn't make a face when 300,000 ryo was thrown out as a request, nor did he make a fuss of her replying with 350,000 with certain conditions. Instead he he just marked that this woman carried a decent amount of Ryo, like him. This was a good thing honestly because that meant that there would be no issues when it comes to money any later down the road. He could tell she was concerned though about people knowing, however this was the B.I.N.G.O. They knew a lot. In fact they probably knew about some of his own secrets. If he was lucky however things were safe, but being cautious was one of his things.

[Solus]

W

hen it was wrenched away Yoel would immediately let go of the hand, not wishing to aggravate you any further, straightening her back to take her position behind the counter. Upon hearing the offer the face of the blind woman remained plain. Possible because she had never seen any other person smile and did not know how to make the gesture herself. She turned to Athenas and they conferred among themselves for a while in hushed whispers. Finally they turned back to face their customers. It was Athenas who decided to continue the negotiations.

”350,000 Ryo is generous for the information asked, but not to make this information private. As you understand this will deprive us of much income that cannot be covered by that single 50,000 Ryo you offered to add. If it were to be replaced by other information that we could sell, like say, information on a plague or plague in Oto no Kuni, that would make this deal more than possible…” He said with his palms upturned, making a clear case for the deprivation of income. And not a bad one either, considering what they made you pay for it as is. Imagine that amount for multiple customers. The insane amount of money they lost on privatising this information was staggering.