Book Three – Chapter Six – Part Two – The Bank Robbery & A Chance Encounter

“That’s why she’s clinging to you?” Old Man asked after hearing an abridged version of the morning’s incident.

“That’s right! Willie told me to be true to my urges!” Carrie rested her chin on Servi’s lavender wig as her hands gently wrapped around her neck.

“Willie?”

“Since she’s paying me to fuck her, I figured I'd allow her to call me that," Servi said while shrugging.

But why does it sound familiar? Am I such a good liar that I’m actually convinced my name is Williana? Servi thought as her cup met her lips. Like before, Carrie embraced the curved, white handle as if it was a newborn babe.

“I shouldn’t have said anything, but fuck it. Act like this if you want to..." Servi later added on.

“Williana, what’re you going to do about your clothes and armor?” Old Man asked. He noticed Servi’s back, stomach, and thighs peeking through her shirt and her pants, respectively. Those ‘modifications’ were proof of Carmelo’s involvement in the drug deal the night before.

“I’ll steal some later today. I didn’t know the back of it wasn’t reinforced. If I had known that, I would’ve splurged and bought something more protective.”

“I can get ya something if you want,” Carrie said. She reached down over Servi and grabbed the coffee cup.

“You don’t need to do that,” Servi said, drinking a few sips of her hot drink. It wasn’t nearly as good as the coffee from the machine Carrie broke, but it was better than nothing.

“But I wa—”

“No, you don’t want to do it either. I’m fine. I can find my own clothes.” Sharp words spewed from Servi’s mouth in a cold and aggressive tone. Old Man picked up on it instantly, narrowing his brow, but Carrie's lovesick persona was too thick to realize the harshnesses of Servi’s words.

“That’s fine, too!”

After rubbing her head on Servi’s head, Carrie remembered something important.

“Hey, they told something important at the meeting."

"What meeting?" Servi asked.

"Right after you left our room this morning, I had to go to a meeting with the other Numbered. That's why it took me a while to get here."

"Okay, and what did they tell you?"

"After the 6th sent in his report, he received word that a 5th is coming here tonight!  Willie, you gotta call me your 9th when they’re here. I don’t care if you call me Carrie, but a 5th is a big deal. They only answer to 4ths and higher," Carrie explained.

Servi’s sinister smiled appeared hidden behind a seemingly innocent smile. She didn’t believe the opportunity would present itself to her so quickly, but it meant that she was one step closer to finding her beloved Momo.

“Oh, and there’s something else. I don’t think I can recommend you for the big thing on Saturday because everyone’s participating. For the first time since I’ve joined, it’s a Mafia-wide event, and every member in every base is required to attend. I don’t really know the details or where to go, but I know it’s Saturday at 9 AM. The 6th told us to be ready at 6 AM, so it's going to be early.  Make sure to get your rest, okay?” Carrie kissed the top of Servi's head, who fought the urge to smack that insufferable Singi around like a toy.

“That’s interesting. I wonder why everyone’s getting together?” Old Man inquired.

“I can’t really say, but we, Deset, received more instructions. As of right now, we are required to snatch and hoard supplies for the Mafia. If we need potions and battle items, then I say we might be moving to a new place.”

“What’re we supposed to do on Saturday? How do we know where to go if they didn’t tell us the location?” Servi asked. Her mind debated on the best way to inflict pain and gather information from her soon-to-be victim.

“Don’t know. Rumors say it’s gonna be a signal, but if we have to travel three hours, then it has to be a smoke signal, yeah? I can’t see it being a sound or light signal,” Carrie quipped.

“I wonder if the Boss is at this new location,” Old Man asked aloud.

“I’m sure he is. There’s probably a lot to get done in preparation. If he handles the logistics, then I believe we need to gather the supplies. But only having a few days to do it? I’d rather have a week, but if it’s what the Boss wants, then we have to do it.”

“Sounds like you love the Boss,” Servi said.

“I don’t. I’m just part of the Mafia because I can kill, fuck, and drink blood. If I can’t get that here, then I would’ve resigned and left a while ago. Well, I guess there’s no such thing as resigning from the Mafia while you’re still alive. The only way out is by being buried in a box two meters in the ground.”

"Being buried? Wouldn't any deserters be tortured to death? Or maybe tossed in a ditch after losing all of their limbs?" Servi quipped.

"Yeah. I guess it just depends on how a base's leader is feeling that day. Any deserters might be strung up by their dick and left for the crows after being tarred and feathered. Or just left in a ditch like you said."

“Wait, didn’t you say no one knows what the Boss looks like?”

“Yep! But I guess that’s about to change,” Carrie answered Old Man’s question as her hands weaved through Servi’s lavender wig.

The group of three heard a door opening and turned to the newcomer.

It was Carmelo, the new leader of Deset. His metallic bow, gently carried with both hands, reminded Servi of a mother cradling her newborn as she walked down the street surrounded by predators. It was odd, in a way, that someone would care so much for a simple bow.

Servi, I feel something coming from that weapon. Remember when we attacked Parrel’s mansion and fought the summoners? I think there’s a spirit in that bow.

Servi quickly glanced downward and simply nodded. She never fought a spirit inhabiting a weapon before, but she knew it would die by her hands in a few days.

Wearing a long robe garbed in painted leaves, Carmelo looked like a village elder or a high-ranking magistrate. His slim arms and delicate soft hands didn’t seem right as they carried Deset’s weight. The plip-plop of his wooden sandals echoed across the cafeteria as he walked in a single direction towards Servi’s table. The other members, eating their breakfast, froze solid for a few moments before their hands continued to shovel food into their gaping mouths.

As of yet, Servi didn’t think anyone noticed the blue-haired Singi was missing, but anything relating to him was the furthest thing from Servi’s mind. It didn’t matter if he died here or later. She had more important things to focus on.

“Carrie, Williana, Old Man, good morning,” Carmelo pleasantly said as he took a seat. He took a single glance at the red-headed Singi and Human and sighed. Carrie took the quick second to explain, and that was good enough for him. As long as work and tasks were being completed, Carmelo didn’t care what was happening inside the base.

“Williana, I’ve heard through the grapevine that you are looking to make money. Is that correct?”

“Yes, 6th, it is,” Servi replied with no hint of aggressiveness or tone that would suggest she’s anything but content and happy. It was a skill of hers, though not one that was in the Skill System. It was almost as if Servi believed whatever lies she told to be the absolute truth.

“I see. Yesterday, I saw you jump in front of Carrie to protect her from those throwing knives. It was impressive because you threw them back even though one of them pierced your very heart. Tell me, do you not fear death? If I had not come along, I doubt you would be alive. Liron was a fierce warrior with the ever-impressive Metal Skin. Other than the lucky dagger you threw that took his eye, you three would not have been able to kill him. Speaking of that, show me your ID.”

Servi slid it over to Carmelo. With his beloved Clarence held tightly, he expertly flicked through everything Servi’s ID had to offer. Because of Itarr, he only found the skills relating to a newly registered Rank 10 Warden member who only knew weak skills because she wasn’t blessed.

“To be frank,” he said, handing the ID back to Servi. “Your skills are quite shit. You’re not blessed in any way, you know no attacking skills, and your physique doesn’t support what you have shown me. Tell me, what training have you done?”

“6th, when I was younger, life was hard for an orphan like me. I had to defend myself because the shitty Gods believed I wasn’t worthy of a blessing. Day and night, I trained with sticks, rocks, and wooden shields until I stole swords, bows, and spears,” Servi lied.

“From what I have seen, that certainly seems to be the case. Here,” Carmelo used Instant Cast to open his Dimensional Storage and retrieved a simple bow and ten metal arrows, “Take these items and prove yourself. Take note, however, that if you accept this bow and I do not find your work satisfactory, then your life is forfeit. If you’re lying to me, now would be a good time to say so. Your life is on the line.”

Without missing a beat, Servi activated Soul Essence of Primal Combat and retrieved the bow. Her index finger traced the curved wood and spider-silk string. She didn’t know what she was doing or how she evaluated the bow's quality, but Carmelo was nonetheless impressed.

Carrie removed her chin from Servi’s head and stepped back. Old Man did the same as Servi nocked an arrow and stood up.

“What should I do to prove myself?” she asked.

“Split an arrow with an arrow,” Carmelo ordered. “Aim for that spot over there, and don’t worry about damaging the walls. Just focus on impressing me.”

The spot he pointed at was a little hole through the gate leading to the buffet. Squeezing through the chain links, which were only a tiny bit larger than the feather span of an arrow, was an impressive shot for even an experienced archer. As an Elf, Carmelo wouldn't stress about failing the task he had set because it was impossible, but a Human? He had only met a few non-Elves who were up for the challenge, but he didn’t think Servi was one of them. Sure, her skills with the throwing knives and daggers were impressive, but throwing a weapon and shooting a bow were two vastly different things. The proper muscle development and stance couldn’t be used interchangeably.

“Shoot it through the hole and then split it with a second one?” Servi wanted to confirm. After a confirming nod from Carmelo, Servi pulled the arrow back. After allowing her newly gained souls to meld with her current stockpile, her body slowly changed to accommodate the newfound knowledge she had acquired.

I suppose one of the men we killed was an expert archer. We did absorb Oaklin and Daki’s souls, so I’d imagine that’s helping us out. Itarr said to herself while aimlessly floating inside their shared soul. The red void-like décor around her calmed her.

“Oh ho, I didn’t expect this…” Carmelo whispered as he analyzed Servi’s form. It was a night and day difference when compared with the stance Servi took to teach Momo the basics of archery. That was only a month ago, but she didn’t even look like she was the same person. Her arms, shoulders, and back were oddly relaxed and stressed. It was a juxtaposition of what an archer should be, yet Carmelo was impressed by it.

With a calm breath, she released her grip and grinned. Like she wanted, her arrow soared through the air until it slipped in between a tiny gap in the fence. Its metal head collided with the concrete walls, impaling itself a few inches in. Without saying a single word, Servi grabbed, nocked, and released another arrow. This time, she aided it with Telekinesis to give it a little extra push to split the first arrow.

“Well?” Servi said as she returned the leftover arrows to Carmelo.

“For a Human, it’s impressive. However… Clarence, soar!” Carmelo strummed his metallic bow’s metal strings as a green arrow of energy formed in front of it. With a flick of his thumb across the first string, it launched like a rocket and destroyed the gate. With a pluck of the second string, two green energy-filled arrows danced across the air until they obliterated Servi’s arrows.

Was that necessary? Itarr asked herself.

The two poor bastards near the buffet ducked for cover when the first green arrow launched, and they only came up when Carmelo said it was safe to do so.

“Do not think your archery skills are above those of an Elf. Now, I have one more task for you to complete. Carrie, stand against the wall and put this on your head.” Carmelo retrieved Servi’s coffee cup and tossed it to the red-haired Singi.

Carrie nodded, confused, but did as he asked. Servi reached out for the bow and arrows but stopped when they disappeared. Two throwing knives appeared in their place.

“Throw both and destroy the cup. If you miss, then you’ll injure your 9th. That would be betrayal, and you will die. Let’s see how you perform under stress.”

Servi sighed and picked up a knife in each hand. Soul Essence of Primal Combat still activated, so Servi followed her souls’ memories. She tossed both one after the other after doing a small spin to build up speed and power. With three anchors on each dagger, the two flew nearly parallel with each other as they shattered the cup. Small ceramic pieces rained down on Carrie’s red hair and fell into her cleavage. She dug it out and tossed it away as she walked back to Servi.

“Very well. I’m convinced you can back up your words. Your form was exquisite, and I couldn’t see anything wrong. Now, take a seat. I have a proposition to talk to you about.”

Servi, Old Man, and Carrie took a seat after Carmelo sat. He laid his beloved bow on the table and protectively gripped its limbs.

“I searched through Mel’s notes last night, and I discovered something. He had been working on a plan to rob the Corner Bank. I’m not sure if you know it, but the Corner Bank is where the residents and nobles of New Arcton keep their precious money. Do you know where that is?”

Servi answered Carmelo. “I know where New Arcton is. I sold Monotonia there yesterday. Is the building with the guards and Kobold in nadrium armor the Corner Bank?”

“No, though I can see why you see came to that conclusion. Corner Bank is outside of New Arcton, and it is disguised as an entirely different building. There’s a large tunnel spanning from a building in New Arcton to the Corner Bank’s base floor, located underground.  It is filled with millions in dupla and gems.”

“Sir?” Servi asked.

“I normally don't do this. Rather, I have refused to allow Non-Numbered to participate in this mission. But I will make an exception for you because of the loyalty you showed when you protected Carrie. While I won’t allow you to be a member of the main force, I will leave you with the support team. More accurately, you will be a member of the second archery sub-team. Their job is to provide range support for the main force.”

“What’s the difference between second and first archery teams?” Servi asked. If she played her cards right, she stood to gain an impressive amount of wealth. But more importantly, this was the chance she needed to prove herself to the Mafia.

“The first archery team will be in New Arcton. They will slaughter and kill the nobles. That will force the area to descend into chaos. The second team is responsible for taking up a position in the area around Corner Bank. Your tasks include slaughtering the guards and providing covering fire when the main force escapes. Half will rush back through the tunnel, and the other half will ascend the stairs and emerge outside the building above the Corner Bank. By this point, the area should be littered with corpses. Keep this in mind: those near the Corner Bank are not civilians. They are all mercenaries and guards hired by New Arcton to keep an eye on their valuables.

“Okay, and once they emerge, what is the plan?”

“You protect them with your life. Judging from your excellent display of archery, you should have no trouble if you can maintain your level of accuracy. You shall only retreat when the commander of your team says so. If this goes off, we plan to make a lot of money. For you, you stand to earn anywhere between twenty and thirty thousand dupla. Is that enough?”

Thirty thousand is shit compared to my millions, but I can play this to my advantage. Servi thought as she replied. “Yes, sir.”

“Good. Do you have any questions?” Carmelo slowly nodded, readjusting the grip he had on his bow.

“I do. What are we do to about the heavily guarded building in New Arcton?"

“As of this morning, every guard, watchtower, and ballistae around it have disappeared. Therefore, there is no need to worry about them. Any other question?”

They’re gone?!  Itarr shouted in surprise.

“When will the operation start?” Servi asked. “And what about Old Man and our 9th?” She pointed to both of them.

“The robbery will start four hours from now. Mel was meticulous. He had all of the arrows and other supplies he believed he needed already prepared at the correct locations. He even had a list of candidates at the ready. They arrived this morning after I sent messages late last night.

“As for your second question. Old Man doesn't have the strength or energy to do anything useful, and I have not allowed Carrie to participate. Last night, I observed for a distance, and I am disappointed in how you reacted. Take Old Man and shakedown some shops or sell Monotonia. Be sure to be back tonight for the 5th’s visit. Oh, Williana. Do your best and impress me, and I will personally put in an excellent word with the 5th. I’ll even allow you to be present at the meeting.”

Servi’s gleaming smile disguised a murderous hatred, and nobody caught on to it. She thanked Carmelo for the chance to prove herself, and he pulled out a set of clothes and armor from his Dimensional Storage.

“I noticed your clothing and armor are in disarray. Take this as a small gift for protecting Carrie last night. Head to your room, put it on, and return to me. Once you do, I will take you to the planning room,” Carmelo ordered. Servi took the equipment from his outstretched hands and walked back to her room.

After shutting the door, she stripped naked and summoned her ID.

“Can you believe it?!” Servi said as she rolled on her and Carrie’s bed. “HAHAHAHAHA!!!!” she roared with laughter.

I cannot believe it. Servi, our goal is almost here. But how are we gonna get the 5th?

“Kaasuvuoto,” Servi answered as she absorbed her newly acquired equipment. With a simple and unnecessary snap, her curvy body became covered. A solid black tunic reinforced with a metal plate protected her chest, while black pants with two layers of chainmail embedded in them guarded her legs. She had no cloak, but the metal shoulder pads and steel-toed boots made up for it. It wasn’t what she thought an archer would wear on a mission that involved robbing a bank, but she didn’t care. “We flood Deset with sleeping gas and kidnap the 5th. I torture him until he gives me info. I destroy every base I can, then I go to the Boss and kill him. I’ll save Momo. After that? Whatever happens, happens.”

I hope we can save her tonight. I don’t want to stay here.

“…” Servi remained quiet and picked up her ID. After hugging it against her chest, she walked back to the cafeteria without saying a single word. Itarr wanted to say something, but she didn’t. She knew that Servi wanted to save Momo more than anything in the world. That’s why she tainted her soul and joined with the people responsible for her kidnapping. If she wanted to recover Momo without destroying the entire town, she had to go undercover.

But it was worth it. If it would save Momo, there were no limits to the dark sea of madness Servi would sink to.