There were black figures up on their roof, enterring their building through a roof patch.

"Hey yous. This is Stonekillers territory. Get lost.", said Mario.

The figures took note of the brothers, but continued on.

"Alright. One warning is all I'm giving. We're coming in. There better not be anyone inside.".
"Maybe we ought to let them go, Mario. They could be armed.", said Luigi, cowerring.
"No, we lost all of our hard-earned money because of these clowns. We're going in.".
"We are not going in there without a plan.", said Vol.
"Plans are for people who don't take action.", said Mario, going in through the front door.

Luigi, having more love for his brother than fear for his life, followed. Vol, not wanting to be a sitting duck, followed as well. Inside, they heard the sounds of objects moving around with no subtlety. Mario turned on the hallway light & grabbed a metal bat, kept by the door in case of intruders.

"Not such a smart idea, now that I think about lt.", said Luigi, since robbers could just come in through the front door & take the bat.

They progressed to the front door & Mario opened lt, stepping inside. They went into the living room & there were the robbers, taking anything that they could find. They were not masked, but the brothers didn't recognize any of them.

"I know yous are going to put our stuff back where lt belongs.", said Mario, in a one-warning-only tone.

"No chance. Yous're getting yousr just desserts.".

"What? I don't even... oh, yous're the Diplomats.", he realized.

"That's right. Yous tricked us into a Stonekiller ambush. I lost a few important guys. And I'm taking my compensation.".

"I'm sorry we used yous, but we were trying to get rid of them. Don't take our stuff. How are we going to pay rent?".

"That's not my problem. Normally, we'd just kill yous. But, I decided to give yous a break since we find Mario Brothers Plumbing to be a useful & reliable service.".

"That's not...", began Luigi, but stopped himself.

They didn't even seem to notice.

"Come on. Just accept the apology. That's what real men do.".

They ignored him.

"How about a deal then?".

"What could you possibly have to bargain?".

"We're still technically Stonekillers. We could give you information. No set-ups this time.".

"Alright, but I'll need some insurance. Yous could easily just screw us over again.".

Mario had no ideas, so he went off of the top of his head, so as not to risk jeopardizing the deal.

"We go on adventures. If you accompany us, we can't run away lf we try anything.".

"Alright, deal.".

The man extended his hand.

"Whoa, whoa. We're about to enter a binding contract. And I take contracts seriously. I am not shaking hands with someone whose name I don't know.".

"Teraud".

They shook hands & closed the deal.

"I'll bring the money tomorrow.".

"All of lt?".

"Half of lt. I'll bring the other half when I see your trustworthiness.".

"Fine by me.".

"We'll be around. If you try to go anywhere at all, I'll know.". "I take contracts seriously too'.", were Teraud's last words, as the four Diplomats left through the front door empty-handed.

"Did that just happen?", asked Luigi, dumbfounded.

"Do you see what you're getting us into, Mario?", said Vol.

"I just saved our stuff & our funds. Am I really supposed to regret that?".

"How about letting us in on your plans? Luigi almost ruined everything.".

"What plans? That's all improv acting. I'm not even in on lt myself.".

"Are we really supposed to sit there, not knowing what to say?", asked Luigi.

"I didn't see any of the other Diplomats talking. Should I risk us coming up with three conflicting stories? I'm the fast thinker here.".

"We're supposed to be in this together. Why do you get to do everything?".

"I don't know any other way. My way works. If lt's not broken, don't fix lt. We can't afford to risk anything new when we're dealing with dangerous criminals.".

"This is a bad neighborhood.", said Luigi.

"I don't like getting tangled with this stuff.", said Vol.

"Me neither. If we have to use unconventional tactics to get rid of them, then so be lt.".

"On the bright side, we'll be able to go places tomorrow.", said Luigi.

"Oh, shoot. I left Pauline outside.".

They went outside to look for her, but she wasn't around.

"Pauline?", Mario called.