Chapter 20: The City that Tempted Fate Part 8: Investigations and Confrontations

To say the casino guard was surprised to see Ya Ya was an understatement. "Ah! L-Lady Ya Ya," he stammered before collecting himself and bowing. "Allow me to welcome you to the Lucky Stars Casino."

Ya Ya inclined her head in return. "Thank you. I am taking King Ivan on a tour of our beloved Goldpaw," she explained. "I understand that he has already visited the establishment previously but is not familiar with its history. Since we were in the vicinity, I decided to rectify the matter immediately." She smiled sweetly. "Is this acceptable? Of course if the house is currently too busy, we can return another time."

"That is perfectly acceptable, Lady Ya Ya, if you would but allow us a moment to prepare for your visit."

"Of course," she replied brightly.

After the guard had disappeared inside, Roland smirked and said. "Heh. That was pretty mean."

Ya Ya batted her eyelids at him innocently. "Whatever do you mean?"

"The pooer man," said Lofty with a grin. "He was practically sweating buckets." Ya Ya and the higgledies chuckled.

The guard eventually reappeared. "We are ready for you now, Lady Ya Ya. Thank you all for your patience."

"Excellent. Then let us proceed." She lead the way into the casino. The croupiers were doing their best to remain nonchalant but there was definitely a tension to the atmosphere inside the casino. The oblivious patrons – of which there not many as it was now approaching midday – however greeted her cheerfully, which she returned. "Now then, you may already be familiar with the Lucky Stars Casino, but did you know that the building itself has been standing for three hundred years?"

"I did not know that," Roland dutifully replied.

"Has it always been a casino?" Evan asked.

"Indeed it has. And much of the casino's interior design has remain unchanged in all that time."

"Fascinating," said Roland.

She continued, describing how some of the décor had been painted by this artist, and how the latticework had been hand carved and assembled by this carpenter. "Let's go into the next room." The off duty soldiers visiting the casino snapped to attention and saluted as they walked by.

When they'd stepped through the doors Roland spoke. "Look." He nodded to the back and they discreetly looked to where he had indicated. There was a panelled door with "Staff Only" above the door frame in Goldpaw script.

"I see it," Evan and Ya Ya chorused.

"Higgle!"

"Well we know where we're headed next, but we'll have to stall for a little more time."

"Right." She continued to explain that the building and decoration materials had been sourced from different places, as well as answering any questions they could think of. There were a couple of other patrons playing the card games, but during the talk they moved into the next room, and two of the croupiers disappeared into the back. Just as she was running out of things to say, they heard a commotion from the next room.

"You poxy curs!" Batu thundered. "I saw that dice roll with me own eyes!"

"Yeah!" Tani shouted. "Let 'em have it, Batu!"

"Batu!" Aranella cried. "Put that table down! Do you want to get us all arrested?"

The croupiers exchanged puzzled looks as it sounded like Team Distraction was raising merry hell in the other play area. "Perhaps someone should investigate," Ya Ya prompted when no movement seemed forthcoming.

"Ah, yes. Of course," one of the croupiers replied. He disappeared through the doors then reappeared moments later with a panicked expression, and wordlessly – and frantically – gestured for his coworkers to follow. They had to suppress their laughter as the remaining croupiers exchanged puzzled and concerned looks before flocking after their colleague.

"Coast is clear, mun," Lofty observed once they'd all left.

"All right, that's our cue," said Roland. They hustled through the doors and into the Staff Only area. Behind the doors was what looked like a break room. Plush chairs, sofas and coffee tables were set up around the room. There was a sink in the back with a drying rack filled with drying cups. A hand towel was hung up to one side. The two croupiers who had disappeared into the break room were nowhere to be seen but the commotion could be heard through the doors leading out into the main room, and there were a few recently abandoned plates of food and cups filled with what was presumably tea – from what Bradley had said regarding coffee – on the tables.

"Seems like Team Distraction is doing an admirable job," Ya Ya remarked.

"Yeah," Roland agreed. "But we'll have to be careful from here on out. There'll be employees working the factory and remember what I said about security."

"Won't the factory be guarded as well?" Evan asked.

"I'm sure it will be but getting caught at that point won't matter. Once we get to the factory, Lady Ya Ya should be able to use her authority to get us all in the door and then we'll see what we came here to see."

"Right. But, um… couldn't Lady Ya Ya just use her authority to get us all the way to the factory?"

"We're trying to get there before anyone can run off and warn Master Pugnacious, or run ahead and warn the factory that we're coming. Once we actually get to the factory it'll be far too late to stop us, or take any preventative measures. That's why we need to be cautious until then."

"If we have to, however," Ya Ya added. "We may be forced to, as they say, "bash a few skulls"."

Roland quirked an eyebrow at her. "Why, Lady Ya Ya. Are you… advocating for violence against your own employees?" Lofty and the higgledies cackled at that.

"I… I mean… Only if necessary."

He chuckled. "Sure. You got that, uh… Ivan? Only if necessary." Evan nodded. There were more doors at the back of the room leading deeper into the back area. Roland looked from one to the other before asking. "I don't suppose you have any idea which door we should take?"

"I'm afraid not," Ya Ya replied. "But with luck, it hopefully won't matter."

"Right. Ivan? It's your choice."

Evan swallowed. "Oh. Um. All right." He looked from one door to the other. "Umm… Lofty? What do you suggest?"

"Left," Lofty replied confidently.

"Then we'll go left."

"As my King commands," Roland replied. As Ya Ya had hoped, it hadn't mattered which door they had taken as both led into same place, so they navigated the back area dodging employees and security until they came upon a door with two guards standing outside. "Do you think that's the place?"

"I don't think so," Ya Ya replied. "There's someone inside counting money, so I'd think it unlikely they'd have a factory for producing dice in the same room."

"… There is?"

"Yes," said Evan. "I can hear someone moving money around."

"Huh. What about you Lofty?"

"No chance, mun. It looks like you and me are in the terrible hearing squad together."

"Lucky us," he replied sarcastically. "Let's have Runcible and Wiff-waff check it out anyway, just be sure."

"Higgle," the two higgledies saluted. They dashed over to the room and slipped inside, reappearing shortly after. "Higgle pig," said Runcible.

"Looks like you were right," said Lofty. "Lots of money in the room and no sign of any factory."

"Let's move on then," said Roland. They came to a staircase leading down into a basement level.

"I hope this is it," said Evan.

"Only one way to find out." They descended the staircase. At the bottom of the stairs was an open space and a pair of panelled doors at the end. "I don't see any guards," he said. But there was a strange-looking statue standing to one side. It looked like it was made out of bricks rather than stone and had turquoise orbs for joints as well as hands and… feet? Its eyes flashed red when they approached.

"UNKNOWN PRESENCE DETECTED," it intoned, making them all jump. "PLEASE STATE YOUR DESIGNATION AND ACCESS CODE."

"What in the gods is this?" Ya Ya asked, giving voice to her disbelief.

"Some kind of guardian," Roland suggested. "Although if it's technology from Broadleaf, Bradley didn't make any mention of it."

"ERROR. NOT RECOGNISED. PLEASE STATE YOUR DESIGNATION AND ACCESS CODE," the guardian repeated patiently.

"I am Second Roller Ya Ya. You will stand aside and let me pass unchallenged."

"ERROR. NOT RECOGNISED. PLEASE STATE YOUR DESIGNATION AND ACCESS CODE."

"Didn't you hear me you infernal contraption? I said, I am Second Roller Ya Ya, and you will let me pass!"

"VOICE PRINT NOT RECOGNISED. AUTHORITY NOT RECOGNISED. INTRUDERS! PREPARE TO BE REPELLED!"

"Well that didn't work," Roland stated unnecessarily.

"It was worth a try though," said Evan.

"Stand fast, everyone," said Ya Ya. "It seems we have a fight on our hands."

They drew their weapons, with Ya Ya calling forth a sabre and readied themselves for the guardian's first move. The guardian closed the distance between them with a charge, then sent Roland flying with a sweep of one arm and Ya Ya with the other.

"Roland! Ya Ya!" Evan yelped as the higgledies cried, "Higgle!" He rolled out of the way of the guardian's next attack but it spun to keep pace with him, forcing him to dodge roll out of the way of it's follow up. The reprieve had given Roland and Ya Ya time to recover and get back on their feet. The higgledies were throwing their little spears at it, but the spears bounced harmlessly off its body. And when Roland returned to the fray, striking the guardian with a downward slash, the sword struck its hard body and rebounded, painfully jarring his elbows. "Ow! How the heck do you beat up something made out of bricks?" He protested.

"It should have some kind of elemental vulnerability, mun," Lofty explained. "I think this one's is water."

"Guess we'll find out. Evan? You know any water spells?"

"Evan?" Ya Ya repeated with a frown.

"I do!" Evan replied.

"Great. We'll distract it, you let 'em have it."

"Okay!"

"Ya Ya? We need to pin its movement by blocking its attacks, but its too strong for just one person, so we're going to have block together."

"R-right… of course."

The guardian swept towards them, one arm raised in preparation to send them flying again, but they raised their swords in turn and dug in their heels, putting all of their weight into the block. It held. "Now, Evan!"

"Right!" He conjured up a ball of water and hurled it at the guardian.

"BRZZZZZTHHHHHHHEEEEE! HAZARDOUS MAGIC DETECTED! ENGAGING DEFENCE PROTOCOL!"

"Well that doesn't sound good," Roland remarked. The guardian began spinning violently and erratically around their battle arena, as the party frantically dodged out of the way.

"Hit it again, mun!" Lofty cried. "That's definitely its weakness." Evan managed to conjure up another ball of water but missed. He tried again and again and again.

"BRZZZZZTHHHHHHHEEEEE! SyStEmS fAiLiNg!"

"One more should do it!"

The guardian was slowing down, so he was able to hit it on the second try. "BRZZZZZTHHHHHHHEEEEE! SyStEmS… shutting… down…" The guardian lurched towards the factory doors and crashed through them before slumping face first to the floor.

Confused factory workers crowded around the fallen guardian before turning their gazes on the party. And their eyes widened in shock.

Roland looked to Ya Ya. "I think they might know we're here."

"Yes, thank you, Mr Roland."

"L-Lady Ya Ya," one worker stammered.

Ya Ya slipped into authoritarian mode and strode forward. "It has come to my attention that there is some… unsavoury activity going on within this establishment. You will show me exactly what that activity entails. And for goodness sake do something about this," she said, gesturing to the fallen guardian. The workers nervously exchanged looks and were hesitant to obey. "Well?" She prompted, placing a hand on her hip. "Must I repeat myself?"

"Y… yes… Lady Ya Ya," one of the workers finally spoke up. And as if a spell had been broken, the others gathered around the fallen guardian and moved it over to one of the workstations where it would presumably receive repairs at some point… assuming another use could be found for it.

With the way now clear, Ya Ya strode through the doors and into the factory. "Let's start with your documentation, shall we? Show me where it is kept."

The worker glanced at the battered and fallen guardian before complying. "Yes, it's… it's this way… Lady Ya Ya." And lead her to a small room filled with filing cabinets. Ya Ya shut the door behind her, preventing the workers or anyone else from disturbing her and began to comb through each of the cabinets, vanishing any important documents she came upon into her armsband. The workers crowded around the door, watching her through the windows with tense anticipation.

"Should… should Master Pugnacious be warned of this?" One asked.

"Yes, he should," another replied. "I'll go." He shot off before anyone could think to stop him.

"Oi! Look!" Lofty yelped. "He's getting away."

"Let him go," Roland replied. "There's no point, we'll already have gotten what we need by the time he returns."

"What should we do?" Evan wondered aloud more than asked.

"What's to do?" Lofty replied. "Looks like she's got this, mun."

"We can help by splitting up," said Roland. "You, Lofty and Runcible go look for the trick dice and me and Wiff-waff will go find the remote control. Make sure no one tries to do anything to them."

"Roger," he replied with a salute. "Let's go Ev-uh… Ivan…" They wandered around for the trick dice while Roland beelined towards a station that looked like it was for assembling remote control devices.

Ya Ya eventually emerged from the filing room to continue her investigation and the factory workers followed her around like lost sheep. "P-please understand, Lady Ya Ya. We had only the best intentions."

"And what intentions were those, pray tell?"

"Master Pugnacious assured us that the money gathered would be used to benefit Goldpaw."

"So none of the money you have been cheating from people has been lining your pockets?"

"Well…" The worker lowered his gaze and mumbled. "Some of us need that money…"

"More than others?" The worker was silent.

She checked in with Evan first. "Lady Ya Ya. Lofty and I found the trick dice."

"Thank you, Ivan. Or should I call you, Evan?"

"Umm…"

"Either works," Lofty replied brightly.

"Sorry, Lady Ya Ya, but Roland told me I couldn't use my real name here."

"And what is your real name?" She asked.

"It's, um. King Evan Pettiwhisker Tildrum."

"Tildrum?" She repeated, as the workers murmured amongst themselves in surprise. "You're the ousted king of Ding Dong Dell?"

"Yes… I… I am."

"I thought you would've been a grimalkin."

"I'm half grimalkin. Mother was humanfolk."

She blinked. "So I see…"

"Yeah and if you could keep that detail to yourselves, that would be most appreciated," said Roland. "There's a reason we had him using a codename after all."

"Yes. Of course. Now, what have you discovered?"

Evan turned to the work station. "This one wasn't finished yet, so as you can see, they have this little thingy inside them that controls how the dice lands." He picked it up to show her. She took it from him and held it up to examine it.

"I see. So it's a form of loaded dice, where the weight can be adjusted according to which side is pressed. How devious." She replaced the gadget and took some photos with her Leafbook, before it too joined the gathered evidence in her armsband. Next she went to Roland. "And what have you found?"

"It looks like they've made a few backups for the remote control dice Master Pugnacious is using to manipulate the dice rolls of Lady Luck," he replied. Beside him was a large dice, identical in appearance to the one rolled by Lady Luck, and another on the workstation in the process of being constructed. He held up his hand. "And this is what's used to control it."

"I see. How does it work?"

He held it out. "See for yourself."

So she took the device and examined it. There was a small lever on top of the control stick which she moved with her thumb. Whichever direction the lever was moved, the completed dice would follow. "How remarkable." She replaced the control device and took more photos with her Leafbook before it joined the rest of the evidence.

"What did you find?"

"Enough. Let's just say that Master Pugnacious will have a very hard time denying his involvement in all of this."

"Great. Then it sounds like we have everything we need."

"Indeed. Let us return to your friends."

"Hopefully they didn't get themselves into too much trouble."

"What of us?" One of the factory workers asked. They were all clustered together looking about as anxious as they probably felt.

"You will remain here," Ya Ya replied. "I fully intend to confront Master Pugnacious on this little scheme of his, so your guilt will be determined afterwards."

"Will it now?" Came a voice from behind them. Ya Ya, Evan and Roland whipped around to face the speaker. Standing in the wreckage of the doorway was none other than the Grand High Roller himself. "Well, well," he said. "You have been busy, Ya Ya."

There was a strange calmness to his demeanour that put Roland on edge as Ya Ya sputtered. "M-Master Pugnacious-"

"What am I doing here?" He cut in, one eyebrow raised. "A better question is, what are you doing here, Ya Ya."

"I am investigating-"

"Indeed? And do you regularly conduct your investigations with the assistance of outsiders?"

"That's beside the point! I have discovered what you've been up to, Master Pugnacious-"

"Oh? Have you? And what would that be?"

"You-you… You have been manipulating the dice roll of Lady Luck herself! And further more! This factory has been manufacturing trick dice, so that our casinos can fleece money out of their patrons at an elevated rate!"

"Is that so?" He looked around. "How strange. I see nothing more here than a simple factory for manufacturing ordinary dice."

"What?!" She yelped. There was a sudden bustle of activity as the workers – spurred by his words – got to work. "What do you think this will achieve?!" She demanded. "I have all the evidence I need right here!" She held up her Leafbook.

"Ah, but that can be dealt with."

"Well even so. What of King Evan and Mr Roland? They saw the whole thing-"

"And who would believe the words of these outsiders, hmm?"

"The people will believe them if I vouch for them! You're not the only one who has earned their respect."

"And what if you do not?"

"… What?"

"Vouch for them. It would be their word against mine."

"What… what do you mean by that? Why wouldn't I?"

"That will depend on you, my dear Ya Ya. If you decide that is best to look the other way…"

Roland frowned deeply. He was already seeing where this was headed, and so too it seemed did Ya Ya; She had begun to shake and her voice was very small when she asked. "… And if I don't?"

Pugnacious stepped forward, his staff making a menacing thunk against the wooden floor. "Then this will be as far as you go." A deathly silence fell on the room at those words. It had now become apparent to everyone who had yet to realise where this was going, exactly where this was going.

"We really walked into this one, mun," Lofty murmured quietly.

Yeah, Roland thought, darkly. We really did. He wanted to kick himself. Everything had gone so smoothly up until now, that it had lulled him into a false sense of security. He grit his teeth. "Runcible. Wiff-waff," he kept his voice low. "Get help."

"Higgle…" They were hesitant at first but then they nodded before shooting off.

"But of course there is no reason it has to be this way," said Pugnacious. "If you would only agree to forget everything you have just seen."

Ya Ya drew her sabre. "I would never stoop to compromising my integrity, Master Pugnacious. Not even to save my life." She spoke bravely, but her hands were shaking and there were tears building in her eyes.

"There is no need to compromise anyone's integrity, Ya Ya. This is for Goldpaw. All of this, is for Goldpaw."

Evan could remain silent no longer. "But! But!… How can you say that?!"

"It is my promise to Longfang, King Evan," he replied easily. "To make our nation prosperous. And it is my promise to myself. To eradicate poverty. I am doing just that."

"Through dishonesty and deception?!" Ya Ya objected, as Evan exclaimed, "By deceiving your people?!"

"It does not matter how. Only that I am."

"But it does matter!" Evan insisted. "A leader is supposed to serve their people. To protect them. To look after them. You're not doing any of that!"

"The end doesn't always justify the means, you know," Roland added. "Surely even you've gotta realise that."

"Hear, hear, mun," said Lofty.

"What they said," Ya Ya agreed.

"I see. You do not understand. You will not understand. Then you leave me no choice."

One of the workers stepped forward. "Is… is there no other way, Master Pugnacious?"

"I wish there was, but it is as she has said. The people have too much trust in her word. It would take a great deal, a great scandal to break that trust. She is too dangerous to be kept alive."

"Then what of King Evan?"

"Yeah, mun," said Lofty. "What about us?"

"Have they collected any evidence?"

"No, Master Pugnacious, they have not," said one of the workers.

"Then I see no reason to detain them further. You may leave." The look of desperation that flashed across Ya Ya's face touched even Roland's heart. "I trust you will not be so foolish as to attempt to besmirch my good name? As I said before, no one will believe you, especially without proof."

"We're not leaving!" Evan shouted and drew his sword to emphasise his point.

"Ah. So you would raise your sword against me, the Grand High Roller of Goldpaw?"

"Yeah," said Roland and called forth his cutlass. "And so will I."

"I see. Very well then. You shall join in her fate."

"Thank you," Ya Ya mumbled.

"Sure," Roland replied with a reassuring smile. "You didn't think we were going to leave you to die, did you?"

"The thought may have crossed my mind," she confessed.

"Right. Well? The higgledies have gone for help. Now all we gotta do is survive until that help arrives."

"Easier said than done, Mr Roland. Master Pugnacious is a powerful magic user, I'm afraid we're going to be in for quite a fight."

"Heh. Wouldn't be the first time." Pugnacious gripped his staff in both hands and began to glow with a red outline. There was the shuffling of feet and scrapping of wood on wood as the workers pulled back the workstations, clearing a space for the upcoming fight. "What's happening?"

"He's calling on the power of his Kingmaker, Longfang," Lofty explained. "But don't worry mun, youe've got a Kingmaker by youer side as well like."

"We're counting on you, Lofty," said Evan.

Pugnacious' staff struck the wooden floor with a thunk and a red barrier flared to life, encircling them. Perfect, Roland thought. "There's no escape now," he said aloud.

"Are we really doing this?" He heard one of the workers protest. "Are we really going to let this happen?"

"You want to get in the middle of that," another countered. "Be my guest."

"Stand fast, my friends," Ya Ya warned. "Here he comes."

"Batu!" Aranella cried. "Put that table down! Do you want to get us all arrested?"

"Arr!" Batu put the table down and then tipped it over. "Ye swindlin' dogs! Did ye really be thinkin' ye could fool me a second time!"

"I must insist," the croupier objected. "That I have no idea what you're talking about!"

"Don't be givin' me that! That third dice were bein' as slippery as an eel!"

"Yeah!" Tani added. "We all saw it!"

"We did indeed," Aranella thirded. "Perhaps if you were to simply recompense us for our losses-?"

"Recompense?" The croupier scoffed. "Ridiculous! That would suggest ill doing on our behalf."

Batu flipped another table. "That be exactly what we be suggestin'!"

"How dare you?!"

"The house is not responsible for any losses that you entail," a casino guard interjected. "And we must insist that you leave the premises before I am forced to enlist the aid of higher security."

The three exchanged looks at that. It was apparent that they had pushed this as far as they were able before they would be getting into serious trouble. "Fine!" Batu barked. "But ye can be restin' assured that ye'll never be seein' the likes o'me again!"

"What he said!" Tani added and the three stormed out. "Phew," she uttered, once they were in the clear. "Do you think that bought them enough time to get in?"

"I suppose we'll soon find out," Aranella replied. "In the meantime, we should return to Lady Luck. We don't want to give the impression that we're loitering after all."

"Right," she agreed. They wandered back to Fortune Square and took a seat on the wooden steps leading up to one of the ornamental structures near where Lady Luck sat. A few people stared at them but otherwise made no attempt to move them on.

"Looks like they were able te sneak in," Batu commented. "They would be catchin' up te us by now if they hadn't."

"Then all we have to do now is wait," said Aranella.

And so they waited. Eventually activity arrived in the form of one the state employees dashing through the entrance to Fortune Square, past Lady Luck and up to the Grand High Roller's Hall. "Do you reckon he was one of the casino workers?" Tani asked after he'd disappeared inside.

"An'if'e were, do that be bodin' ill or well?" Batu added.

Aranella frowned but said nothing. Then the employee reappeared shortly after with Pugnacious of all people in tow. "That I would say bodes ill."

"Should we do something?" Tani asked.

They exchanged looks. "Let's try stalling him as long as we can." They ran after him. "Master Pugnacious?" She called out. "A moment of your time?"

He turned his head but didn't break his stride. "Not right now."

"If you would give us but a moment-"

"I don't have time to be dealing with you right now!" He snapped back.

They stopped in their tracks. "Well that didn't work," said Tani. "Should we follow him?"

"Yes… Perhaps we should." So they followed Pugnacious at a distance. As they feared he and the employee both entered the Lucky Stars Casino. "Blast," she cursed. "I just hope the others make it out in time." They watched the casino in tense anticipation for any sign of the others. After what seemed like an age, Runcible and Wiff-waff were the ones to emerge. They were running full tilt, as fast as their little legs could carry them and veered towards to Fortune Square as soon as they were clear of the exit. They screeched to a halt upon sighting Aranella and the others, shouted and leapt into the air before dashing over. "Higgle pig! Higgle pig!" They shouted jumping up and down.

Aranella, Tani and Batu exchanged troubled looks. "What do ye think they be sayin'?" Batu asked.

Aranella frowned. "I don't know. But if they sent the higgledies, then they must be in trouble."

"Higgle pig! Higgle pig!" They replied, nodding their heads vigorously.

"That looks like a yes to me," said Tani.

"We best be goin' te help them then," said Batu.

"Hold on," Aranella replied. She looked to the Grand High Roller's Hall. "I think we'll be needing to get help from someone else first."

A/N: I wish I could say that I'd planned this, but I actually didn't. It was only as I was writing this part that I got a sudden flash of inspiration and released that the pieces had been in place the whole time. :p Sometimes writing is just weird like that.