The Maelstrom of Stardew

Year 1 (Summer)

Chapter 36: Staunton Strut (Part 2)

Monday, the 8th of Summer, 2017

[Quest Announcement] - Gamer Ability/Notification

[LOAD GAME]

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[LOADING QUICKSAVE DATA.]

[GAME LOADED. WELCOME BACK!]

"Thanks for the meal, Poppy." Taeko said, finishing his plate for lunch.

"Of course, Lord Maelstrom." Poppy said.

He had to give it to her that she would make the hideout look more quaint. Tera had even come to visit, more out of begrudging need and care about her mother. Poppy was simply happy to get her little girl back.

"Tera, we'll be going back for hair soon…"

Taeko saw that as his cue to leave. He'd drive back to Staunton as he had explained to Vernal what had really happened over the phone. It gave her a good laugh and while she wanted him to see her at the usual place over a matter…she noted that Rosaria wanted to see him. So he arrived at Odalia's apartment to see her.

[Staunton Saga - Prep for Action I]

"Rosaria." Taeko greeted.

"Boss." Rosaria said letting him inside. "I've been talking with Odalia, we got a plan. Now that the Yardies are dealt with…Odalia has an act of revenge that she wants to fulfill. Robbing the Neko Palace Casino in Torrington."

"A casino heist? Hell yeah, I'm in. If we're going to do this, we're going to need a plan." Taeko said.

"And we have one in mind, first we'll need the building plans. That can be found in the second city hall…that building hosts the planning department. It's in Belleville Park. Get there, get a picture of it, and get back here." Rosaria said. "Being that you're a noble, you being in the building won't raise suspicion."

"On it. But we're going to need explosives." Taeko said.

"Yeah, I have the Pop Pack dealing with that." Rosaria said as he left.

Taeko drove over to his hidden apartment to get changed, opting for a Peresus onyx suit with black oxfords. He retained his chain and glasses, but opted to wear full leather gloves.

"Looking good, dear." Chi-Chi said, holding him from behind.

"Thanks, you should go out. The park's nice this time of year. Don't get yourself too cooped up at home, dear." Taeko said before leaving.

It was a short drive to the building and he walked to take in the environment. The receptionist looked up at him, greeting him and asking him what he needed.

"Touring around. I mainly want to get a feel for the architecture." Taeko said.

"Top floor." She said before going back to her book.

Taeko took the elevator while texting Rosaria that he was on the way and he was given instructions. Slipping past security, he came into the room with the plans and snapped some photos making sure to take off his phone's flash. As he was, he got a call from Dijonay to which he begrudgingly answered.

"What is it?"

"You told me to report and I'm doing that. Kaneko's got Makima and Mirage escorting her down to the second town hall. I don't know what…that's above pay grade." Dijonay remarked. "All I heard was something about securing some documents."

"That'll do." Taeko said before hanging up.

With the last picture obtained, he left. He knew he couldn't be seen by either Makima, the other cop, or Kaneko. So he went to the one place that he could hide in…the men's bathroom. Looking around, he spied a cart of janitorial supplies before taking an out of order sign to put on a stall door before going in. He sensed the area, picking up on Makima's energy signature. When she came into the bathroom with Johanna, he positioned himself to hold himself up with his feet on the wall and with his arms on the sides of the stall before realizing he could float.

"So you meet the new noble? How was he?" Mirage said, using the mirror to reapply makeup.

"Bigger in person. Fairly nice enough…he's harmless. He's admittingly good looking…for a human. But Laozu had managed to make him a problem in terms of how we make money. And thanks to Vicky's incompetence, all my usual sources for intel are dead." Makima said, washing her hands.

"I saw you lay into Vicky. I told you that keeping her around was a bad idea. After what she did to those girls…frankly, having her remain in charge in Portland was only going to spell disaster." Mirage remarked.

"And cost us all the businesses we could get cuts from. To be frank, I chose Vicky because people were scared of her and she kept people in line. But my mistake was not leashing Vicky…she basically tried to be a poor imitation of me." Makima said. "Fuck it. She's done."

"Finally, I-"

The door was kicked open as Tamako walked in.

"Can you two hurry it up? There's no one guarding my building's floor plans!" Tamako said. "The security was dealing with a tour group! I don't pay you two to primp yourselves in the mirror. I want my details mo-"

"No." Makima said. "I told you this over the phone that we can't move your plans. It's one, going to raise suspicion…two, going to bring people above us down here."

"What? The human savage? He's probably busy using his filthy penis on some poor elf."

Taeko was not even mad knowing that most elves would have wanted to choke her for saying that.

"He may be human, but he is a noble. And we don't need to have to look around…we can't arrange to have him killed." Mirage said.

"Can't you just get on the hook for something? Fake a crime and pin the blame on him!" Tamako suggested. "Plant drugs on him."

"First off, we don't do that. Even if we do, doing it on a noble is beyond stupid. They got access to very good lawyers…and the Queen would just pardon him for it." Mirage said. "If you want your goals to succeed, you should focus on them and not pick a fight with a potential landmine."

"Mirage from the Incredibles? Damn." Taeko thought.

"Miss Kaneko, if you want to risk it and need more security. Vicky Flannigan is soon to be a former officer…and you can hire her for a personal bodyguard and fixer. But can you please get out, I'd like to use the toilet and I don't need you complaining."

She left as Makima sighed with relief.

"Vicky would make for a terrible fixer…"

"Exactly, Mirage. And if Vicky is sent after Taeko, it's no skin off our noses. She's 5'3" and he's over 6 feet and built. While Vicky can fight…she's used her position of power as a shield to bully who she can. While I don't know if Taeko can fight, he probably can. I noticed a big dent in Vicky's cop car back at the station, and I asked about it. She refused to tell me…but I have a suspicion Taeko had something to do with it." Makima said. "Point is, Vicky won't be an issue for long for us."

The two cops left as Taeko came down. He knew he had to get out so she rushed out of the bathroom to the stairway downstairs before using the elevator to get back down to the first floor. He took his leave, calling Rosaria.

"Did you get it?" She asked.

"Had to hide in a bathroom from Makima. Look, I learned some major shit…meet me at my condo. ASAP." Taeko said before hanging up.

He arrived to find her and Minish for him as they went inside. He told them everything about what happened as he was transferring the images out of his phone.

"Well that's good news actually. One less shitty cop…" Minish said. "And proof Kaneko's working with Makima."

"Sounds like Kaneko is buying Makima's help. It's kinda obvious she doesn't buy into her bullshit." Taeko remarked as Rosaria looked over the plans. "So what's next?"

"The Pop Pack got the explosives. So for now, we look through the plans." Rosaria said.

"I actually do have an idea of what we could do next…but we'll get back to that later." Taeko said before leaving his safehouse.

[Mission Complete! +Respect]

He decided to meet up with Vernal at the toilets to start his next mission.

[Staunton Saga - Evidence Elimination]

"I know a rich couple in town, they're both a soft touch, with shall we say, exotic tastes and the money to indulge them. They're involved in a legal matter with Kaneko's people having some rather embarrassing photos of him at a sex party or something. The evidence is being moved to the Bedford Point Opera House…in a white Bobcat XL with a bed cap. It's coming in from Portland via the Portland Tunnel. Get to it and get the blackmail…call me when you do." Vernal said as he left.

Taeko immediately went to the nearest Ammu-Nation which was in Newport to stock up. What he found was that the selection of guns lacked any of the heavy ones. They only sold pistols, Uzis, AK-47s, grenades, sniper rifles, and body armor. Basically, a text box explained if he wanted those in Beatitudo…Tyler's place was the place to go.

"You've got to be shitting me." Taeko said under his breath.

His [AR-50] would take any M4 or Carbine ammo, but not AK-47 ammo. No shotguns or deagles before sold there either. He turned to the clerk.

"Sorry sir, we're limited on what we can sell in this region. I wonder if the new head honcho is going to approve of allowing the sale of better guns in this town."

Taeko left driving straight over to Tyler's compound. He arrived to find the weapons for sale, rotating in glowing orbs and a text box appeared to list prices.

[Shotgun] - 1,500 Gold - (25 shells of ammo)

[M16] - 5,000 Gold - (300 rounds of ammo)

[Rocket Launcher] - 25,000 Gold - ( 5 rockets )

To his relief, buying the shotgun and M16 would count as ammo for the similar guns he had equipped so he bought 1500 rounds of carbine rifle ammo, 2500 shotgun shells, and a rocket launcher. 75,000 well spent as Vernal called again.

"Vernal, what's…"

"Change of plans. Kaneko's got wind that someone leaked the details. She's sending Vicky to collect the blackmail personally. Normally, I…am suggest killing one of Maki-"

"She's not in her good graces…I have a feeling Makima's going to be really happy about this." Taeko said with a smirk. "So what car does she drive when off duty?"

"A cherry red Infernus…well an Infernus Classic. Thankfully, Makima has the habit of bugging her direct subordinates' cars and Dijonay managed to be useful by getting me the codes to the device. She's nearing the tunnel…tail her and you know what to do."

Vernal hung up as Taeko was glad he had opted to drive his [Banshee 900R] as he got to tailing her. The Game had made him keep pace with her driving while not passing her. The irony was where she ended up leading her to. The exact spot that he had confronted Dijonay.

"Small world." Taeko said before parking the car in the nearby Am. Co gas station before leaving the keys in it.

She had texted up Poppy to come to the gas station to pick up the car to put it back in the garage. He promptly jogged over to the spot, seeing Vicky getting the blackmail material as the person in the white truck drove into the abandoned tunnel. Vicky walked to the car only to see Taeko sitting on the hood of it.

"Vicky, I heard you got fired…and you're doing gimp work for Kaneko." Taeko said.

"You. You got me fired!" Vicky said as she drew her pistol.

Taeko slashed her arm with [Muramasa's Symphony] as she fired…the bullet nicking his cheek as he had cut her hand off.

"Ack, motherfuck-"

Taeko kicked her into the dirt.

"You know this…blade absorbs blood…healing me slowly." Taeko said as the marring his face healed.

Vicky coughed as he sheathed his blade to pull her one of his [Gold-Plated GDHC .50s] aiming down at her head.

"Any last words?" He asked.

Before she spoke, he shot her in her forehead before promptly taking the blackmail and the keys to Vicky's car. He checked the car for the bug before finding it and destroying it. Unknown to him, that alerted Makima and Vernal. Taeko drove off with the car, immediately stashing it in his garage at his Red Light District apartment where he also changed his oxfords to a pair of [Holo Boots]. Back on his [Sanchez], he called Vernal.

"Vernal, I–"

"You found the bug…and destroyed it. Well I hope you got rid of the car or hid it somewhere because Makima's got alerted…" Vernal said. "Where are you?"

"Crossing the Callahan Bridge, so where am I dropping this stuff to?" Taeko asked.

"Oh, you got it…right….I'll send you the address." Vernal said, texting it before hanging up.

He was off as Makima arrived with her team at the scene of the murder.

"Well shit, she's dead." Johanna said.

"Good riddance." Dijonay said callously.

"Whoever did this would have gotten shot. She managed to fire a round of her weapon." Tad said.

"Damn, she got her arm cut up by a blade….and shot in the head." Dijonay said.

Dijonay had a feeling Taeko was involved, but she didn't voice it. Makima looked over the scene and smirked.

"Mirage, what's the status of Vicky's family?" Makima asked.

"Both her parents had no intention of returning to Yelenhelm and her sister has been living in Hepburn Heights to keep away from Vicky." Mirage said. "That's if she's still there."

"If she is, we'll put her in wit-sec. We'll declare this a murder. Too many want her dead but…Vicky was a bully…but she was capable of fighting. Whoever did this, took her out in less than five moves." Makima said. "Not sure if it was a professional, but they have skill."

"Think they did to send a message to you?" Tad asked as they left the crime scene. "And what about the car?"

"Well whoever took either knew the bug was there or found it by accident. Regardless. If they're not stupid, they'll hide it. So we'll have to check the lock-ups of local hoods. We'll put a search out for it…for appearances." Makima said.

Taeko took it in how Beatitudo had expanded on the mirrors to GTA's 3D take on Liberty City. How bigger and lifelike it felt…at least in terms of Staunton and Burnside. Portland felt fairly small and cramped which did make sense to him. The address took him to a triangular building smack in the middle between his hidden safehouse and Odalia's hidden apartment. A triangular building that split the street into two…the Rise FM Headquarters. The text had given him instruction to go in and ask to be taken to the penthouse suite.

"Oh! Lord Maelstrom! Welcome to Rise FM Headquarters." The receptionist said politely. "How can I help?"

"The way to the penthouse suite, the occupants are expecting me." Taeko said as the receptionist spoke some words on the intercom.

Out of the elevator came a maid who led Taeko into the elevator and took up to the penthouse suite. They came out…and he realized that the people Vernal had a connection to…the Northwest family from Gravity Falls. Taeko was not surprised, this city was the breeding ground for rich scumbags. Preston and Priscilla only had slight differences in appearance aside from the obvious elf ears. Preston's hair was darker and vibrant…while Priscilla didn't look too aged with no plastic surgery on her lips.

"Lord Maelstrom, we weren't expecting you to visit." Preston said.

"Yes, you were. But we're going to need to speak in private." Taeko said.

Priscilla had led the way to the office.

"I got the blackmail that Kaneko got from you." Taeko said, revealing the canister of film. "I'm assuming you were seen fucking Kokiri."

Both were shocked Vernal had ties to a noble…let alone it was a noble who just did the dirty work.

"Aren't you a noble? Why did you-"

"Because as someone in life, someone who leads, a good chunk of the time, I have to get my hands dirty. Lead by example." Taeko said putting the canister on the desk. "Now I believe you have something to say to me."

Preston had a thought…and an idea was forming in his head. He took the canister.

"Lord Maelstrom, I am inclined to ask for your thoughts on the Kokiri."

"Nothing to think about. They're people dealt a raw hand…and if someone wants to fuck one that's their business. As long as it's safe, sane, and consensual, who cares?" Taeko said nonchalantly.

"Well that's nice that you're not judgemental about that…considering that prude." Priscilla said.

"Yes. Kaneko's not exactly friends with me either…sees me as some savage." Taeko said sourly.

"Well, you're obviously not. Just rough around the edges." Preston said before paying Taeko. "I believe this could be sufficient payment."

"You're welcome." Taeko remarked.

"And do come back…we could use your help again." Preston said as Taeko nodded.

As he left the building, he was shown a text box showing the mission was done.

[Mission Complete! +40,000 Gold +Vicky's [Infernus Classic] is now yours!]

He got a call from Vernal as he was returning to his hidden apartment.

"Vernal, it's all done." Taeko said.

"Yeah, but I just wanted to give you a bit of a heads up. Make yourself scarce from Staunton…and Portland too. They found Vicky's body and they're opening an investigation. I do hope you got rid of the car or somehow got it stored off site." Vernal said.

"It's dealt with. Don't worry, just some time out of Staunton for a while, and so must I. See you soon." Taeko said.

With that, he hung up before [Fast Traveling] to his Sunshade Farm before checking the time. It was about to be two in the afternoon, so he had time to relax. He decided to walk through the words to Pop Pack's base as the three they used appeared to have grown bigger. He sensed around to not find anyone before returning to the farmhouse.

"Probably at the beach or in Gorgeous Gale." Taeko thought before considering going to see Poppy and Tera.

He texted Cleo to ask what was up and got a reply that she, Chisa, Tara, and Odalia were in Pax Animi doing a bit of shopping. He decided to call up his people in GG.

"Jack, I wanted to check and ask for some advice." Taeko said before giving him some details of what was going on.

"Well, there's a reason that no gang has really tried to run shit in Gorgeous Gale aside from the Prescott family. Simply put because the people there have easier access to the mainland and unlike Portland…are well off on average. Don't worry about Kaneko having any reach here…if she really is planning shit, she'd avoid here not to tip anyone off." Jack surmised. "That…and the Prescott family hates Tamako Kaneko because they used to profit when the Delite Media was in place. Kaneko fucked them over. It's part of why Nathan has a drug business because he's trying to make himself…richer."

"I'm surprised they didn't want to ally with me." Taeko mused.

"Pride. And maybe a little prejudice against humans." Jack said thoughtfully. "Regardless…I actually wanted to let you know that with all that's going on…we've managed to make a constant root for getting supplies to your farm of special green. And thanks to you clearing up Portland to put your control, we can get people to start selling."

"What's the catch?" Taeko asked.

"Well you'd have to get the percent of the stock you want sold here. Obviously, it'll limit what you'll sell in the mainland and the profit won't be the exact amount you'd get selling it yourself because of cuts to pay us and your staff at that farm. The profit for you would be about…45% less than what you'd get selling it wholesale."

"Ok. So less money for me, but it's easier for me to sell the stuff. Ok, I'll go 90%...may as well have what's left for personal use." Taeko said. "You guys can get it set up without?"

"We can. Don't forget to deliver some wood to the sawmill, if you can." Jack said. "We'll send the profits to the mansion."

[You now no longer need to go on supply runs for your Weed Farm. Your decision to sell in Yelenhelm has reduced your active supply remaining in the mainland to 10 units. Your selling of weed in Yelenhelm will net you a profit of 11,500 Gold a day which you can pick from your Portland Mansion. All Portland profits will now need to be picked up from the mansion (16,000~)]

He went inside his farmhouse to find Thyme finishing up cleaning and he decided to approach his handmaiden.

"Master, welcome home." Thyme said shyly.

"Thank you Thyme…" Taeko said, eyeing her. "Is Tera still out?"

"Yes, she mentioned she'd spend the day with her mother. And I've also attended to the matter your guest, Ms. Delite." Thyme said.

Thyme was rather nervous with her eye on her. Yui had said that her new master might be sexually interested in her. Considering his concubine, Tera, Thyme knew humans could have strange tastes, and elves in general were one of them. Thyme was not going to refuse, but she simply wondered what he was into. She just hoped it wasn't anything extreme.

"Thyme." Taeko said, getting her attention.

"Yes, master." Thyme said.

"How about you get out of the house for a bit to go to the beach?" Taeko said. "You are free to spend your time outside on it when you're not working."

Thyme brightened up. She thought she was confined to the house, but she was shown to be wrong.

"Thank you, but I don't have a swimsuit." Thyme said.

"No need. It's nude preferred." Taeko said as Thyme blushed.

"Thank you, master." Thyme said.

"Considering your status, I still want to make you comfortable. So if you want a swimsuit, I could get one." Taeko said. "Besides, I should at least get you some new clothes anyway. Now go out and relax yourself. The house is clean and I'll be heading out to go back to the mainland."

"One last thing, Ms. Cassidee got me a cell phone. Please take my number." Thyme said as Taeko added. "And have a safe trip."

[GAME PAUSED? WOULD YOU LIKE TO QUICK SAVE?]

[Yes *] [No]

….

[GAME QUICKSAVED! Hurry back.]

(A/N: You're probably wondering how Dijonay figured it out so quickly. To be fair, it would be obvious to her and she's not that dumb. Though I also think she's probably going to get another car now that she knows Makima's has a habit of using tracers. Also I do want to say something that there's going to be another massive update in-universe namely for the base game. When I started this fic from the very first chapter in Spring, it was 1.3-1.4. Slowly, I have been incorporating 1.5 stuff, but now it's time to fully upgrade to the latest version in 1.6.4. So they'll be some changes…that Kyu'll explain.)