Chapter Twenty-Seven:
The Future of Casino Paisano
Marty observed every effort to open SMG3's diary, from mechanical picklock action to the usage of sorcery by Kameks. And yet, nothing worked. The former villain had been prepared, but sooner or later, that diary would be open with all of the secrets revealed to Marty, and the cardboard CEO would find use in the knowledge he'd gained.
'Mario.' The sentient drawing told the pudgy Italian, 'Let's take a break.'
Feeling just as frustrated as his creation was, Mario deactivated the machinery that had been trying to break SMG3's special lock on the diary, and the lights flickered as Marty moved towards the window on the edge of the office as Mario observed SMG3's notebook for a moment.
He shrugged with slight annoyance, and the dim-witted Avatar joined his creation-turned boss by the window. The two "Italians" stared out across the skyline together, staring at the landscape of the Mushroom Kingdom, and the buildings that surrounded Casino Paisano. Mario figured what Marty was thinking, given his special connection to him.
'Even with the setbacks we are faced with, I can see it even now...' Marty told his creator, 'So much money, wealth, and success, a whole business empire. And yet, what will become of Casino Paisano once we get the secret recipe in that diary, my friend?'
"Mario's sure you'll still run it along with the Pizza Shop..." Mario remarked.
'Won't you still be running the Pizza Shop? We've been busy with the casino, and this operation. However, do you think you can still attend to your business, even when I am not present to help you? You created me to help run the place, at a time when you were severely stressed over selling pizza-spaghetti.'
Mario chuckled, "Oh, Marty. You know how capable I am. Without me, you wouldn't exist, and you wouldn't be in the position you're in now. With all of that money from the casino and the pizza business, you'll be as rich as Trump.'
'No.'
"Eh?" Mario raised an eyebrow.
'I do not desire to rival that ego-inflated tycoon...' Marty intoned, 'I won't just be as rich on the same level as him. I will be richer than every American billionaire the world has ever known, and I will own many estates across the Mushroom Kingdom. Think of all the corporations we could buy, Mario. Think of the company behind Didney World and think of Marvel.
'Think of all the spaghetti you could have, with all of those trillions of dollars. We will revolutionize the stock market, we can evolve the film industries and the comic companies, end homelessness, grow franchises, and build a nourishing, entertaining gambling-pizza business.'
Mario's eyes lit up with astonishment as he thought about what Marty was saying. "Mama mia!" He exclaimed, "Mario couldn't be prouder of you, Marty!"
'You and SMG3's diary are highly important.' The cardboard cutout told him, 'But I did not take over this Casino just for the purpose of getting my hands on this notebook, Casino Paisano is the key to expanding our business beyond just pizza. Variety is vital! And the money those suckers lose from their gambling misfortune goes to me as well.'
"Oooh, you're becoming like Bob." Mario chuckled.
The lights flickered and the fat Italian heard his creation laugh. Marty was not Bob, and the pudgy plumber knew the cardboard cutout was more than similar to the hooded hobo, who worked several levels below. One had to wonder, would Bob benefit from Marty getting insanely rich, if the latter shared his money with the former?