Gideon leads Alex, Tommy, and Claire into a small Ebonstone records office. Claire waits in the public seating area, while Tommy stays beside Alex as witness to the review.
At reception Maya, a young human woman with neatly pinned black hair and a small crescent-shaped birthmark on her cheek, a young adult woman with a compact build, warm brown skin, round glasses, and a navy cardigan looks up from a sign-in terminal. Gideon places the signed authorization on the counter.
Gideon Pike
Maya, this authorization permits Alex Mishyma to review the Hale-linked vendor archive. Please log everyone present and keep the access window visible.
the Ebonstone receptionist
Understood. Maya Chen, records reception. I will record the authorization, the witnesses, and every archive section opened.
The office grants Alex access to payment schedules, compliance notes, and vendor registrations. Tommy watches the screen beside him, while Claire remains within sight beyond the glass partition.
A payment schedule repeats Victor Hale’s intermediary code beside delayed releases and compliance exceptions. The next record displays a photograph of the unknown insignia beside a shell company registration tied to Hale’s network.
Gideon Pike
There it is. The insignia is attached to the registration, not merely mentioned in a note. Review it carefully, Alex. This is evidence, not permission to improvise.
✓ Quest Accepted
Identify the true affiliation of the unknown insignia
“"Then yer gonna need to give me room to work," you smile as your fingers find the keyboard. "If I can't use the tools of my trade, this is going to take a lot longer, Gideon," you say plainly as your fingers type at a rapid pace, searching every index you can for the symbol. After a few minutes, you smile. "Bingo." The symbol is a direct connection to Victor Hale; he uses it as his personal letterhead.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Computers, rolled +0)
Alex Mishyma
Then yer gonna need to give me room to work. If I can't use the tools of my trade, this is going to take a lot longer, Gideon.
Alex’s fingers find the keyboard and move rapidly through the authorized archive indexes. He cross-references the insignia against vendor registrations, payment schedules, compliance notes, and every available document image.
Minutes later, the symbol resolves into a repeated letterhead mark attached directly to Victor Hale’s records. The same design appears across his intermediary files and signed business correspondence.
Alex Mishyma
Bingo. The symbol is a direct connection to Victor Hale. He uses it as his personal letterhead.
Gideon Pike
That establishes authorship far more cleanly than the registration alone. The insignia is Hale’s operational signature, not an incidental mark.
the Ebonstone receptionist
I’ll record the exact index paths, document identifiers, and timestamps. The archive will show how the symbol connects to Victor Hale without altering the source records.
Tommy watches the screen over Alex’s shoulder while Claire remains visible beyond the glass partition. Gideon closes one hand over the folder, and Maya begins the formal access notation beside the confirmed connection.
Quest Complete
Identify the true affiliation of the unknown insignia
“You crack your knuckles with a soft scowl. "But why is he coming after me now? I managed to keep all parties happy, in business... what's his reason for wanting me dead?"”
SUCCESS (Legendary Reasoning, rolled -1)
Alex Mishyma
But why is he coming after me now? I managed to keep all parties happy, in business... what's his reason for wanting me dead?
Alex cracks his knuckles with a soft scowl. Gideon studies the archive while Tommy watches the room, and Maya keeps the access record running without interruption.
Gideon Pike
Because you stopped being useful to the network and became independently dangerous. Hale can tolerate rivals, clients, and even embarrassed partners. He cannot tolerate someone who can connect his letterhead, payments, and threat orders in a lawful record.
Gideon Pike
Your success with the archive gives him a direct motive: you can identify the commissioner, prove the intermediary route, and testify without owing Hale protection. Killing you would remove the witness and frighten everyone else back into silence.
Tommy
So it is not revenge for keeping business smooth, mate. It is control. You kept everyone paid, but you also proved Hale could not own the whole board once you saw the paperwork.
the Ebonstone receptionist
The archive supports that motive. Hale’s threat assessment was commissioned after your earlier disclosures, and its buried revision specifically separates your name from the payment trail. That is concealment, not a routine commercial dispute.
Gideon Pike
Plainly, Alex: Hale wants you dead because you are now an independent witness who can dismantle his protection system. Your cooperation kept parties stable, but your evidence threatens the structure he profits from.
“You shake your head, and smirk gently. "Guess I live with a target on my back for a time. Claire? That means you keep your distance from me until I resolve this. I love you, but I will NOT allow you to be in the crosshairs again. I believe this concludes our work for this assignment, Mr. Pike." You pull out your phone, awaiting final confirmation of payment. Your expression is chiseled in stone. Even Tommy gazes at you curiously. "Mate, I know that look. Donna be doing anything rash."”
SUCCESS (Legendary Diplomacy, rolled +3)
Alex Mishyma
Guess I live with a target on my back for a time. Claire, keep your distance until I resolve this. I love you, but I will not allow you back in the crosshairs. This concludes our work, Mr. Pike.
Alex pulls out his phone and waits, his expression chiseled in stone. Claire’s face tightens, while Gideon studies the decision and Tommy watches Alex with sudden concern.
Alex Mishyma
The threat is mine to resolve without putting Claire in its path.
Tommy
Mate, I know that look. Don’t be doing anything rash.
Claire
I understand, handsome. I will keep my distance, but you do not get to disappear or shut me out. You resolve this lawfully, and you come back to me.
Gideon Pike
The assignment is concluded. I have authorized the twenty-thousand-dollar advance and the payment confirmation is already on its way. I will also add a protected legal liaison to your file at no cost, so Hale cannot recast your investigation as unauthorized interference.
Alex’s phone vibrates with the bank confirmation and Gideon’s signed closure notice. Maya records the final timestamp, while Tommy exhales and Claire keeps her eyes fixed on Alex.
✓ Quest Accepted
Leave the Ebonstone records office
“Taking Claire's hand, you nod to Tommy and Gideon. As the two of you walk out of the office, you sigh. "I don't want it to be this way, Claire. I want the normal you always talk about. I want that. But the idea that I have a contract on my head puts YOU in danger. I can't have that. You've already been in enough of that because of me," you sigh, and suddenly sharpen, pulling her behind you as a gun raises from a car's open window, firing at you both.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Agility, rolled +1)
Alex Mishyma
I don't want it to be this way, Claire. I want the normal you always talk about. I want that. But a contract on my head puts you in danger. You've already been through enough because of me.
Alex takes Claire’s hand and nods to Tommy and Gideon as they leave the records office. Outside, he sighs, then a young adult man in a dark sedan, with a narrow face, close-cropped black hair, and a dark jacket, raises a handgun through the open window.
The first shot cracks across the pavement. Alex’s reflexes sharpen instantly; he yanks Claire behind him and drives her down behind the concrete edge of the office entrance as more rounds strike the sidewalk.
Claire
Alex! I’m down. Are you hit?
Claire stays behind Alex’s cover, gripping his coat instead of reaching into the open street. Tommy shouts from the doorway, while Gideon pulls Maya and the reception staff away from the glass.
The Shooter in the Sedan
Mishyma! This is what happens when you make promises you cannot keep!
The sedan jerks toward the curb, tires scraping as the shooter keeps the weapon trained on the entrance. Claire remains protected behind Alex, while the office alarm begins to sound and Tommy reaches for the emergency phone.
Quest Complete
Leave the Ebonstone records office