"Alright, they got away!" - Garami
As I looked at the screen, I did a guts pose, which showed Alf and Mira sneaking around the groups of shiny skellies without being detected. Great work, you two! And to me as well for discovering this room!
"Master, this screen shows a group of...colorful individuals." - Bloom
The fairy, who had decided to dress for the occasion with some security guard cosplay, reported a suspicious group inside the park. Yeah, this is indeed "colorful individuals". They're all of different species for one, they seem to be dressed like the lackeys of some church that loves to hold Sabbaths. They even have a... Hold on for a second. Don't tell me these guys are-
*RING!*
Ah, let's shelve that thought for the moment. The Dungeon Terminal's ringing.
"Hello, hello~. This is the Nightmare Voyager sub-branch, the 'Forgotten and Dusty Security Room'~. What can I do for you today~?" - Garami
<...Excuse me. Wrong number.> - Alf
"I'm kidding! Seriously, how's stuff going over there?" - Garami
Despite my asking, I can see Mira and Alf clearly on one of the TV screens. For those who have arrived late, Bloom and I've commandeered what you could call the park's security room. The wall I smashed earlier led to this TV screen-filled room just waiting for a new security chief to take control of things~.
We did have a problem regarding how to power up this stuff, but luckily, the generator attached to these screens was just in the room right next to us. And it was of a primitive model. Think "hamster wheel"-level primitive. Good thing the Gloom Skeletons don't know what fatigue is because these machines need a lot of juice!
"If you're thinking about a gigantic meteorite, then you're probably right." - Garami
Placed right in the middle of the park is a huge boulder. It's not big enough to eclipse the buildings around it, hence why we didn't notice it when we first saw the park from the Marauder, but it's still one massive hunk of rock. As for why Mira and I have the idea of it coming from outer space, the large cracks on the ground, originating from underneath the rock, are enough clues.
There could also be an explanation like the rock being part of a teleport accident, which would explain why the park got away with just a few cracks and not a full-blown crater, but the idea of a giant space rock is more entertaining. Mira probably just lusting for some space gold, but I can't say that idea didn't pop up in my head as well.
Despite the rock's many mysteries, what's truly eye-catching about it is the many Valuable Skeletons that have surrounded the rock and are trying to smash it to pieces. If the skellies are some sort of security system for the park, that would make the rock be seen as an "intruder", hence their aggression. Or they could be outsiders like we are and want something that's hidden underneath the rock.
Do make note of that I'm saying "trying" here. The giant rock is defended from the Skeletons' assault thanks to some sort of dusky, yucky barrier. I know my explanation is lacking, but this magical wall just gives this...yucky feeling. Sort of like having to watch the acts of some Lovecraftian creature in real life. Maybe it even has a connection to said monsters? Yeah, that's probably it. I'm willing to bet my SAN points on it.
- Alf
"Hmm, probably not. I mean, the barrier blocked only me but allowed the undead I summed to pass." - Garami
After hearing Mira's idea about the ghosts, I decided to send in some scouts to look into the places where the park's cameras don't show. The inside of the buildings is outside the cameras' line of view. Or maybe this station isn't connected to the cameras indoors?
"No harm done. Knowing that just proves that there might be multiple groups in this park." - Garami
"And we have already found one of them! There is a party of strange characters located in the inner park's southwest area!" - Bloom
Right, the colorful individuals from before. FYI, Mira and Alf are currently south-southeast close to the center of the park right now. This "Sabbath group" (tentative name) is a little further away from the center, but their attention is all pointing toward the giant rock.
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"Meh. I know better than judging a book by its cover, but these guys don't seem to be the kind to greet you with tea and cookies." - Garami
Besides, one of their members is...a Werewolf. That, plus this obvious "heretic church" motif they have going, keeps the warning bells ringing in my head. It's not been that long since we had to face a different Werecreature that looked like its mind was crushed by some sort of "evil force" and used as a pawn for bad deeds.
Oh boy. She's still blowing a fuse regarding that stripping incident in Oasis Town. I understand that feeling, but...
"For now, try to circle the park in a fashion so you guys won't encounter this 'Sabbath group'. We're here for treasures, not picking a fight." - Garami
Yup, this is the right choice. We don't have the luxury nor the firepower to pick up fights with strangers in old amusement parks.
"...Operative? Master, I have a question." - Bloom
"What's up, pipsqueak?" - Garami
"Who are you calling a pipsqueak!? No, that was not it. I just wanted to ask, shouldn't this room also be part of the 'non-operative facilities'?" - Bloom
"You could say that. Hey, did you two get that? The park's fresher stuff should be inside rooms not exposed to the outside air." - Garami
How did she know about that one? Oh, the large map from before. Leave it to Mira to prioritize stuff. Just don't imagine her priorities will be following common sense.
---
Mira & Alf's side:
After laying their plans with their demonic princess, the duo of Mira and Alf started to walk toward the inner park area's eastern section. This not only prevented them from clashing with the "Sabbath group" but also gave them a better chance to discover the treasure that Flint was seeking.
Through Garami and Bloom's heavy usage of the park's security cameras, they had decided to separate the four cardinal areas of the park due to their heavy centralization of one type of facility each. The south part had several restaurants and gift shops, probably aimed to squeeze out the last bit of Sol from the customers before they left. The western area, where the "Sabbath group" is hiding from the Valuable Skeletons, is filled with "outdoor attractions" such as the now-broken rollercoaster, Ferris wheel, and merry-go-round.
In the north, there are many buildings dedicated to shows, exhibitions, and more. According to the old pamphlet Garami found in a desk drawer in the security room, the dinosaur exhibition seemed to be the money cow for the park during its golden age. Last but not least, the western area where the duo currently is, is filled with indoor attractions, such as haunted houses, dark rides, indoor pools, and mirror houses.
"If the treasure's going to be anywhere, it should be inside one of these 'safe' buildings!" - Mira
The duo set forth to the east not only because the "Sabbath group" was in their way in the west, but also because they had a previous case of the park's facilities still running if they were located indoors thanks to Garami's discovery of the guard room. Or so they hoped.
"No more skeletons here. Good for us, bad for the meteorite." - Alf
"Aw, I wanted to get my hands on some meteorite-tite-ish...something." - Mira
"You want a meteor metal sword? Forget it. I've heard rumors about them, but only master smiths can make them." - Alf
"Then I'll rob some ruins and pay that smith with the spoils!" - Mira
Why always the crime spree? thought Alf to himself, aghast over his partner's lack of respect for ancient ruins.
The Guild Master's voice rang out from Mira's terminal, reminding them that they were still on the clock. This is a lady that shows no mercy to her pawns.
"Look at whatever is sus, you say, but Princess, ALL this place is sus as sand!" - Mira
"That's going to take all day~. Or worse, all MONTH! Garami, shouldn't we bring the others with us? This place is too big for just the two of us!" - Mira
- Garami
What the two do not know is that the Valuable Skeletons appear in numbers equal to the threat level of the intruders who are trying to raid the park of its hidden treasures. If they had brought more people with them, the park would have responded by spawning more Skeletons. Albeit, their numbers would still be lower than what they currently are, thanks to the park having visitors from multiple parties.
"Fiiiiine, but if my perfect skin gets sunburned, I'm holding you responsible." - Mira
While the two ladies were bickering like good friends, the vampire had decided to do a Houdini. Even his footprints had suddenly stopped in the middle of the road.
"Ehm, Princess? Can you see anything from there?" - Mira
*Beep*
*BOOOOM!!!!*
A loud noise came from Mira's terminal right before the noise got cut off. The female sprite was worried for her Princess' safety, then she remembered that her albino demon had faced worse threats to her life than whatever that clumsy fairy-like being could mess up.
"...Let's find Alf for now. That should at least give Garami some breathing room." - Mira
Following that line of thought, Mira started to investigate where and how Alf had disappeared. As mentioned before, his tracks had suddenly disappeared in the middle of nowhere. After checking the ground using the trap-related skills she had obtained from walking the paths of a [Thief] and [Treasure Hunter], Mira finally concluded that Alf had managed to become the prey to a trapdoor-like pitfall trap.
"Who's bright idea was it to put this thing here?" - Mira
Confused over the designer's choice of placement, Mira tried to force the trapdoor open, but with no luck. Figuring that Alf should be as tough to kill as her Princess, Mira decided to rather look for some other way to the bottom of the pit where Alf now found himself.
"Just what was Alf walking right into this trap for?" - Mira
Following Alf's walking direction with her eyes, Mira noticed an old, large building that seemed based after a pirate's ship. A sign above the entrance said, with fading words, that the building used to be "Pirate T****r**te's Treasure Den".
"Treasure Den..., treasure!? Hold on, Alf, good work! Except for the fact that you got trapped." - Mira
Running her recently learned [Detect Trap] at full force, Mira managed to see that the pitfall trap had a magical connection that led toward this "treasure den".
"Hey, hey, hey~. Who said rescue missions couldn't collide with treasure hunting~." - Mira
Completely sold on the idea that Flint's map was referring to this attraction, Mira walked into the den of danger...and other "D's". Never trust anything that happens in an amusement park that has jewelry undead as guards...