“How’s it going?” Ave asked.

“Good. Luke is getting registered for the tournament right now. How are things going on your end?” Ash said.

Ash, Ave, and Tasha crouched down behind a banquet table in one of the Ocean’s Bounty’s luxurious game rooms. Ave was wearing a dark pair of slacks and a jacket with sharp creases along the seams. Tasha was dressed in a sequined top and a long slitted skirt designed to look like a fish’s tail.

Ave shifted her shoulders. “I’ve been downstairs in the service tunnels getting ready for our plan. It’s like a maze down there but we should be able to use them to escape.”

Tasha smoothed out her fish dress. “I’ve been mingling with the other servers. Apparently the Councilor brought his niece along with him on this trip. Not only that, but she’s joined the Hundred Ought Hundred Aught event as well.”

“That’s good news for us. If his niece is participating then we should have time to sneak in while he’s watching the tournament and grab the case without him noticing.” Ave said.

*Slup*Slurp*Slooop*

“Eins no! Get out of that cheese fountain.”

Ave reached up and pulled Eins away from one of the molten cheese dispensers on the table. The dog thrashed in her arms, bits of sticky yellow cheese stuck to its chin.

“I’m sorry. I couldn’t help it. This cheese is the perfect temperature.” Eins whined.

Ave wiped grease off of Eins’ face.

“Where is that guy that you said might help us?” Tasha asked.

“Ah, he ran off somewhere. I’m going to go try to find him and then meet back up with Luke.” Ash peeked over the banquet table. “What about the two of you?”

Tasha pointed. “You see that woman with the pink hair?”

“Yes.”

“That’s Angel. She’s the head of security for the Gambling Hall. We’re going to tail her and see if we can figure out her patrol patterns. We don’t want to run into any security during our escape.”

"Has she noticed you?" Ash crouched lower behind the table.

Ave smirked. "Not at all. Do you want to come with us and help?”

Ash looked at Angel and winced. “Probably better if I don’t. But it’s fine. I’m going to try and find Va-”

“What are you kids doing?”

“Ahhh!” Ash yelled in surprise.

The three of them turned to see Cophin leaning over the banquet table and staring at them.

“Cophin, Chef, what are you doing here?” Ash asked.

“We told ya that we had an event to attend today.”

“That was here?”

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

“That was here. Imagine my surprise when I arrive and see a little white dog shoving its muzzle into tha cheese fountain. What are tha lot of you doing? Why are you dressed like that? Is this where you have been running off ta in the early morning all this week?”

“Those are all good questions but I have to check on somebody. I will see you back at the restaurant this evening, Cophin, Chef.”

Ash stood up far too quickly and his shoulder bumped into the table.

(Warning, Table legs at 99°)

“Ash hold on! Let me get out of the way”

Ave stood up much too quickly and her hip bumped into the table.

(Danger, Table legs at 116°)

“Ave look out!”

Tasha stood up way too quickly and the mermaid tail of her costume snagged on the table’s leg.

The table hung at (Critical, 135°) degrees for a second before all of the dishes on top slid to the side and pulled the entire spread to the ground. A small orb bounced off of Tasha’s sequined tail.

“Ahh! What tha!” Cophin dodged out of the way of the *Clatter* of plates and dishes as they rained onto the floor.

The cheese fountain tilted.

Cophin produced a knife from somewhere and hooked it under the cheese fountain right before it tipped over. Using a second knife like a set of tongs he gripped the base of the device and set it down carefully on the floor beside the table.

“Gotta go.” Ash sprinted off away from the mess.

By the time Cophin looked back up Ash, Tasha, Ave, and Eins had disappeared.

“Damn crotch goblins, don’t know why we put up with em.” Cophin sheathed his knives and sucked air in through his teeth.

“Excuse me sir, is there a problem here?” A Belt Buckle Bouncer stepped up and took an open legged stance.

“No. No problem here.” Cophin looked back over his shoulder at the Bouncer. He didn’t say anything else. He also didn’t fully turn around.

The Belt Buckle Bouncer looked down at the knocked over table and the mess all over the floor.

“What happened here?”

Cophin eyed the table. “Tha table fell over.” Cophin still didn’t turn around.

“And that mess on the floor?”

Cophin waved a hand. “When tha table tipped, everything on top tipped too. That’s kind of how tables work.”

The Belt Buckle Bouncer adjusted her belt. “I think you should come with me sir-”

“Cophin. There you are.” Lux walked in between the two of them. “You should not have wandered off like that. We are going to be late for the presentation. Come along. Plinth is already waiting for us in the convention hall.”

“Excuse me sir. This man is-”

Lux turned around and faced the Belt Buckle Bouncer. The security guard looked Lux up and down.

“Uh… Are you, are you the Chef of the Galaxy Lip?”

“That is correct.” Lux replied.

“The most famous restaurant in town?”

Lux politely nodded. “Our establishment is very popular.”

“And do you know this man?” The Belt Buckle Bouncer pointed at Cophin.

“He is one of my old friends. We are both here today to attend the convention being hosted by Lady House. I would be most vexed by anyone attempting to blame him for odd occurrences without sufficient evidence.”

*Silent Contemplation*

“You are free to go sir. Enjoy your time at the Ocean’s Bounty.” The Bouncer gave a polite smile.

“Thank you.” said Lux.

“Are you saying that I wasn’t free ta go before?” Cophin angled his chin towards the Bouncer.

“You are… free to be on your way sir.” The Belt Buckle Bouncer hissed through her teeth.

“Oh well, as long as we have your permission.” Cophin threw his hands up in the air. “Come on Lux. Let’s go. While we’re still free ta do so.”

“Yes. I am very excited for this convention.” Lux smiled and walked away.

Cophin leaned over and grabbed a handful of crackers off of the floor. He shoved a few of them in his mouth, frowned, then wandered off to the convention hall.