HA2 14.2 – Shopping Time
In Nikko, almost everyone had heard the story of King’s Hardware. It started its business as supplier of equipment and material for welding company. Then, slowly it evolved into a nationwide chain that supplied almost all manufacture related to metal, plastic, and wood, with the scope of market ranging from home level to huge company in top of pecking order.
Now, every big city in Nikko would have two or three King’s Hardware, and each store was as big as mid-size department store. And accordingly to their plan, after getting free money from Kamui, Takeo and Shizuka went straight to nearest King’s Hardware.
To ensure they won’t leave trail, the two changed their appearance using the technique they got from Hide. Takeo changed his appearance into a fat office worker with thick glasses and black broccoli hair.
As for Shizuka, she changed her appearance into a blonde office lady. Other than wearing elegant glasses, she also added a layer of thick pad to her breast. She had westerner blood from her mother, so dark blond hair matched her skin perfectly. In short, Shizuka new appearance was too good to be ignored, attracted a lot of intention, and made her super nervous.
Fortunately, Hide wrote the catalog number for each item in the shopping list along with the section to find it. Takeo and Shizuka also already recognized the appearance of some items they had to buy. For example the lead ingot, even if there were several types of lead ingots on the shelf, its shape was pretty similar with the lead cylinder that Hide casted. So, Takeo and Shizuka immediately found it and only had to check the catalog number to find the one that Hide wanted.
The appearance of the brass strip was also pretty similar with the one that Hide made in the workshop. The only different was it was far longer and being packed by rolling it until it was as big as small wheel.
As for the item that they had never seen, Takeo and Shizuka looked for it by its name and catalogue number. In short, it took only about 90 minutes before the two went to the cashier, pushing a fully loaded shopping cart each.
Overall, the cashier was like regular cashier in supermarket. The cashier lady would scan the barcode on each item, and registered it into cash machine. Meanwhile, her assistant swiftly packed the items. However, when it was Takeo and Shizuka turn to pay, the cashier lady didn’t immediately calculate their shopping. She made a quick check on some items that Takeo put forward to her station before turning her gaze to Takeo and Shizuka in turn.
“Sir, and Ma’am,” The cashier lady politely said. “I need to see your ID to complete the transaction.”
“Can you tell me the specific reason why you need it?” Shizuka nervously asked, even though Hide had told her that the cashier in King’s Hardware would ask for her ID.
“Lead ingot, brass sheet, spray paint mixture, and titanium block are commodity that commonly being used in firearm workshop,” The cashier lady replied. “For the example is the 100x10x10 cm titanium blocks you buy. You can use it to make hand guard, receiver, pistol grip, vertical foregrip, and butt stock.
When the purchase quota for those items hit certain amount, we have to carry ID check to complete the transaction.”
“But our company is just a small welding and casting company,” Shizuka nervously blurted out the explanation that Hide had prepared. “We have only six workers and our products mainly are steel frame and bolt for windows, custom fishing reel, sinker, and hook.”
As she calmly looked at Shizuka the cashier lady asked, “Then, why do you look so nervous?”
“Um… That is because….”
“That’s because she is a NERD,” Seeing Shizuka was at loss of words, Takeo immediately jumped in to the conversation. It was improvisation in the spur of moment, but Takeo did it perfectly. “Usually, she spends her working hour in the corner of administration cubicle, assist me in general administration and accounting.
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And this is our first time doing a direct purchasing. That’s why she is super uneasy and clumsy.”
“I see.” The cashier lady nodded before continuing, “May I know your previous working place?”
“I was a purchasing manager in an electronic store for eight years.” Takeo calmly explained, and then he turned his gaze to Shizuka as he added, “While she was an accountant in an auto-workshop.
A good friend from college invites us to help him with his new welding and casting company, and so here we are.”
“I see,” The cashier lady nodded as she added, “Newbie in the field.”
“Yeah, and please pardon us for our ignorance.”
“It’s fine.” The cashier lady smiled before continuing, “And for your information, in the last few years the regulation have become easier for the customer actually.
A few years back, you have to carry official purchase order to buy certain item if the quota passes the minimum amount for personal use. But now, showing personal ID is enough.”
After slightly nodded Takeo replied, “I see.”
Without delay Takeo and Shizuka handed over the fake ID that Hide had prepared for them. After scanning the ID cards and entering the name and the number to the invoice, the cashier lady processed the transaction. A few minutes later Takeo and Shizuka were already in the loading dock, swiftly loaded the item they bought to Black Tritton.
Meanwhile, at the other side of Nichiko Hide carried his own shopping. His objective was to get a huge amount of simmunition and some other stuff. To enable this purchase, he made a contact with Paolo Tomoya, a half-Italica and half-Nikko, and also a former communication specialist in signal squadron for Italica tier-one unit.
Actually, Hide already had online transaction with Paolo a few times. The key component he used to customize the Mottolola walkie-talkie into encrypted device was actually Paolo’s home-made product that he sold through e-bay.
Paolo spent his retirement day in Nichiko by opening a pasta shop. It was only small shop located in west Nichiko. Paolo treated it as a side job for his hobby of making pasta initially. However, the shop turned into a huge success and became Paolo’s pride.
After taking a glance at Paolo’s pasta shop, Hide entered a Britiss pub next to it, went straight to the counter, ordered a bottle of peach beer, and then carried it to a coin telephone in a corner.
‘Shopping time,’ Hide muttered as he reached out for the receiver and put a voice-alteration device on it.
---
Tomoya Pasta was always at peak of busy hour at evening, and as usual Paolo would personally orchestrate the kitchen at this hour. Therefore, when one of his staff told him that he had a telephone call, dark lines immediately appeared in his forehead.
“Can’t you see? I can’t receive a phone call right now,” Paolo sharply rebuked his staff.
“But he said he will crash his truck to this shop if you don’t receive his call,” The staff calmly said.
“Then, it just a nonsense call,” Paolo firmly concluded.
“Yeah, I think so, but I still have to inform you before I hanging it up,” The staff said. “I guess.”
After a moment of silence Paolo asked, “What else did he say?”
“He said you are a former moron in Sofa Team Six.”
“Fuck,” Paolo weakly cursed as dark lines in his forehead deepened.
“Is that a problem, Boss?”
“Probably, probably not, who know.” Paolo then turned his gaze to his daughter. “Clara, take my place for a few minutes.”
Clara Tomoya, Paolo’s daughter and his sous chef swiftly nodded and replied, “Got it.”
Without delay Paolo then went to take the call.
“Paolo here, who is this?”
[You can call me Jack.]
In an instant Paolo concluded that the man on the other side was a local young man, with Nikko’s accent.
“What do you want Jack? I’m freaking busy right now.”
[60.000 rounds of 5.56 mm simmunition. 150.000 rounds of 9 mm Para simmunition. Simmunition adapter kit for M4, MP5PDW, VP9, six sets each. Six pieces of 9” barrel for 5.56 mm, along with conversion kits from direct impingement to gas piston. You deliver it personally.]
“Why don’t you just buy airsoft?” Paolo calmly asked. “It’s cheaper and legal, also less painful.”
[I’m tired of playing soldier with airsoft. I want to go to the next level.]
“I’m sorry.” After taking a deep breath Paolo continued, “I don’t do a face-to-face transaction.”
[You can bring an escort and a driver if you worry about your safety, but I will blow your shop up to the cloud if I sniff a shooter or two lurking in the darkness while we talk peacefully.]
“If I refuse this transaction you will blow my shop up, correct?”
[Correct.]
After a long silence Paolo said, “It will cost you lot of money.”
[How much?]
“I need to make a call before knowing the exact number, but you have to prepare 40-50 thousand Dillar at least.”
[If it’s only that amount, I have it already. I can send the advance payment to your shop.]
“I don’t need advance payment, but I need to know how to contact you when the goods are ready.”
[Put a green flag on rooftop of your shop, big enough to be seen using CCTV from nearby high-rise building.]
“Got it.”
[Have you noted down my order? Do I need to repeat it?]
“I don’t need to write it. I can even remember my breakfast from six weeks ago.”
[Good. Any question?]
“How do you know about my old job?”
[Bar chat. A drunkard blurted it out and I happened to sat next to him.]
Paolo massaged his forehead before asking another question, “May I know why you choose me? I never made arms deal before, and I’m sure you know how to contact every arms dealer in Nichiko.”
[I don’t like the other dealers. They can’t make anchovy pasta as good as yours.]
“Seriously?”
[Seriously.]
“What a troublesome fellow, aren’t you?”
[Yeah.]
After heaving a deep sigh Paolo said, “I will put the flag as soon as the goods are ready.”
[Okay. Have a nice busy hour then.]
Click!
After contemplating for a few minutes, Paolo then made a call to his old friend in Nichiko.
*****