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Moloc's Labyrinth
Familiar or Trending?

Familiar or Trending?

"Alright, LISTEN UP, cause I only feel like saying this once." Andone leaned back in his chair, going over all of the papers in which he had written down specific information. Banjo, Shen, Malincha, and Pan stood in front of him, Banjo at the front of the group.

"The Rata Sea is the term used to describe the waters surrounding Yaponica Island, but neither of these two locations are shown on official maps! So you'll have to use this one." Andone pointed to his handrawn, incredibly accurate map, which he laid onto the table for the others to see.

What the? He drew the entire world map from memory alone...what a weirdo... Malincha thought to herself, glancing at Shen, who seemed equally bewildered about this. Andone pulled out a small pen and rested it on top of the southmost of South America, making a few small marks on Chile and Argentina.

"The closest countries to Yaponica are Chile, and Argentina, and you'll find the boat company somewhere along the coast of the two countries. I can't speak for the entire company, but I was once part of the crew on a ship called the Granla, owned by the Oruka Company. You'll definitely be able to find that ship if you search those areas. thoroughly."

Banjo took a step forward and looked down at the map, looking it over before tracing the whole of South America with his finger. "It doesn't make sense though, why would they make themselves so hard to find on purpose? Do they not want us to find them?"

"To weed out all of the unskilled, amateurs likely! I guess they'd prefer a buncha pyschos boarding their ship then some newbie archeologists." Andone joked. "Oh, and one more thing! Only one group can board the ship at the same time, meaning that whichever group makes it to the boat the fastest will be the only one to board it."

"Perfect." Pan grinned, and everyone turned to him. "And I assume we can lighten the competition through any means necessary?

"Damn it, so we won't even be able to enjoy South America? We have to deal with trying to beat other people too?" Malincha sighed.

"Personally, I hope you all die horrible deaths before you reach the boat, if I'm being honest. But I suggest you all stay on alert, because anything could happen to you the moment you decide to pursue the Granla." Andone grinned. "If someone paid me the right money I'd happily take all of you down."

"Anything could happen..." Shen put a thumb to his lips as he thought. "Banjo, you said that you have numerous informers, right? You haven't put too much of your faith in them, right?" Shen asked, and Banjo nodded his head.

"Good thinking. There's one informer I've been carelessly feeding a little too much information about us, and our operation..."

"So that means we're at a severe disadvantage, huh? While we're just now figuring this all out, someone could be planning to bomb us all right here." Malincha loosened up her tie again. "By the way, are these suits really necessary? They're so...formal."

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Pan, Shen, and Malincha had all been forced to wear the same three-piece suits that Banjo wore, except black. "Y-you don't like them. I thought it would be cool if we all matched though. Like a true team." Banjo sighed, and Shen just shrugged.

"You're the only one wearing white. You might as well be offering yourself up to the assasins." Pan slid his hands into his pockets. "So then call the informer and test him so that we know he's on our side."

"To think you could formulate plans that don't involve some form of murder." Shen mused, and Malincha and Banjo stiffled a giggle.

"Antonio, punch him." Pan pointed a finger to Andone and glanced at Shen, grinning. "Go ahead and give em another nasty one, right between the eyes." Andone put his hands together and cracked his knuckles, and Shen just frowned at the two.

"It's a decent plan. Not to mention, I have been preparing for this scenario. You see, occasionally I ask him if I should invest in what I'm familiar with, or what's trending at the moment. He believes I'm talking about stocks, and always answers with what's trending." Banjo pulled his phone out of his pocket and turned it on, scrolling through his contacts. "So, if he really is conspiring with someone else, there's a possibility that this time, he'll choose stick with what's familiar, to make it seem more like he's a trustworthy person."

"Can I go now?" Andone tapped his foot impatiently. "I've already given you all of the information I had. If you have any questions, read the papers I wrote on."

"Yes. And as promised I'll give you shampoo, and a date who is likely not a cat fisher." Shen nodded his head, and Andone stood up from his chair, walking towards the exit, and Malincha followed him, escorting him down the stairs and out of the house.

"And to really make confirm so, say that you want him to organize a private flight to Argentina for you." Pan narrowed his eyes. "If he's really a mole, he'll pass that information on to our competitors, who'll no doubt try to catch us off guard."

"I concur." Shen added, and Banjo nodded his head before calling the number in his contacts. He put the phone to his ear, listening as the phone rung, before after a few seconds, his informer responded.

"I told you to quit calling me on Sundays!"

"Sorry, but this is urgent! Really urgent!" Banjo replied, laughing softly and watching as Shen and Pan whispered something to each other, something about not being surprised that Banjo called his informers outside of work.

"Alright, what is it? And make it quick, I'm with my daughter!" His informer replied.

"I've finally confirmed that a ship owned by the Oruka Company known as the Granl is at the coast of either Argentina or Peru. We'll need a flight to South America though, and I need you to put together a flight for me as quickly as possible."

"I see...I'll put that together as quickly as possible."

"Oh, I guess you don't care too much for your daughter, huh?" Banjo laughed again, intentionally scoping out contradictations in what his informer said.

"Well, you'll have to pay me more for working overtime, so that's alright."

"I pay you well."

"No, you don't."

"...Yeah, I don't." Banjo admitted, and in the corner of his eye he could see Shen and Pan whispering things to each other again, and Banjo frowned at them. "That's it then! Make sure to send me the details when you're done, and- oh, wait, one more thing!"

"What now?"

"I KNOW I've asked this question a million times, but should I invest in what's familiar and usually works out well enough, or what's trendin right now? The answer could make or break your paycheck you know." Banjo laughed for a few seconds and then slowly trailed off as he was met with silence.

"I'd say.... invest in what's familiar."