It didn’t long, just 2 days later and Jameson was knocking on Malums door just as the morning bells began to ring.
Malum got dressed and then greeted Jameson.
“Morning Mr Mastermind, you wouldn’t per chance have a plan for me?”
Jameson was smiling anyway, the bit only acted to widen his smile.
“Oh what a coincidence. Follow me good Sir and you shall see a plan made by the Wisest in the kingdom.”
Malum chuckled a posh chuckle and then the two headed towards Jamesons Mansion.
The Butler greeted them and Jameson didn’t excuse the man when they entered a room filled with more paper then Malum had ever seen in his life.
It reminded Malum of the fact that his friend was rich, and not just merchant rich but Noble rich. Well it was a Fallen household but clearly they kept the most important parts of their legacy.
Malum read a few covers and found most to do with Roosevelts History, the city not the household. The bank after all was nearly as old as the city itself and such the vault was designed all that time ago as well.
Obviously it would have been updated but plans needed to start somewhere.
Jameson spoke up,
“First, I should explain why Florence is here. You should know I trust him more than I trust you, that sounds harsh but Florence here has been serving the family ever since he was a boy. He served my grandfather, father and now he continues to serve me.
He agrees with the plan of revenge as frankly we both desire it more than anything.”
Jameson was speaking clearly and purposefully. He smiled towards his butler as he described his loyalty and the butler smiled back at hearing his achievements be voiced.
Malum didn’t exactly like hearing that his friend had better friends but he realised that Florence was less so friend as he was family.
It was the slightly sad look his butler gave to Jameson that sold Malum of his character. Revenge was a decent goal but one that wasn’t healthy. His butler had the wisdom to see it, and even against his own desires he still put Jameson well-being before it. He looked at the butler in a new light and Jameson continued to talk.
“Florence this is Malum, a friend who I thought was dead at come point. Needless to say he came back to life and we’ve fought on the fronts ever since. It’s not his combat that makes us friends, its his clear mind and kind heart.”
`Kind heart?` Malum looked at Jameson thinking to times he had been kind. He couldn’t think of any of the top of his head so he shrugged it off as a joke, although Jameson did seem serious...
Wandering how he gave of that idea, Jameson didn’t stop for Malums thinking and instead continued.
“Now that you two know each other’s lets focus on the masterful plan that I have conceived.” He pulled out a scroll and rolled its contents onto the table.
“Perhaps the most important item to see is this bad boy.”
Malum eyes followed to the map and on its surface were several lines forming what Malum recognised as a building map.
“Is that for the bank?” Malum asked.
“Why yes it is. A slightly out of date one, only a hundred years old, however it should have most of what we are looking for. This was obtained by Florence here after we found the right architects.”
Truthfully, Malum had never heard that last word before. It wasn’t included in his general education and his Uncle had never said the word but he assumed it was some sort of building designer like an artist.
He had focused on the wrong thing, he shook his head and looked down at the map to study the artists design. The Bank had 3 floors, 2 above ground level and one basement.
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He looked to the basement and found the designs for the vault. The security was simply yet effective, armed Knights at the front of the vault at all times not to mention several more on the first floor.
And that was before the updates. Who knows if they had placed in a few traps since then, although Malum hadn’t a single idea as to how he would add a trap to the block of iron that was the vault.
He looked closer at the entrances, there was the main one and then there were two at opposite ends at the back of the bank. All were going to be protected as the bank would be closed in time for the party.
He dragged his eyes away from the map and said, “Well it’s a good start. Now how exactly are we getting in and out without having a heads cut off by the Knights?”
“Good question my friend. Now the only advantage in terms of skills we have is certainly not thief like skills. We know how to draw blood from demons but these Knights know how to draw the blood of humans. Not to mention there top-class armour leading to an all-out offensive being a bad plan.
We don’t have the skills to sneak past them, in fact I don’t even have their patrol routes but what do we have.
Jameson pointed over to his butler, “Florence here is master in terms of everything to with cleaning and most management processes. I am not only a damn good soldier but also know several useless noble skills. Malum you’re a hunter and a good solider, and you do some alchemy on the side.
So our strengths lay in combat, that’s obvious. If we can’t fight the Knight’s heads on that just means we’ve got to twist the environment to our favour.”
Jameson dragged out another map, this one of the city of Roosevelt. He pointed down to the street the bank was on and continued.
“The first part of the plan will begin with a fire. Knights are known to be brainwashed fools who believe in honour and all that jazz so I am more than sure that most of the available Knights will rush off to go and help.
With some already gone to the guard the party, that will leave far less guards to deal with that usual.
Our second trick comes from Malums poisons. I have seen the bodies of the demons you’ve killed and that stuff doesn’t look pretty. I wouldn’t want to kill every guard so if possible I would want one of the ones that puts the target to sleep. If you can’t,”
“No I can do it.” Malum said, he had more than enough recipes and with his money and free access to an abundant market. He would have a strong one cooked up by the time the sun rose if Jameson demanded it.
“Great news!” Jameson said as he mouth formed a smile. Malum even saw Florence on the side breath a sigh of relief.
“That means we will essentially be hunting down every single Knight before we try to enter the vault. Let’s talk about that first, then we’ll move onto the vault.
Malum, since this isn’t your revenge I frankly better suited for the position, I’ll be the bait and you can be the trap. You said you have practice your sneaking skills, this will see if they are any good.”
Malum nodded at his friends idea. They would have to iron it out but for now they were just doing brief plans.
“Once we have removed the guards from the equation we can begin work on the vault. Malum you will be in charge of any traps and Florence here has been busy working for the local locksmiths. He may not be a master but he is handy with his hands.”
Florence nodded and Jameson continued,
“That is the plan barebones. The time it will start will be after I sneak away from the party, so just before the sun sets. If anything goes wrong, they trigger an alarm, or perhaps they call for help, we simply run. With the fire set it could be covered up but we are taking no risks. As much as I want revenge, I also don’t want to see you two getting hanged with me.
Now we have 2 days before the banquet, Malum we’ll need to practice our ambushing and I’ll give you a more thorough rundown of the entire bank.
Florence can continue his work at the locksmiths an if possible find out information about the vaults particular design. We know its there, but risking a heist just for that isn’t work it.
So, Malum are you ready to do a heist.”
It certainly wasn’t foolproof, but Malum was happy that the risks were low enough. He could see Jameson determination; his eyes were already set.
Malum shook Jamesons hand, “let’s rob a bank.”
And so the final preparation began to take place.
Malums sword slithered towards Jamesons neck. He had never showed someone his Martial technique and it was the first time Jameson had experienced it.
“What is that?” He asked.
“New technique I found. Like it?”
Jameson looked surprised, “You found a technique like that on the market? My god the merchant must have gone blind. Do I like it, it’s perfect!”
Malum did have to agree that the technique was well suited to ambushes. He had found in the latest hunt that he stayed further away from the simple head on fights and focused more on assassinating big targets.
His poison needed time to work and so he usually went for the opponent before it could find him. Fires worked a great distractions and the feasting on previous demon corpses gave Malum several opportunities to get his sword coated in poison and into the enemies neck.
For such a heist it was the closets to perfect he was going to get. It always made him wonder if that was why his Intuition guided him towards that one specifically. Or perhaps why that one shined so bright.
He had seen a few dim lights during his training but he didn’t want to risk loosing his ability. He would need it in full force for the heist so he noted their positions down and left it as is.
Malum and Jameson continued their ambushing practice using a hired worker from a company. They would use him for a few days and then the worker would assigned another task.
They wouldn’t see anything to incriminating, just two soldiers practicing their combat techniques.
Once the day was done they dismissed the man and Jameson went to sleep, Malum had a few potions to brew before he could get some rest but with their vital importance Malum remained on full focus, not matter how tired he was. They had another day of training before the fateful day would occur. They would certainly make the most of the time they had left.