The snow had finally melted, and if the uptick in customers were anything to go by, spring had finally sprung.

“So House, let’s hear this big plan of yours,” Midnight said excitedly once I had gathered everyone for a meeting.

“Right, so I figured since the Skisfinks tried to fuck with me financially, I figured turnabout is fair play,” I began.

“Makes sense, but did you figure out where another storehouse is, Mr. House?” asked Carmen.

“No, but I have a list of people who might be very interested in sticking it to these assholes,” I replied as I deployed the list of people I had gotten earlier this year.

The document included the names and addresses of people that the Skisfinks had stolen from as well as a list of all of the things that were now safely tucked inside my inventory.

“I figure that giving people their stuff back will put them in a good enough mood to listen to a sales pitch,” I explained, “Maybe let them know that there’s a competing insurance company that’s just started up.”

“Somehow, I doubt people will be as receptive to the idea as you think they will be,” Selina said, “if what you said is true, they’ve all been barely able to make ends meet and you want to charge them for a competing insurance plan? That’s going to raise some suspicions.”

“Well, you have a point, but I think that they’ll warm up to the idea once we explain things. Not to mention, it’s hard to beat free,” I explained as I pulled up a few blueprints that I had gotten from the Necropolis dungeon.

***

“I can’t believe we got demoted to collection duty,” a rough looking human grumbled as he trudged down the road.

“Just be lucky we’re still alive after the storehouse got raided,” replied an orc as she similarly trudged next to him, “the Don was in a fowl enough mood to give a dire goose a run for er money.”

“Ah, well, we have that to be thankful for, I suppose,” agreed the man before the two of them entered into an unnamed junk shop.

“Welcome to my store,” said Spreen without her usual high pitched voice and an unusually wicked grin, considering who she was speaking to.

“Yeah, yeah, enough with the chit-chat. We’re here for your monthly payment, so cough it up,” said the man as he held out his hand expectantly.

“Unfortunately, your rates have increased beyond what I’m able to pay, so I’m afraid I’ll have to cancel my insurance plan,” Spreen explained calmly.

“What, are you stupid are something?” asked the orc as she drew a curved dagger out of her belt and advanced on Spreen.

Suddenly, several strategically placed cat statues whipped their heads towards the orc and their eyes glowed red.

A low yowling sound filled the air as a dark panther like shape materialized out of thin air between the two thugs and Spreen.

“Tell your boss that I’ve decided to go with a different insurance provider. Oh and let them know that Lucky Cat Insurance also provides excellent security and protection,” Spreen said with glee as two more stalkers appeared on either side of the first.

The two thugs were later seen fleeing down the street, chased by something that nobody else seemed to see.

***

! Monster Spawner Trap activated !

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

! Invaders repelled from Waypoint: Spreen’s shop !

! Returning (3/3) Stalkers to Monster Spawner trap !

! Experience awarded !

! Mana awarded !

“Let’s see if I can’t tag these two for the patrols to follow,” I muttered as I watched the two thugs fleeing from my [stalker’s] point of view.

Fortunately, the menu obliged me and two red outlines surrounded the thugs.

The menu had been unusually cooperative lately, first letting me combine the monster spawner trap with the watcher statue I had scanned in Amanda’s office in order to make something called a waypoint.

My enchanter [cat-kin], Mistoffelees, had discovered that the waypoints could actually be keyed to recall stones, so even if Rex himself showed up to try and collect protection money, I could send Carmen and Midnight to take care of the problem and have them back before anyone got the bright idea to attack the casino while they were away.

Patrolling [stray cats] alerted me whenever the two thugs passed through their area until eventually they came to a sewer grate.

“Where are they going?” I muttered as the two of them slipped a bit of a bar out of the way and squeezed into the opening.

I chuckled to myself as I watched the human slip the bar back behind them and disappear further into the sewer.

“Looks like I’m going rat catching,” I thought as more notifications started to pop up in the menu.

***

“I can’t believe Mr. House is going up against the Skisfinks,” Zee muttered as he looked at one of the cat statues that the cat-kin had placed up on a high shelf.

“I’m just glad that it’s Mr. House and not another gang,” Jasper said as he worked on a balance sheet and moved a few beads across his abacus, “Not to mention that I haven’t been noticed by the Skisfinks before they tried to collect protection money from me.”

“Well Duke is usually with us, so that might have had something to do with it,” Zee mentioned.

Jasper just shrugged and shifted some more beads around with a slight clacking sound.

“How close are you to affording your own storefront again?” Zee asked.

“Winter slowed things down like it always does, but business has picked up again in a big way. If this keeps up, I’ll be able to get a line of credit again by early summer,” Jasper replied.

“Did you get your entrance test scheduled?” asked Jasper.

“Yep. It’s in two weeks,” replied Zee.

“Nervous?” asked Jasper.

“No, but the reality of the situation hasn’t quite set in, so I’m probably going to be a wreck here in a few days,” Zee replied with a sedate air of calm.

“Is it too much to ask to keep your impending breakdown to a quiet panic?” asked Jasper.

“I’ll try to keep that in mind, but no promises,” Zee said.

“I appreciate your consideration,” Jasper said as he slid a few more beads around.

***

“[A voice echoing in the valley] [Kneeling before the altar] [Two hundred fifty six] [The smell of lavender] [The concept of creating a perfect crest in sealing wax]”

! Establishing connection……….. !

! Connection failed !

“Damn it,” Selina swore before trying again.

“[A voice echoing in the valley] [Kneeling before the altar] [Two hundred fifty six] [The smell of lavender] [The concept of creating a perfect crest in sealing wax]”

! Establishing connection……….. !

! Connection failed !

“Come on, come ON!” Selina hissed under her breath.

“[A voice echoing in the valley] [Kneeling before the altar] [Two hundred fifty six] [The smell of lavender] [The concept of creating a perfect crest in sealing wax]”

! Establishing connection……….. !

! Connection failed !

! System message: There are some people who would call this insanity, you know !

“Huh?” Selina muttered as she took a look at the unusual system message.

! System message: You know, trying the same thing over and over again just to get the same results !

“Oh, it’s you, isn’t it?” Selina muttered, “How are you doing this?”

! System message: I’m a god of luck and this is a casino !

! System message: I’m sure you can figure it out !

Selina took in a deep breath and let it out slowly to steady herself.

“Please, remove whatever is preventing me from establishing a connection,” she asked.

! System message: no !

“You don’t understand, I need to speak with him!” Selina exclaimed with a frantic edge to her voice.

! System message: Why should I? !

“Because House is going to die a painful death if I can’t talk to The Judicator!” Selina shouted.

! System message: House was going to die if I didn’t intervene !

“Well, yes, but now…” Selina trailed off.

! System message: You didn’t want House to suffer, did you? !

“Of course not,” sighed Selina, The Judicator has decreed him to die, but maybe I could have guided him. Now I can’t do anything and his suffering will be inevitable.”

! System message: I understand, but that’s a backwards way of looking at the situation !

“Like you would understand. All you’ve ever done is make a mockery of the grand design and fool around,” Selina hissed.

! System message: I may be a fool, but I’m not fooling around this time !

! System message: Just do what angels do best, and have a little faith !

! System message: Maximum number of connection attempts exceeded. Timed out for thirty days and thirty nights !