Case No. 5
CAFE & DINER FOURTH CAFE · LONG BEACH, CA · UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT
EMPLOYEE NO. 512
DATE: 2-22-2020
FILE REFERENCE: LFW02
TOTAL: $0.56
I've been put on my first order, how exciting! No. 44B has placed me on Team 5 which is for "Haberdashery and Such," though I don't really know anything about hat making per se. I guess he wanted me on this team for two reasons. One, it's only had three employees. And two, I guess he considers my situation to be "hat-adjacent." While I don't know if I'd ever be able to learn hat-making, at the very least, wearing a hat should help me better… function.
So, to get to know two of my fellow team-mates better I've been tasked with helping Manager No. 5 and Employee No. 44A in finding Mr. Taga. I'm mostly going along to watch and learn the process, but if things go south for some reason, I suppose I can step in to help. I don't know much about "Dining Out" either but what's really the worst that can happen to me, right? But Mr. Taga is apparently an old "mate" of No. 5 and they go back to his IRIS days. It's weird having these flashes of knowledge pop in. Like, I know for a fact I didn't know what IRIS was a month ago but now I know so much about it but it doesn't feel like my own thoughts on it.
And, I suppose, there is another reason No. 5 wanted me to come along on this service. I'm not entirely sure what he meant because he was talking in an exaggerated cockney accent, but he wants to see if my "pigeon porridge…?" heats up when he gets Mr. Taga's stone. I don't know what that means. And he wasn't talking in Diner-Speak either, that's just exactly what he said. No. 44A seemed to understand him (kind of) as she shrugged and said "Maybe, but it might kill her." Then she looked at me funny until I started laughing. I think you have to have a good sense of humor about these kinds of things!
ଘ(੭ˊᵕˋ)੭* ੈ✩‧₊˚
EMPLOYEE NO. 53
DATE: 2-23-2020
FILE REFERENCE: C-BAS03
TOTAL: $8.88?!?
I'm glad the big guy knows he couldn't possibly take me down. You don't mess with crazy. Though I will say I am wounded that he thinks I've been just taking a vacation in Japan. For what it's worth, a lot of places are actually closed right now, No. 4. And the places that are open? Are kinda gross. Not gross in a fun way, but gross in a stinky otaku kind of way. However, this whole Mrs. Mizuki order got me thinking. Thinking, thinking, thinking. And what happened with Miss. Satsuki? Oh, boy, that gave me a big think. GIGABRAIN MODE ACTIVATE!
I could be right, I could be wrong, but I don't think that's actually Mrs. Mizuki. It's still too soon to say for certain but I think I'm starting to get a good idea of where the Amazake doth flow. Or at least what it should look like, anyway. See, I think it's probably one big ol' parade. A bunch of guys marching in the night. Hey! That actually doesn't sound too bad. "Nightmarch." I like it! We'll go with that for now. Why? Well, there isn't really a direct place Amazake could otherwise flow from.
See, with Apple Juice there is a sort of vague mythical island we can tie it all up to. And Ichor, well that comes from a real enough place, but I think there's probably another version of it that's more in line with what'd you expect to find from our Ichor distribution center. And Mead? I think Mead is a whole mess of nine separate places. Not really a direct answer, sure, but none of these specialty drinks seem to come from as solid of a place our original seven drinks do. So, when it comes to Amazake, I think it's probably from someplace shrouded in darkness lit up by an endless rave. And while I think Mrs. Mizuki has probably been to that rave, I thin this Mrs. Mizuki has been misidentified… Give me another 119 minutes and I can probably close this case.
Caffeinated Report: C-LFW03
"The Pidgeon Porridge"
Reference | 2 Words
Caffeinated Report: TEA-BAS04
"Sometimes when a parade just erupts out of nowhere, ya' gotta go. Why? Should be between the g and the o, I think."
Research | 2 Words
Caffeinated Report: C-LFW04
"No. 5's mate."
Reference | 1 Word
Caffeinated Report: C-BAS06
"A place to pursue important leads."
Reference | 1 Word
MANAGER NO. 5
DATE: 2-26-2020
FILE REFERENCE: FCLS06
TOTAL: TAB REPAID
Right, well, there you 'ave it. Boat race is back on. No need to thank me, though, if you run into me mate, Hugo, make sure to give 'im a pat on the back, ain't it? 'Course Vizago was still a bit miffed with me, I reckon, but at least she's saved face and can be on 'er merry way. Though I've got to say, it's a bit strange, innit? I could've sworn I knew where I left 'er order. I don't see 'ow it could've disappeared. Especially considerin' I needed Mr. Taga just to get the bleedin' thing back. By the by, I did get a small peak at where the thing was hidin'. Lovely shade of teal, I reckon.
Now, I'm not sayin' anythin'. Though this whole order's been a bit bonkers, yeah? I reckon it's nuffin' I need to worry meself about, but I'd love to be invited for a cuppa, should the powers that be deem it right proper. Sure seems like if I can do this little job for you without even knowin' it, I'd be a lot more useful if I was actually on your other payroll. Though I imagine there's a good reason I've been left in the dark on this one. Or, I sure 'ope there's a good reason. Otherwise, I'd feel a bit used.
Though with Vizago satisfied, she won't be botherin' anyone in Slaughter for the time bein'. Then again, she's known to Roam, ain't she? So I wouldn't be surprised if this ain't the last we see or 'ear from 'er. But I imagine she'll be right busy fightin' in M.K.'s crusade to push out our Corpse Reviver dealer. Unless, of course, she was just lyin' about bein' in league with M.K. 'Ard to say when the shadows all look the same, ain't it?
Caffeinated Report: C-BMN03
"Intially, never eat soggy wheat."
Reference | CaD Knowledge | 1 Word
MANAGER NO. 2
DATE: 2-28-2020
FILE REFERENCE: BMN04
TOTAL: $?.?? I DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS IS?
That is certainly interesting, isn't it? Four keys that lead to a place called "The End?" How exciting! This is the exact kind of adventure I had hoped my Cafe would get up to. Though, I've done a bit of my own research and I believe these four "keys" actually lead to a sort of antechamber prior to the End itself. See, I don't think we're actually supposed to go all the way to End. I doubt there's anything interesting there. But the Antechamber to the End? Now that could be a neat place to go and go no further! In fact, you all could probably find these Antekeys and then I could pop over to that Antechamber and seal it up for good. I think that'd be the responsible thing to do. No one knows what might be hiding in the far reaches of the Other— ugh… you do silly words in these things, huh? No one knows what might be hiding in the far reaches of the Canada Place whatever.
And, what luck, it seems the Mor— Miss. "Bad," or whatever, it seems like she wants to help you all get to the End! What a benevolent bird she is! Pricey, probably. But benevolent none-the-less. And I would expect her to drop off another one of her omens soon. Perhaps this one could be a bit more direct where you all should be heading? That'd be great. Because you need to find those Antekeys so I can seal up this weird mess once and for all. That's what the Cafe and Diner does, right? Sends customers home and takes care of coffee business.
If you don't get another omen within 1-3 business days, well, I think I'd be rather peeved about that, myself. You spend money on quality, consistency, and of course, speed. What does that have to do with Miss. Bad's omens? Nothing. It's just a good life lesson I, as your top manager, wished to bestow upon my employees. And anyone reading this. Which, I have been sharing these receipts with some associates of mine to ensure the quality of your work is meeting my very high standards. And…? It is! Congratulations minions! Now, let's get those Antekeys!
EMPLOYEE NO. 17
DATE: 2-29-2020
FILE REFERENCE: BMN05
TOTAL: $0.19
It would seem Miss. Bad has left us another poem on her check, as our beloved Manager No. 2 predicted. It reads:
"Dark tomb below the ocean deep,
Sleeps the beast of hellish creep.
Slow his sunken maw will gape,
Swallowing all who can't escape.
'O the dark 'n mighty God of Sea,
Hides a piece of the first Antekey.
Should it be found in Blackwood's home?
Lost ashore in Eldritch foam?
It takes the form of precious pearl,
Deep below where the Black Tides twirl."
Well, we can assume that the first of the four Antekeys Manager No. 2 desires can thus be found in my hometown of the Big Easy. The key has taken the form of a pearl and seems tied to Miss. Neptune. Though Miss. Bad's poem does indicate that it is only a piece of the final Antekey. Perhaps it is a key of three? One of what lies below, one of the skies, and one of the seas? That would seem to make the most sense, at least to me. And it perhaps explains the rumor Mrs. Celaeno shared with us regarding Miss. Neptune, Pluto, and Jupiter.
Which… well, no. I suppose it's best not to speculate too much on the affairs of those in Quebec. What we need to focus on is retrieving these Antekeys for No. 2, as he has been such a gracious investor in our operations. We're going to need all hands-on deck down in the Big Easy, for things down there always tend to be a bit… strange, eh? We can work out of my family's manor as it should have more than enough amenities for the coffee trade. No. 26 will take us there in our duly designated teams tomorrow, where we may meet, kiel ni faras.