As you arrive at the Jade Tiger in your shot-up rental with new windshields and some interesting changes to the paint job, you see the four Japanese gentlemen waiting for you in the lobby. Once again the four are wearing black suits that have the body hugging look that screams 'hand tailored.' Their shoes are not the useless dress shoes one would expect, but are some kind of polished black sneaker. The multi-colored shirts have been replaced with identical khaki ones; however all have a colored handkerchief in their breast pocket, seemingly as a concession to those of you who haven't learned to recognize them yet. The men themselves appear energetic yet relaxed.
As you approach, Hiro says, "You are here. Very good. We have a lead to check on. Kiya will drive your vehicle there. I assume one or more of you wish to accompany us in our vehicle." With that he guides you outside and around a corner to a black Chevy Suburban. Yen climbs behind the wheel of their SUV.
As the two Asian drivers park their vehicles you find yourself outside of the offices of Tando Security Services. The building is a simple brick structure with what you notice are excessive security features around the doors and windows. Bars, wire to what are probably alarm bells, security doors that look tougher than the wall all combine to give you the impression of a fortress.
Hiro, "Please wait here and ensure that no one lurks in ambush for us again." With that the four men in black go into the front door.
Approximately ten minutes later they re-emerge and you drive off again. As you ride along the busy streets of San Francisco you are treated to an impressive view of the Golden Gate, and the orange bridge which spans it.
Both vehicles of ICC agents are told the following: The traitor has been located. The failed assassins were agents of his, and your battle with them was a fluke. The traitor himself has scheduled an auction for the weapon he stole, an auction which is to be held in a nightclub later today. They plan to stake out this nightclub, and kill the traitor and reclaim their artifact. Since the nightclub is supposed to be closed, your role of keeping civilian involvement to a minimum should be easy.
At 11:13 the first other vehicles begin to arrive. Trance and Illysa identify most of the passengers as noted antiquarians specializing in rare weapons or as high tech entrepreneurs interested in either Japanese history or alternate theories of physics. The last such vehicle arrives at 11:45, leaving 14 men and 8 women inside the club. Five minutes later another vehicle arrives and your visitors tense up. A small Japanese man in his late 30's emerges. He is alert but relaxed, and every move he makes reminds you more and more of the four men you met the day before.
As he steps out of sight behind the club's doors, your passengers exit the vehicles and head for the club's exterior. In a truly impressive exhibition of free-climbing, one of them rapidly scales the exterior wall and lands upon the roof. The others spread out around the structure and wait.
Suddenly they begin to move and then they are gone. The next minute and a half is filled with the sounds of street noise and tense breathing from your fellow agents. A muffled shot is heard coming form inside the building. Deciding it's time to do something, Ivan heads for the building, drawing his machine pistol and attaching his beloved silencer. Cursing, Illysa, Chris, and then Trance and Yoko move to back him up. As the lithe Russian clears the door he comes to a halt. The rest of the party pulls up behind him and all are amazed by the sight that greets them. Of the 19 men and 8 women who walked into the room before the agents, only the four Silent Walkers are standing. Four of the bodyguard-like people are very dead, and another two of that sort seem on their way to joining them. Of the presumed buyers, four of them are also dead. From placement it is easy to surmise that the deceased guards were there for the deceased buyers. Of the man whom your guests were tracking, there is nothing but a mangled corpse. Hiro and Nikia stand over his body, a sheathed katana in the silent one's hand. Yen and Kiya are moving about the scene swiftly and surely.
Hiro bows to you and says, "Domo-arrigatto. With your aid we have been able to avenge our honor and restore our treasure." He bows again and continues, "On the table beside me is a large bag that was to be used to purchase this sacred blade. I would present it as a gift to you five, who have been of great use in this trying time."
As he finishes speaking, the two younger men stop their circuit of the room and head directly for the doorway in which you stand. The intimidating Nikia steps past your group and heads out the doorway. Hiro walks up to you all and hands the bag full of money to the nerveless fingers of the archaeologist. He also exits the building.
Slowly realizing that it is past time to go, the five ICC agents collect themselves and head back to their vehicles. Both teams stop by their hotels to retrieve their belongings, and then take a quiet drive to the airport.
Upon reaching the airport, Illysa decides to avail herself of the overnight delivery system for the shot-up rental car. By parking in the designated lot, and depositing the keys with a machine, her vehicle is logged in as returned and some tricky questions have been avoided.
While waiting for your flight back to Atlanta and home, Trance decides to do a rough estimate of the money in the bag. He double checks his math. One million dollars, in twenty dollar bills. Realizing that each group of buyers had a similar bag, Trance is stunned to realize that he was in a room with about ten million dollars cash. After an interesting discussion, the team decides to split the bag evenly and simply work it into their lifestyles in their own ways.
