Case 7: A Giant Problem

CASE NO. 7

A Giant Problem

"Enter Ms. Roussimoff, head of the Mangrove Syndicate. -The Auditor, CAD-09"

Receipts

CAD-09

OPEN

BARISTA: THE AUDITOR
CAFE: NONE
DATE: LATE DECEMBER
RECEIPT ID: CAD-09

I find I must apologize for the… shall I say… "brevity," of Case Report No. 6. I considered attaching some other unrelated Core Cafe receipts. In fact, I had almost combined Jack, CaDence, and I's conversation with a few collected receipts from when Sunshine was newly opened. I decided against it as, truthfully, what else could possibly accompany all of… "that." If you haven't read Case Report No. 6 yet, you didn't miss much or perhaps you missed everything that is and could be. I would consider it a one-off though. If I turn this public repository into a collection of singularly important receipts, I fear it would quickly snowball out of my control. However, I am working with CaDence on something that piqued my interest while I was at the Cafe and Diner, but that's a worry for a much later time.

Back in October of this year, while the Tesseract Cafe toiled away at getting their stories straight I travelled around to the other Cafes to check in. Notably, I spent some time at Testament, Requiem, Sunshine, and Silenus. I was also planning on going a bit further east to pop into Bloodglass and then head down to Midnight, but you must imagine my surprise at running into Midnight, far out of their ordained jurisdiction, in the middle of New Orleans, chasing down their current bugaboo—the Mangrove Syndicate.

The Syndicate, for those who don't know, is a direct competitor to the Cafe and Diner in the Coffee Trade and it has filled in the void left by Ms. Umbra's organization which was known as the Dark. The Dark, which was once led by Ms. Umbra, Ms. Pleasant, and Ms. Aka, was consumed by their own ambitions and as far as we know is currently destroyed beyond any sensible repair. But the area surrounding Florida is far too valuable to the Coffee Trade to go uncontested. Enter Ms. Roussimoff, head of the Mangrove Syndicate. By all accounts Ms. Roussimoff is a much greater threat than Ms. Umbra ever was. She's older, she's stronger, and—believe me or not—she is more well connected to the burnt, black, and bitter side of the Coffee Trade than Ms. Umbra ever was.

C-MIL-01

CAFFEINATED

Puzzle

"Even Niceros wouldn't eat a crumb of bread with them."

Mythology Trivia | 3 Words

Hints

Hint 1: [Gentle hint]

Hint 2: [Medium hint]

Hint 3: [Strong hint]

Answer

Werewolf Of Tarentum

This puzzle names “Niceros”, a character in the half-lost work Satyricon who tells the story of how, on a journey, one of his companions is discovered to be a werewolf in a place called Tarentum. He later remarks that “[he] wouldn’t have been able to share a meal with” the werewolf after discovery.

BARISTA: NABERIUS CERBERUS
CAFE: MIDNIGHT
DATE: EARLY OCTOBER
RECEIPT ID: C-MIL-01

DIRTY FILTHY FOUL INTERMEDIATOR, THAT DAMNED GREEN EYES.

Bah! Is the Giant such a feckless coward that he cannot deign to deliver his own threats in person? Or could it be that he's simply too… too… large, eh? HA! I bet you that is it! He is too fucking fat to fit through our front door! Oh, what a fucking mess this is… Not a week ago the lovely little Miss Livingstone said the cards had called to tell her that the Syndicate was shifting to the west and now, now we know straight from the ass' mouth. Green Eyes showed up at our doorstep—OUR FUCKING DOORSTEP—to tell US, US! Can you believe it? To tell US that we should not, that we CANNOT, interfere in the Syndicate's business in the swamps of New Orleans. THEY SAID—

I need to calm myself.

No point in riling up my worst third over this, especially if the Giant seems so keen to dismiss us outright. Yes, what I have already penned is unfortunately true. Old Green Eyes, the Mangrove Syndicate's primary enforcer arrived by dead of night to dissuade us from interfering in the Syndicate's constantly expanding enterprise. Ha. And you know what set me off on this? He didn't even bother to threaten us, you know, properly threaten us, like a good antagonist ought to do. Back when we were dealing with the Dark, the Hatman would at least pretend to play the game. He'd rattle his saber, we'd rattle ours… simpler times, I suppose.

CaDence, the dear, wasn't in range to pick up my all too brief exchange with Green Eyes, but it was, in essence, "We know, you know, we are on the move. Sit put. If we need to be thwarted, surely your 'Requiem' Cafe CAN DO THE FUCKING JOB!

THOSE CANE SWINGING FALSE HEALERS! STEALING OUR ANTAGONISTS? OUR WORK? OUR PASSION! DAMN THEM ALL TO HELL AND BACK! I WON'T HAVE IT! I WON'T!

Apologies. It really gets under my collar. Of course, it is what the Giant wants, no? To sow division among the Cafes and her many employees? Naturally, Mr. Blackwood's team would be more than capable of handling the Syndicate's presence in their neck of the woods. However, they are more than kept busy by their own "wicked and vile" little problems. So, no, Green Eyes, Giant, we will not sit put.

C-MIL-02

CAFFEINATED

Puzzle

"Erdnetne Erdnetne."

Language Trivia | 3 Words [******* ****** ********]

Hints

Hint 1: [Gentle hint]

Hint 2: [Medium hint]

Hint 3: [Strong hint]

Answer

Reverse Double Entendre

The puzzle text is two “Entendre” reversed around literally. That's the answer.

BARISTA: RANOMA L. BOY
CAFE: MIDNIGHT
DATE: EARLY OCTOBER
RECEIPT ID: C-MIL-02

What if it is all just one big trap? Yes, that is what I think, it simply must be a trap! What if, perhaps, and I do think that it could very well be the case that the Syndicate is using reverse, or even double, or perhaps, yes, even perhaps the dreaded reverse double psychology on us! Think about it friends! What if the Giant sent Green Eyes to tell us not to interfere knowing that we simply would have to interfere, and then yes, then we walk right into his very trap by interfering! We simply cannot do that! Now, what this dastardly trap might be, I do not exactly know… It could be a, yes, a set up where we all go to New Orleans and then whammy! We are captured or worse! Or, or, maybe I think it is more likely that the Giant wants us to go so that Florida is free for his villainous taking!

And because of this, I simply think it makes the most sense you all stay here while I, the brave and chivalrous Ranoma, go to New Oreleans alone. Yes, completely and utterly alone. But not entirely alone! There is the Requiem branch of the Cafe and Diner there, and my many, yes many, very good buddies such as Katherine and Elizabeth. They will take very good care of me, I would think, and this way I could see if the trap is set there while you can all stay here and "hold down the fort," as they say. Yes, they say that! I've heard it said many times before. I think I would sleep better at night knowing Florida is safe with you all here watching over it and I—

Julius here. No chance. Not that there is no chance that this is a trap of some sort, it most definitely is, but there is no chance we can send Loveland on his own to handle it. The Syndicate moving is a big deal. It's got to be a full hands affair, especially considering the other threats that lurk around New Orleans. If the Giant is seeking a partnership with the Vile or… the Wicked… we cannot allow that to happen. I will not allow that to happen. So, everyone, pack your bags. We're going to pay Requiem a visit.

…Oh, well, a trip with all my bestest friends is still a very, yes very, good thing! Even if I sleep a little unsteady. (◕‿◕)

…Wait… what do you mean I have to "hold down the fort???"

C-MIL-03

CAFFEINATED

Puzzle

"'Tis he—'tis Conrad—here—as wont—alone; On—Juan!—on—and make our purpose known. 'Tis he—'tis—"

Urban Legend Trivia | 2 Words [*** *******]

Hints

Hint 1: [Gentle hint]

Hint 2: [Medium hint]

Hint 3: [Strong hint]

Answer

Jean Lafitte

The line is from a poem called “The Corsair”, which was rumoured to be written about Jean Lafitte, the pirate.

BARISTA: INDRID COLD
CAFE: MIDNIGHT
DATE: MID OCTOBER
RECEIPT ID: C-MIL-03

…We have arrived in the swamps of New Orleans. Funny. In a way. The Black Mangrove Tree, avicennia germinans, is as invasive to New Orleans as invasive as the Mangrove Syndicate is itself. I do not believe that the Mangrove Syndicate requires Mangrove trees to physically move from location to location. The Giant is a Nephilim. The Nephilim are giants. Were giants. The Giant is the last of his kind. All the Nephilim died at the end of the first Universe. First Sphere. All except the Giant. The Giant survived.

We have arrived in the swamps of New Orleans. Funny. In a way. The Black Mangrove Tree, avicennia germinans, is as invasive to New Orleans as the Auditor is to the Cafe and Diner. I do not believe that the Auditor is required to physically move from location to location. The Auditor is— The— Were— The Auditor is the last of their kind. All the— Seventeen. All except the Auditor. The Auditor survived.

The Auditor was here before us. The Auditor should have been at Tesseract dealing with Nobody in particular. The Auditor seems to be in many places at once. They said that they were waiting for the Tesseract Cafe to get their story straight and so they came here to check on Requiem. Imagine the Auditor's surprise when we were here as well. Since we all arrived here together the atmosphere has been oppressive. Psychic noise? Wicked noise? Vile noise? Nephilimic noise? Hard to say. Though I can tell it has been affecting the others. Jericho has been shaking. Drinking. Shaking worse. Joy is reliving moments I cannot see. Julius has been… aggressive. His fire is burning brightly. In any case I—

—was here before. I should have been at the Phantom Lanes dealing with the nobody in particular. I seem to be in many places at once. I am waiting for the story to straighten and so I came here to check on the R— Imagine my surprise when the Syndicate was here as well. Since they all arrived here together the atmosphere has been oppressive. Psychic noise. Wicked noise. Vile noise. Cresset noise. Hard to say. Though I can tell it still affects me. I've been shaking. Shaking worse. Reliving moments I cannot see. An aggressive fire burning coldly.

In any case the Mangrove Syndicate came here for the Ragarou. We have arrived in the swamps of New Orleans—

MIL-04

OPEN

BARISTA: THE AUDITOR
CAFE: NONE
DATE: MID OCTOBER
RECEIPT ID: MIL-04

To help parse Indrid's somewhat cryptic repeating words, I wanted to get my own thoughts down in a Diner Receipt. As we, or, more precisely Indrid, uncovered, the Mangrove Syndicate is in New Orleans in an effort to acquire Mrs. Brown as a customer of their establishment. Mrs. Brown is not a particularly high profile customer, nor is she especially demanding, all things considered. As a matter of fact, during Lent, she forgoes caffeine altogether. However, she is rather… aggressive… to those who aren't as steadfast in their Lenten convictions as she and can go so far as to chew their head off over the issue.

As you might have guessed by her stringent convictions, she is a friend of Behram. Though she is allied to Behram and his meaningless cause she is not actually a fan of Double Shots—she drinks Green Tea. …Which creates some confusion to her station, does it not? If she is a certified Green Tea drinker why waste her time working with Behram? Moreover, it's not entirely unheard of for a customer to switch drink orders entirely… it's not a matter of a hard-coded genetic predilection, it's a way of life. If a customer says they drink Orange Juice or Coffee with Cream, then that is what they drink. Which is funny, in a cosmic sense, because—ah, you had to be there.

Regardless, Mrs. Brown is most certainly a New Orleans local and Ms. Roussimoff is most certainly not. Or… maybe she is? Was? With someone as old as Ms. Roussimoff, it can be hard to tell where she's actually from… I'm getting lost in my own thoughts. Apologies. The important thing is that the Syndicate wants Mrs. Brown and we can't let that happen. The last thing the Cafe and Diner Network needs is to be losing customers to half-baked swamp-bound organizations. Outside of Lent, Mrs. Brown can typically be found in and around the Garden District so that is where we will search for her.

Jericho here. One third of the owners of Midnight, in case you forgot. Funny how Auddy thinks they've got some say in how we operate. I mean, we will go to the Garden District. But on my call, choice? So… yeah, Mrs. Brown can often be found in and around the Garden District. So. That is where my team, Midnight, will search for her.

Right as radium and sour as brimstone we'll be off. Don't dare to lead my team, choice? Don't. Er, well, we're all of the Cafe and Diner though ain't we? R—ight, so WHY split hairs, eh Auddy?

CD-MIL-05

CAFFEINATED

Puzzle

"Hull of here."

Research | 4 Words [******** ** *** *******]

Hints

Hint 1: [Gentle hint]

Hint 2: [Medium hint]

Hint 3: [Strong hint]

Answer

Werewolf Of New Orleans

“Hull” is a reference to the “Werewolf of Hull”, or “Ol’ Stinker”. The “Hull of Here” would thus be the “Werewolf of New Orleans”.

BARISTA: THE AUDITOR
CAFE: NONE
DATE: MID OCTOBER
RECEIPT ID: CD-MIL-05

Territorial sovereignty is a concept the Midnight Cafe seems to struggle with as of late. However, given the Mangrove Syndicate’s involvement, I was inclined to let this particular violation of jurisdiction play out. Call it professional curiosity. Or perhaps I simply enjoy watching a train wreck in slow motion. If you were hoping for a display of tactical brilliance… well, I suppose you can’t win them all. However, after today's display of flame and fury—and given the fact that Wicked haunts this city enough as is—I feel that the Midnight Cafe should be confined to their jurisdiction for the foreseeable future. I'll have to bring it up with Jack.

Joy

Up ahead, right there! That's it, isn't it?

Jericho

Yeah, that's the wolf alright. What now? Reckon we've been followed?

Indrid

Do not worry. I do not sense the Syndicate. Do not—

Jericho

Lovely, thanks, Indy. So—what's the play here? We rush 'im?

Julius

We should lure the beast.

Jericho

With what, big boy? A kindly Catholic who's gone back on their Lenten Vows? Be realistic—

Joy

It could work…

Jericho

It's bloody October. We don't have the time to sit on our hands 'til… 'til…

Indrid

—not sense the Syndicate. Lent is observed through Wednesday, February 18th through Thursday, April 2nd.

Jericho

There's your answer, innit?

Julius

You can lure a beast by more than nature. Jericho, prepare a binding circle around the perimeter. I will draw the beast to a focal point. From there we can use silver shackles. …Naberius, head back twenty or so meters. I want you to be ready to catch the Ragarou should the circle falter.

Jericho

Puh-lease, Jules. It's a simple binding circle. Christ. D'ya really think I can bungle that up?

Julius

…

Jericho

Right. Best get on it then.

[Chalk scratched on pavement, heavy boots shifted, a blade was unsheathed. Julius cut the mark of House Cresset into his palm as the air began to hum with a low-frequency static.]

Indrid

—through Wednesday, February 18th through Thursday, April 2nd. Worry. The Syndicate is observed Wednesday, October—

Joy

…Hang on. Indrid has changed his message!

Jericho

Wuzzat?

[A deep, sub-bass rumbled as the pavement cracked. The earth split. Slowly the Giant loomed up from the fissure, displacing the night air with a heavy, suffocating pressure.]

Giant

I could have sworn I told you to stay out of this.

Jericho

Giant… Shit! Hurry it up, Jules!

[Jericho scrambled to close the chalk circle as Julius raised his bleeding palm.]

Julius

Byttar hectra!

[Sickly yellow fire roared as a blast of xanthic flames erupted from Julius, striking the Giant’s chest—and splashing off harmlessly like water off of ancient stone.]

Giant

What is this? You manage to beat us here and still you are clearly ill prepared.

[The Giant snapped his trunk-like fingers. The sound created a physical shockwave which was then met with three distinct, piercing screeches. Stikini witches tore out of the earth, blurring past the Giant toward the Ragarou.]

Jericho

Now or never!

Julius

The circle—

Jericho

It'll hold! Do it!

Julius

Reszin setexa flanth mesico!

[The roar of fire intensified into a deafening scream as Julius unleashed his full torrent. The xanthic flames tore through Jericho's circle, shattering what little containment it had. The Stikini scattered upward into the air.]

Jericho

Shit, shit, shit! Jules—Julius! Call it off, mate! Call it off!

Julius

Oftrpi hekmen ingtjo dranqu! Owfsix lamesi yelbur lownyo XANTHU!

Jericho

Stop it you big oaf! Lords below me, can't you see it's—

Giant

—Over.

[There was a heavy, wet impact. Then, a vacuum sound—like air being sucked out of the room as the Giant scooped the Ragarou up in one massive hand. He sunk back into the earth, dragging the Stikini and Julius’s fire down with him. The street went instantly dark and silent.]

Julius

Damn it…

C-MIL-06

CAFFEINATED

Puzzle

"Home is where the heart is."

Crystal Trivia | 1 Word [*********]

Hints

Hint 1: [Gentle hint]

Hint 2: [Medium hint]

Hint 3: [Strong hint]

Answer

Moonstone

Midnight is in Florida, and the official gemstone for Florida is Moonstone.

BARISTA: JOY LIVINGSTONE
CAFE: MIDNIGHT
DATE: MID OCTOBER
RECEIPT ID: C-MIL-06

So… Well, we're all okay! And, honestly, isn't that always, like, the most important thing? That at the end of the day we're all okay? All in one piece. Naberius, Indrid, Jericho, Julius, and I, that is. And Ranoma just sent me a text that everything is fine back at the Midnight Cafe. Still not sure where Daichi and Alarac are though… but how much trouble could those two get in? Er… well, I'm sure they're fine, right? They've been around a lot longer than any of us have! Oh! And the Auditor, they're fine too! Though… er, well, I don't think they "liked what they saw," but, you know, that's the thing about team dynamics and stuff. We're a family, right? And families can be a bit messy! The Auditor just doesn't… Well, it's okay. I'm sure they won't pass judgement on us from just one lousy service.

Speaking of… the Service with the Ragarou didn't quite go exactly according to plan. But, we couldn't foresee—I couldn't forsee—that the Giant and his witches would pop right out of the earth like that! I mean, yeah, sure, we kind of figured that some of the Syndicate would be here and we were ready for that… but we weren't expecting the Giant himself to show up. How could we have? This didn't seem like an issue he'd have to show up himself to deal with. But, y'know, besides the unexpected Giant and everything it all went… Well, it went okay, right? We're all okay. And I still think that's all that matters.

As for our next steps… The Auditor made it very, very clear that we were to head back to the Midnight Cafe in Palm Beach ASAP. Besides, poor little Ranoma has probably gotten very lonely without us there, so of course that's exactly where we're going to go! Once we're back in Palm Beach we need to look into, er, well, what the Syndicate really wants the Ragarou for, I suppose. I can't imagine they want the Ragarou just for some extra muscle, surely the Muck Monsters or the Skunk Apes are enough, right? And, like, the Ragarou is a very specific demon, I don't think he likes to stray from his home for long and he didn't look super excited to go with the Giant so… Maybe we need to mount a rescue! We'll figure it out once we're home again!

Peace, Love, and Joy!

C-MIL-07

CAFFEINATED

Puzzle

"Portrait of Maurice, A Bold Bluff, A Jack In Office…"

Animal Trivia || 2 Words [****** ******]

Hints

Hint 1: [Gentle hint]

Hint 2: [Medium hint]

Hint 3: [Strong hint]

Answer

Lycaon Pictus

All these are paintings of dogs. The scientific name for the Painted Dog is Lycaon Pictus.

BARISTA: JULIUS MENDOZA
CAFE: MIDNIGHT
DATE: MID OCTOBER
RECEIPT ID: C-MIL-07

The Mangrove Syndicate has a new asset. Of what we know, the Giant employs Old Green Eyes as his second in command, three Stikini Witches known as the Mothers of Malice, Misery, and Misfortune, two Skunk Apes known as Rot and Rancor, and four or five Muck Monsters. And now, the Ragarou, the Werewolf of New Orelans. Though how willing of an asset the Ragarou will prove to be has yet to be determined. From our vantage, it seemed that the Ragarou was reluctant to go with the Giant.

During our encounter with the Giant and his witches the Midnight Cafe operated at about 70% efficiency due to environmental fatigue. We were running on fumes and without the use of the Spoon of Fate we were unable to operate with emotional clarity. It is to be expected. We are still in the process of detoxing from the Spoon's tonics. Despite this, we managed to limit civilian casualties and keep our encounter with the Syndicate contained. This is a good outcome. Thankfully the Syndicate was not interested in engaging us in a direct fight. We were just in their way. Again, this is good. It sends a message to the Syndicate that they cannot operate as they please without interference from us.

Moving forward we will need to reevaluate our tactics sans-Spoon. Moreover, this could have been a more positive outcome if we were operating with our full team. While some absences cannot be avoided, at the very least Alaric and Daichi need to communicate where they are going, why, and for how long. We will get the Ragarou back but will wait to move until the Angel and Serpent return to us.

That's all.

—Julius

DD-MIL-08

CAFFEINATED

Puzzle

"???"

???

Hints

Hint 1: [Gentle hint]

Hint 2: [Medium hint]

Hint 3: [Strong hint]

Answer

Raspberry

In MIL-04, Jericho states the DD phrase. There are different elements and letter blocks inside his sentences. Radium gives Ra, while Brimstone, aka Sulfur, gives S. Lead is Pb, Er, and WHY. Combining these gives the answer.

BARISTA: JERICHO MYERSCOUGH
CAFE: MIDNIGHT
DATE: LATE OCTOBER
RECEIPT ID: DD-MIL-08

Well, well, well, seems Glean was spot on… it's her way though, ain't it? To always be spot on. To see the truth. She told me our little Auditor had a hidden channel for extra special receipts, as it were. Not Cafe, not Cafe Diner, and certainly not a mere mundane Diner Receipt. A Diner Diner. A double down, a double dog dare, a dismal destination… Can't help but feel like the name itself burns my ears and churns my bile.

Diner Diner.

…In any case, its a perfect place to cut the bullshit—we're proper fucked, aren't we? And I don't mean to be dour, I don't, but what the hell are we doing? What the hell is Fate doing to us? Bloodglass can't use their Lens, Silenus can't use their Bell, Tesseract shouldn't use their damned watch—hell I won't be surprised in the slightest if the Locket or Ledger turns out to be just as evil as the rest of 'em. And don't get me started on Jack-y Boy's 8-Ball. We'd be better off if he were seeing the bigger picture through a "taped up" white 8-Ball than whatever the hell that piece of kitsch it.

Look, we didn't lose the Rougarou because the Syndicate is stronger than us. We lost because I was shaking too damn hard to cast a bloody binding circle. We lost because Jules couldn't fucking control himself, couldn't control that damn Wicked fire that burns in his heart. We took down the Dark for heaven and hell's sake. You know how we pulled that miracle off? The Spoon. The sweet, silver Spoon of Fate Itself. Some piece of bone or cartilage of a dead god, of a dead Archon. Being "sober" in this line of work is going to get us right killed, choice? We can't beat the Giant if we have to fight ourselves along the way.

…I don't know what the answer is. I don't. I want to use the Spoon again. I want to take the pain, the fear, the anxiety, I want to take it all away in a few quick stirs like we used to. But then, what'll that leave us as? A buncha husks? Vessels for Fate to return through? Emotionless emissaries of Fate? That's what Glean told me, anyway, and you know her, she can't lie. She's the truth, and all that—Aletheia. She told me that when Fate was still consciously alive, It had this power to, to—"chill." It could turn a bastard cold. Empty. Emotionless. A perfect conduit for the Threads of Fate. She told me that's what Indrid is, or was. She's not sure what Indrid is now, seeing as Fate's dead and all. But, there's a good chance that Indrid Cold is some remnant of Fate's power to render a being cold. It'd certainly explain why when he drinks the Spoon's tonic it gives him clarity instead of numbness.

Point is, I reckon the only one who bothers to read these Diner Diner receipts are two: Jack Keel and our Auditor. I don't see why else Auddy would bother putting them out in the public, even if hidden from plain sight. So, Jack, Auddy… what the hell are we supposed to do if we can't beat the Syndicate without the Spoon but using the Spoon will empty us out? Shake your 8-Ball on that one, Jack. See if it tries to hollow you out too in the bloody process.

CAD-10

OPEN

BARISTA: THE AUDITOR
CAFE: NONE
DATE: LATE DECEMBER
RECEIPT ID: CAD-10

And that's what happened. The Syndicate outnumbered Midnight and was able to steal Mrs. Brown as a customer. With two months of hindsight, and a customer satisfaction survey conducted by Jericho, we know that Mrs. Brown has stuck with the Syndicate, and joined Ms. Roussimoff's organization as a full-fledged member. What Jericho has managed to, pardon the pun, glean, since then is that Ms. Roussimoff did not merely want Mrs. Brown as a guard dog. They wanted her to hunt.

Mrs. Brown's keen senses, sharpened by her love of Green Tea, must in some way let her search for something that is out of Ms. Roussimoff's massive reach. With Mrs. Brown in the Syndicate they are no doubt one step closer to whatever it is they are trying to achieve. However, this singular step hasn't been any great leap. It's been two months and the Syndicate is still moving to expand, to recruit, to search, and to control the swamps of the south east. I suspect my path will cross Ms. Roussimoff's again, though for the moment my auditorial services are needed elsewhere.

As I write this receipt, I am headed to the Silenus Cafe at the heart of the Coffee Trade's hotbed, Point Pleasant, West Virginia. Its owner, Dan Hamilton Jr., has been dealing with a problem no Cafe nor Diner would ever wish to face: flies. Yes, it would seem that Silenus has been absolutely overtaken by swarms of flies. A quick audit should find the source, I hope. Whether it be improperly stored trash, an unforeseen entry point, or perhaps a more insidious infestation. I suppose it is worth noting that this is not the first time Silenus has dealt with flies, in fact, their Cafe's sponsor is quite the lord of them; however, these flies differ quite a bit from Beez's from what I've heard.