| Text | - Crash told me to expect you. She said she'd uncovered evidence that someone was cheating the Consortium, and she wanted me to lead you to 'em. Well, at first I wasn't sure I believed her. But the evidence she provided was pretty convincing. Good 'ol Crash! I always knew she'd come back to the consortium eventually!
The guy's name is Leonard Sykes, our CEO. According to Crash's evidence, he's been embezzling for almost twenty years. Do what you want with him. He's dead to me now.
- So, Crash is acting all funny? That's bad, real bad. Things have been nasty for the Consortium ever since I gave up Sykes. Looks like the Circle used his information to take out a number of other key people. They got Frankie Tomlin, and Noel Powers. Big names in the company. And now it looks like they've done something to Crash, too.
Fortunately, she told me what to do if something like this happened. She wants you to go to a Circle cave and bring back a crystal that can restore her. Oh, don't worry. She'll pay you well. And if she couldn't, I would. I can't see anything happen to Crash. She's way too special for that.
- When you touch this crystal, you feel a strange presence brush against your mind. There's a definite familiarity to it, but you can't quite pin the reason down.
- Villain. Yes, I've been following your career closely. Working with young Miss Cage now, are we? I warn you, that young lady is playing with forces far beyond her control. Sooner or later she is going to find out just how deeply she's wandered into the dark.
Now what has she sent in this envelope? Ah, of course. How droll. The child has uncovered what she thinks is my true name, and now believes she can blackmail me into telling you what I know.
Well, maybe I'll tell you, but not because of her. Get me a shard, Villain. Then we will talk.
- These pale pink shards feel unusually heavy in your hand. According to Crash's contacts in the Circle of Thorns, the shards contain powerful magic. You have to admit, you feel a tingling sensation when you hold them in your hand.
- When you defeated Leonard Sykes, the Cage executive who became a Circle mystic, he said:
"You've ruined everything! You and that pesky child! Her animosity for her father was a useful tool to turn her to our side, but now it impedes our progress. And so we had to take steps. You may have defeated me, but Crash will serve our purpose by leading Cage Consortium to a new era -- whether her soul is in it or not."
- The envelope is sealed, but that's never bothered you before. Inside is a piece of white stationary bearing a single name: Arcus Whitelocke.
- To tell you the truth, I never doubted you would succeed. And so I will keep my promise and tell you what I know. These shards, Villain, are not dead but alive. Moreover, they are not separate. They are part of the same great life force, and that force will someday be brought to bear in Sharkhead Isle. You have a role in this, Villain; I believe that. What you choose to do with it will be most interesting to me. The shard you had best keep. I believe it will be worth much to you at a future date.
You had best be cautious of Silver Mantis and her mentor, Black Scorpion. I believe they are suspicious of the shards' power, though they do not yet know the whole truth.
A final warning: I counsel you not to share our discussion with young Miss Cage. She too is one over whom the hand of fate hovers greedily, ready to dispense fortune or doom. I would not want to see her take your destiny away from you, Villain. You are far too intriguing for that.
- You stole this shard from the Circle of Thorns and let Arachnos take the blame. If you present it to Mr. Bocor, he may have more information for you.
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