Murder and PlotThe hitman is of interest - he is apparently not employed by Fufutilo - hinting at a player in the shadows. Perhaps a superstitious business rival desired to remove the source of his supposed fortune. Or perhaps there are other reasons for his actions - Hisa looked down at her notes and material. Much of it was collected through her family’s contacts and resources. Utilizing her own funds and the skills taught to her by her father during the little time he has spent with her, she created a few shell companies to launder her resources and act as a filter for information to flow through without alerting Ul’dah’s undesirables. The wealth of information that she has obtained - hint at a broader scheme, beyond a mere theft.

Void A TonThe Hihijewa Spire - Lower Basement - Night
The dim glow of Belah’dian crystal lanterns illuminated the passageway downward to the basement of the Hihijewa Spire, as Hihisa Hisa descended with a small retinue of her family’s thaumatuges. Eventually, they stopped before a wall; at a glance it appeared no more than a normal wall, but the other thaumaturges stood back as Hisa approached the wall independently. Hisa held out her delicate palm… and a stony claw emerged as a Living Wall responded to her gesture. Hisa channeled her aether into her palm and allowed the Living Wall to grasp at the strands of it - a fistful of her aether coalesced around its arm as Hisa maintained her pose. The Living Wall absorbed the aether and after acknowledging that the aether’s signature was one of those bound by blood, melted back into the wall. The thaumaturges surrounding her sighed with relief as Hihisa regarded them - they were all trusted appointees of her grandfather - old thaumaturges whom her family retains, but rarely contacts within recent memory. Hihisa shrugged and moved towards the wall where the Living Wall melted and phased through.

Before her was a vast dark library, dimly lit by crystal lanterns - light illuminating brief fleeting shadows flapping about the library. As the rest of her retinue emerged behind her, one of the flapping shadows descended from above. A ahriman - a void sent of the fifth tier - appeared before Hihisa; however, it did not attack - only stare at her as Hisa returned the stare back. The ahriman placed its long, lanky legs on the ground, and — bowed deeply to Hihisa. “I’ve come to request assistance, per the terms of our family’s contract,” Hihisa stated to the Ahriman, whom after staring at her further, bowed once more and opened its big, wide mouth, “Of CoUrSe, MisTress. HoWevEr, We were Only COntracTed to MaiNtaiN and PRoteCt ThiS lIbraRy. You NeEdS suMmOn More with YoUr Own ContrAct.” Hisa listen then nodded, “I am Hihisa Hisa, daughter of the great Hihijewa Cacajewa. There is nothing I cannot do!” A small collective sigh emerged from the group of thaumaturges behind her, but the loud flapping of the Ahriman’s wings or perhaps her own willing selective hearing kept Hisa from acknowledging their doubt at her abilities.

Hihisa looked back at the thaumaturges, “Stay here, this needs not take long.” “But Mistress Hihisa, if you…,” one of the thaumaturges replied as Hisa stared at him. She has not known them for long, although her time at the Ossuary has her appreciate the capacity, if not friendship of a few, she cannot show weakness within her family’s own domain. “I can take care of it, besides, the contract of my forebears do not apply to you, if it would decide to amuse itself,” upon hearing this, a few of the thaumaturges recoiled. “I see. Take care, Mistress. We will await you here,” at the leader’s signal, the thaumaturges formed ranks and bowed to her as she snuggly smiled at them. “Needs not worry, I shall take care of this with haste and grace!” Hihisa turned to the ahriman, “Take me to the ritual chamber!”

Fufutilo and his Chocobo“First, the chocobo was lost decades ago during a party held by Fufutilo Keketilo, that reclusive man, as you all know.” Her friends nod, she told them this their last meeting, as well in correspondences with them as she built relations with their servants and family. “Second, I have obtained the list of that party.” Collective murmurs and applause meet her proclamation, “Although it is quite a list, Fufutilo seemed to have a non-exclusive desire to show off his treasures.” Giggles met her statement, another of her friends mused, “Many newborn are such creatures, the Traders tell if they keep their wealth.” Hihisa raised a finger and brought out a pair of glasses, “Fufutilo isn’t quite a newborn, but it has been sometime since it was lost. I supposed if he remains wealthy, he learned from his mistakes.” Hihisa placed the glasses on her head and smiled snuggly at the other girls in her circle. 

Ut'mah and Ut'lahniShe held out her hand and the maid placed a pointer on it, “Second, a miqo’te trader named Ut'mah Nunh and his partner, Ut’lahni. Through my contacts, I learned that Ut’mah was targeted by Brass Blades hired by a unknown figure, of which also made a payment to a known hitman. As for the hitman’s name, I have not had time to obtain, brutish thugs as such are always mere pawns.” Gossip around the room pattered out as the other scions looked at Hihisa’s presentation in interest, “However, mayhap I will find the name of this hitman while investigating a murder in Vesper Bay.” A collective gasp emerged from her circle of friends, “A murder? Is it wise to become involved, Hihisa?” asked Iququ. “Of course, Iququ. I cannot allow a mere thug to scare me away, I’m the daughter of Hihijewa!” Hihisa pompously replied. 

Murder on the Dove“The guards employed by my father are among the best in Ul’dah, if not Eorzea!” Hihisa declared, before snuggly smiling, “I also have other sources, I say ‘bound by blood’, who would protect me as part of their contract for ‘staying’ in Thanalan.” “Oh! Beastmen mercenaries?” Hihisa glanced with a smirk at the scion who inquired, “It’s a secret.” “Oooooh.” A collective (misinterpreted) ‘realization’ came over the circle as they expressed their satisfaction with the answer. A robed lalafell in the back, one of the daughters of a high priest to the Order of Nald’thal frowned but kept her peace. “These contacts have brought me a wealth of information, especially regarding the target of this murder, a captain of a ship that was docked in Vesper Bay!” 

Hihisa adjusted her glasses as well as slapping her pointer in her hands, “The captain was killed and his crew removed. However, the aforementioned Ut’lahni was apparently accused of the murder.” Hihisa dramatically gestured, “However… Ut’lahni was recently free by a band of annoying adventurers, who absconded with her by aetherlyte to Limsa.” Hihisa glanced at the members of her circle as she continued in a lecturely mood, “However, my sources have come up with a mysterious acronym, KKRP. Anyone familiar with this?” Hihisa inquired of her friends, one replied, “I may know of it, but I would need more time and a few favors, Hihisa.” “Of course,” Hihisa replied, “We may discuss this anon.” She smiled at the respondent, before looking back at the rest of the group with a scholarly pose.

The Party of Mr. Waker
“Next, a party in Vesper Bay by one Garven Waker, a former employee of the ship with the murdered captain. It seems he has come across a large amount of funds, by which he had proceeded to waste by investing in a free-for-all party.” Collective giggles once more rose from Hihisa’s circle of friends, one replied, “Any spoken with a brain would be able to determine that the thug was bribed.” Hihisa smiled at her, “Indeed, Dalia. He most likely was bribed. Alternatively, he could have been given the gil by the legendary gloved hand in the sky.” The group shared a collective laugh at Hihisa’s sarcastic statement. Hihisa frowned, “It appears he was poisoned, or there was an attempt at being poisoned. He survived, unfortunately.” 

“As for the rest of the party, apparently multiple miqo’te were involved. One procreated openly on top of a table. Apparently with a random individual at the party,” Hihisa’s face displayed disgust as she recalled the details, “It appears my contact at the party paid particular interest to this vulgar display,” Hihisa shook her head. “Haaaah?” Iququ and Dalia replied with a weird look on their faces. Her other friends also frowned, while a few laughed. Hihisa shook her head, apparently the flapping ‘contacts’ she sent out were lettered, but had the weirdest way of expressing their proficiency to her, including swarming openingly around a public building, now taking detailed written reports of a overly outgoing miqo’te. She will have to find a new way to re-motivate them, or train them while maintaining her resources, especially since she seemed to be ahead of other players on the trail of the Chocobo.

The Item
“Moving on!” Hihisa took a sip of a glass of Coerthean water poured by the maid. “Apparently, the item he stole was of high value to a black market contact, one Wisu Lilisu, whom has since disappeared. There are no sign of foul play, but Mister Lilisu is no longer operating where he normally does.” Hihisa adjusted her glasses once more and lifted her pointer upwards, “My contacts have been unable to locate him, although I assure you I have the best professionals on the case.” Hihisa scowled, “What I can conclude, whatever it was Mister Lilisu bought, either he was killed and it was taken, or he’s vanished and run away with it.” Hihisa frowned, “The trail has become messy again, but I do have more leads now.”

Consequences of Being UnsubtleHihisa looked out at the Ul’dahian cityscape - even at night, airships flew in overhead as the sound of wind mixed with the noise of the crowds below. In the past, it was rather costly to keep Ul’dah lit all hours of a sun. However with the introduction of magitek and advances by the Ossuary and the Goldsmith’s Guild, Ul’dah practically glowed in the darkness, drawing in predator and fodder from malms away. She signed as she laid by the window, absentmindedly watching the little people move about. Sometimes you see interesting things, other times boring clockwork, but her father enjoyed such sights and engrained the importance of watching the flows of people and their passions.

A door opened and a figure entered the room, the door wasn’t the entry door but a hidden door on the side, utilized by the more subtle players of Hihisa’s family. Wings briefly flutter then fall silent, this meant the guardian sensed no threat from this new intruder… Hihisa could guess the identity of one of her favorite pieces. Without taking her eyes off the crowd below, Hihisa asked, “What brings you this late into my chambers, my adherent?” A soft response came forth, “My lady, I have come to report on my findings.” “Ho?” Hihisa finally turned her head and glanced at the adherent, “What have you discovered?” Hihisa regard the figure, and gave a soft smile that would be mistaken for a sneer by those unfamiliar with her.

The adherent was kneeling on the ground, she lifted her head, eyes with rings that reflecting the city’s lights. “The woman… rescued by adventurers from Horizon, Ut’lahni may be associated with another figure named S’lahni, whom is a person of interest in regards to the Chocobo that you desire.” Hihisa stared thoughtfully at the adherent, “Mayhap she found a new Nunh. They say tribal miqo’te change their first letter to identify with a new tribe that they are accepted into.” Hihisa looked through her nearby stack of papers and notes, she keeps them close, although she maintains copies hidden within the Ossuary.

“Where did you find this information?” Hihisa inquired of the adherent, “I followed the bard. She’s not that hard to track, especially in light of the city.” Hihisa giggled softly, “I suppose she should learn things about operating in Ul’dah. Least of all talking about such things so openly.” Hihisa popped up on a chair and started writing down notes, “Anything else, my adherent?” The adherent glanced at Hihisa, as if in thought, “I believe the bard thinks that the Dove was carrying the Chocobo, but it has since disappeared since we lost that black market contact.” Hihisa files through her notes once more, “Humph. Does he think he can hide from me? Nay, perhaps he doesn’t need to consciously hide from anyone, at least not anymore.”

The adherent looked up at Hihisa, “There is more. It seems Keketilo managed to recover the Chocobo through the shadows, yet was betrayed by his hand at the last moment.” Hihisa glanced at the adherent, “Is that so? Humph. Heh….” Hihisa broke out into a cackling laugh, “Ahaha. I suppose he hasn’t learned all that much.” Hihisa smiled once more at the adherent. “Trusting mercenaries to find his work, you believe he would have found trusted subordinates by now. Mayhap his previous experiences made him hesitant, although far too late now.” Hihisa turned to the window before making a smug command to her adherent, “Contact the Toll, tell them I’ll offer a substantial reward for information regarding the Chocobo. Add in that if they find it first, after allowing me a few suns to handle it, they can keep it.”

The adherent tilted her head in confusion, “I though the Lady wishes to keep the object?”, Hihisa giggled at her adherent’s response. “I do not wish to handle such a tainted object. It would attract far more vilekin then I can tolerate, although I would like to handle it for a few. Mayhap I’ll show it off to Father. This is what your daughter has done! Not my fool of a brother!” Hihisa smiled snuggly once more. Hisa looked out once more at the city, and her smile broke into a giggle, drowned out by the voices of the city below, as the adherent looked on.