Silly Me...I Forgot To Mention...I Cheated

Chapter Twenty Four; Apartment Building

3rd Pov

In a quiet district in Vale a small apartment complex stood. The red brick building appeared to not have any major activity going on. Ruby and Emerald were sitting on a bench in front of the building. Emerald was slightly reclined and had her eyes close while Ruby was eating some cookies. Emerald looked up for a second and saw a weirdly dressed man. The man was wearing a long grey overcoat and a black scarf that covered the lower half of his face, he also had sunglasses with black polarized lenses. Emerald put a hand on her weapon when she saw the man walking closer.
Ruby: "Who is that?"
Emerald: "I don't know..."
When the man reached the bench where the two girls were sitting he looked at a watch on his wrist. Then he looked at the two women.
Man: "Excuse me, do you know if that building is open?"
The man pointed to the apartment building as he talked. Emerald took her hand off her weapon, the man didn't seem to notice she had a weapon on her.
Emerald: "Last I checked the door was unlocked."
Man: "Thank you, another question. Your name is Emerald and her name is Ruby, right?"
Emerald and Ruby looked at each other and than back at the man.
Ruby: "Who are you?"
Man: "You don't recognize me?"
Emerald and Ruby thought for a moment as the man waited patiently. Ruby decided to throwout a random guess.
Ruby: "(Y/N)?"
The man looked all around him before looking back at the two girls.
(Y/N): "You are correct. Although you shouldn't say my real name out loud."
Emerald started to laugh.
Emerald: "Why are you dressed like that. Isn't it really hot?"
(Y/N); "Eh, I'll be fine. Now tell me what the deal is with this place."
Emerald: "So the building has seven floors. Every floor, besides the first floor, is filled with apartments. The thing I found suspicious was the door behind the manager's counter."
(Y/N): "What did you find suspicious about it?"
Emerald: "When I asked what was down there, the manager's expression shifted slightly. He seemed annoyed that I asked about the door and he just said that it was a basement for storage."
(Y/N): "Hmm...anything else?"
Ruby: "The manager told us that there was no vacant rooms left besides one really crappy one."
(Y/N): Interesting...so the best plan of action would be..."
Mercury: "WAIT!!!"
Mercury ran up to them. Once reaching them he hunched over and started panting. (Y/N) looked over to him.
(Y/N): "I thought you were right behind me?"
Mercury: "I...was but then...I got...distracted..."
(Y/N): "Anyway, let's see what is inside."
The four of them enter the building...unaware that they were followed.

Upon entering the apartment building the manager looked directly at them.
Manager: "Oh its you two girls again. And you brought friends."
Before anyone can say anything (Y/N) cuts in.
(Y/N): "Forgive my two female friends sir. They were just helping me find a place for our good friend here to live."
As he says this (Y/N) grabs and pulls Mercury next to him. The manager looks at the two of them, then he starts to smile.
Manager: "Well then, why didn't you say so? I'll show him the...best room I have."
The manager grabs Mercury and pulls him to the elevator. (Y/N) leans to both Ruby and Emerald.
(Y/N): "Stall him for as long as you can. I'm going to see what is in the basement. If he asks, tell him I got an important call."
They both nod and run to catch the elevator ride the two men. Due to the manager's counter being in view of the elevator, (Y/N) pulled out his scroll and put it up to his ear as he turned around so the manager couldn't see that he wasn't talking into it. Once he hears the elevator doors close, (Y/N) walks behind the manager's counter and stops in front of the door. (Y/N) tries to open the door with the handle, unsurprisingly the door is locked. So (Y/N) takes the book of life and draws a lock pick into existence. (Y/N) fiddles with the lock for a bit until he hears a click. (Y/N) then opens the door and sees a long staircase down to the basement.
(Y/N): "Alright, let's see if there is a workshop down here..."
(Y/N) takes his sunglasses off and descends down into the basement closing the door behind him.

Meanwhile

Ruby, Emerald, Mercury and the manager were sorta cramped in he elevator as it went up. Emerald and Mercury were right next to each other. Mercury leans to Emerald and starts to whisper to her.
Mercury: "I never agreed to get an apartment!"
Emerald: "You're not actually getting one. We need to stall the manager so Salem can search the basement."
Manager: "What are you two whispering about?"
The manager's question snapped Emerald and Mercury back to reality.
Emerald: "We were just talking about...uhh the great apartment our Mercury here is getting."
Manager: "Okay, but there is no need for whispering."
E/M: "Sorry..."