If you want to read 20 Chapters ahead and more, be sure to check out my P-Tang12!!!
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(A/N: Don't forget to give those power stones to Skyrim everyone!)
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Some of them failed spectacularly at first, because riding a lightweight, balanced bicycle was incredibly, fundamentally different from riding a wide, heavy horse. O'Malley pedaled twice before losing his balance entirely, tumbling sideways into a pile of empty canvas sacks with a loud, surprised shout, sending the rest of the crew into fits of roaring laughter.
But Caleb did not mock them. He stepped forward, teaching them patiently. He held the back of the leather saddle, walking alongside the men, explaining the physics of momentum and balance.
"Keep your eyes up, look where you want to go, not at the front wheel," Caleb instructed smoothly, jogging beside a younger worker. "Let the momentum hold you upright. Keep pedaling!"
The scene on the factory floor was incredibly energetic, intensely practical, and full of a profound, joyous sense of discovery. Slowly but surely, under Caleb's expert, patient guidance, several of the workers began to get the hang of it.
After some practice, they were wobbling, and then finally gliding, across the factory floor under their own power, their faces splitting into massive, exhilarated grins.
Once the initial excitement had settled and the men were gathered back around the workbench, Caleb shifted into the visionary corporate CEO, explaining the true, world changing purpose of their new product.
"Imagine this, gentlemen," Caleb said, his voice ringing with absolute, undeniable conviction. "If this invention were mass produced and used inside cities like Saint Denis, it could instantly become a much, much cheaper form of transportation for the common man than horses could ever be."
The workers leaned in, hanging on his every word.
"Think about the costs you pay just to live," Caleb reasoned, tapping the steel frame of the bike. "These machines rely entirely on human power. They do not need expensive grain or feed. They do not get sick. They do not leave manure in the streets, and they absolutely do not need expensive stables to house them the way horses do. You buy it once, and you own the streets."
Hearing that profound, irrefutable logic, the workers became even more incredibly excited. They were visualizing the possibilities, imagining a city where they didn't have to walk miles to work in the freezing rain, where they could travel freely without the massive financial burden of owning a horse. They realized they were standing on the precipice of an absolute industrial revolution.
With morale exceptionally high, and the workers eager to begin mass production of the components, Caleb stepped away from the crowd.
He walked over to the shadowed corner of the factory, where Vincenzo, the scarred Italian Underboss, had been silently watching the entire spectacle with his arms crossed over his chest.
"Vincenzo," Caleb murmured, his tone dropping the friendly teacher persona and shifting back into the deadly seriousness of the mafia Don.
"Yes, boss?" Vincenzo replied, standing up straight.
"I am assigning you, and a hand picked crew of your best capos, to personally keep a strict, uncompromising eye on this factory," Caleb ordered, his blue eyes intense and calculating. "I want a twenty four hour guard rotation established immediately."
Vincenzo nodded, understanding that where there was profit, there were enemies.
"I want to make absolutely sure that nobody learns too much about what we are doing in this building just yet," Caleb explained, his mind already anticipating the corporate warfare that would follow. "Because this invention is not just a toy. It could eventually threaten the entire horse, carriage, and tram industry in this state. Men who own the stables and the feed monopolies will lose lots of money. If this is exposed to the public too early, before we have mass produced enough inventory to flood the market, it will attract severe, unwanted attention and likely sabotage."
Vincenzo's scarred face hardened into a mask of pure, violent loyalty. He took the order incredibly seriously.
"I understand completely, Don Thorne," Vincenzo swore, his thick accent rumbling with absolute conviction. He patted the heavy M-1911 pistol holstered beneath his coat. "I will guard this factory as if it were your own home. Nobody gets through these doors without my explicit permission, and absolutely no information leaves this floor. We will build a wall of silence around this project."
"Good," Caleb nodded, clapping his Underboss on the shoulder. "Keep them safe, Vincenzo. I have a wedding to attend."
After that momentous day in the factory, time passed again, accelerating rapidly for around three weeks.
The winter snows began to slowly melt in the lower elevations, and the city of Saint Denis practically vibrated with the anticipation of the social event of the century.
The wedding was now very, very close. The sheer scale of the logistical preparations had reached a flawless, absolute culmination.
The invitations had been RSVP'd by the most powerful men in the state, the custom tailored garments were pressed and packed, and the massive, luxurious Strawberry hotel had been completely transformed into a breathtaking, floral wonderland by Monsieur Laurent.
It was the day before the wedding.
The private, armored Pullman train of the Thorne Holding Company hissed loudly at the Saint Denis station, billowing massive clouds of white steam into the crisp morning air.
Caleb and Mary-Beth, along with the entire core Van der Linde gang, Caleb's right hand men, and his most trusted, elite capos, were arriving at Strawberry first to prepare for the big day tomorrow.
The atmosphere aboard the luxurious private train car was electric, incredibly rich, and full of a profound, heavy anticipation. The story was moving rapidly, inevitably closer to the moment that would define their lives forever.
Arthur sat in a plush velvet armchair, looking out the reinforced windows at the passing bayous, a rare, completely relaxed smile on his face as he shared a bottle of aged Kentucky bourbon with John and Uncle. Sadie Adler was laughing loudly at a joke Sean had just told, while Hosea sat quietly near the back, reading a book, perfectly at peace.
Silvio and Vincenzo, dressed in sharp, dark suits, stood near the doors, ensuring their Don was entirely protected, even though the enemies of the past were long dead.
Caleb sat beside Mary-Beth on a wide, curved velvet sofa near the front of the car. He reached out, gently taking her hand and interlacing their fingers. He looked at the beautiful woman beside him, her dark eyes shining with a mixture of overwhelming excitement and profound, deep love.
"Tomorrow," Caleb whispered, his voice incredibly soft, meant only for her ears amidst the joyous noise of their family.
Mary-Beth squeezed his hand tightly, resting her head against his shoulder as the train began the steep, winding ascent into the pine covered mountains of West Elizabeth.
"Tomorrow," she agreed, a brilliant, radiant smile touching her lips.
As the train finally pulled into Riggs Station, and the fleet of polished carriages carried them up the final mountain pass toward the towering, breathtaking luxury hotel that would serve as the stage for their vows, the final stretch of their journey felt incredibly important.
When they arrived at the sprawling, hewn stone portico of the Strawberry hotel, stepping out into the crisp, pine scented mountain air, the sheer, undeniable reality of their future stretched out before them.
Stepping through the massive, hewn stone portico of the Strawberry hotel, Caleb gently placed his hand on the small of Mary-Beth's back, guiding her into the grand lobby. The moment they crossed the threshold, the sheer, breathtaking magnitude of Monsieur Laurent's work revealed itself.
Caleb and Mary-Beth stood in silence, completely captivated as they went together to check the decorations that had been meticulously installed for their wedding. The Parisian designer had not merely decorated the hotel, he had transformed the rugged, timber framed mountain palace into a transcendent, ethereal wonderland.
The decorations were beautiful, elegant, and carefully arranged with a masterful eye for detail, making the sprawling hotel feel even more special and profoundly romantic for the occasion. Thousands upon thousands of pure white mountain roses had been woven into thick, lush garlands that wrapped around the massive wooden support pillars and draped elegantly across the grand staircase.
Miles of imported, gossamer thin silk ribbons in soft ivory and pale gold caught the warm, electric light, cascading down from the vaulted ceilings. Hundreds of custom blown glass lanterns were suspended in the air, flickering with a soft, warm incandescence that perfectly mimicked starlight.
The scent in the air was intoxicating, a flawless, natural blend of fresh, sweet roses and the sharp, clean scent of the surrounding pine forests.
Mary-Beth stopped walking, her dark eyes wide and shimmering with unshed tears of pure joy. She looked around the grand lobby, taking in the sheer scale of the beauty that had been orchestrated entirely for her. She was genuinely, overwhelmingly pleased with what she saw.
"Caleb," Mary-Beth whispered, her voice tight with emotion as she turned to him. "It is perfect. It is absolutely perfect. I couldn't have imagined anything this wonderful even in my wildest dreams."
"Only the best for you," Caleb replied softly, pulling her close against his side. He kissed the top of her head, his heart swelling as she agreed that everything looked wonderful.
They stood there for a long time, the bustling staff giving them a wide, respectful berth. It was an incredibly intimate and deeply personal moment amidst the chaos of the preparations, a quiet second where the gravity of the event settled over them. The wedding was no longer just a plan on a ledger or an invitation in an envelope. It was becoming very, very real to both of them.
Their quiet moment was eventually interrupted by the brisk, efficient footsteps of Herr Strauss. The Austrian accountant approached with a wide, proud smile, a crisp linen napkin draped over his forearm.
"Don Thorne, Miss Mary-Beth," Strauss greeted them, bowing slightly. "The kitchens have completed the final trial run of the culinary arrangements. The chefs have prepared the buffet concept for you to try, ensuring the taste and presentation meet your absolute standards before the guests arrive."
"Lead the way, Strauss," Caleb smiled, offering his arm to Mary-Beth.
Strauss led them into the grand dining room, where a massive, sweeping U shaped table had been set up in the center of the room. True to Caleb's revolutionary vision, the buffet was a staggering display of culinary excess. Massive, polished silver chafing dishes lined the tables, kept perfectly hot by small, controlled flames beneath them.
The food was undeniably luxurious and deeply satisfying, offering more than enough variety to impress the most discerning rich and influential tycoon. There were towering carving stations featuring thick, perfectly crusted prime ribs of beef dripping with dark au jus.
Massive silver bowls on crushed ice held hundreds of freshly shucked oysters and butter poached lobster claws. There were delicate, flaky pastries stuffed with wild mushrooms, roasted root vegetables glazed in honey, and rich, creamy potato purees infused with expensive truffles.
Caleb and Mary-Beth took a plate, sampling a bit of everything under the anxious, watchful eyes of the Parisian head chef.
As Caleb tasted the prime rib, his eyes lit up in genuine approval. It melted in his mouth, flawlessly seasoned and incredibly tender. Mary-Beth took a bite of a delicate, fruit-filled pastry and closed her eyes in absolute delight. They both looked at Strauss and the chef, nodding enthusiastically and agreeing that the taste was exceptionally good.
"The quality is flawless," Caleb praised, setting his fork down. "But remember the scale of the people coming. These are men with massive appetites. I want you to tell the kitchens to prepare even more. Double the reserves. No silver dish is to ever sit empty for more than thirty seconds."
"Of course, sir. The reserves are already heavily stocked," Strauss assured him, making a quick note in his ledger.
"And do not forget the ice cream for the dessert stations," Caleb reminded him smoothly, pointing a finger at the accountant. "If you are having trouble sourcing the cream or the ice in this quantity, you just tell me. I could always order it directly from my restaurant in Valentine by contacting Jasper there, and have it shipped up the mountain via the private train so the hotel does not need to worry about that part."
Strauss smiled, shaking his head slightly. "You do not need to worry, Don Thorne. Everything is already taken care of. I have secured three hundred gallons of premium vanilla bean ice cream, packed in heavy rock salt and ice from the upper glacier. The situation is entirely under control."
"Excellent," Caleb grinned, thoroughly satisfied with Strauss's immaculate preparation.
With the culinary logistics perfectly locked down, Caleb excused himself from the dining room. He had one more critical, highly personal inspection to make before he could rest.
He walked the sprawling, carpeted hallways of the luxury hotel with Antonio at his side, holding a leather bound master ledger. Caleb went from floor to floor, personally making sure that all the members of his gang, his true family, had the absolute best rooms to stay in. He wasn't going to let the people who had bled with him be treated as second class citizens to the wealthy politicians arriving tomorrow.
This part of the planning felt incredibly organized and deeply important to him. Caleb was taking care of his people, ensuring everyone was treated with the highest degree of respect during the wedding celebration.
"Hosea is in the corner suite at the end of the east wing?" Caleb asked, checking Antonio's ledger. "He needs the quiet, away from the brass band."
"Yes, sir," Antonio confirmed. "A premium suite with a private balcony and a roaring fireplace. Mr. Matthews is already settled in."
"Good. Arthur is next door to him. What about John, Abigail, and little Jack?"
"They have been given the adjoining family suites on the third floor, sir," Antonio replied. "Plenty of space for the boy to play, and a breathtaking view of the valley."
Caleb nodded in approval. He walked down the list, verifying every single name. He ensured Javier and Bill had large, comfortable rooms near the billiards lounge. He made sure Uncle and Reverend Swanson were placed in luxurious rooms that were, perhaps strategically, just a bit further away from the main liquor cellars to prevent any huge pre wedding incidents.
He checked off the women next. Miss Grimshaw was given an immaculate, flawless room that met her incredibly high, demanding standards. Molly, Karen, Sadie, and Tilly were all given sprawling, sunlit suites adjacent to the bridal suite so they could easily move back and forth to help Mary-Beth.
He even made sure Kieran, the formerly terrified O'Driscoll boy, was given a beautiful, warm room with a massive featherbed, a far cry from being tied to a tree in the freezing rain.
Satisfied that his family was treated like royalty, Caleb turned his attention to the final, most critical aspect of the event, the safety of the hotel and the town itself.
Caleb walked out onto the grand front porch of the hotel. Waiting for him in the crisp mountain air was Silvio, flanked by a dozen heavily armed Italian capos wearing sharp, dark suits, their Vanguard rifles slung discreetly out of sight but ready at a moment's notice. Standing nervously beside the towering mobsters was the local Strawberry sheriff, a man who looked entirely out of his depth.
Caleb stepped up to the men, the friendly groom instantly replaced by the terrifying, calculating Don. He needed to coordinate the security, combining his own capo led corporate security forces with the local lawmen so that absolutely everything was protected and under ironclad control.
"Sheriff," Caleb greeted the man, his voice a smooth, low rumble.
"Mr. Thorne," the sheriff swallowed hard, clutching his hat in his hands. "We, uh... we have our deputies posted at the town limits, just like you asked."
"I am assigning Silvio here to act as the supreme commander of security for the next forty eight hours," Caleb explained, gesturing to his massive enforcer. "My capos will form the inner ring around the hotel. Your deputies will form the outer ring in the town. You will coordinate with Silvio on all matters. No drunks in the streets, no vagrants bothering the carriages, and absolutely no uninvited guests getting past the town line. Is that clear?"
"Crystal clear, sir," the sheriff nodded rapidly.
Caleb took a slow step forward, towering over the local lawman. He needed to subtly, yet undeniably intimidate the sheriff, establishing the absolute stakes of the weekend.
"I am bringing the most powerful men in the state of Lemoyne into your jurisdiction, Sheriff," Caleb said, his voice dropping into a quiet, chilling register. "Millions of dollars in investments, political capital, and human lives are resting on this mountain. If this town is not kept entirely safe, if my guests are disturbed in any way..."
Caleb paused, his piercing blue eyes locking onto the terrified lawman.
"I will pull every single dime of my investment out of this valley," Caleb threatened, his voice a quiet, lethal promise. "And that massive Pelton wheel spinning in the river down there? The one that is currently sharing free, limitless electricity with your entire town? I will shut it off permanently. Strawberry will go back to being a dark, muddy, freezing logging camp by Monday morning."
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Name: Caleb Thorne
Age: 23
Body Attributes:
- Strength: 8/10
- Agility: 8/10
- Perception: 9/10
- Stamina: 8/10
- Charm: 8/10
- Luck: 9/10
Skills:
- Handgun (Lvl MAX)
- Rifle (Lvl MAX)
- Firearms Knowledge (Lvl MAX)
- Past Life Memory (Lvl MAX)
- Knife (Lvl MAX)
- Blunt Weapon (Lvl MAX)
- Sneaking (Lvl MAX)
- Horse Mastery (Lvl MAX)
- Poker (Lvl MAX)
- Hand to Hand Combat (Lvl MAX)
- Eagle Eye (Lvl MAX)
- Dead Eye (Lvl MAX)
- Bow (Lvl MAX)
- Pain Nullifier (Lvl MAX)
- Physical Regeneration (Lvl MAX)
- Crafting (Lvl MAX)
- Persuasion (Lvl MAX)
- Mental Fortitude (Lvl MAX)
- Cooking (Lvl MAX)
- Teaching (Lvl MAX)
- Trilingual Language Proficiency - G, I, & C (Lvl MAX)
- Inventory System (Permanent - 100x100x100)
- Acting (Lvl MAX)
- Alcohol Resistance (Lvl MAX)
- Treasure Hunter (Lvl MAX)
- Drugs Resistance (Lvl MAX)
- Business (Lvl MAX)
- Leadership (Lvl MAX)
Money: 2,772 dollars and 60 cents
Inventory: 283,392 dollars and 61 cents, 11 gold nuggets, 74 gold bars, 1 Double Action, 1 Schofield, 2 Colm's Schofields, 1 land deed (Parcel), 1 Mauser, 1 Semi Auto Pistol, 1 Lancaster Repeater, 1 Old Wood Jewelry Box, 1 F.F Mausoleum small brass key, 1 Ruby, 1 Broken Pirate Sword, 1 Milton's Safety Deposit Key, Proof Of Marlin-Thorne Firearms Co., 10 Dynamites, 1 LeMat, 1 M1899, 1 Carcano, 1 Ownership deed of Doyle's Tavern, 3 Diamonds, & Important Documents & Deeds Of Cornwall
Bank: -