After Shadow ate breakfast, he began to put everything away. He had neglected to do any of it the day before. Food went in the pantry and he put three of his canteens next to the sink. He needed them all washed, and that meant getting some soap.

His books were put in the drawer of his nightstand. The statuette on top of his dresser, while he put the memory orbs, the memory necklace, the Zebra charm necklace, the PipBuck and the Inquisitor’s files in a drawer. Another one held the Mare-Do-Well items buried beneath the extra cloth he had taken.

Shadow kept his suit with him. Just in case. Same with the Zebra Cloak. He wasn’t going to leave any weapons either.

Shadow exited and went to first sell the rifles. He passed a few general items shops, but he was looking to barter with somepony who knew the real value of what he had and appreciate it. As Shadow passed by a larger emporium, a pony stepped in front of him.

“I couldn't help but notice your rifles in your pack. I assume they are for sale?”

“Yes, but unless you deal strictly with weapons...”

“Now, now, I will give you the best price on them out of anypony in this city,” He pressed. “I will buy high and sell low.”

“Do your know what rifle they are?”

He focused his eyes. “No. I do not know their specific name. But like I said, I will still give you the best prices.”

“And you are?” Shadow asked.

“Folks around here just call me Gambit. I didn’t come up with the name. I just rolled with it as my business grew. You can find most of what you need in my shop and for cheap.”

“Gambit, as in Black Jackpot?” Shadow asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Well yes,” He smiled. “Like I said, I didn’t choose the nickname, I was given it. But I see my reputation proceeds me.”

“Yes, it does,” Shadow nodded. “But in a shady, bad business deal way.”

Gambit had nothing to say and Shadow walked off. After walking almost in circles he found a shop dedicated to weapons. It was tucked back a bit, not sporting anything outside the shop. And it had a door, which was closed. A specialty shop didn’t need to set itself apart from the general ones.

Shadow entered and immediately felt the luxury of a climate controlled shop. The walls were lined with weapons on display, easy to see and pick up to test their feel. The center had two old, low, open topped refrigerators from some store. Inside of their long length was sorted ammo of all kinds.

“Welcome!” An Earth Pony Stallion said coming out of the back. “I am Red Tip. What can I do for you?”

“You can give me a fair deal on some sets I have,” Shadow smiled.

“Sets you say?”

Shadow put one of the rifles on the counter top. He carefully laid out the ten magazines, making sure Red Tip saw they were loaded with ammo. Shadow flipped the last one upside down from the others. He placed the suspenders next to them as well.

“I have two sets,” Shadow stated. “Each was pulled off a dead raider. The magazines are full except the one I flipped. That came out of the rifle and I do not know how many are exactly are in there. The other 9 were inside a slot in the suspenders.”

“You certainly have a set,” Red Tip marveled. “I have never had somepony come in with all of this together. The suspenders are Equestrian military. From their condition, I would say they were found in storage rather recently. This is a rarity and special.”

“And will be a good seller,” Shadow stated. “Truthfully, what will you get from them? I won’t have time to sell these at a price you will. I know we can work out a fair deal that reflects that.”

“Let me think,” Red Tip said. “Can I see the other one?”

Shadow laid the other one out in the same style and began to browse the walls. It was all arranged by type. Side arms, small arms, heavy weapons, and then battle saddles. He only had three. None were good quality, being made post war. Each category was organized by Unicorn designs and general designs that anypony could use.

Shadow began to work through the ammo. He had 44 Magnum rounds. Two boxes of 24. Each box sold for 100 Caps. Red Tip had two 44 revolvers on his wall. Both were for unicorns. He could afford a higher cost for ammo. He might have more boxes in the back. There were no .50 Cal rounds.

“I think I have a fair price,” Red Tip said.

Shadow trotted over to hear the proposal.

“Each rifle is in great condition. I could easily sell them for 200. Each mag would sell for 20, not counting the ammo. Thirty rounds in each magazine makes 60 caps, at 2 a piece. Mark that at 600. I wouldn’t sell the gear, giving it to them in the deal. But for the sake of this, it would be sold for 200. Grand total for the set would be worth 1200 caps.”

“I would sell it for 800, creating a nice package deal, giving free ammo with the purchase. They would get the suspenders free, a 200 cap value, and get 150 rounds free, a 300 cap value.”

“So,” Red Tip said gathering his thoughts. “That is what I would do. How does 600 for each sound?”

“That sounds more than fair,” Shadow smiled. “But before we do it, can I check something?”

“Oh?”

“I would love to see what Gambit would give me. He pushed hard to get me to sell and he only saw the rifles.”

Red Tip chuckled. “Yeah. I bet he won’t go for more than 300. He makes a hard sell, but he plays with his stock to create value depending on what other shops have. I am not sure who his spy is. If the shops figured that out, the chap would have to leave the city, unable to enter any store.”

Shadow chuckled along with Red Tip. He gathered the gear and headed back out to check in with Gambit.

“Ah, coming to your senses?”

“I wandered around, but didn’t see a specific store for weapons. So, what will you give me? Each is going to be sold as a set.”

Shadow laid it all out carefully.

“I guarantee you that these 9 magazines have all 30 rounds in them,” Shadow added at the end.

“Well, few ponies are looking to get it all like this. But I could make a decent sell on it all. I’ll give you 200 caps total for all on the counter.”

“I have another set exactly like it,” Shadow added.

“Well, I will give you 450 for both then.”

“I think I can do better,” Shadow said shaking his head. “Even if I have to sell it on my own. What happened to your buy high, sell low policy.”

“That is dictated by what ponies will pay, and they don’t want all of that together. They are looking to buy each separately. Magazines are cheap, ammo isn’t. But I guess I can risk it and go as high as 550 caps.”

“To low,” Shadow replied, packing things up.

“Now now. 600 for the lot.”

“I’ll go elsewhere,” Shadow said walking out.

Red Tip was happy to see him. While they had made a gentlepony’s agreement, he could have still lost out.

“He went as high as 600 for both,” Shadow chuckled as he laid it all back out.

“Wow,” Red Tip shook his head. “I knew he shot low, but that is very low. But he probably doesn’t actually know that.”

“He said it wouldn’t sell well as a set. That ponies won’t want to buy it all as one.”

“He is right about that,” Red Tip replied. “They won’t. But if you get a guard or pony wanting to be a guard, this is exactly what they are looking for. And it’s exactly who I will let know I have some good stock. Most are squared away though. They know where to come or to send their employees to. But to their business, I won’t discount the ammo. And they will buy it with the ammo in it.

“It’s probably going to sell to some scavenger needing more firepower. One I can convince they should have everything they need, right there. So there is no guesswork when it comes to defending themselves. I must say, I am surprised you are not keeping one of the suspenders for yourself.”

“I’m fast with the reload,” Shadow chuckled as he whipped out a magazine. “Plus, a rifle and a shotgun combo has enough ammo to deal with most threats. Or at least long enough to duck my head and reload.”

“You do have a good saddle there,” Red Tip nodded. “How did you end up with it?”

“Me and some friends,” Shadow stopped. “Sorry, they passed recently. Anyway. We ran across a place far away and they needed help. We not only help them shore up defenses and I helped them learn some farming techniques, but we also were able to strike an occupied military compound. Mutant creatures held it.

“We had some other gear at the time that pack a big punch. That and we were a trained team. We kicked their butts, grabbed the stuff inside for them and got out cleanly. Mostly. Some died and others took injuries. I got hit in the head. Destroyed my helmet.”

“Anyway, in reward, they gave us some armor and these saddles. The armor is gone and the others went down with their saddles. I buried them with it. I couldn't take it all. I can only carry so much. It’s just me, alone. For now.”

“I am very sorry to hear that,” Red Tip replied. “They sounded like good friends you could weather anything with.”

“They were. And we were all resourceful in our ways. One of them helped me modify this saddle so it had the shotgun as well. I needed a little more punch.”

“With your size, that has to be up about as high of a punch as you can give.”

“Right about,” Shadow nodded.

“What is on your Left? I am not familiar with the design.”

Shadow pulled it out with his mouth. “It’s not from anywhere near here. A Mwokozi Revolver. It’s meant for unicorns, but my skilled hooves make it work. The hammer has to be manually worked.”

“Interesting,” Red Tip marveled. “What is it chambered in?”

“It will take 44 Magnum,” Shadow replied. “Speaking of that, I should stock up. Do you have more boxes than the two you have out?”

“I have 66 rounds in the back I can sell you. They won’t be in an original box, but they will be in one for safe keeping. I would rather keep those two on the shelf. To make sure that if somepony buys the revolvers on the wall, I can sell them some ammo. Otherwise, I have to move them to the back. It is pointless to have them out if I cant sell you something to shoot from it.

“It’s hard ammo to find. I am the only place in the city who will buy certain rounds. The others won’t touch such unique round. Every time a pony sells me some, they were directed here. The other shops won’t buy something they can’t sell. I have had my revolvers for at minimum, three years. One was here when I acquired this place fifteen years ago.”

“They pack a punch,” Shadow chuckled. “I have used the pony version. It kicks. Hard. But I am solid and can handle it despite my size.”

“I have no doubt about that at all.”

“44 is the only ammo I am low on,” Shadow said getting back on track. “I’ll take every 44 Magnum round you will sell me.”

“Alright,” Red Tip smiled. “Let me get them.”

Red Tip came back with more than the 44 Magnum rounds. He pulled a 5.56 round out. It had a red tip.

“Have you seen these?”

“No,” Shadow said shaking his head.

“This is premium ammo. The military didn’t use it because it because of cost and supply. They were just developing it. There are armor piercing rounds out and about and hollow points. On the military ammo, you can tell the armor piecing from the black tips. The green ones are the regular full metal jackets. But these red ones began circulating the market and some of us have kept it going. The red tip is a plastic material. It helps the round expand to its full size and do it as uniformly as possible. It’s sort of a hollow point with an expansion mechanism.”

“Useful,” Shadow nodded. “But I think I will stick with my regular rounds. At least for now.”

“I figured,” Red Tip shrugged. “But I also figured it wouldn’t hurt to show you anyway.”

“I would like to find a cache of the armor piercing ammo,” Shadow stated. “You know, without having to pay for it.”

“Ponies often try and sell me ones, painted with a black tip. But the bullet weighs different for each type. I know how to tell and I only buy legit ones. If you come in and try and sell me fake rounds, I won’t buy them even if you try and sell me it at it’s actual one. Not good business. Business works both ways.”

“Yes it does,” Shadow smiled. “How many do you have? I have been heckled by some Steel Heads for stupid shit.”

“Be careful around here,” Red Tip said lowering his voice. “They have a contingent here. Not in the south side where we are, but they are often in the city for trade and to get drunk. They had a place in the north ruins nearby.”

“Good to know,” Shadow replied in a hushed tone. “Do they buy it up?”

“No,” Red Tip shrugged. “The idiots won’t. They should at least be trying to get it out of the market and drive prices up. The rounds are a threat to their armor. They are not invincible.”

“How many do you have?”

“522. They are all loose, so no boxes for small sales. I will sell them at the same cost as the 44 rounds, 4 caps.”

“This is probably stupid,” Shadow said.

“By saying that, it is,” Red Tip chuckled.

“What do you say about a dead even exchange? I don’t need the 5.56 rounds. But I would love to pack some good ones that will do damage to anything I shoot.”

“Hmmm,” Red Tip said thinking. “I’ll give you 250 black tips and the 66 Magnum rounds in a dead exchange. At a price of 4 caps each, that is 234 rounds. But I will round it out to 250 for the bulk sale and give you an ammo can to take them in.”

“Deal,” Shadow grinned. “I am going to have to do something to fix my pockets. I have enough to slip by, but I can’t stay long without getting an income. The house and furniture cost me almost 3000 caps.”

“You bought a house,” Red Tip said nodding his head, a bit surprised.

“I need someplace to call home right now,” Shadow replied. “I didn’t want to deal with renting.”

“Understandable,” Red Tip nodded. “A lot of scavengers make that mistake. When the rent is up, you have a month. If it’s not payed by then, they get the place and everything in it. Since you bought your house, you have the option to sell when you want to, either to the city or another pony. Or you can give the deed to somepony else. The deed is only valid if the city oversees the exchange, for a small fee to cover paperwork.”

“Of course,” Shadow chuckled. “What happens if I die? Who would get my house and how would they know? They didn’t talk about this stuff.”

“No, because it’s in the fine print and to their advantage. If you could be confirmed dead, then things speed up. If you go two years without being seen, then its forfeit and the house goes back to the city. It happens often enough. Bank records are used a lot. So make sure you at least check your account whenever you come back in town.

“Of course, if you declare an heir, things change up. Scavengers, caravaners and others who spend a lot of time outside of the city often declare an heir and an extended time is set up for you to return. If you do not, or are confirmed dead, then it goes to the heir.”

“Okay,” Shadow said nodding his head.

“A lot of times heirs are family or a friend they make in the city. But the bank has an Heir Program. You pay so much to have a guarantee for that many years being absent. But their clock is often set further ahead than a friend’s, so you should always visit at the start of a trip and end with a trip to the bank.”

They made the straight exchange and Shadow left. He wanted to get the rest of the armor piercing rounds as soon as possible. When it was time to strike back at the Steel Rangers, he wanted it to be with bullets that would ensure they bled.

Gambit annoyingly caught up with Shadow as he passed by his store.

“I see you sold them to somepony else. Do you really think you got a better deal from them?”

Shadow laughed. “You are a fool. Of course I got a better deal. I sold the lot to Red Tip. He appreciates what a package looks like. Two ponies can now walk in and in minutes walk out completely ready to deal with the wasteland on their own. Or work as a guard. All with high quality items.”

“Hmph,” Gambit huffed. “And just how much did you pocket?”

“I ran a dead exchange,” Shadow shot back. “I needed some things he had. Mostly rare ammo. But he bought them each for twice the price you were going to give me. Because he knows quality and a good deal.”

“Oh, what did he have that I didn’t? I bet you can find it on my shelves!”

“44 Magnum,” Shadow said flatly. “To start.”

“What did he sell them to you at, 5 or 6 caps? I have plenty on my shelf. 3 caps each. I don’t let anypony have a monopoly. It isn’t good for the customers.”

“And how many do you have?”

“46,” Gambit declared.

“Not bad,” Shadow replied. “But he still had more and for the same price. And guess what, I am out of spending bits.”

Shadow held back a reaction from saying bits instead of caps. He hoped it would pass. It appeared to.

“Well, if you come to your senses, you will find that we can make some good bargains on just about everything you need. Even if you have heard some bad rep about me, you shouldn’t just write me off as a business partner just by listening to a pony or two. I am in business for a reason.”

“If I need candy, I will come to you,” Shadow shot back as he walked away.

Shadow noticed two ponies in Gambit’s shop slip out before he noticed. It made him feel good.

Shadow unlocked his room and stepped inside. His bags were heavy from the weight of the ammo. Red Tip had given him a can to keep it in as promised, but it still was heavy. Shadow wasn’t going to go around town carrying such a heavy load out. He could safely remove some magazines.

Shadow took the time to unload two of his magazines and load them with the black tips. His ‘Shit hit the fan’ back ups.

Shadow was going to need more caps. He was under 200 and food added up fast. That and he wanted to fix up the place a bit. Even if he was here a short time, it was worth it to him to have a nice place. To enjoy coming home after a long, hard time out taking care of the wasteland. Shaping and preparing it to end the separation.

Shadow removed his saddle and bags and relaxed in the chair. His mission wasn’t going to end with Ponyville. He needed to get back to it. But it was nice to not have an immediate thing to worry about. That and it was nice to have a comfortable chair to plan in.

The first thing Shadow decided to do was to slowly rob Gambit of the 44 magnum rounds. He couldn't take all at the same time. After their talk, it would point to him. He would slip his cloak on, take a few and slip some out of order so they looked he miscounted. He would need to wait a few days to let it cool down.

And if he was going to deal justice for Gambit’s choice to sell ponies, he would want to take them all before. That way an inventory check by a new owner wouldn’t find them. And Shadow only wanted to steal from a depraved pony such as Gambit.

Shadow had developed his own gambit to start to get revenge. He decided to head out in the morning and hit the Trottingham ruins. He needed to get more capital. He needed to be less selective with his pickings for weapons and items. Only after he fixed that would he be able to really develop his next move.

Next Chapter: Chapter 106 - Fortune Estimated time remaining: 9 Hours, 9 Minutes