Staff Only

Staff Only is the twenty fifth story arc in Thrilling Intent.
== Plot Synopsis ==
With not a moment's rest, the team of Nine Shrines Adventure Agency is thrust into their next adventure, under the employment of a familiar face. The Spiritfolk Xin has come requesting the team to retrieve an ancient staff, possessing the powers of life and death, from a magical joint bank between The Alaran Empire and Kuravia known as Tax Haven. Meeting up with some old friends, the group of Markus, Harlock, Xanthe, Chardonnay and Emile commence the most chaotic and legendary bank heist in recorded history. Will the team emerge with staff in hand, or will they only succeed in getting kicked out by security? As they crawl deeper and deeper into the corridors of the bank, the eyes watching them growing more and more suspicious, will they be able to infiltrate that dreaded place where only staff can reach, and emerge victorious?
Several Items are featured in this arc as artifacts that the team of Markus, Thog and Harlock use as tools to help them break into the bank (as the bank has several security measures against magic and "superhuman" feats, but magical items are a loophole as the bank needs to show they work). The first eight objects have no cool down, while the latter eight do, with each team member taking one of each. These objects include:
===The Displacement Dagger===
A magical artifact with unlimited use. It is a knife that leaves trails through space behind when it is swung. It is incredibly sharp. If thrown to a location, the user can be blinked there. It is capable of moving multiple people at once if they all throw the dagger simultaneously. This item was ultimately chosen by Markus.
===Domination Crown===
A magical artifact with unlimited use. It can mind control people, with 6 points of energy with each use. This item was ultimately chosen by Harlock. The activation code is Shia Kazim and the reactivation code is Sim Sim Sala Bim.
===The Bag of Creatures===
A magical sack full of creatures with unlimited use. While the precise animal pulled out cannot be determined, the relative size can be via adjusting the clasp on the bag. It is possible to put more creatures into the bag. It was chosen by Xanthe.
===The Dreadnaught Armor===
A heavy suit of armor with ruins. It has runes on the backside, allowing the user to propel themselves forward and through obstacles.
===The Incendiary Doll===
A small wristband made of cloth. Wearing the wristband allows one to create small dolls that run off in a direction then explode.
===The Veil of Death===
A funeral veil that allows the user to kill someone if they stare at them long enough. It is uncertain how it works when worn inside out, or with a mirror.
===The Polarity Orbs===
A pair of magical artifacts that can 'tag' other objects with positive or negative charges, causing them to either be attracted to repulsed to objects of the corresponding charge. This item was ultimately chosen by Chardonnay.
===The Animate Blade===
A magical sword. When attacking something alive, it serves as a normal, albeit highly efficient, sword. When used on something dead, it brings it back to life. It seems to only work on one being at a time. t was chosen by Emile.
=== A Comb ===
A magical comb. When a user combs their hair with it, it allows them to create a duplicate of themself which disappears after a short time. The initial creator has control of both bodies. It has a cooldown. This item was ultimately chosen by Markus.
===Endless Rope===
A magical rope that can extend to unlimited length. Has a cooldown. It was chosen by Emile.
===The Deck of Exchange===
Bears the faces of one's entire party, alongside some fun facts. When shuffled, the positions of one's party are also shuffled. This item was ultimately chosen by Harlock.
===The Freeflight Wings===
Allows one to fly in short bursts.
===The Sack of Nurshment===
If one upends the sack into their mouth, they recieve nourishment. The bag is endless, though requires a cool down between uses.
===The Redirection Orb===
If one squeezes the orb, it creates a gravity well. Any effects directed towards those around the user are redirected to them.
===The Shield Talisman===
Creates a bubble shield around the user. If others are close enough, it will extend to protect them as well. It was chosen by Xanthe.
===The Blaster===
It blasts things. It was chosen by Chardonnay.
=== Other ===
There are other artifacts mentioned in the arc, such as two pieces of paper that duplicates the writing on one end to the other, allowing for messages to be passed instantly and a gun that revives people. There are also various artifacts placed in the heads of skeletons.
=== The Suspicion Gauge ===
In addition to the use of these items, the party must attempt to avoid increasing the suspicion gauge by either using unauthorized magic or generally drawing attention to themselves.
== Trivia ==
* Prior to part 3 of the arc, Mercedes and Gregor were present on the cover art instead of Emile, Chardonnay and Xanthe, as not to spoil the surprise of the returning characters.
** It is the third arc to have its cover art change mid-arc, coincidentally on the same episode as that of Sky's Shadow and for similar reasons.
*A line by Chardonnay in Part 21 of this arc indicates that potentially 2 years have passed between Duet of Dungeons and this arc. However, due to Chardonnay being Chardonnay, this is entirely uncomfirmed.