Intentions (2)

Kali pulls up her hood to hide her hair and the lying fox in her shoulders. The wolf cub copied the fox cub, he too also climbed in Ingrid's shoulders and hid inside her hood.

Kali and the sisters put their badly made masks on.

'Lets go.' Kali signaled.

They arrived at the Lotus Casino shortly. The front attendant called security as soon as he saw their masks.

"Halt! don't move-"

*Thud * Thud

Ana knocked the two guards down within a second.

'They are too much alike.' Kali remembers the nimble movements and way of knocking down Vico.

Displaying her fast speed and tapping the shoulder of the guard. "How unwelcoming, just like always." Kali said in a low voice.

It happened so fast that the guard didn't even have time to think or respond.

"Welcome back my Lord!" The man wearing spectacles greeted the three of them.

'He is like this last time too.' Kali thought as she looked down at the bowing man. This person was the one who escorted them last time.

"Master Feyawi has been expecting you."

Kali internally clicked her tongue. She knows that the man was already notified by Feyawi of her arrival when she is counting on a surprise visit. Nevertheless she still followed him to a room filled with luxurious items and again the large two way mirror.

"Please rest comfortably while you wait, my lords. Would you like some tea? "

". . . "

"Well then, I leave you to it."

"What are we doing here?" The fox peeked his head out of the hood.

"Luna, Fox. Give a signal when you smell someone familiar."

Kali ignored the fox and proceeded to touch the two way mirror. She already gathered information about this kind of mirror. Seeing Feyawi get several of these incredibly expensive mirrors made Kali wonder and suspicious.

A short knocking was made before the doors opened. Feyawi entered in his usual flamboyant outfit and less hair in his head. Kali went to the soft couch and gestured silently for Feyawi to sit down.

"Welcome Back My lord. I am sorry for the rough welcome of my guards. There have been some disturbances happening lately. They were a bit on edge. Anyway, How may I be of assistance to you, today?" His tone is expressing joy at their sudden visit.

Feyawi sat down and let the servants put the tea and snacks on the table.

'Huh?' Feyawi look for the second time at the sitting masked man.

'Is he the same person?' He frowned. He then looks at Ana and Ingrid. His face crumpled more.

'Who are they?'

"That human is reading your mana." The fox whispered.

'Reading Mana?' Kali frowned inside her mask then she realized.

"Are you done?" Kali interrupted Feyawi's concentration.

"Huh? I don't under-"

"Every lie will cost you, just like the last time."

"Ah!! no. I mean yes. . .I'm sorry, it's just that my lord seems different today." He wiped his forehead with a handkerchief.

'How did he know?' Feyawi clenched his fist.

"I need Black society to pass."

"...ahh. My lord can present your code and you will be allowed to enter the Black society. " Feyawi smiled slightly and grinned his palms together.

The black society is an underground place for nobles. This is where the dark side of the nobles exists. The pleasure district, auction house, illegal trades, hiring mercenaries, assassins and even Bounty Hunting are all accessible. Even though it is said to be exclusive for nobles with dirty secrets, the underground society is tight-lipped about its activities. Its existence is an open secret, and the only pass one needs is their society standing. That's why the code must be presented for credibility to pay for black society's services.

"It seems like you didn't understand me." Kali feels she is being treated like an idiot.

The moment they read her code, there is a possibility it will be recorded. Feyawi underestimated Kali's research abilities. There are rare code reader items that record and copy code information, there are rare but they exist though no one claimed to have one publicly. After knowing its existence she vowed to never ever present her code.

'Human Code is an Identification Card. '

"Ah no no my lord. I fully understand."

Ofcourse, underground society is still a place for unlawful events even if it is exclusive only for aristocrats. There is bound to be an 'exemption'.

"If my Lord wants you can be a 'Card' member. Card holders are VIP members. Treatments and services differ according to 'Card' Level. " Feyawi stopped sweating and began to speak more confidently.

"And the cost?"

Feyawi was silent for a moment before he returned to his business smile.

"For 'Card' Members, monthly payments should be made. . .For Bronze members 35 Million Sakhat Gold will get the 'Jack' Card. Silver Members 60 Million Sakht Gold, 'Queen' Card will be provided. As for the Gold Members 100 Million Sakht Gold, 'King' Card will be given."

"Is that all?"

Feyawi developed a habit of flinching when hearing those words. " Ye-yes my Lord. if you have any concern--- Ah! My Lord, do you want to pay in Millano Gold? I can give you a conversion. . ."

"No need. Just tell me when and where the next auction is."

"Ah. . . yes, Yuiladero City, 23 days from now."

Kali grabbed a small pouch of unprocessed gold from her cloak, threw it on the table then got up from her seat.

"Wait, wait, My--my lord. the potion from last time. . . May I know where you acquired it."

". . ."

"I, I happen to look for the same but I have no luck. I am hoping you could share it with me." Feyawi desperately explained.

"It's payment for my services." Kali didn't technically lie because the healing potion she paid in exchange for the auction pass was really a reward from the system.

"Services? What kind of services do you offer, My lord?"

Kali smiled under her mask, Feyawi finally bit the trap she laid. She is already aware of the value of the system's potions. There is no way she hadn't investigated and compared the venture issued potions and the system's potions.

"My services are no longer available, since my sponsor withdrew his support" Kali started her storytelling she made on the spot.

"Withdrew? " Feyawi had this serious confused look.

"My guild was cast aside, after failing our last mission,"

Kali continued to walk away, ending their talk. Feyawi opened his mouth and was about to say something when Kali talked first.

"Anwir."

"...?"

"Anwir is my name, in case you want to report again to the Empire." Kali then turns and walks out of the casino.

Feyawi is white as a sheet.

****

Feyawi has been pacing around his office after his conversation with the white masked man. He is concentrating on his own thoughts.

'How did he know about the Empire?'

*Knock Knock*

"Master, Did you call for me?"

"Herrace? Get in here." Feyawi sounded urgent. A man wearing singular round spectacle on his eyes, entered Feyawi's office, courteously.

"Yes Master."

"That man earlier, the hooded man wearing ugly white mask. Find anything on him. He said his name is Anwir. His subordinates are also wearing the same mask, go find anything related to them. Find out his guild, and his sponsor and his previous clients."

"Yes Master."

Herrace left the office and Feyawi continued to pace around his office. He glanced at the healing potion Kali gave to him. The report regarding this potion is unbelievable.

"One bottle of potion is worth at least Millions of Golds. '' Feyawi said to himself. There are offers from the alchemy tower to buy it but he was taken back and refused their offer. A potion that even alchemists wanted.

"What kind of service does he offer? Assassin?. . . " Feyawi disagrees with his thoughts. He didn't hear any famous people getting assassinated or even an attempt. To be able to have this kind of high priced reward the mission must be difficult or top secret one.

"High Grade Monster hunter?" Feyawi thinks this might also be plausible with the displayed strength Kali showed last time. Denting a mana sucking metal, monstrous strength it is.

"Ah wait he could be a runner. . . or. . . Argh!!" Fewayi scratched his head and then said "Oops." He faces the mirror and arranges his few hairs left.

'Who is his sponsor and clients?'

'He failed his last mission?'

'Was cast aside by a sponsor.'

He slumps down to his seat and thinks long and hard when he remembers Kali's last visit.

". . .tell that person not to interfere again."

"Interfere. . . he is referring to that person. The night of debutante ball. . . Lord Anwir's goal is . . . was it the Young Lady Alexanders? Is he after her too? He appeared again here after the Alexanders went back to the south. . . and his guild was cast aside by the sponsor. . . '' Feyawi thought out loud.

"What is with the Alexander Young lady? Big people are keeping an eye on her? Should I dig around her? . . . . . . forget it. I still want to live. . . forget it. forget it."

"I need to report this to the Empire."

"I am Anwir, in case you want to report again to the Empire."

Feyawi had goosebumps. 'Did he know? How did he know about the empire?'

Feyawi didn't notice he was circling back and forth in his questions while overthinking Kali's half true stories and mixed lies.