Intentions (3)

Ana and Ingrid turn on the house lights as soon as they arrive.

'We should start repairing the second floor.' Kali thought when they entered the second floor window the floorboards were creaking dangerously.

The signs of impending collapse are near and loud.

Kali cracked her neck after the fox jumped out of her shoulders.

"Did you smell anyone familiar?" Kali stretched her arms as she asked the beasts.

"No. . ." Luna answered disappointedly.

"No." while the fox answered with an attitude.

"We'll find them eventually."

Kali didn't sound consoling or determined but somehow the beasts didn't show any doubt in her words. Kali could send Luna back to the south and he can pinpoint his abductor since he remembers his smell but that's it. There is no assurance the tail will lead to its head and there is no way the head will not cut its tail to escape.

"Anyway, earlier how can you tell?" Kali asked the fox

"...?"

" 'That human is reading your mana', you say." Kali refers when Feyawi is concentrating his eyes on them.

"I can just tell."

'Yeah, I am asking how.' Kali wanted to say that but she stopped and thought about it herself.

Animals that cultivated natural mana evolve to either mindless monsters or highly intelligent beasts. Just like the mutated animals in the Monster Forests they failed to control their mana intake and become monsters but animals that successfully control mana, they become superior species of their kind and they are known as Mana beasts.

Beasts are hard to find because unlike humans there are no specific methods to train themselves to control mana. Their mana originated in nature, they process it in mysterious and unexplained ways then own it.

'Ah wait. . . Did this fox see mana clashing?'

"Did you see mana sparks?"

The fox tilt his head in unfamiliar words

Mana sparks happen when one kind of mana collides with another one. That's why, there are mini explosions happening surrounding the person who releases their own mana and crashing the natural mana in the air.

'But I didn't see any mana sparks earlier.' She thought to herself.

"Glowing. . ." The fox answered, disrupting Kali's thoughts.

"...?"

"That human's eyes are glowing."

"Glowing? . . . Haaaaa. How did I miss it?" Kali realized it finally. She reached for the fox head and slightly messed up its white fur. The fox stiffened out.

"Aren't you a useful one?" she added

"I, I still hate humans." The fox slapped Kali's hand and moved his head away.

"Yes, yes."

Kali grinned slightly. There are no sparks because there is no mana clashing. Though the majority of humans have a little or no mana control, they can still develop abilities, personal skills. Just like how she can use taunt, tolerance and other skills some humans also have it. The most common ability is mana reader.

Mana Reader is a common defensive ability enabling even ordinary humans to read mana flow, an ability developed in order to protect themselves or at least be wary about mana users.

"Master." Ana approaches silently. Very silent approach that made Kali's hair stand up.

'I can't get used to this.'

"Yes, Ana?"

"What will you do in black Society?" She asked with a stern face.

"Gather Information and Get a Job."

Ana was silent for a moment deliberating if she would pry more.

"Then. . . How do you plan to enter the Black Society?"

Kali raised her brows at the question.

"Are you worried I'll use and expose Kaleena's code?"

". . ."

Bullseye. These questions are to ensure the safety of Kaleena's identity.

"I will not use Kaleena's code, if that's what you are worried about. I am not stupid."

No matter how much they call and serve her like she is their master, Kali will always be the fake one, a temporary replacement until the real one returns.

Is it because she was treated like a stupid person or the fact that their loyalty is not with her? She felt uncomfortably irritated and felt tiny needles prickling her insides.

"How do masters plan to acquire a pass?" Ana knit her eyebrows for a second then returned to her usual straight face.

"I was thinking of using the Casino Owner but I am not sure yet. The people around him seem dangerous."

'Dangerous?' Ana and Ingrid thought.

"Master. Why the Casino Owner?" Ingrid questioned

Kali's mood worsened as the continuous inquisition was thrown at her.

"What else? Because that man is a 'Card' holder."

"...!"

'They really didn't know? Vico is much better then.' Kali frowned at realization.

Before Kali steps foot in the capital, her goal is already set and planned ahead of time. To get back Luna she already acquired necessary information and assumed an invitation or a pass is needed for things like underground auctions.

She gathered information about the capital and came across the existence of the Lotus Casino, where aristocrats gather and wager more than money. That's why she decided to get information about the underground auction and get an invitation.

"There is no way the Casino Owner doesn't have a pass. Luckily, he traded the 'card' with my potion . . . but of course I was not aware of the 'Cards' existence until earlier." Kali explained.

'Trade? Did that person willingly trade his black society card?' Ana thought as she looked at Kali's relaxed expression.

"Then how did you know it was a 'Card'?"

"The Underground Auction House is one of the services offered by the Black Society and we were treated to VIPs after showing the card.."

"It can be an invitation or a pass card and not necessarily The VIP 'Card'. "

"That's true." Kali nods at Ingrid's words. She agreed and if Ingrid doesn't say or ask any question in the next few seconds that will conclude this conversation but Ingrid is not satisfied with Kali's answers. Something is bugging her.

" . . . Assuming it was the VIP 'Card' then you already have access to Black Society, then why bother getting a new one?" Ingrid immersed herself in understanding Kali's behavior. She didn't even see her sister, Ana, shoot a glare at her.

"It was invalidated, the second time around." Vico reported to Kali after he tried to use the same card they had as pass last time. Under the command of Kali to investigate the Auction House.

"Then isn't that some sort of one time invitation or pass card for auction."

"That's true."

"Huh?" Ingrid was dumbfounded, the conversation went back to the dead end.

"Why do you think he didn't mention the 'cards' first when I asked?" Kali posed a question.

"...!" Ingrid then remembers Kali asking the Casino Owner "Is that all?" after he explained the VIP Membership Card.

Not only Ingrid but also Ana was amused and scared at the same time.

"Next Question." Kali can feel that both of them have questions left.

". . .then Master, how will I pay for the membership fee?"

Using the code is obviously out of the question and the 'Card' Monthly payment is a ridiculous ploy.

* Bronze : 35 Million Sakhat Gold ( 'Jack' Card)

* Silver : 60 Million Sakhat Gold, ('Queen' Card)

* Gold : 100 Million Sakhat Gold, ('King' Card)

Sakhat Empire was once considered as one of the most powerful empires but now that it has fallen, their currency is now used as monetary trade in underground transactions.

"It is nearly impossible to pay millions of Sakhat Gold every month. Sakhat Gold didn't circulate in the society ever since it had fallen."

"He suggested converting the amount to Mil Gold. Why didn't you---"

*Mil Gold = Millano Gold

"It's a trap."

"A trap?" Ingrid repeated questioningly while Kali inhaled and exhaled and patiently explained to the clueless Ingrid.

"He is suspicious of me. He is testing if I am from Millano Kingdom."

Ana was first to open her eyes wide in realization and a few seconds after Ingrid came to realize the reason too.

It was impossible to provide millions of Sakhat Gold monthly and if Kali expressed her willingness to pay the same value in Mil Gold, chances of her being linked as a Millano citizen increases and only high ranking wealthy nobles or wealthy merchants can provide such amount thus narrowing it down more.

"How about using different currencies?" Ingrid suggested.

"Did you know why Fewayi offered to use code first?"

"...Identification"

"Ah. Of course. . ." Kali almost says it with a snort. She thought it was an obvious answer that needed not to be mentioned again.

". . ."

" Why did he offer it first instead of becoming a 'Card' Member?" Kali dropped a hint.

The sisters were silently thinking hard. Ana, who was reluctant at first, thought out loud and stated some facts to pin a point.

". . . He knows you know about 'Cards'. Why didn't they offer it first? Identity, no no not only that. . . What else will he get? He was unsure to tell the 'card' at first. . . "

Kali fills her cup and the beasts' cup some water while Ana is muttering her inner thoughts.

"He is verifying!" Ana exclaimed, the beasts were startled and spilled some water on the table at Ana's sudden loud voice.

Luna and Fox ran down the table and hid behind the feet of Kali's chair.

"He was testing you. He wants to know the extent of your knowledge in black society." Ana continued. Her eyes are all over the floor but then she continues to voice her inner realizations. Her expression is far from the usual poker face she wears.

". . . and if the 'card' he gave was one time use, then why didn't he say anything about it? He could offer, no he could at least. . . . ."

Ana looked straight at Kali as she finally uttered her thoughts.

"He didn't offer it because . . . it doesn't exist. "

'If one time using 'card' doesn't exist, it means the 'Card' she had is the real VIP 'card'. Why was it destroyed. . .'

Kali opened her inventory and pulled out a small rug and began to wipe the spilled water on the table while waiting for Ana.

'You are almost there.' Kali anticipates Ana's conclusion and deductions she comes up with.