Target (2)

"Ughh." Kali groans while resting her head down on the dining table. Luna is beside her and patting Kali's arm lightly with a worried look.

"Dammit." She cursed in between her groans.

Kali's vision and insides are all jumbled up. She arrived at the house she bought in the slums, a few minutes ago.

"What is wrong with you human?" The fox jumped and curiously peeked at the human's face.

"Master. . ."

"I,I'll be okay. . ." Kali stuttered and was unable to continue her next words. '. . so shut up for a second.'

Kali tries to forget the ride she had to endure on her way out of the dukedom. She had stayed in the Duke's mansion, longer than she expected. It was almost dawn when they managed to escape safely. They had to be careful and get out of the territory before the Duke tracked them down and so they used illegal teleportation ports and went back to the Capital. The problem, because of the enormous size of the Dukedom, Kali had to endure 5 teleportation portals plus 2 hours of carriage ride because she can no longer stay on her feet.

"I can't do this. I'll sleep for a while." Kali weakly announced

"Mas--" Luna's voice begins to fade out as she drifts and lets herself pass out.

Five hours later, Kali opened her eyes. Both the beasts were also taking each other's side by the table.

She looks outside and it's already dark. She missed all her meals for that day.

"Master." Ingrid appeared at the dark corner with a serious face. Her short dark brown hair is blending on a dark background.

"What is it?"

"There are some people asking about Anwir at the Information Guild." Kali frowned while Ingrid continued her report. "I failed to hear their conversation after they were led to a separate room."

"Separate room? An Important Client?"

The Information Guild in the Capital is a legal independent business. Bounty hunters, adventurers, commissioners and customers went in and out there for information, the only information that can be released there will be information about public events and news, identity of criminals, fugitives or at least a suspected one but of course this is the legal side.

Illegal release of private information is only for those who had the means of paying a heftier price.

"They don't look like ordinary knights." Ingrid added.

"How many are they?"

"Three, but only one person follow inside the room"

"Can you win against them?" Kali observed Ingrid's reaction.

"Yes, If I will stake my life."

Kali taps the table softly with her index finger as she thinks.

"There are only two people.'' I mentioned the name 'Anwir.' " She murmured.

'Did Feyawi report it to the Empire? Are they from the Empire? . . . Feyawi is already here, do they need another group to gather information? Does Feyawi know about this?'

"Master." Ana interrupted Kali's thoughts.

"What is it?"

"A messenger arrived in the Duke Cartisson's residence in the Capital, the Duke and his family will arrive tomorrow."

"What?!" Kali raised her voice and bit her lips.

The beasts were startled by her sudden loud voice. Kali is scanning the floor and raking her head.

'Coming to the capital, suddenly? No. . No I expect this, but to come here this fast?. . .'

"M,master?" Luna's voice is shaking a little seeing the agitated expression of Kali.

"What is wrong with humans?" The white fox was behind the black wolf and said this in a small voice.

Kali was thinking hard then her expression hardened more and turned to look at Ingrid.

"When did you hear that someone was looking for Anwir?"

"This noon, Master."

"This noon?" Kali repeated it with a scoff.

"Is that why you went to the Duke's Mansion?" Kali turns to look at Ana. She never asks Ana to spy on them.

"Yes. After seeing the Knights at the information Guild, I thought they were from Dukedom."

"Hah! HAHAHAHAHAHHA" Kali started laughing out loud.

"The human has gone crazy."

"M,m, master." Luna was shocked to see Kali suddenly bursting into a laugh which she never did since he can recall. It was scaring him.

Kali stopped laughing and went up from her seat.

"Ana and Ingrid, take a good rest tonight. Tomorrow we will be busy."

Kali opened her inventory and pulled out the sleep bag. She lays it down on the floor and gestures for the beasts to sleep earlier and she needs something to do.

After putting on her cloak and mask, she went out.

The Millano Capital, sure is lively and full of lights unlike in the South, Alexander's territory. The Count's territory is only equipped with whatever is necessary. There are shops and stores but that's it. There are barely any entertainment districts, unlike the capital.

Kali avoided the crowded street and just stayed within the darkness of the alleys.

'I underestimated the Duke's power.' Kali thought as she observed the entrance of the Information Guild. She spotted some knights near the entrance, even with cloak and hood, the armor beneath it can still be traced.

'I didn't know, he would be able to track me this fast.' Kali retreated from her spot before she was seen by one of the knights.

'I should meet him before he tracks me down.' Kali's blue eyes start to darken in color.

****

Kali tossed her ring necklace on her inventory.

'The Duke and his family didn't attend the debutante ball, they won't recognize this face.' She looks at her reflection in the mirror. Her black eyes and black hair are unique traits, even this face is something she cannot reveal.

She has to hide her 'Resistance' traits. She has no idea who will be after her.

She clicked her tongue loudly.

"Master? Why? Why? " Luna called from below.

"I am contemplating if I should just shave all of my hair."

Two humans and two beasts were startled.

"Master's hair is beautiful. I like seeing it. Why will you really shave it?" Luna became worried.

Ana and Ingrid hide their obvious stare from behind her.

"My hair is too long. I cannot hide it properly inside the hood but if it's too short it will peak out. Better shave it and just wear a wig if I need to be Kaleena."

'Besides, it will be harder to hide it in the morning.'

"Ah. Excuse me, master." Ana steps forward.

"What is Ana?"

"Maybe, I can help."

****

The carriage door opened and a fine middle aged man went out. His soft pink hair is in contrast to his strong features and expression, even if he is quite old, his posture and aura cannot deny his presence.

It was Duke Ricardo Cartisson. He is followed by the duchess with brown hair and eyes.

Kali is watching from a distant tree located near the mansion's entrance. She observes the Duke's arrival.

'Can I win against him?' Kali thought, creasing her forehead.

Except for the time she accidentally activated her bloodlust, she never won a single match against Yurik and her insides are telling her the Duke in front of her is much stronger than Yurik.

*Tik tik tik

Kali turned to see the clicking sound and her eyes opened at an unexpected appearance.

He is walking gracefully following behind his parents. He is wearing a hat but his pink hair is still visible even from afar and his posture and aura are so much alike the Duke, nothing like the first time she saw him. Even with a sheet mask covering his lower half face, Kali can still recognize the Young Duke.

'Ren Cartisson.'

*Swish*

'Shit!' Kali lost her balance and barely stopped herself from falling from the tree by grabbing onto a thick branch.

'What the he--' Kali's thoughts stopped when she met the piercing glare of the Duke from a distance. The Duchess beside him is gone, only the Duke, Ren and a single strong looking knight were there.

They are looking at her direction, unfazed.

"Master." Ana appeared on the branch Kali was holding into.

The intently stares directed to her are telling her, they are waiting for her. Earlier, the wind cutting sound was an attack. Letting her know that they know she is there.

Kali's mood turned worse. She didn't feel nor see the incoming attack.

"Let's go give our greetings." Kali said and let go of the branch. She landed safely and Ana followed her behind.

'If Ana didn't fix my hair. . .' Kali bit her lips under her white mask. Her hood is down but not a single piece of hair is seen. That is because Ana braided her hair earlier and covered it with a black turban.

Kali pulls up her hood once again while slowly approaching the Cartissons.

'If my hair was exposed, there's no way I can let them live right?' She already forgot her assessment on the Duke's strength.

Kali stopped from approaching and only a few meters away from her target. Her eyes are covered in a thin black veil attached to the eye holes but she cannot avert her stare from the intimidating presence of the Duke.

"Are you Anwir?"