What was an exciting day was slowly dwindling to a close. As the two of them walked, Jessica seemed to think of something, pulling out a large sized crystal and a smaller one. Handing them to Cassie.

Taking the crystals, there was a smile on Cassie’s face, “I was curious at first, when you asked to borrow them. I wasn’t sure what you were going to do with it. I have to say, it was a rather smart way of using it.”

Jessica had asked to borrow a prototype lighting crystal created by Mercury City. Cassie had one lying around. It was a very early prototype. They were meant to be a commercial product that was made cheaply, allowing people affordable lighting.

From lighting up streets to large rooms. Meant as a cost effect, large scale bulk sales. Rather that be for personal use, like a large house or a city to light streets. To smaller general stores that would buy a large cheap bulk and sell them individually for a profit.

Currently, they were not very good. They needed to be fine-tuned, as they were currently working on a setting to allow better control without increasing the price. As Jessica had used it, to literally blind her opponent. The highest setting meant for larger rooms and streets was far too bright. Put into a small pitch black corridor was an extremely sinister but effective disarming tactic.

“It is too bad that the continent is peaceful. If there was a war, it would really be a nice surprise to pull out for a massive victory.” Jessica was sure that her application could be replicated in small scale. Only it was a rather small chance of being given an opportunity like that.

“You’re looking down on war. At most, it would work best with non-graded soldiers. In which case, the actual strategic victory wouldn’t amount too much. And that is if it works. There is an even greater chance that, if the surprise attack fails, for the cost of that attack to be worst than what could be gained.” Cassie scoffed at her silly ideas.

As they neared a lighted section, Jessica was just about to separate from Cassie. But before she could, Cassie put a hand up to have her stop. Her eyes narrowed very slightly.

“What is it?” Jessica had to ask, her voice lowered.

“There is someone in your house.” Cassie spoke as she stared at the one-floor building.

Cassie owned a number of residents in Mercury City. Spread throughout the inner circle of each zone. These houses were all built with an underground escape route that connected all of them. This allowed her to move around the city with little notice.

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Using her chin, Cassie motioned for Jessica to open the door. Putting her hand on the door, a bit of mana was used to register her. The door unlocked itself before Cassie had her take a step back.

She wasn’t sure before, but now that Cassie had said someone had entered, it meant something entirely different. For the formation to still be working, indicated that someone had found a way to bypass the formation. Or someone had found a way to trick it into thinking it was Cassie, which was far worse.

While Cassie could change the resident signatures, the only people allowed at the moment were herself and Jessica. If someone had found a way to bypass the formation, that would need to be fixed as it was dangerous.

Though, if someone had found a way to intrude using Cassie’s identity. That would imply a much more dangerous situation had occurred. Of course, there was the tiny chance that someone had, instead, faked their identity as Jessica.

The aura around Cassie had completely changed. Without knowing her, it might be hard to tell. However, Jessica had been around her enough to notice the very subtle edge that was hidden. As they had sparred a lot, she understood that right now Cassie was ready for anything.

As the two of them entered, what was displayed was a normal layout. A simple dinning room set up to work as reception area. To the side was the kitchen and bedroom. As a single individual was meant to live, the bathroom was the only other room, connected to the dinning room and bedroom by two different doors.

At the moment, there were lights on. A person was sitting at the dining room table with food set out. Plates and silverware for two. Looking up, the person smiled before they paused as they looked at Cassie with some confusion.

A man with refined features, his green eyes were currently sizing up Cassie. His ears were a bit sharp near the tips, as his green hair lay scattered around his head in a messy fashion.

Recognizing him, Jessica could only speak with a mild case of confusion, “Victorina?”

“Howdy.” He smiled mischievous, “I checked under the mat, but there was no key. So I had to break in, I hope you don’t mind. Planning to make up with dinner. I just didn’t know you would bring company. Worry not, how can I let such a pretty young woman go hungry, she can have my share.”

Clearly ignoring the hostile looks he received when they first entered. His surprise was not fake, he had no idea how Jessica knew he was here. Looking at Cassie he could feel a sense of danger, only he felt no mana from her, this rather scared him.

Luckily, Cassie had toned down the hostility as she smiled as she watched him play the fool. Jessica opened her mouth to introduce them, “This is Victorina, he was learning blacksmithing from Beast. Outside of his womanizing, he is a good and reliable person. This is Cassie…”

As she paused to go from teacher to friend, Cassie spoke up, “I am Jessica’s teacher.”

Ignoring the stare she received from Jessica, she sat down naturally, “So mister Victorina, how did you get in?”

Laughing a bit awkwardly, “Uhm, well that is a complicated subject. It is also why I am here. Her father sent me to teach her something.”

It was at those words Jessica lost all patience, “The old man? Where is he?!”