It was too convinient. Somebody gave the police a tip. Did that somebody know they have a mole in the police? No way to know.But what do I make of it?
L: It was too convinient.
P: Ugh …
L: You thought I wouldn’t notice?
P: No. I was sure you’d be quiet about it, because it means that I have become a liability and you wouldn’t tell me that.
L: Tact?
P: No, tactics. I am unreliable.
L: No. You are too bad a liar for that. But this car was out of our sight for too long to have that discussion here.
I am actually driving home. But I don’t trust the peace. I indicate to get out at the next exit.
L: No reason for having this talk right now. You are heading home, aren’t you?
P: Sure. But we may be followed. I want to use that stone.
L: Good idea.
P: You do know that I checked around the car for traces?
L: Drones ….
Gun: [Tools of the Magister] Special Ability Iron 1 (11%) [Joy of Sustained Fire] Blood Special Attack Iron 1 (22%) [This is my Gun] Myriad Special Attack/Conjuration
Iron 1 (69%)
[Chemical Warfare] Defiance Special Attack/Conjuration
Iron 0 (21%)
[Hyperkinetic Cannon] Gun Special Attack/Conjuration Iron 0 (0%) Vast: [Giant Form of the Ancestors] Special Ability Iron 0 (95%) [Immortality] Tree Special Ability Iron 0 (85%) [Nebelwerfer 42] Focus Special Attack/Conjuration Iron 0 (17%) (unused) 0% (unused) 0% Dimension: [Teleport] Special Ability Iron 1 (18%) [Dance by my Will] Dance Aura Ability Iron 2 (5%) [Eternal Moment] Reach Special Ability Iron 0 (69%) [Path in Time] Hunt Perception Ability Iron 1 (59%) [Wrath of the Magister] Corruption Special Attack/Spell Iron 1 (23%) Battlefield: [Equip the Army] Special Ability Iron 2 (1%) [Robotic Servant of War] Magotech Special Attack/Conjuration Iron 0 (90%) [Pipes of War] Unity Special Ability Iron 0 (6%) [Cornucopia] Feast Special Ability Iron 0 (0%) (unused)
I am pleasantly surprised. This is a joker in case things go really wrong.
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--
I am getting a little emotional getting home. Except that I usually do not enter my home teleporting onto the balcony at night. I am very satisfied to see that my caretaker in addition to watering the flowers has used my living room as storage and office space. It gives an explanation for the lights being switched on and electrical power being used, in case my home is watched.
Yet we still dare not talk. And that is good. I have found that cooperating, let alone live together with people who do not share your basic assessment of risk is hell.
--
I like this cafe.
L: Why did you hesitate?
P: Your reason for resenting my mysterious overlords are different from mine.
L: How?
P: I fear the consequences. You resent the loss of control itself.
L: True.
P: People often react far more strongly to somebody not caring about something rather than disagreement.
L: You are no naive fool. That is enough. Besides, I need you. What are we waiting for, by the way?
P: Not what, whom. Irina Sergeyevna Romanova. My neighbour, whose stuff you saw last night.
L: You like her?
P: She is a friend. I’ll give her that essence.
L: She means a lot to you.
P: Friends mean a lot. I suspect that the future for people without essences has become a lot bleaker.
--
Irina has arrived.
P: Irina, may I introduce Lisa, who went to training with me? Lisa, my friend and neighbour Irina.
I: Nice to meet you. I am surprised to see you now here, while the state of war is continuing.
P: Well, there were some irregularities that led to a rampaging member of a terrorist organization resulting in a damaged court house.
I: Do I want to know details?
L: No.
P: It wasn’t my fault.
L: It pains me to say that he is right.
--
I: Do I get this right, the thing thing you have brought with you would turn me into half a witch.
P: Technically a third of …
L: Yes
I: And others could tell?
L: Yes
I: I don’t want it. I truly appreciate what you are offering, but that is a route to be targetted by people you do not want to be targetted by. So, thank you, but no thank you.
That is a surprise.