We have reached the Autobahn and Lisa even has a few ration cards for truck drivers, so we are enjoying truck stop food. The ability to do so without needing to care about the consequences of digestion is priceless.

P: Where did you get these?

L: Truckers sell them. They are intended to supply foreign truckers, but most of them just pack food from home. They are valid only at highway stops, so they are selling cheaply.

P: Still the food is good. I guess every coin now counts. I think I have been in contact with too few people.

L: Yes. And you are … a follower. And you’d want something long term.

P: Yes, you are right. I was thinking about going to Turkey.

L: That desertion stuff will be forgotten soon.

P: It isn’t just that.

L: Seriously?

P: Better you don’t know details.

L: Unexpected depths.

Like on an unspoken agreement we are getting deserts.

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L: You noticed that we eat a lot?

P: Yes. We are also breaking the laws of conservation of mass, so I have long given up on explaining us.

L: I mean tactically that is an issue.

P: Speaking about tactics, what is in it for you in this mission? As a group I mean.

L: Access to the communication channel the intrusions are announced over.

P: Interesting but why? You cannot fight the network over them.

L: You were always too straight a thinker. Yes, the Network will handle them all. But do you think they are going to monitor even the small ones for additional accesses after they’ve eliminated the anchor monsters?

P: Rarely. But one blunder …

L: You really do not believe in taking risks.

P: No. Take enough risks and the odds will catch up with you.

L: Old man

P: Pets that don’t fear crossing the road do not grow old

L: Don’t you have ambitions?

P: I do have ambitions. I want to become a better essence magician. I want to protect my people. But I am not interested in power plays. We have discovered that we are living in a vastly richer universe than we thought. I am not going to waste myself on who gives orders to whom. That reminds me. I have a power that allows me to share extra mana with people through a link.

L: Well, I suppose that does not add anything under the circumstances.

Outside in a secluded part of the parking lot a make the salt circle belonging to the ability.

L: What do you want to do after the deal?

P: Go home, if it is not under observation, get my things in order and then leave the country, sell this car and wait until it is clear how the dice will fall.

L: I have contacts to a passport guy.

The meeting point is the parking lot of a hotel that has not yet reopened.

L: We are early.