Chapter 324: Chapter 324 - A Royal’s Perception Of The Value Of Social Connections
Thirty minutes into the actual meal, the seamstress pushed back from the table with a slightly unsteady movement. Her cheeks held a flush to them that suggested the sake she had requested, while giving me an awkward apologetic smile... had started to do its work.
"I’ll be right back. Don’t let Reina clear my plate. I’m not done with those tempura."
Anise made her way toward the sliding door - and the restroom I am assuming. I opened my system interface and zoomed the map in on our immediate area after ’tapping’ her in the pack roster.
A small but distinct dot appeared on the blue glow, tracking her movement through the building. It’s pretty mysterious how it achieve this, but I guess if I am going to question how it can do everything it does then I would feel the need a drink or two myself.
> However, testing this for real-time accuracy might be useful. I doubt she’s going to try and escape through a bathroom window, but when she comes back... <
"Mira, could you please keep an eye out for her return? I’d like to discuss some things that someone who is not in *our* community should not hear."
The Pineheart woman tilted her head before nodding it. But when she started to get up, Claire took to her feet instead while pulling something out of her laptop bag.
"I’ve got it. Just a moment."
Opening the door a crack and fiddling with something before settling back in her seat, she pulled out her laptop. Soon enough, there was a rather clear image - from a hidden camera no doubt - with a clear view of the path Anise would take to return.
"Well, that has got to be illegal."
"Of course. So don’t tell anyone."
"...I didn’t see anything."
The teenager beside her half looked away, though her eyes kept glancing back over at the screen. Is it the technology in general or the spying aspect that is interesting her? In any case, with the lookout established, I turned my attention to the remaining table.
"So. Things have felt different in the city lately, haven’t they?"
"Guessing you mean more than the weather slowly changing. But... hm... yeah. The thing with the Duskpaw a while back made Rimecoat patrols increase. Our Beta is also a little jumpy about rogues in the casino, but he always is."
Ellie was the first to respond, quickly taking on that more serious tone from when I first met her. Considering the ’thing’ with *that* pack involves me, I do feel a bit apologetic. Apparently it shows on my face because her stiffness cracked in the next moments.
"Look, just because everyone’s a bit on edge doesn’t mean you... I mean, it’s not your fault, you know? At least I think it’s not. It’s not, right?"
"Whoever’s fault it is doesn’t matter. What has happened can’t be changed, only our response to it. Which is why I was hoping some of you may have heard any rumors about rogues lately."
"...Other than you, you mean. Let me think..."
While the dark haired tribal member stuffed a piece of food in her mouth and chewed, Mira fidgeted. Glancing between all of us, she actually reached over and took a sip of Anise’s drink before coughing it up.
> Like the alcohol tried to go down her windpipe. YES. I *know* that I recognize it because I did that with my bone broth the other day! <
"You okay? What was that about?"
While I scolded Vrika, Ellie pat her on the back while the copper haired woman shook her head. Eventually she breathed in and settled herself, having wasted a lot of our available time to chat ’privately’ while Anise was indisposed.
"Needed... courage. There’s been private communication between pack leaderships. Requests for information sharing ahead of the conclave that aren’t normally made."
"Details?"
Asking for more so casually, I watched as Claire’s typing accelerated on her laptop. She was taking notes and making mental connections, as I hoped she would. That’s good.
I’m sure she has her own ways of sorting things out normally. She would pretty much have to in order to be so effective in her job and... hobby? But if she can get any slight leads on how to potentially narrow her searches by just socializing a bit-
> Then her bravery in coming out again from her safe place at the white tower would be worth it. <
"I don’t have any first or even second-hand information. But I heard its the kind of questions you ask when you’re worried about a Lunar War. Also, a lot on the numbers of rogues that seem to be increasing even outside the city..."
"Do you think they could be those ’scary guys’ the human kids at school have been talking about lately?"
Zoé suddenly looked up and asked, though her voice grew smaller when all of us turned our attention her way. She had been quietly working through the last of her dinner when we started talking, and just watching the screen change and fill with the words being typed.
"Could you elaborate for everyone?"
"I mean, some of them have been saying their parents are worried and warning them. In nice neighborhoods and apartments, groups of rough-looking men have moved through."
"Oh, that. A lot of time they just ask questions and move on, I hear, but they are making people nervous."
Claire admitted aloud, becoming the new center of focus for a moment - but she was in her computer using mode and no longer cared much. However, I couldn’t help but worry it was about people looking for me.
"When did this start?"
"Maybe... a couple months ago? A girl I know said her mom saw some unknown guys taking pictures of houses on their street. When her dad went out to ask what they were doing, they just... uh, flipped him off and left."
"Rude."
I lean on the table with my elbow and smile at her. It does seem like valuable details, the kind that may or may not have gone overlooked.
"That’s what I said!"
But part of me is uncomfortable that I am using a child to gather information like this without being very forthcoming about anything. Maybe it’s the history of being in that same position. Questioned, interrogated, and led into saying things while the adults kept their secrets.
"I’ll check the old police reports and cross-reference with other communications intercepted near the same time frames. See what patterns might start staining things."
"Sounds to me like they are casing places to rob or something."
Ellie piled on to the statements from the brunette woman who paused to clean her glasses. About that same time, I saw the dot on the system map - that I’ve been trying not to let get completely out of focus - begin moving back toward our location.
Moments later she came into the frame of the hidden camera and a warning flashed on the laptop screen. Quickly closing it all down and whistling so suspiciously it seems a wonder she was never caught being ’bad’, Claire uses her actions to tell us she was coming back.
"So anyway, I think the shoot sounds amazing. You’ll have to take tons of behind-the-scenes photos."
"I will. But I’m not sure I’ll show them to you. Maybe her."
Answering Ellie by pointing at the teenager who isn’t doing a great job at the whole ’not guilty’ look, Anise strolled through the door and slid back onto her seated position, before looking between us all.
"What were you talking about while I was gone?"
"We discussed how you are the only blonde in the room tonight... and how that seems strange given how numerous they are in this city. When it comes to woman I pass on the street, nearly half seem to be blonde while the rest are a mix of other colors."
Unfortunately, no one played along with my deflection. Their looks at me were far too confused at the length and specificness of what I came up with to lie. Except perhaps one impressionable young girl, who clapped so soft she didn’t make sounds.
"...You actually would be a good actress..."