The Mech Touch novel Chapter 3434

Chapter 3434: A Date at Night

"What an enchanting view."

"Chance Bay isn't the only enchanting sight in this establishment."

Calabast responded with a coy smile to her current date.

Just like many other Larkinsons, the intelligence director of the Larkinson Clan took the opportunity to enter Chance Bay in order to unwind. _{ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm}

Chief Minister Novilon Purnesse made the same decision.

The two dressed impeccably for the occasion. While Calabast opted to wear an elegant black dress and style her hair into curls, Novilon wore a sophisticated suit that went well with his groomed dark brown hair and short goatee.

The pair already drew appreciative glances from the other diners in the high-rise restaurant, but the two Larkinson leaders didn't pay any notice to these random people.

Calabast continued to gaze out at the expansive city that was currently at night on this side of the moon. As a massive urban settlement, the huge amount of light pollution almost completely obscured the stars of the Red Ocean, but that only made the urban sprawl more impressive.

The structures on the ground and floating in the air lit up in many different colors, but Calabast did not find any of it chaotic.

Everything on Vulit XIV-B fell under the auspices of the Mech Trade Association. Its eyes and ears were everywhere and she was under no illusion that its hand occasionally stretched out and manipulated events in its favor.

This was the price that people paid in order to stay at the Vulit Central Star Node. They only valued the promise of absolute safety and took advantage of the many opportunities to exchange with other people.

Well, it wasn't as if the Larkinson Clan had any alternatives. It needed to address way too many priorities and every other trading nexus was worse. At least the Mech Trade Association wasn't an enemy.

As the couple returned to enjoy their luxurious Red Ocean specialties, they continued to chat about various light topics.

"I wouldn't call myself a Hexer at all." She said in response to one of his remarks. "Unlike the vast majority of my former compatriots, I learned how other people think. It's a necessity for those who enter my profession. That is how I learned that the state I grew up in was an aberration."

Novilon looked a little skeptical. "That's strange. Shouldn't your former employers employ more safeguards to prevent its members from embracing foreign views?"

"That is definitely the case, and I went through my fair share of indoctrination, both through formal sessions and subtle everyday nudging. There are two reasons why DIVA has failed to turn me into their loyal Hexer footsoldier. First, my upbringing has already jaded me to Hexer culture. Second, my mentors and instructors assumed I didn't need as many reminders because I was a member of the Vraken Matriarchal Dynasty. Only a branch member, mind you, but still a woman with 'Vraken' in her name."

The story sounded plausible but it didn't quite add up to Novilon. The man was more than familiar with how things went in these kinds of circles and he suspected that Calabast withheld a lot of important context.

He didn't intend to push her, though. She would tell him the truth when she was ready or keep it to her chest if she did not want to expose any vulnerabilities.

"Why did you become an Arnlend? Is there any special significance in this specific name?"

The spymaster shrugged her bare shoulders. "Calabast Arnlend is just an identity prepared by DIVA. I took a liking to it and never saw the need to change back. I have no need to turn back into the woman I was before."

Names were important and symbolized someone's character and other traits. Novilon understood that there was great significance in Calabast's refusal to adopt her original identity.

It was not wise for him to dig deeper in someone's potentially traumatic or unpleasant history. Even though Calabast was anything but fragile, there was no need for him to aggravate her old wounds.

"Well, you're a member of the Larkinson Clan now, so you can claim any name you want. Where do you see yourself in the future?"

"If possible, I would still like to stay in my current position."

"You mean staying on as the director of intelligence?"

"Yes."

"You could take on a greater responsibility." He suggested. "Someone as level-headed as you would make for a fine chief minister. Perhaps you can even become my successor once I finish my terms."

Calabast chuckled. "I know I can do it, but that doesn't mean I am eager to do what you say. I do not harbor any special ambitions towards the Larkinson Clan. People like you, Magdalena and Raymond already do a decent job at leading it, and there will doubtlessly be many more who can take over your mantles. I am content to remain in my current place. Currently, there is no other clansman that I can entrust with my job."

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