Chapter 428 - Days MDCCCLI - MDCCCLXI

I started the first day after Tihana was taken by the CIA by just watching TV, and I quickly learned, that the episode of Late Night Show with Jason King with Aisha and Will is going to air later. I did the necessary arrangements, which meant getting a lot of soda and potato chips, and wasted the rest of the day waiting just for that moment.

It started with a forty-something guy entering the set from behind dark blue curtains. He was wearing a nice grey suit and a tie. Had dark hair, combed perfectly, and probably sprayed with something to stay together. There was a big smile on his face.

He had a mildly entertaining monologue, and finally, went to sit behind his desk. There was a couch next to it for the guests, whom he invited shortly after.

Aisha was wearing a nice dark blue dress, exposing her shoulders and collar bones. Will on the other hand had just a light blue shirt, with rolled-up sleeves, exposing his muscular forearms.

The host didn't as much about their past, and beginnings in Ark, but focused on the powers, abilities, hunter rankings, monsters, and other boring stuff. Boring for me, because I bet the other viewers were very curious about that stuff.

I didn't have to listen for long to find out that questions were filtred. There was no awkwardness, and everything went smoothly.

Will showed his sword tricks, and Aisha a bit of her wind magic. I actually for the first time learned that she could use it right then.

That's how the first day passed.

Without Samantha, Tihana, Will, and Aisha around everything got quite boring. I made often trips outside as a crow and watched other people, but except that, there wasn't much going on.

Will wasn't contacting me, too busy with the divorce. Aisha didn't even have the coin. Wolf gave me vague updates on the Tihana whereabouts, but he didn't know much about the procedures in such cases.

And then, out of the blue, Hatta made a contact through the coin.

- Peter? Can you hear me?

- Yes - I said, as I was flying around the city.

Since he clearly wanted to talk, I had to land somewhere, so I picked an empty, nearby roof, and transformed to my original form after getting there.

- There is an issue. People started selling crystals to the outsiders, and Blue, just like me, thinks we should regulate that, or everybody is going to lose a lot since the price will drop. Blue proposed to have a fixed rate and make a department that will handle the exchange for hunters. He also proposed to exchange them for Japanese yens, but I refused. His next idea was Kuwaiti dinars since it's a strong currency. He wants to go with the rate of one dinar for one point.

- How much that would be in dollars? - I asked.

- More than times three.

- But why not go with dollars or euros? - I was confused.

- I asked him the same, but he just smiled at me.

- Did you talk with others about his?

- With Jayadeva. He proposed to go with Indian rupees since India is our window to the world, but Blue said that we don't want to give them too much influence. Boris just agreed. Nobuo too.

- Ok. I can get behind this idea.

- What about Aisha and Will, can you tell them?

- It might be a bit tricky right now, but I'll tell them as soon as I can.

- Well... We need to start working on this now.

- Ok. Just do it. It's six to two anyway.

- Very well - he said, and the conversation ended.

I contacted Will, to tell him, but he didn't really care. He was too busy working with his lawyer, ane preparing for the hearing since the divorce case was pushed forward, and was happening very soon.

I tried reaching Aisha through Wolf, but since I didn't want the CIA to know what it was about, I just said I wanted to talk. This was not enough, and I just got a message that she will be back in a few days, and then we can talk.

Since it wouldn't make much of a difference anyway, I just rolled with it.

After that, it was just a day after day me calling Wolf and asking for the news about Tihana. He kept assuring me that some progress has been made but nothing more than that. When I kept pushing, he always had the same excuse:

- Those things take some time, and I'm not really handling this case anyway. I'm telling you what they tell me.

Surprisingly, one evening she just was brought to my room by agents Butler and Parker, alongside a folder with some documents, and a backpack full of her clothes.

They got her new clothes. Simple jeans and another oversized hoodie. This time blue, and not dirty.

- Congrats - said Frank, put the documents and the bag on the bed, then they both left.

- Youhu! - she faked a cheer.

I on the other hand used 'Eyes of the Void' to quickly check for the wiretapping, and since I didn't notice anything I said to her:

- Ok, now tell me what the hell happened.

She sat on the bed, a bit weirded out because of mas strange behavior, but started talking anyway.

- They pulled some shady shit. I was in some apartment the whole time. I didn't see anybody except some chick agent. They started by saying some bullshit about me serving the country and doing the right thing. I told them to cut the crap and said that I will cooperate, as long as they will let me go behind the portal. Just like you said... Wait. This place could be bugged. Did you check?!

- I did. Just a moment ago. The black eyes? - I pointed at my face.

- Oh... Ok. So they told me to start by getting close to you, and also that they will contact me once I'm out there, and I will have to help them. In return, they promised me protection and money.

I nodded.

- Ok.

- So? What now?

I shrugged my shoulders.

- You can take the bed, I'll sleep on the sofa. If you are hungry just call the room service. We will make some plan tomorrow, or something.

- Ok - she agreed, and jumped on the bed, then turned the damn TV on.