Chapter 98 Black card?!

Chapter 98 Black card?!

Kan found himself standing in Ellie's kitchen, surveying the sparse contents with a growing sense of dismay. His face contorted in a mixture of frustration and realization.

"Damn it! She's got next to nothing here. Just a can of fish and some bread. That's not going to cut it," he muttered to himself, acutely aware of the promise he had just made to prepare a meal for her.

He paced the small kitchen, his mind racing for a solution. He couldn't simply back out now; Ellie was relying on him. He needed to figure something out, and fast.

"Hey, you're familiar with this city, right? Know of any place nearby where I can grab some groceries? I can't serve her another fish sandwich," he mused aloud, though he knew he was directing the question at a particular presence in his mind.

The silence hung in the air for a beat before a mental voice responded, equally thoughtful. [There's a market a few blocks from here. They should have what you need. I'll pull up the map to the place so you can see now,] the familiar voice in Hela suggested.

Kan nodded to himself, grateful for the assistance. "Alright, thanks," he muttered, addressing the unseen entity. It was a peculiar arrangement, conversing in his thoughts, but it had become somewhat of a norm in his new reality.

With a determined glint in his eyes, Kan headed for the door, ready to venture into the city in search of ingredients. He couldn't shake the feeling of responsibility that weighed on his shoulders. He was doing this not only for Ellie but also for Kane and the unspoken promise that hung between them.

"Even if I'm not sure of what I feel for her yet, the growing sense of proprietorship for her has been overwhelming lately. She gives me herself, wholeheartedly, no questions, it's the least I could do," Kan reasoned.

The streets outside were lively, filled with a mix of elves going about their daily routines. The hustle and bustle of the city surrounded him, but Kan's focus remained singular. He needed to make this meal perfect, a comforting gesture for Ellie in the midst of uncertainty.

Arriving at the market, guided by the map displayed on his system interface, he was met with an array of stalls offering fresh produce, meats, and a variety of other ingredients. He browsed with a keen eye, carefully selecting items that would contribute to a hearty and wholesome meal.

As Kan approached the counter with his chosen ingredients, the vendor, a kind-faced elderly woman, smiled warmly. "That'll be twenty-five hundred," she said, tallying up the prices.Kan reached into his pocket, but then it hit him - he didn't have any cash. His face flushed with mild panic.

He glanced around, hoping for a solution, but the bustling market offered no immediate help.Just as the vendor turned to grab something from a nearby shelf, Kan felt a strange sensation in his hand. When he looked down, he couldn't believe what he was seeing - a sleek, obsidian-black card appeared, glinting subtly in the light.He blinked, trying to process what had just happened.

There was no logical explanation for how this card had materialized in his hand. It seemed like magic, and Kan knew magic wasn't involved in this. It was the system.Kan quickly pocketed the mysterious card, trying to contain his surprise. The vendor turned back, unaware of the strange occurrence. She extended her hand, expecting payment.Taking a deep breath, Kan handed her the card, trying to appear as composed as possible.

To his amazement, she took it from him, stealing a glance at his face and then a smile curved around her lips but somehow she contained whatever she was thinking and instead, she swiped it without a second thought and then handed Kan the device she used the card on which was like a small phone with numbers for buttons.

[Your code : 343469!!] Hela quickly yelled this in Kan's head as he inputted it without mistake and the transaction processed smoothly. Kan couldn't shake the feeling of awe and bewilderment.The vendor handed back the card, smiling pleasantly.

Debit alert!]

[2500 Zenna deducted!!]

[Main balance: 7500 Zenna]

[Transaction info : ....$#$#_]

A screen popped up in Kan's view but he was quick to glance at it and move past.

"Thank you, dear. Have a wonderful day!"Kan mumbled a quick thanks, his mind still racing with disbelief.

As he walked away from the market with his bag of ingredients, he couldn't help but steal glances at the enigmatic black card. It was a reminder that there were forces at play beyond his comprehension, and that the system held more secrets than he could fathom.Once he was a safe distance from the market, Kan decided to confront the system about the inexplicable event. "What was that back there? That was you, right, Hela?"

The system responded casually, [Oh, just a little sleight of hand. I thought you could use a hand with the payment. Don't worry, it's all taken care of]

Kan shook his head in amazement, still trying to wrap his mind around the situation. It was moments like these that reminded him how interconnected he was with the system, even if he didn't always understand its methods.

Meanwhile, the vendor stared at kan's back as he walked away. "Black card? I might have gotten me a rich customer!!" The vendor thought, a smile curving around her lips. But very quickly, her smile turned into one of concern.

"But his ears, he's an elf. How does he even have a black card? Unless he stole it?!! But he knew the pincode!!" The vendor battled internally with the interesting situation that had just played out.

As his basket was filled and he had paid, Kan made his way back to Ellie's, the weight of the goods a reassuring reminder of his determination. He hoped that his efforts would provide some comfort to Ellie, even if it was just a small gesture in the grand scheme of things.