Chapter 160: Rogue

"Do you think she noticed you?" Strax heard as he returned to the inn they had rented. The mother and daughter duo knew exactly that Strax wouldn't let Samira go alone so easily. They were also concerned about Samira; they already knew what was happening with her but chose to stay quiet and only offer help if Samira asked for it, but... well, that request never came.

"The cloak can completely erase my presence. I don't think she had time to notice me either," Strax said as he sat in the armchair. They had rented an entire floor of an inn and he had some things to do as well. "And Carlos?" he asked as he settled in, his mind racing at a thousand miles per hour as he continued to think about how to handle all the problems arising before him.

Now knowing he wasn't as fine as he thought he was, it left him unsettled...

"He left after you, said he was going to see if he could find Cristine, but so far nothing. Well, he probably won't come back," Beatrice said, shrugging as Monica continued to watch the window of their accommodation. "This city..." she murmured, "It's so... Strange." She said, only exchanging letters with some suppliers; she had never personally been to this place and it was so...

"So many lights, so many people... But it feels so... Dead." She said. Monica was someone who observed everything around her well, nothing escaped her eyes without her thinking something about it. It could even be considered a kind of skill, but sometimes... it was very bothersome.

"As for Samira..." Monica said, turning to him, "Maybe it's better to start letting her be more free, you know?" She questioned with a smile, already knowing what was happening and that he was thinking about something, about where he went wrong and all that. "If you had seen what I saw, you'd be feeling like I am." He replied... "Just wait for her to come back, she'll be fine, won't she?

If you came back, it's because she must know how to take care of herself; she's not a child like you, dear." Monica said, smiling, "I'm a child now, am I?" Strax questioned, looking at her, "Compared to her? Yes, you are quite the mischievous child." She smiled, laughing at the situation, seeing the pout he made.

"Everything in its own time, dear." She concluded as she returned to watching the city. "Everything in its own time." She repeated.

Meanwhile...

Sitting near the bar, Samira and Jhonatan were talking while Marlon, the bartender, kept his pace serving drinks to the customers. The bar was warm with the usual buzz, mixed with old music and varied discussions—a setting Samira knew well after so many years as a mercenary.

"Your pack has grown," Samira commented, taking a sip of the cold beer Marlon had brought her. She looked at Jhonatan with a mix of interest and skepticism.

Jhonatan took a sip of his own beer, his gaze fixed on Samira, showing genuine concern.

"We found some on the way to Endmith. They seemed to have been attacked by vampires... So we decided to come back here. Thalassia is safer than other places," he explained, his voice carrying a tone of urgency. "I know I owe you, but... the situation is bad.

The Imperial Regime is starting to take action... There are problems all over the city, have you noticed the soldiers? They want to put an end to the black market." He turned completely towards Samira, his expression clearly showing the gravity of the situation.

"You'd better leave the city. I'll pay you at the beginning of next month," he concluded, his tone making it clear there was no room for discussion.

Samira took one last sip of her beer, her mind already moving to the next step. The bar continued its frenetic ebb and flow, but for her, the sound was just a distant background while she pondered Jhonatan's words and what to do next.

"No, your name has been clear for a year and a half," Jhonatan interrupted, gesturing for Marlon to refill Samira's glass. She was still processing the new information, her mind spinning with the implications.

"Why didn't anyone tell me?" Samira asked, the seriousness in her voice evident. She was beginning to get furious for not knowing about this... She harbored a lot of resentment because of that incident, and a lot of anger that she had directed at the names of some people who were apparently cleared.

But it was Marlon who answered, with an almost disinterested tone.

"You didn't come back here, which made her furious, so she didn't want anyone to go after you, she stayed a few good weeks upset—"

"I don't recall allowing anyone to keep talking about me," a melodious voice sounded, interrupting the bar's chatter. The atmosphere fell silent instantly, the lively sounds of the men fading away as if a mute button had been pressed.

Samira turned calmly to face the woman who had appeared. She was well familiar with that presence. Samira's gaze met the woman's, a silent recognition passing between them.

The woman who emerged was an impressive sight even for Samira. Her golden hair cascaded in luxurious waves, catching the light of the bar and shining like gold. Her cheetah-like feline ears, an exotic and striking detail, stood out with a golden hue that harmonized with her hair.

Her body was shapely and alluring, with curves that enhanced her powerful and eye-catching presence. She wore a black dress, perfectly fitted, accentuating the bronze of her immaculate and beautiful skin. The dark dress combined with the golden tone of her hair and bronzed skin created a captivating and mesmerizing contrast, making her stand out even more in the dimness of the bar.

The woman crossed her arms while her eyes, a deep, clear blue, stared directly at Samira.

"Rogue," Samira said, looking at the woman, who seemed more mature than she had known her, particularly her bust. She couldn't help but ask, "Are you using something to make them so big?"

A vein appeared on the woman's forehead. "You..."

"Bitch..." Rogue murmured, looking at Samira as her skin flushed slightly. "Samira!" She shouted, causing everything to tremble.

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