Chapter 971: Conscience
After nightfall, Eucali had originally planned to stay home and read, making up for the time she had lost going out during the day. But before seven, Hesta dragged her out again, with Ligo and the two children coming along.
Before leaving, Hesta went upstairs and knocked on Simoya's door. No one answered. Looking up from downstairs, they could see that Simoya's window had remained dark as well. Hesta stood there for a while, then quickly led the group away.
Today, Ligo did not drive the four-seater she had used before, but switched to a larger seven-seater.
"Where are we going?" Kiki asked.
"The train station," Ligo replied.
"What for?"
"To pick someone up."
"Who?"
"A really cool auntie."
Eucali perked up her ears with some curiosity. "Who?"
"A Quicksilver Needles agent we worked with in District 3 before, named Victoria," Hesta took over. "We're having dinner together tonight."
Eucali nodded vaguely. "Your colleague... Was she transferred here for work too?"
"Yes."
Ligo drove all the way to the train station. Along the way, she and Hesta kept talking about driving school. Hesta complained at length about District 12's baffling driving-school rules, while Ligo listened and laughed. Kiki could already understand some simple conversations. When she heard Hesta mention renting a car, she looked up and added, "Today, I saw a big car near the school. You can rent it for fifty a day."
All the adults in the car turned to look at Kiki.
"...Isn't that really cheap?" Kiki asked.
"Not really," Ligo said. "That's usually just the base price. It doesn't include registration or insurance, and if you drive far, there are highway tolls too—District 12's tolls are expensive."
Kiki turned sideways and began whispering with Eleven.
The adults continued chatting. At Eucali's prompting, Hesta