Deep in the woods beside Shaded Lane.
Malinda swept her blue eyes toward Kirk Street, then the Lady of the Long Night sniffed the tobacco in her pipe.
The familiar scent pleased her.
She knew exactly what would happen there.
But she wasn't worried about Arthur.
She knew that, given Arthur's hidden identity and strength, he could easily overcome what others considered a crisis.
After all, this was the Black Cat Faction-the Black Cat Followers.
Yet that was precisely why she was puzzled-
Why had the Creados family chosen to live in "seclusion" in South Los?
It certainly couldn't be merely to collect the Cat Cave's and Cat Faction's Mystic Arts, as Arthur had claimed.
They had to have some ulterior motive!
Could they be coveting those few things?
Otherwise, why choose South Los?
Surely it couldn't be because South Los had Sisk Harbor and plenty of farms, making it rich in resources and easy to flee?
No!
There had to be some deeper secret!
She sniffed the tobacco again, calming herself further.
Partners as clever, composed, and greedy as Arthur, yet still aware of their limits, were rare. Even with his hidden identity, in some respects, he remained a suitable partner!
Given her own affliction, she didn't want to lose him.
As for the consequences if Arthur's hidden identity came to light?
She wasn't worried.
Whether the benefits or the dangers that followed, she took neither to heart, even though among certain groups, [Black Cat Followers] was practically a taboo name.
After all, this was South Los!
So the most important thing now was to figure out what the Creados family wanted!
After that would come a proper assessment and a weighing of priorities.
Assess their strength.
Weigh the gains and losses.
*A deal with such enormous yet unknown