Once everyone was gone, I waved for Fawna to come over.
"So, what did you see?" I asked as she came over to lean on my desk.
"She had a sister, and she blames Alizra for her death. That was all I could see, but she had started to cry and stormed out," Fawna said.
"And? Is there any truth in it?" I asked, but she shrugged.
"I can't read minds, nor would I want to try on a member of the Manta Clan even if I could. Alizra trains them all to be able to sense if someone is trying and then turn it on them. That is the reason why no one goes to Deaths Grove unless invited," Fawna explained, and I nodded, but she spoke up again. "What is this body you are in? And how did you survive that explosion?"
"Don't ask compromising questions. Until I have a way to prevent people from stealing your thoughts, my secrets are my own. Even when I do figure it out, it is just better to keep some things to myself," I replied and then gave her a serious look. "What is your opinion on saving Alizra?"
"Do you have a choice? While you may not be able to tell me things, Coron told me about the girl, and I know about what you told Miles. Why are you protecting some, particularly women, and not others?" Fawna asked, and I leaned back.
"Sheep."
"I know why, and it isn't because you care about them, is it? You have to save them, don't you?" She asked, and I groaned. This girl was far too observant, and she was lucky that I liked her, or I would kill her right now.
"It would be in your best interests to keep this detail to yourself. Yes, I have something that makes me want to not hurt women, but only in certain ways. I would have no problem killing one if I needed to; now answer my question," I growled, and she nodded.
"I thought as much, but that is a serious problem if anyone finds out about that. Every criminal will hop on top of the chance if they learn," Fawna said, and I nodded.
"Obviously, but this thing is going to be hard to hide. Now stop dodging, my silver nights are infiltrating the Manta Manor right now, and I need to have an answer from you!" I snapped, but that didn't seem to phase her, and the little witch turned away from me.
"Even if I tell you to stop, you know what will happen to her if you don't. I don't need to tell you what Thomas is capable of, and you left him alive, knowing he would go for you. Kilna might not like her, but I think having her owe you a favor is much better than her dying. I also think that taking something that Ned wants is worth it alone," Fawna said as she sat back down at her desk.
"You are skating on thin ice," I said as I switched screens to the view of the leading silver knight.
"You aren't going to kill me for speaking the truth. Tell me that I am wrong, and I will grovel and ask for your forgiveness. If that is not the case, I will get back to work," She said, but then looked back up at me, but then back at the computer.
"What did you just ask me?" I asked since it was clear that she had been just about to ask me something.
"I was curious about you repairing things, but you just gave me your standard answer of Sheep," Fawna replied.
"You do understand why this city is such a shithole, right?" I asked, and she frowned at me.
"Because it is full of criminals?" She asked, but I shook my head.
"It's not the criminals; it's the type of crime. I didn't realize just how bad it was until I stumbled on that guard trying to rape that woman. This means that no one that has money is spending it after hours, and it is very likely that they aren't spending much during the day. If we had a list of businesses, I could track their sales and find out where people are spending their money," I explained.
"Why does that make the city a hole?" Fawna asked.
"If no one is spending money, where is it all going?" I asked.
"People are keeping it?" She asked, and I wiggled my hand.
"Some will, but others probably send it out of the city to relatives. The problem is that I can't just look this information up on my computer. I need more information, but even with the little that I have, I can tell you that this city is dying. It is only a matter of time before something big happens, and I am sure one of the families, or Ned, will be at the head of it. I do not plan on waiting for that to happen," I explained.
"Okay, and I feel like we are headed for something like that, but that doesn't explain why you are repairing buildings," She said, and I nodded.
"Sheep. It's all about the Sheep. If they are scared and unhappy, they will produce less. Fixing things allows me to pretend to be the good guy. Then, when I take this city on my own, there will be cheers, not cries," I explained, and Fawna nodded her head.
"Hmm. So you are just trying to seem better than the others? What about when you are in power? Are you just going to turn on them, like Ned and the rest?" She asked.
"Nope. I am going to fix this city and make it the best there is," I said, but this seemed to cause a slip in Fawna's brain gears as she just stared at me.
"I don't understand. You act so mean and scary, but you actually want to help people? Why?!" She demanded.
"Help?" I laughed. "You are just used to a certain type of crime. I plan on turning this city into a legal crime operation. Violence will not be needed, nor mind control, only fear of what I will do if they do not listen. That's, and I will tax the shit out of them. Simple plan, and the best outcome."