"Should be here."
Albert looked up at the coffee shop sign, then down at the watch on his wrist. After confirming there was no danger nearby, he carried his suitcase through the door of the Muggle establishment. His gaze swept over the customers before settling on the middle-aged man drinking coffee in the corner. He walked over and greeted him in fluent French.
"I hope I haven't kept you waiting too long."
"I've been waiting for half an hour."
"I'm terribly sorry. I was delayed on the way."
If the owner behind the counter understood French, he would certainly have exposed this bastard who had only arrived five minutes ago. Unfortunately, he did not understand French.
What seemed like an ordinary conversation was actually the two of them exchanging a password.
After all, they had both taken Polyjuice Potion and naturally could not recognize each other. They could only use a code to make contact, confirming each other's identities while avoiding arousing suspicion and causing Bard unnecessary trouble.
The mundane exchange made them seem like two friends meeting up. No one would have suspected their identities.
After exchanging the code, the two swapped business cards and shook hands with smiles. Then, under the owner's astonished gaze, they paid and left.
"The coffee here is awful," Bard said quietly.
"Maybe you should have ordered a hot chocolate," Albert teased with a smile.
"I tried, but the owner told me they don't sell hot chocolate here." Bard looked helpless.
"He didn't throw you out?"
Albert's face twitched slightly, unsure what expression he ought to wear.
"Are you really planning to enter the competition?"
The two turned a corner and headed toward the outskirts of the city.
Albert heard the hidden meaning in Bard's words. Raising an eyebrow slightly, he asked, "Is there