"Cheers to everyone's narrow escape from death!"
Raising her glass of amber champagne, Angel lightly clinked it against those of the three detectives and Caslana's assistant. She then took a small sip, letting the mildly stimulating bubbles slide down her throat into her stomach before giving a soft, silent burp.
By the time the Machinery Hivemind members had sent them back to Isengard's home, it was already noon. The servants and cook employed by the old detective had yet to return to work, so they had to sort out lunch themselves.
Embarrassingly, the task of cooking still fell to the two men. Angel felt that her stew was hardly presentable, while Caslana and Lydia said that they usually ate out and rarely cooked for themselves.
Fortunately, Isengard knew quite a few Lenburg-style dishes, while Sherlock could make some self-improved Loen-style cuisine. The two quickly prepared a lunch that was far from lavish but enough to fill everyone's stomachs. Isengard even opened a bottle of champagne, and for the moment, they set aside their worries about the future and happily enjoyed the food.
Of course, Jason Beria, the "Desire Apostle," was still at large. However, Ikanser had great confidence in the Nighthawks' Sealed Artifact. His optimism infected the worried group, finally allowing a ray of sunlight into hearts that had been shrouded in gloom for days.
"Let's also raise a glass to the victims."
Before lunch ended, Isengard made the suggestion. Everyone raised their glasses once more and drained the remaining champagne.
There were already four known casualties in this incident, including Isengard's young assistant and the three relatives of detectives who had been found dead in their homes that morning. Compared with Mr. Assistant, who had accidentally died in battle, those relatives had refused protection for various reasons and died