"No problem, this is what I came to collect."
Shade nodded and simply wrapped the makeup case back up in the newspaper.
"That lady didn't ask me to bring you any payment."
"She already paid. She threatened us, then bought this at a low price."
The Blood of Mercury Ring Arcanist spoke in a muffled voice and glanced at the stranger.
"You were hired by that lady, weren't you? She doesn't want us to know her real identity. But it's easy enough to guess. With methods like that, she must be one of the Witches from the Witch Council. I just don't know which one. That bunch of crazy women."
"You don't need to tell me your guesses."
Shade stopped him. He had not forgotten that Blood of Mercury was hardly made up of good people. Even if everything they said was true, it was better to hear as little as possible.
"Oh? Afraid you'll be silenced if you hear too much? Those women who claim to have inherited the legacy of the Ancient Witch Emperor hate men quite a bit. Hiring you is just using you. She probably doesn't want anyone to know she exists, so you surely don't know exactly who she is either. Or perhaps you aren't a man at all?"
The man continued in a provocative tone. Shade deliberately gave a disdainful snort. Such a crude attempt at sowing discord was beneath notice.
He simply ignored the man, watched the coachman, and slowly backed away. Only after reaching a safe distance did he turn and leave.
Great Fog filled the night. After only a few minutes spent collecting the item, the entrance to the bridge was already somewhat difficult to see from its middle.
Seeing that Shade would not listen, the man dressed as a coachman