"Shade! Oh, I was wondering why you were here. I read the newspaper—congratulations. A Knight Title is really impressive. I'd thought it was just a medal."
The Doctor stood with Shade by the corridor window, looking outside, curious about Shade's attitude. He straightened the cuff of his black formal suit, which Shade had wrinkled by gripping it, and said brightly:
"As for why I'm here, do you remember Earl of Abrash's family? They're among my most important recent patients."
Shade frowned suspiciously.
"The ones with Gluttony?"
The Doctor nodded proudly.
"That's right. The Countess and her daughter's conditions have improved considerably after my psychological counseling and their private doctor's medication. The family is attending tonight's banquet, so they specifically invited me as well, as one of their ways of thanking me."
"This is the first time I've heard of someone thanking another person by inviting them to a banquet. This is a Charity Banquet for donations. That Earl is thanking you with this?"
Shade asked skeptically. The Doctor smiled awkwardly. He wanted to explain, but seeing the suspicion on Shade's face, he thought it over and gave up on lying. Scratching his nose, he lowered his voice.
"I knew I couldn't fool you. But I still didn't want to drag you into this, since it's too dangerous. Why else would I be here? I wasn't invited. I took advantage of curing the Countess and got the Earl to give me an Invitation Letter. I'm here for a Plaster Statue."
"What Plaster Statue? Hm? A Plaster Statue?"
Shade suddenly recalled more details. He turned to look behind him and moved even closer to the Doctor.
"You mean, one of those five—"
"Yes, one of them."
Last week, through repeated dreamwalking, the Doctor had finally pinpointed the final hiding place of the