Because everything had gone so smoothly, it was not yet half past ten when Shade emerged from Squirrel Alley. The task of catching the mysterious man could not be carried out until noon, while the other matter was too far away, on the other side of the city.
After considering it, Shade first went to the Steam Bird Daily to pay next month's advertising fees, then took a carriage to the Gas Company to inquire about pipe installation. Only after that did he head to the Military Intelligence Section Six outpost to collect his salary.
Besides, taking a turn around the city would help him relax.
"Stop laughing. I just suddenly thought of Mia."
As he walked down the street, laughter still echoed in his ears. Shade complained inwardly, but she did not respond to his request at all.
The Military Intelligence Section Six outpost that liaised with Shade was located in the City Waste Management Center in Tobesk West District.
The last time he had come had been more than half a month ago. The gray little building situated between a snuff bottle shop and a cobbler's shop specializing in rain boots was just as it had been before, hidden amid the bustling Steam City.
Since he had already been here once, after entering the building and telling the receptionist that he was looking for Mr. Giles Johnson, he quickly found the middle-aged man reading a newspaper in the Equipment Management Office.
Hearing the door open, the middle-aged man, who seemed terribly bored, raised his eyes to examine Shade. Once Shade closed the door behind him, a smile appeared on his face.
"Oh, look who's here. Isn't this Sir Hamilton of Leijed?"
He stood as he spoke and warmly shook Shade's hand.
"Mr. Johnson, there's no need to be