By midweek, the renovations at 6 Saint Derain Square were still underway. Shade went up to the third floor for a look that morning. At the current pace, most of the work should be finished this week.
Although after the repairs were completed, they would still have to wait for the cement to dry, test the gas and steam pipes, and pass an inspection by the city hall Housing Inspection Center before the third floor could truly be put into use. Still, the joy of seeing something long awaited nearing completion put Shade in a very good mood.
Today, he was going to Coldwater Port for a short trip with the witch. So after breakfast, Shade went to Dorothy's place, intending to ask her to look after the cat for a while.
But unfortunately, Dorothy had actually gone out early today. Her Detective Hamilton Story Collection had been serialized for two weeks already and had received an unexpectedly enormous amount of attention. The landlady said Dorothy had gone to the Steam Bird Daily office to discuss the next serialization plans with her editor and probably would not be back before noon.
Besides Dorothy, Shade had other options. He thought it over carefully and ultimately decided not to ask any other friends for help.
Mia had a hard time warming up to strangers, and it had taken her a long time to get used to Dorothy as well. Rather than making the cat spend an unhappy day with someone else, Shade thought it would be better to take her to Coldwater Port himself, then entrust her to Miss Aurora's maid when it was time to set off on the adventure.
And so, at exactly half past eight that morning, Shade appeared at Aurora Manor. After hurriedly taking a bath, he was