Shade also said a few things about immigration, but in truth, he was rubbing the small box in his pocket containing the relic, Dice of Destiny. His ears followed the discussion about the feasibility of immigration, while his eyes wandered unconsciously around the room. Then, he actually spotted Mr. Lawrence. There was a photograph of him in the report Detective Sparrow had left behind, and Shade had also seen him outside The Club not long ago.
"Hmm? Why is he here? Have all my acquaintances come? Lawrence is a major factory owner, so of course he'd be invited to a banquet like this."
Shade thought, looking away as he searched the table for more of that delicious goat milk pudding. He was considering taking some home for the orange cat staying at his house.
But then, the young detective suddenly thought of another question:
"Since Mr. Lawrence is attending the Lake View Manor banquet in such formal evening dress, there's no reason he wouldn't have a female companion. Did Mrs. Lawrence come too?"
He cautiously glanced over again from the corner of his eye and saw that standing beside Mr. Lawrence was Lassoya, dressed in a floor-length crimson gown. Its neckline was trimmed with ruffles, making the "woman," who still wore that Pebble Ring, exceptionally dazzling tonight.
"Oh, something big really is about to happen. Could the helper Mrs. Lawrence found be planning to fight Lassoya here?"
He looked away again, wondering whether he should leave. But then someone patted him on the shoulder from behind. The sudden touch gave Shade quite a fright, and he thought Lassoya had come looking for him.
But when he turned around, he found that it was Baron Lavend, his employer for the evening. Several gentlemen around the Baron's age stood behind him.
"Oh,