The instant their eyes met, both Doctor Schneider and Shade widened their eyes. Shade even read the meaning of "What are you doing here?" in the other man's gaze.
When Shade had asked about attire, he had indeed told the doctor that he needed to attend a rather formal dinner because of a commission from the detective agency. But he had not mentioned that it was a dinner at Lake View Manor, and the doctor had not asked where he was going. He probably hadn't thought Shade would appear in a place like this.
Shade wanted to leave the card table and go over to the doctor, but Doctor Schneider gave him a stern, slight shake of the head. At the same time, his conversation with his friend about the difference between striking silverware and goldware with a heavy blow did not stop.
They passed by the Grape Arbor like that. Some of the people beside the card table were friends of Doctor Schneider's companions, and they exchanged a few greetings as well.
The doctor did not speak to Shade at all. Instead, he discreetly used both hands to make a series of rather complicated gestures, only leaving with his companions after confirming that Shade had seen them clearly.
"But what did those gestures mean?"
Shade stared at the grapes hanging overhead and wondered.
Although he had seen them clearly, he had not understood them at all. He did not know sign language, nor did he understand coded signals. No matter how clearly Doctor Schneider gestured, it was useless.
*However, Lassoya of the Blood of Mercury, the Orthodox Church's Ring Arcanist Squad, the High-Ring Arcanist of unknown rank known as That Lady, and Doctor Schneider have all appeared at Lake View Manor. What exactly is going to happen here? I'll