Shade had gone out early to find Iluna, but he was still a step too late. By the time he reached the apartment Iluna rented, she had already left. He then failed to find her at Blackstone Security Company as well, because she had gone out on a mission early that morning.
He had thought Blackstone Security Company would not tell him where Iluna was carrying out her mission, but after some consideration, Mr. Robinson, the captain of the Ring Arcanist Squad, unexpectedly volunteered the location:
"Beias should be keeping watch at the Three Cats Inn in Saint Song Square in the north of the city. If you go looking for her, keep a low profile. Don't interfere with her mission."
This made it seem that Iluna's stakeout mission was not particularly important.
Although Randall River Valley was once again facing a blizzard, temperatures in Tobesk City of the Northern Kingdom had indeed been steadily rising lately. It was not yet warm enough to take off cotton clothes, but spring would probably arrive earlier in Tobesk City this year than in Randall River Valley.
When he pushed open the door and entered the Three Cats Inn, Mrs. Sangmei, the proprietress, was unusually absent from behind the counter. That saved Shade the time of saying hello.
At eight thirty in the morning, there was already a bard singing and playing. Since it was a workday, there were few guests eating breakfast inside. Shade glanced around and spotted Iluna by the wall on the 1st Floor, wearing a high-collared trench coat and hat, reading a newspaper.
He walked over. Only when he sat down did Iluna lower the newspaper and glance at him:
"Shade? Oh, and Mia too!"
"One pancake and a cup of tea."
Shade casually told the approaching waiter. Only