Since the rules did not say he could not speak with the artworks, Shade stopped. He had never intended to take out anything he did not need; he merely wanted to know what this thing was trying to do:
"But explain this clearly. Great Sin of Greed, treasures 3.2 moments—what does that mean?"
The golden head immediately spoke from atop its cushion:
"It represents the degree of my greed. Look, I'm only at 3.2 moments. I know quite a few people are nearing double digits. I only accidentally took something I shouldn't have, sir. I'm not very greedy. Please save me!"
"Some people are indeed nearing double digits. I'm at 9.9 moments."
Shade said as he strode away, ignoring the head's low curses:
"Still, my greed hasn't reached the level of treasures."
Nothing unexpected happened as he returned from the exhibition hall to the art gallery's front hall. That bone-deep chill and the unknown sense of danger that kept his nerves taut merely startled Shade somewhat, but no actual incident occurred.
Obtaining that Golden Needle meant he could leave the art gallery and seek the throne upon which the Great One sat in the deepest part of this city. But Shade still could not awaken the Red Dragon Young Lady. Not only did he not know how to combine the needle with the Compass, he did not even know what mission Fiona bore.
"Do I really have to forcibly wake her?"
Though she was in Slumber, she could awaken if she encountered a fatal crisis. Shade simply did not want to do that.
There was no other good solution at the moment. Shade paced around the front hall a few times, then looked at the exhibition catalog placed on the counter:
"There should be a way in here, right?"
This