"Good morning, Doctor."
Though the distant Tobesk City had welcomed early spring rain, wednesday in Randall River Valley brought fine weather that had been absent for quite some time.
No snow, no earthquakes, and certainly no outbreak of a large-scale epidemic. Even the gray fog that had smelled of rotten eggs throughout the winter had vanished.
More than half a week had passed since the great earthquake, and the lives of Randall River Valley City's citizens were gradually returning to normal. After all, everyone needed to eat and support their families. It was not that people did not mourn the dead, but the living were more important.
Thus, on this sunny morning, before Dawn Church on the west bank of the Ailong River in the city's northeast, Shade briskly waved to Doctor Schneider.
The doctor had clearly arrived earlier than Shade. He sat on a long bench by the riverbank directly facing Dawn Church's entrance, reading a local newspaper. An old man seated at the other end of the bench fed doves while bent over his cane, while a middle-aged gentleman on another nearby bench dusted dirt from his child's knees.
"Oh, Detective, good morning. The weather is quite lovely today. Now this feels a little like spring."
Doctor Schneider put down his newspaper, rose with a smile, and warmly shook Shade's hand.
"How has sightseeing in Randall River Valley been these past few days?"
"Quite wonderful. Ever since I began running my clinic, I have not been able to come out for a walk in a very long time. Perhaps I should take a short trip once every year. It would help this psychologist maintain a pleasant mood."
The doctor replied, folding the newspaper and tucking it into his overcoat's outer pocket before lowering his voice to remind him: