Shade did not have the nerve to use public funds to order dishes like "pan-fried foie gras with premium black truffles," but he was not overly polite with ordinary dishes such as Green Lake's specialty smoked meat soup. The Club's service was attentive, and the food arrived quickly. During this time, the negotiation delegates from city hall also arrived.
Among the first group to enter was the "Earl of New Carlsberg of Lecton." Shade memorized his face, as well as the faces of those speaking with him. The Follen Brothers, dressed formally and wearing monocles, did not enter until ten minutes later.
Shade had already spoken to the waiter, so the waiter led them directly to his table. When the brothers sat down, they looked somewhat confused as Shade ordered food for them. Just as they were about to ask who he was, Shade spoke first:
"Why isn't Earl Lewis here? I wonder how his injuries are doing."
"The wound on his shoulder is healing, but the injury below the waist is probably... Wait, sir, who are you? Have we met before?"
Eric Follen, wearing a monocle over his right eye, asked in surprise.
"We met once. Don't you remember? Tobesk, on the roof of the Maria Empress Opera House."
The brothers both showed expressions of astonishment mixed with panic. As Shade pinned down his steak with a fork and cut into it with his knife, he hurriedly lowered his voice to reassure them:
"Don't worry. I entered this Club under the identity of a Military Intelligence Section Six agent."
The expressions on the brothers' faces became even harder to describe.
"Don't look at me like that. Whether it's Military Intelligence Section Six or Gray Gloves, it's difficult for them to verify the identity of every secret agent at all