The Doctor left on his own, while Shade returned to the front entrance of the Three Cats Inn and took a seat across from Durut Giles.
He had no intention of dining with the man here and spoke directly:
"The curse expert has already examined your condition. The potion to lift the curse will be mailed here over the weekend. Rent a room here later and use it as your mailing address, otherwise the proprietress, Mrs. Sangmei, may not be willing to receive your mail for you."
"Just one bottle of antidote will be enough?"
The still-pale man asked in astonishment:
"If it were that simple, I—"
"That is because you never found an expert. Remember to behave yourself from now on. Do not go robbing other people's tombs again. The contract you want to sign with me will be mailed along with the antidote. Once you have signed it, deliver it to Professor Manning. He knows where I am staying in the city."
Shade added, and excitement appeared on the man's face:
"Thank you so much, sir. If not for you, I—"
"Do not celebrate too soon."
Shade interrupted him, glancing around to make sure no one was seated at the nearby tables:
"Do you know that the father of this 'little lady' beside you was a Thirteenth Ring, and a Thirteenth Ring Diviner who defected from the Seer Association? He left a prophecy in the bloodline of all his descendants: one day, the family would be reunited. I do not know whether that includes souls."
The girl's soul floated beside the man, clapping her hands. When Shade finished speaking, she actually began singing that prophecy on her own:
"When the Day of Reconciliation arrives~ The scattered bloodline shall return to the family's origin~ We shall drink the Ageless