Although Mr. Bernhardt knew this place would become dangerous, he probably would not leave Moon Bay City anytime soon. After all, no corner of the Material World was peaceful these days.
The two drank as Shade teased the cat, who had been especially well-behaved since coming along today. The cat was still hoping Shade would turn into a cat, so it was very patient. Naturally, Shade also mentioned the coroner's past, which he had heard from Mrs. Dubois while accompanying Miss Belinder to the Reading Salon yesterday.
Mr. Bernhardt wore a helpless expression:
"I said before that Tolomay Alber was a very talented man. Though he did not come from a distinguished background, he attended school and went to the New Continent with the army. He could have had a brilliant future no less promising than mine, but he was a righteous man and could not stand injustice. I know that story too, but we'd better not mention it in front of him. It is Tolomay's sorrow as well."
Shade still had a letter Mrs. Dubois had asked him to deliver, so after arranging a meeting time with Mr. Bernhardt for tomorrow, he turned the cat into a toy and put it in his pocket before heading alone to the morgue to deliver the letter.
The coroner in the brown smock was busy at the moment, and two other coroners were working there as well. Therefore, Shade merely left the letter in his office, greeted him, and departed.
When he returned home at noon, it was exactly half past eleven. Shade had just changed his clothes when the three ladies returned as well.
"How did it go? Did you find the problem?"
Shade asked them curiously. Emilia still looked energetic, while neither Luvia nor Dorothy appeared tired.
"We searched through