The convoy carrying vegetables and meat soon entered the castle, but stopped only in the courtyard before the gate and went no farther. Servants and guards from the castle appeared together to unload the large baskets from the carriages. Only then did the coachmen immediately drive the emptied carriages away.
The drawbridge rose again with a creak, and after a loud bang, completely sealed the castle's enormous gateway.
Five minutes later, once Shade had confirmed there was no problem, he, Mr. Bernhardt, and Mr. Albert emerged from the shadows by the wall. The three had arrived disguised as convoy guards, and they still wore black coats with pistols tucked into them.
Because they needed to maintain their disguises, Shade had ultimately not brought any of the Holy Sword Series. As the three looked at the towering castle and the lights shining from its windows, Mr. Bernhardt spoke first:
"Gentlemen, we all studied the map before coming. Though the interior is as complicated as a labyrinth, there is only one main route. If nothing unexpected happens, the merchant Thomas Pigin should currently be playing Rhodes Cards with someone behind the courtyard in the castle outskirts, while that 'great musician,' Carmen Eddington, is resting alone in a room on the castle's highest floor."
"Let's split up."
Shade said, and Mr. Albert nodded.
"There are three of us. Mr. Watson, Thomas Pigin, who is playing cards behind the courtyard, is closest to here. Can you handle him alone? Armand will fly straight to the top floor and restrain Carmen Eddington. I'll start from the bottom and clean my way upward, making sure nothing goes wrong."
The castle was quite large. The open-air outer courtyard alone had three levels, and only beyond that lay the interior of the main castle tower.
"No problem. It's