Shade spoke as he looked again at the documents Tifa had laid out on the table, but Galina gently shook her head:
"No need. Everyone knew you would make this decision in the end, so we came up with the most suitable solution. We only need your agreement to put it into action."
"What solution?"
"Buy Number 7 Saint Derain Square."
"What?"
Galina did not seem to be joking. They had already discussed it:
"Your neighbor at Number 5 Saint Derain Square is Sir Smith and his wife, and I do not want to force them to move. The neighbor at Number 7 is a researcher at the Kingdom Army's Steam Mechanical Equipment Research Institute, who inherited the house from a relative. He only returns to stay for a while each winter.
Although he will not be coming back for the Year-End Festival this year because he has been seconded to research some kind of Difference Engine, I have already contacted him. He is also willing to sell this property, which he does not live in often and which carries especially high property taxes."
She winked at Shade from across the table:
"What do you think? The two houses are connected anyway, and there is still a month until the Year-End Festival.
The house next door is in far better condition than No. 6 was before you took it over. I can have people renovate and remodel it, then directly connect the corridors of your house and the one next door. That will link the first, second, and third floors of both houses together. Unfortunately, the attics and basements cannot be connected.
Then Leisha can open a Teleportation Gate between my estate and this place. Even if all thirteen Witches come, there will be enough room. The apprentices and Followers