"So, does that mean I helped that viscount as well?"
Shade nodded in understanding, guessing that the other Doppelgangers in the delegation would probably disappear on their own soon. They might return to the House of False Men, or perhaps head to other cities, but none of that mattered to Shade anymore.
The two old friends chatted for over an hour on the afternoon beach, with the crashing waves as their background music. But at half past two, a sailor from the White Pearl came looking for Major Rades, saying that the flagship wanted every ship to send people over to move supplies. Shade and Major Rades therefore said a temporary farewell.
They would have plenty of chances to meet again on this island.
"Let's head back."
After watching Major Rades leave, Shade said this to Miss Larson. He directly summoned the small boat onto the beach, and he and Miss Larson each jumped inside.
As the Small Wooden Boat moved quietly across the coastal waters, the curious White-haired Girl also heard from Shade the full story of his relationship with Major Rades:
"From Tobesk to Middlesburg, from Green Lake to Fatumonst Island, Major Rades and I really have a deep friendship."
"So that major really is just an ordinary person?"
When the White-haired Girl asked this, Shade, standing at the stern and rowing, smiled and asked in return:
"Why do you think all my friends must be Ring Arcanists? Ordinary people and Ring Arcanists are both human. Don't think of them as different species."
Miss Larson nodded awkwardly, then turned around in the boat to look back toward the City of Time Wheels harbor. The warships docked there were still faintly visible, and she asked curiously:
"Then was Major Rades's dream caused by his anxiety, or by this island?"