Although Shade and the other two had set out half an hour early, they still were not the first to arrive when they landed on the mountaintop beneath the moonlight. Aside from the Clowns, people from the Seer Association, the Misfortune Order, and The All-Number-One Society had all come as well.
The three groups totaled nine people, each occupying a corner of the summit. The Seer Association had Old Man Charat, the president, and an old gentleman Shade did not recognize. The All-Number-One Society had the oddly coiffed "Father" and two Eleventh Ring sorcerers. The Misfortune Order had the woman named Katerin Schwartz, a cult bishop, and an Eleventh Ring sorcerer.
After the three arrived, they did not speak with the others. Shade merely nodded to President Lenormand, then claimed a corner of the mountaintop with Claire and Stella.
The mist was nowhere to be seen atop the Snow Mountain Peak. Snowflakes drifted down, and all Three Moons were bright tonight. Remembering Lady White's suspicions about the current five candidates, Shade examined the others from the corner of his eye.
Of course, adhering to the principle of suspecting everything, Shade had also suspected that Stella might be connected to Mr. Snake. But Stella's movements were easy to trace. When she had been treated some time ago, not only Shade but others had examined the state of her body. Stella was definitely no problem.
"If Lady White's suspicions are correct, then the problematic ones are Old Mr. Charat, Mr. Mortis, and the two cultists."
Shade pondered these matters. Ten minutes later, the Clowns arrived together. The three masked Clowns had appeared by directly lifting a curtain that materialized in the air. Mr. Mortis had used this trick during the House of False Men incident as well. It truly was a convenient