Yesterday, Wei Ge gave Shade a Special Coin, and after breakfast that same day, Shade handed it to Luvia. Although he had many matters to investigate at the moment, he had not yet decided what to use it to divine, so he temporarily let Luvia keep it as a backup measure.
Afterward, he followed the original plan and went to Moon Bay. Because Shade bore Chaos Bestowal, Luvia and Dorothy were not worried about him. The girls would remain at Shade's place this morning, then go with him to Doctor's place for a meeting after lunch.
As for the brand-new Time Key available for use today, Shade had already obtained one from Daniste. Last Saturday, when he had used the key at [Skin Object Hall], it had been a little after ten in the morning. The time had not yet arrived, and Shade was in no hurry.
Because Shade did not want Bella and the others becoming too entangled with Mermaids, he had not told the ladies currently in Moon Bay that he was coming today.
After leaving Dragon Nest outside the city, he took a carriage toward his destination. As he watched Moon Bay's prosperous cityscape along the way, he even felt that, in these wartime years, Moon Bay was more prosperous than when he had first arrived.
The effects of last year's Battle of Moon Bay had completely vanished.
"Desire" seemed to know Shade was coming today. Countess Dalmanin was already waiting for his carriage outside Countess Manor atop the sea cliff.
The Countess, whose beauty made her seem less and less human, smiled at Shade. Though she said nothing, Shade felt as if her gaze had "licked" across his skin. The sensation was extremely unpleasant.
He rode the elevator deep in the basement alone and arrived beneath