When Gelman leisurely returned to the Preston Hotel, the lights along the walls hung with imitation oil paintings were already on. Strange men and women passed him in the hallway now and then.
Standing in front of room 1514, Gelman first knocked on the door to give the two people inside a little time to prepare. Only then did he take out his key card and swipe it to enter.
"I'm back," Gelman called, but no one answered.
After locking the door, Gelman walked into the luxurious suite. It had not only a spacious living room and an open-air balcony, but also three separate bedrooms, each equipped with all the necessary amenities.
As for room service, it naturally met the highest standards.
Biscuit and Shizuku were playing chess beside the sofa.
Both were staring at the board. Biscuit hunched over, frowning in thought, while Shizuku sat upright with a relaxed expression.
"This game..." Biscuit stared intently at the board for a while, then suddenly looked up, as if she had only just noticed Gelman coming in. "Oh, Gelman, you're back?"
She sprang to her feet and "accidentally" knocked over the chessboard. The black and white pieces clattered to the floor.
"Oh, Shizuku, look what I've done... I'm so careless. I'm sorry." Biscuit pressed her hands together and put on an apologetic expression. "I've been so scatterbrained lately..."
"It's okay."
Shizuku wasn't angry. Instead, she patiently picked up the pieces one by one and put them back on the board, adjusting her glasses.
"I remember where all the pieces were."
Biscuit's expression shifted in an instant from embarrassed anger to gentle consideration, as if nothing had happened.
"Shizuku, now that Gelman's back, the matter of the three of us working together is more important and should come first. Let's call it