After a quiet night, Gilan finally got a good night's sleep in a comfortable bed.
The long-awaited Movie Day soon arrived: the morning of June 25.
Gilan got up early, washed, then put on his new clothes and shoes. He draped a brown trench coat over his shoulders, donned his felt hat, and went downstairs to the meeting place, the Swan Cafe.
Although it was only around eight in the morning, the cafe was already bustling with customers.
Many gentlemen and ladies sat at the tables, eating the cream buns or blackcurrant cakes available for a limited time, sipping hot drinks, reading the morning papers and magazines, and exchanging a few words as they prepared for the day's work.
Perhaps because he had arrived early, with some time still to go before ten, the other members of the Record Society had yet to arrive. Gilan simply found a seat in the corner and spent nine Melang on the regular set: Sticky Bark Milk Tea and a Bacon Bread Roll.
It was worth mentioning that bark milk tea was made by mixing powder from the tubers of Orchis and iris flowers with milk and black tea brewed with sassafras bark. It looked like a gloppy mess and wasn't much to look at, but it had a rich, lingering sweetness. Gilan quite liked this exotic drink.
As he chewed his bread, he casually flipped through a magazine on the table.
"Lazy Tips: If you don't want to spend so long bathing that your body is exposed to the Miasma, wipe yourself down little by little with a hot towel. Once you've washed one area, cover it with clothing, then move on to another. That way, you can wash your whole body without taking your clothes off."
"Ladies' Tips: Washing your face with lemon can help fight freckles, red spots, and moles. Washing your hands with almond rosewater will leave them fair and smooth. Boil rosemary flowers to make a hair rinse that cleanses and protects you from the Miasma..."
"Also included: Isabella's secret tooth-powder recipe, which ladies can make at home: 16 ounces of talcum powder or cuttlebone powder; 1.5 ounces of coral, burnt alum, red sandalwood, and rose rock; 1.8 ounces of iris root; 0.1 ounces of cloves and cinnamon; and 0.2 ounces of camphor. Moisten with alcohol, grind, and mix together."
"Isabella's latest product, Flamingo Perfume, is now available! Developed from the research notes of the renowned scholar Catherine Merlin, this classic rose-scented perfume contains 15 rare materials and the essence of 30 fragrances... Limited to 100 bottles, at the special price of 9 Caesar and 19 Pfennig for a limited time!"
Gilan swallowed his food, took a sip of bark milk tea, and casually closed the magazine.
He glanced at its cover, which bore the pink, charming title in calligraphic lettering: Ladies' Daily Reading.
"Mr. Snowy Owl, I didn't expect you to arrive so early."
A familiar, hearty male voice called out.
Gilan looked up and saw Mr. Oystercatcher arriving alongside Mr. Stork.
"Good morning, gentlemen." He nodded to them, then gestured toward the table. "Let me buy you both a coffee."
"How kind of you. Thank you."
The two men took their seats.
Gilan called over a young, pretty waitress and ordered each of the gentlemen the cafe's most expensive meal, Swan Set A: a Smoked Haddock Sandwich, Caviar Salad, and a cup of refined coffee.
Though he'd just spent 18 Pfennig, Gilan thought it was only right. Both gentlemen had helped him a great deal.
"Mr. Snowy Owl, I'm the owner here. You don't need to waste your money."
Mr. Stork hung his black top hat on his cane and leaned it to one side, smiling warmly.
"This is different," Gilan replied earnestly.
Mr. Stork seemed to understand what he meant and said no more, merely nodding slightly.
The three of them chatted as they ate, and soon their conversation turned to the cafe.
"By the way, Mr. Stork, I've always wondered why you chose to open a cafe." Mr. Oystercatcher ate his sandwich and addressed the elegant, middle-aged gentleman. "Wouldn't a clothing or accessories shop make more money in the Horst District?"
"You don't understand." Mr. Stork shook his head as he sipped his coffee. "Not long after the Empire passed the Prohibition, it enacted several more laws, including the Revitalization Plan... Taxes on goods like tea, coffee, mints, dark chocolate, tuna, strawberries, and bananas were cut to next to nothing, which made cafes quite a bit more profitable."
He smiled and set down his cup.
"And I like coffee a lot."
"I see." Mr. Oystercatcher laughed. "I like it too, so now I can come here more often and eat and drink for free."
Meanwhile, Gilan seemed to have noticed something.
The Revitalization Plan? Those goods with reduced taxes all seem to be foods and drinks that help you stay alert...
"By the way, Mr. Snowy Owl."
Mr. Stork lowered his voice as he spoke to Gilan.
"I found out who was behind the hiring of Detective Granny. It was the five direct descendants of the Louis Family."
"The Louis Family..." Gilan was taken aback, but quickly understood. "I see. Thank you for the warning, Mr. Stork."
"Don't mention it," Mr. Stork replied. "The Louis Family is a well-known upper-class family in Black City. They live in the neighboring Horst Second District. But now that you've joined the Assembly, it won't be so easy for them to cause you trouble. Don't worry."
Gilan nodded, though a cold glint flashed in his eyes.
You sent people to hunt me down. Sooner or later, I'll make you pay for it!
The three of them ate their fill and passed the time chatting as they waited for the other two ladies to arrive.
Mr. Oystercatcher spoke about the members of the Assembly, his expression touched.
"Miss Sparrow went to the Church of Hope early this morning to help the poor. There was a long line outside the church—probably more than a hundred people... She really is kind. She not only donates regularly, but also buys bread with her own money and hands it out to everyone."
The Church of Hope was the most widespread faith in the Bremen Empire, with churches in every district. More than half the population believed in God, Omer.
He had many other titles, such as "Heavenly God," "Noon Dawn," and "God of Hope and Order."
People believed that in ancient times, the world had been ruled by devils and filled with darkness and suffering. Omer had destroyed the devils, ultimately sacrificing himself to usher in an age in which humanity could endure.
Even the Dawn Era calendar began with Omer's birthday, and many holidays had been established in his honor.
"Miss Sparrow truly is a kind lady," Mr. Stork agreed with a nod.
Just then, a playful, melodious voice rang out:
"Hm? I could've sworn I heard someone praising me."
The three gentlemen turned to see Miss Sparrow standing beside the table, looking bright and lovely beneath a white, wide-brimmed straw hat, her hair tied into two braids.
Today, she wore a long green skirt and a long Basque-style jacket, along with a little white cape. She looked especially elegant and charming.
"We were indeed praising you," Mr. Stork said with a smile. He glanced at his watch. "It's a quarter to ten. Has Miss Seagull not arrived yet?"
"Why don't we wait for her back at the apartment? It's not convenient to discuss things in detail here."
Mr. Oystercatcher suggested.
Mr. Stork glanced around, saw that a few customers were still there, and nodded in agreement.
They left the Swan Cafe and had just stepped into the neighboring apartment building when they saw Miss Seagull coming down the spiral staircase, looking worn out.
"Hm? Miss Seagull, did you spend the night at the apartment?"
Miss Sparrow asked in surprise.
Miss Seagull didn't answer right away. Her beautiful, slightly shadowed eyes swept over the four of them without drawing attention.