Around noon, after Audrey had a simple lunch, she took Susie, the golden-haired dog, her personal maid Annie, and her guards, and as usual boarded her family's carriage outside the Loen Charity Education Foundation at 22 Phelps Street in the North Borough, heading for Philip Department Store in the West Borough.
The ringing of bicycle bells sounded outside the window from time to time, carrying a peculiar vitality that made Audrey turn her head to watch the bustling street.
It calmed her mood while also filling her with a sense of vigor, making her feel as though the entire world was brimming with life.
Just then, Audrey caught sight of an additional figure inside the carriage from the corner of her eye.
The figure wore a black three-piece suit with a dark red bow tie and held a top hat. His hair was completely white yet still thick, and his pale blue eyes seemed to contain endless wisdom.
This was Hvin Rambis, a member of the Psychology Alchemists' Review Council, as well as a Marionette controlled by Alvin.
Of course, Audrey knew nothing about the latter.
All of a sudden, Audrey's mind became dazed, as though she had lost all vigilance and guard. Susie, Annie, and the others in the carriage also became blank-eyed, seeming to enter a semi-stuporous state in which they could not focus on their surroundings.
Hvin Rambis's gentle voice followed:
"Two things.
"First, after meeting at various gatherings before this, I believe you should already be familiar with Viscount Braine.
"I need you to use every means at your disposal to draw information about Gehrman Sparrow from that viscount."
That gentle voice seemed to resonate with thoughts deep inside Audrey's heart. After only the slightest resistance, she felt that it came from within herself, that it