The next morning, he had breakfast and read in his study as usual.
Miss Sharron suddenly appeared beside Raphael. "I don't think you need my protection."
Raphael froze. Did the messenger leave her traumatized yesterday?
"I do. I very much do," Raphael said. "I know you're going to say I can ask my messenger for help, but you should also know that the payment my messenger wants isn't easy to find.
"As for asking other demigods for help, even if they don't ask for payment, a favor owed to a demigod isn't easy to repay.
"So it's good to have you here. It puts my mind at ease, too. Most importantly, it can prevent further misunderstandings between me and the Temperance Faction."
If Miss Sharron hadn't come, or wasn't here, Raphael would have taken Erlin's attack as an indication of the Temperance Faction's attitude toward him.
But with Miss Sharron here and on his side, Raphael knew perfectly well that Erlin represented only part of the Temperance Faction.
Miss Sharron nodded without saying anything, then vanished again.
Near noon, Wagner came to report that someone had approached the owner of Whitney Hardware that morning to ask about Mr. A.
Raphael breathed a sigh of relief. Erlin's attack would probably come within the next two or three days.
He also hoped this matter would end as soon as possible. With Miss Sharron around, he couldn't continue planning the Serial Murder Case to try to digest his potion.
Raphael spent the afternoon dealing with some Aurora Order affairs. Time flew, and shortly after four, Pain brought him a letter from Fors.
The letter invited Raphael over for dinner.
Raphael knew this meant Fors and the others were ready and intended to assassinate Botis.
But since Sharron was here, Raphael wrote back saying