After leaving the room, Li Wei and Katie went to the lounge on the ground floor.
The furnishings were old-fashioned, giving them the feeling of having traveled back in time. Flames burned in the lounge's fireplace, with a neatly stacked pile of firewood beside it. A plush red velvet carpet covered the floor, soft and warm underfoot. Two men sat chatting on a sofa.
One was tall and thin, while the other was rather short and plump. The tall man wore a well-fitted suit and kept puffing on a lit pipe. The plump man sported a drooping mustache and was talking to him with a broad smile.
"I had quite a bit of luck this time. You know, that was a fine horse, but that day, the Holy Lord told me, 'You should bet on number eight!' That's right, number eight! That was the revelation I received! Everyone else thought I was mad, but the results proved me right. Ah... what a glorious victory."
"You certainly were lucky."
The tall man responded with a smile as he smoked, and the plump man nodded.
"Indeed I was. So I've decided not to go back to the racetrack until I've spent all my winnings. You see, the Holy Lord only really favors those who have nowhere left to turn..."
"Perhaps you should take on more work?"
"Hey, work hasn't been all that easy to come by lately..."
As the plump detective spoke, he turned toward Li Wei and Katie, and a smile immediately spread across his face.
"Aha, look! We have some new friends."
"Hello, gentlemen."
Holding his cane, Li Wei nodded to them.
"I'm Li Wei, and this is my assistant, Katie."
"Ah, so you're that famous detective... Haha, quite a handsome fellow. No wonder you're so well known."
The plump