The moment Arthur saw the two ravens perched on the carriage roof, he knew they were the same two he had just seen at the Shire District Police Department-
The two ravens had inadvertently helped him earlier.
Then Malinda had appeared with them.
There were no such coincidences in this world.
Arthur would never leave things to chance.
He walked calmly over to the carriage and studied the two ravens with a slightly complicated look.
"What?
Are you planning to thank me for helping you?
'When the birds of ill omen begin to pray, calamity will descend upon you!'"
Malinda pushed open the carriage window. With a pipe between her lips, the corners of her mouth curled upward, and amusement shone in her azure eyes.
"When you sent them to find me, it happened to coincide with my uttering that prophecy. How can you be certain this wasn't the work of 'fate'?"
Arthur met Malinda's gaze without hesitation.
Lv6 [Bluff] allowed him to control not only his expressions, but even, to a degree, his eyes.
At that moment, the openness in Arthur's eyes carried a sense of sincerity and innocence.
Like a boy running through the afternoon sunshine, he drew the eye and made it linger.
Even Malinda was momentarily taken aback.
But the next instant, the Lady of the Long Night regained her composure.
"You're not trying to wriggle out of paying, are you?"
She folded her arms and raised her chin.
"Are you saying I ought to pay you because you 'used my things to help me'?"
Arthur asked, looking utterly puzzled.
Malinda did not ordinarily keep ravens. Arthur was quite certain of that.
So what did it mean when Malinda, who did not keep ravens, suddenly appeared with two well-trained ones?
The answer was obvious.
His reward!