After hanging up, Kallen opened a drawer and took out a stack of black Spell Art paper. To prevent any mishaps in delivering the message, he folded three black ravens in succession and sent them to tell Philomina to assemble.
After finishing, Kallen went into the washroom, washed his face at the basin, then raised his head and looked at himself in the mirror.
He instinctively touched his ring with a fingertip, and Mr. Pavaro's face appeared in the mirror.
Looking at this face of "his," Kallen could not help smiling. "It's been so long, yet you're still every bit the greasy middle-aged man."
He still remembered meeting Mr. Pavaro for the first time when that tram exploded. Not only had the man helped him get Alfred to the hospital, he had even paid the medical bills for him.
Though life had already bent this man's back, he had held fast to his faith from beginning to end.
As Kallen came out of the washroom, the master bedroom door happened to open, and Mrs. Lake entered. Hearing movement inside, she immediately said:
"Sorry, Mr. Kallen. Xili said you'd gone out. I came in to find a piece of your clothing to measure for a sweater. Winter is still a long way off, but I wanted to prepare the family's... sweaters in advance."
Just as Mrs. Lake finished speaking, she got a clear look at the face of the person coming out of the washroom.
For a moment, she froze.
Only then did Kallen realize his mistake. He was about to say something when Mrs. Lake smiled first.
"Ah, to be honest, after not seeing him for so long, seeing him all of a sudden actually feels rather unfamiliar."
"I'm sorry."
Mrs. Lake had always known who that "husband" of hers