Neo waved down a taxi, then motioned for Earl Recar and Dali Wenluo to get in with him.
The taxi driver asked, "Gentlemen, where to?"
"Just stop outside Mink Street."
"Mink Street is quite big. Could you be more specific? A street number, perhaps, so I have some idea."
"Take whatever detour you like."
Neo took two hundred-Rael notes from his pocket and handed them to the driver.
"All right, understood. By the way, sir, have you just come from Vien?"
"Yes, that's right. We haven't had time to exchange our money."
"This damned weather we've been having in Rojia is almost as bad as Vien's, isn't it?"
Neo turned to look out the window. Dark clouds blanketed the sky, and the oppressive feeling of rain that seemed about to fall but had yet to arrive was unbearably heavy.
"Yes, exactly. The same awful weather. I'm already used to it."
"I have an older cousin in Vien. He works at a stock exchange in York City, earns a lot, and married a noblewoman."
"On the street outside the York City stock exchange, the people sleeping in tents are all down-and-out nobles."
"Oh, I see. Now I understand. I used to be quite envious of him, haha."
Sitting in the back, Earl Recar asked, "Why don't we go straight to the Young Master's house?"
Without turning around, Neo said, "We left before your Young Master did. He still had preparations and arrangements to make. Who knows if he's even crossed the boundary marker yet? When you're visiting someone's home, you should at least wait until they're home first.
"What's the rush to turn up now?
"Unless you can't wait to chat with that sleeping old gentleman, or help wipe him down?"
Earl Recar shuddered at that and hurriedly waved his hands.