The light on the horizon gradually faded into gold, and beneath its outline, the dust-polluted haze of Silvermist City showed a strange and dreamy pink-purple color.
The light and shadow of the Ostermin Hotel become particularly graceful and soft at dusk, and the staggered glass doors and windows exude light blue reflections like starbursts, making it seem like a palace where the gods live.
Since Prince Edward Hollian's royal carriage was parked at the main entrance for photos and interviews, the three had no choice but to enter through the side entrance.
The news of the prince's arrival in Silvermist City came out the day before yesterday. Although nominally a tour, almost anyone with a passing knowledge of politics knows the purpose of the first-in-line's visit - to consolidate his core allies.
"Edgar Waikolo."
Ed politely handed over the invitation. At this moment, he had put on new clothes and a bowler hat, which looked quite similar.
The gatekeeper took a glance and nodded with a smile: "Who are these two people behind you?"
"Fabien Dolly Lukus."
"Louophili Bonn Duris."
The duo took out their invitations and answered in unison.
The gatekeeper stared at the pointed ears of the duo warily, and then at their ill-fitting formal clothes. He put on his monocle and lowered his head to check the invitation again before saying:
"Please come in, someone will arrange for you to sit at the guest seats later."
Of course the two invitations were real, written by Catalina. As for identification, judging from Ed's experience in the Bureau of Investigation, no one would care about this. Those with bad intentions can always get fake certificates to look like real ones.
The reason why Ed brought these two people here was not because he really expected these two miscellaneous fish to assassinate His Highness Edward, who was surrounded by experts.
As long as you quietly leave a few Nirvana Order marks in a corner, or set off a small, controllable fire without anyone noticing, the security will naturally be alerted. His dear employer, His Highness Edward, will definitely leave the banquet under strict cover.
In this way, his goal was accomplished - Edward had no chance to propose an engagement to Catalina in public.
Of course, His Highness the Prince can re-communicate with the Oakland family in private and make an engagement, but that would not achieve his original goal: to announce to the public that he has reached a solid alliance with the Oakland family, thereby building further momentum for himself.
The three of them walked slowly along the side door. Looking from a distance through the rose bushes, Prince Edward's huge double-decker royal carriage is parked at the main entrance. The top of the snow-white oily oak is inlaid with hot gold ornaments.
It was dusk now, and it was still very early for the dinner to start, but the prince had to enter in advance to cooperate with the corresponding security work.
After entering the hotel, Ed was embarrassed to find that no one guided him to his seat as the entire hotel staff focused on driving the prince.
This place is really too spacious. The dome of the central hall alone is twenty-five meters wide. There are stairs and steps all over the interior, which are arranged tightly and densely. The seats are also distributed in all directions.
Ed has never been familiar with banquet etiquette, and the duo beside him also looked embarrassed. In desperation, he had no choice but to take out the invitation and find a waiter to ask:
"How can I get to the 'Guest Seat'?"
The waiter was a little short but had a delicate appearance. His bright black hair was slender and up to his eyebrows. His fair skin was slightly flushed. He also held some small snacks such as cheese and appetizing mulled wine in his hand.
"Wait a moment, please let me take a look." He squinted his eyes and looked at it repeatedly for a while, "Please come with me."
The four people walked around and finally found a remote place, where the main venue of the banquet could hardly be seen. However, Ed was happy to see the result, so that it would be more convenient for him to leave the table.
"Please let the three of you take a seat here and rest for now. If you need anything, you can call me."
After saying that, the waiter stood aside with the wine tray, and it seemed that he was not in a hurry to go back outside to greet the king.
Upon seeing this, the duo each took an aperitif, ate snacks and observed:
"Here, look, the one in the black and gold robe is Edward, the grandson of the Black-Hearted King." Chubby Point pointed out.
"Heh, he has a black hairy head, exactly like his grandpa, and maybe his heart is as black as his grandpa. I think this underdeveloped monkey is not even worthy of carrying Miss Tia's shoes." The sharp voice took a sip. Red wine, full of disdain.
"But he is much taller than the Black Heart King."
"Who says it isn't? People say the Blackheart King would have to jump to hit the Silver Knight in the knee."
The two of them burst into giggles. Seeing the stiff expression on the waiter's face, Ed coughed quickly, stood up and shouted:
"You two, be careful."
He also took a look at Prince Edward downstairs, and saw that the man who walked into the hall was tall, with majestic eyebrows. He was wearing a black and gold cloak, which made him look majestic and impressive.
It's just...something's not right.
Ed immediately realized the source of this unusual feeling: in addition to the guards, there were several waiters behind the prince, and a hummingbird brooch with a black torso and red wings was inserted into his chest.
This is one of the secret symbols of the Bureau of Investigation, which means that the wearer is performing an important secret mission.
Looking at his face again, he didn't recognize him. There are only about seventy Beyonder investigators from the Bureau of Investigation in Silvermist City. Ed has roughly memorized the looks of his colleagues, but he doesn't recognize these people at the moment.
They came from the capital headquarters. But why do so many people show up?
"It seems there are a lot of 'acquaintances' here today. Ah sneeze -" Ed pretended to sneeze, took out a handkerchief and covered his nose to wipe it, "Sorry, where is the bathroom?"
This is a pre-arranged code. Once Ed discovers that the security force at the banquet is too strong, even a slight covert operation will bear huge risks, and the operation must be terminated.
The waiter standing beside him stretched out his hand to point in the direction. Ed walked in the direction of the finger and took the opportunity to look around.
I didn’t find any restrooms along the way, but I found quite a few people wearing hummingbird brooches.
It has to be said that this level of security seems to be an overreaction. The Nirvana Order's small power in Silver Mist City has long been wiped out.
Just as he was about to return to his seat, he bumped into a pale and panic-stricken Pumpkin:
"Ed...you are right..."
"What did I say?" Ed looked confused.
"Acquaintances - there are indeed a lot of acquaintances." He said anxiously.
"Yeah, didn't I tell you? If it doesn't work, forget it, it doesn't matter."
It's up to people to plan things, and it's up to God to make things happen. Originally, we can only do our best in this matter. What's more, it's just an engagement. If Catalina doesn't want to agree to the marriage, she will have room to find another way in the future.
"No, not an acquaintance of yours. An acquaintance of ours."
