Chapter 88: Gilbert
After they finished eating, they picked up the plates and placed them in the middle. Before heading to the exit of the cafe, Reinhard stopped at the front desk to pay while Marie and Joseph waited by the door.
The woman accepted the gold with a faint smile before thanking them and telling them to come back anytime.
They emerged into the evening air that carried a different quality than the afternoon.
The sun was setting, painting the sky in gradients of orange and pink that reflected off the white stone buildings and turned them golden.
Marie and Reinhard’s gazes wandered across the city, taking in how the changing light transformed the building into something almost magical.
Smiles touched both their faces as they glanced at each other while pointing at some buildings.
Then they began heading back towards the hotel while navigating around the other people moving in the same direction.
"I’m happy we met a kind person like Miss Martha," Marie spoke up with a smile.
Joseph nodded as he stretched his arms and grinned. "I can already feel my body has healed fully. It would have taken longer without her."
Marie nodded at those words while Reinhard’s expression grew more thoughtful, his brows drawing together slightly. "I’m more surprised about how she runs her clinic... It’s amazing and makes me wish every town and city followed it."
Marie sighed before nodding with a strained smile. "If they did, then a lot of people wouldn’t mind going to the clinic... Then a lot of tragedies could be avoided. But sadly, the doctors of other clinics still believe in efficiency and strictness as the key, even if it causes pain to their patients."
Reinhard’s fist clenched at his side, his knuckles whitening briefly. "And traumatize them..."
Marie nodded slowly, her understanding evident in the way her shoulders dropped slightly.
Joseph continued walking between them, his gaze lifting toward the sunset. "That’s why it’s important that Miss Martha’s clinic becomes famous and well known."
"Then people will start following her example and new clinics will adopt hers," Marie added, enthusiasm returning to her voice.
Reinhard sighed but remained silent.
His mind turned over the reality Marie’s optimism was overlooking. The biggest obstacle to Hope Salvation’s methods wasn’t a lack of knowledge but money.
The spending required for quality supplies and gentle practices represented costs that most business-minded clinic sponsors throughout Hesod would refuse to bear.
He didn’t believe they’d be willing to help with that kind of method. These sponsors tend to be only willing to invest if it means they will earn a profit back. Or at the very least, be willing to gain something back, like special access, priority, and easy job hire.
Things that the current practice of Hope Salvation seems to go against.
But maybe I’m wrong and there are "kind" sponsors. Reinhard thought in amusement.
Yet a small part of him really does hope he was wrong. So children wouldn’t have to be traumatized by places supposed to make them better and improve their health.
The hotel appeared ahead as they passed through a stream of people, and they entered through the main doors.
They moved past the reception area with nods to the desk clerk and took the elevator back to the fifth floor.
Once on the fifth floor, they headed towards their room and opened it with their hotel key. Room 540 was as they’d left it, with the bags on beds and everything undisturbed.
They settled into positions around the small table, pulling chairs close.
Marie activated the communication necklace, the projection materializing to show Vanna’s silver hair and matching eyes.
Then Reinhard explained the current situation after they last talked with Vanna. From meeting Doctor Martha, heading to the clinic, encountering Phineas, his theory about surveillance, and being trailed.
Vanna listened without interruption, her expression indifferent but attentive.
"Thank you for keeping me informed." Vanna said when he finished.
"Can you look up a person named Phineas in Phane City?" Reinhard asked.
Vanna’s fingers moved across something outside the projection’s view. "There are over a thousand results."
"Look for one that’s sponsoring the Hope Salvation Clinic."
Vanna nodded before her attention changed to research, and she moved from the screen. Then minutes passed in silence before she appeared back on the screen and spoke again, reading from whatever information had appeared before her.
"Phineas Gilbert. A tall man with dark hair, silver eyes, thirty-four years old, and not a Beast Master. Affiliated with Bolner Storage and Mover, Jenny Construction, Hope Salvation Clinic, Hugh Orphanage, and recently became the new owner of Phane Theater."
Reinhard nodded once. "That’s him."
Marie’s expression showed surprise mixed with something like grudging respect. "I’m surprised he’s bold enough to use his first name in the city... But oddly enough, that does seem like something he would do."
"That, and it’s a pretty good strategy," Reinhard said as he caressed his chin. "For a person as wanted as him, being part of a group that’s escaped being found and captured for years. Ot would be absurd that he’d use his real name for an identity he was using."
"So hide in broad daylight?" Joseph asked with a thoughtful look.
Reinhard nodded, then leaned forward slightly. "We should investigate the buildings related to Phineas. See what he’s been up to, and also just in case he might have kept Anasha in one of them."
Vanna’s voice drew their attention back to the projection. "The Four of Hearts has made contact and provided information about where to meet. Do you plan to meet with them today?"
Reinhard fell silent before he glanced at Marie and Joseph. "I can investigate the buildings while you two meet up with them. Would that work?"
Joseph nodded in agreement. "That’s fine, we should not delay this, and their help would be great if we really do get monitored."
Marie pouted as she sighed and gently tapped the table. "But you get the fun stuff."
Reinhard chuckled as he nodded. "In exchange, we can go visiting cafes and other places you wish to during the day."
Marie’s eyes lit up immediately, and she nodded in excitement. "It’s a deal! But do you need anything for the investigation?"
Reinhard fell into thought, his hand rising to caress his chin while he considered requirements, and then he nodded. "A mask to cover my face, and for you two to refill the Harrold Mark with your magic."
"I can provide a mask and a black suit if you’re planning to sneak in," Vanna said softly.
Reinhard’s eyes lit up with approval. "Yes, please."
"Sure, we can do that," Marie confirmed.
Joseph leaned forward. "We should also determine how long you plan to investigate and how many buildings."
Reinhard fell silent again, his gaze distant as he calculated. "I’ll go out at nine PM and be back by eleven PM. It will help me blend in when going near the buildings, give me three hours of moving around, and I won’t be the odd one when returning to the hotel, which should be around the time night folks begin heading home."
Marie nodded slowly as she quickly thought of the plan and found nothing wrong with it.