The best option was indeed to pin the origin of the money on himself. After all, he could always lie about how it had been obtained. However, the most likely lie presented problems.
"I haven't performed at the show hall in several days. Won't this incur suspicion? When would I have had an opportunity to raise the funds for such an event?" Lumière's eyes widened as he spoke, coming to a realisation.
Seeing that Lumière had solved the issue, Thomas smiled.
"You've figured it out?"
Lumière nodded his head. "Earlier today, I went to the show hall in order to secure my payment for a previous show. This gives me the basis of having been there, as well as a basis for obtaining money. I can always say that it was the result of a good performance that brought the Madame to reward me extra for my efforts. It's extremely unlikely that anyone who notices the event of the Dwindlers being fed extravagantly would question the Madame directly. Even if they sought conference with her, she's too busy to grant it to them…"
Thomas looked amused, leaning his head on his hand. "I think you're thinking far too much for something so simple."
Lumière shook his head. "No, I'm not thinking nearly enough. Once you start a lie, you can't leave any holes. An illusion can easily unravel."
"You're right. I admire your consistency." His gaze looked serious, and he furthered their discussion with a question. "Do you plan on growing stronger, Lumière Croft?"
Lumière nodded. "It was to be my next question. I had the thought that with magic, I could finally try and make things better for the people. However, what good is the ability to control shadows and sense fear in others?" Lumière glanced towards Thomas as he spoke.
Thomas grinned madly, the corners of his lips spreading to the edges of his cheeks. It was an inhuman look, an evil look. It made Lumière's entire body tremble. Thomas's pupils collapsed like ink, filling his iris with stark-black colour. "You're still wary of me, I understand it. But you don't need to be scared, at least not in this way. I already know the abilities you possess. You're not the first person that Lord Sinner has chosen to support in their goals, after all. You're just one of many. Although this time, I suspect you've been chosen as a desperate measure. He hopes you won't fail him like the rest."
As Lumière's thoughts raced, knowing his tricks had been discovered, Thomas continued.
"That's to say that there's no use in trying to hide your abilities from me. Although I commend you on your creativity, shadow control is most definitely not part of your skillset. If that were truly the case, then I would be forced to consider that you have alternate alignments with other Deities or Demons that you haven't shared with me, and I would have to consult our Lord on how you should be handled as a two-faced contractee." He still had a general sense of villainous about him, and his unnerving smile wouldn't dissipate. "Besides, being as wary as you are with me is pointless. Even if I had ill intentions towards you, there's nothing you could possibly do about it. If you are a little dove that has just hatched with the help of our Lord, then I am the dragon he has raised over centuries of effort. I hope this analogy puts it into perspective for you. I am not a threat in that a threat implies you have an adequate coping mechanism, of which you do not. So, your only option is to consider me a friend. You would be wise to do so. After all, I came all this way to help you."
Lumière let out a sigh. He had made several good points. Even if Thomas Hawthorne was his enemy, if he wasn't able to do anything to stop him, then it made fearing him pointless. Almost in the way that a bug cannot hope to avoid the unknowing steps of a person as it crosses the road. It can only hope that it is not crushed by chance—— by fate. Lumière grinned, finally understanding that much. "You're right. It was pointless for me to be wary. After all, you're a comrade."
"Precisely." Thomas Hawthorne stood up from where he had been standing. The window behind him cast him in lilac-coloured moonlight, revealing that his monstrous expression had faded. Now, he resembled a human as much as Lumière did, and he couldn't figure out if he had been imagining it or not. "I've left a package on your desk. Inside of it, there are two things of note. The first is a silver flute. If it is played at any point during the midnight hour, you can alert me of your need to meet. Of course, I would hope you would refrain from interrupting me during the weekdays. These are the days when I am most likely to be undergoing a task for our Lord."
Lumière's eyes widened. 'Such magic is possible? So, now that I consider him a 'comrade', he's willing to give me such an avenue for aid. It really was foolish to consider that he might be an enemy, at least in that regard. Of course, his intentions towards me might still be underhanded, but for the time being I can consider him sincere.'
Lumière nodded his head. "And the second?"
"The other item of note is an invitation. It is sealed in an envelope, marked with the seal of the Lord Sinner. This invitation, once opened, will allow you to travel to his domain, although it is single-use. It will burn away into embers once opened."
"Is this intended for use at any time?"
Thomas shook his head. "No. It should be opened ten days from now. Of course, the reason why will become obvious to you. For the same reason, even if you play that silver flute in the next ten days, I will not answer, and I will not assist you. Good luck, Lumière Croft."
After tipping his hat, Thomas stepped out of the open window, disappearing into the night. As Lumière watched him go, his thoughts continued, fueled by their conversation.
'He mentioned that I had predecessors… and that they all failed. Why did that occur? Is the 'exchange' that the contract demands is a harsh task? Will the Lord Sinner ask something impossible of me?'
'However, because I had lied to him, he didn't answer as to whether or not I can grow stronger, and to what extent I need to go to make that happen.' Lumière's gaze drifted over to his desk, where a box bound by twine had suddenly appeared. 'Ten days from now, I can ask him… but what was he talking about before? In the next ten days, I need his good wishes? What could be coming?'
——
Thomas Hawthorne stood at the top of the towering city structure known as Etten-Leur, overlooking the entirety of the sunken lower borough. It was a hell of swampish, hilly terrain, only fueled by the slanted slope structure that separated the middle borough from its lower predecessor, causing all rainfall to fall down into the valleyside.
In the air beside Thomas, an eyeball suddenly opened up. It looked around for a time, before settling on the cloaked man. Then, noticing its appearance, Thomas smiled.
"Good day, Emissary."
The eyeball blinked, before looking away.
{"Messenger."}
Thomas's expression sunk slightly. "Why do you always treat me so coldly? Would it hurt you to smile a bit?"
The voice replied, its sentences fragmented. {"With- what mouth?"}
Thomas sighed. "Never mind, forget about it. So, what are you here to talk about? Does our Lord have another task for me?"
{"I- wish to- know why you didn't- tell that Lumière- Croft about- that man."}
"I didn't think it necessary. Even if I were to tell him of the dangers, of what will happen soon, do you think it would have changed its inevitability? He will still face the danger."
{"He could have- prepared better."}
"No one could have prepared better. Not with this little time."
Thomas turned to face the Emissary, his expression serious.
"That man with the inhuman expression… do you think he's associated with 'that' organisation?"
{"Likely."}
"But then… what could the Phantoms wish to do at this time? Is this another of that man's plots? How much will they continue to interrupt our attempts at raising a beacon?"
Thomas let out a sigh, his gaze returning to the harsh landscape.
"Lumière Croft, if you can survive this, then perhaps you will finally be the one. You will be the one to fulfill 'his' goals." Thomas grinned, his smile spreading to the edges of his cheeks inhumanly.