Familiar song

Michael looked at Agnes and noticed the strange expression on her face.

Do I know her or something? Why is she looking at me like that—like she knows me?

Snapping out of her stupor, Agnes gave a small bow. "I apologize for my behavior," she said upon realizing that she had been staring at his face for a few seconds. "I am Agnes, a female Ogre, and I serve as the attendant of the Montgomery family."

That last name rang a bell in Michael's head, he recalled that he had heard it before. Seberus had mentioned it before—they were one of the well-established families in the Queens region, and he had even suggested that it would do Michael good if he formed an alliance with them.

He hadn't expected that he would meet them so soon.

"Welcome to our nation," Michael replied. "I am Michael Vanderbilt."

The two shook hands. Anges' grip was firm, solid enough that Michael immediately sensed her strength just from her grip alone.