Blazing Fire Burns the Earth (Fifteenth Instance Ends-Big Chapter Seeking Monthly Ticket)

Aines · Graystone Palace

Morning sunlight streamed down from the heavens, passing through the dense city and the narrow Skyrail tracks, through tightly shut windows, and into the bright reception room.

The old man sitting on the sofa watched the upright middle-aged man enter. He stood, extended his hand, and shook the man's hand. "Welcome, President Kemingda."

"You're joking, Mr. President," Kemingda said hurriedly. "You're the president now. I'm only the president-elect."

"Electors in every city have finished voting," the old man said with a smile as he looked at Kemingda. "You're already the confirmed next president. I'm merely keeping the seat warm for you."

"But no matter what," Kemingda said with a smile, "you're still the current president."

"Hahaha, you brat, you're even slicker than I imagined." The old man shook his head. "Let's not talk about that."

He raised his head and looked at Kemingda's face. "You're so young."

"Not really that young anymore." Kemingda sighed softly.

"When you first met me, I told you," the old man said as he walked to the liquor cabinet, slowly picked up the red wine in the decanter, took out two glasses, and poured one for each of them, "this is a ship riddled with holes. Steering it is extremely dangerous."

He handed one glass to Kemingda. "Are you prepared?"

"I think I am." Kemingda took a deep breath and accepted the wine.

"On my first day as vice president," the old man said slowly after taking a sip, not continuing the subject directly, "my predecessor told me that president was one of the worst jobs in the Federation. It was like walking across a narrow log bridge that could break at any moment—even though I was only his vice president then, with no prospect whatsoever of becoming president in the