Fude knocked open a room door, walked in slowly, then pulled it shut behind him.
Inside the room, the light from two oil lamps intertwined, stretching a rather slender shadow long across the floor.
The figure had thin cheeks, a full forehead, and a pair of narrow, elongated eyes that were remarkably calm. A pile of documents sat on the desk before him. At that moment, he was reading a thick book, never stopping even after Fude walked up behind him.
Just as Fude was wondering whether he should call out to him, the slender man casually gestured for Fude to sit to one side and said softly, "Fude, wait for me a moment."
Fude said nothing. He simply sat quietly in a chair nearby and watched their leader turn the pages of the book one by one.
After an unknown amount of time had passed, the slender man let out a long breath, closed the book, and muttered to himself, "That should be about it."
He then pushed the book forward, turned around, and asked, "What is it, Fude? How did tonight's operation go?"
Fude answered seriously, "It failed, Leader An."
Although his leader An did not appear especially imposing, Fude did not dare act recklessly before him. Perhaps that was what reverence meant—respect first, fear second.
An nodded indifferently. "It doesn't matter. This isn't the main issue."
Then he gestured toward Fude's arm. "What happened to your arm?"
Fude moved his arm slightly. "It'll heal in a while. It's not a big problem."
An leaned back and settled comfortably into his chair. "You cut it off yourself, didn't you? There aren't many people in Temple Forest City who could make you willingly cut off your own flesh."
Fude nodded. "I did encounter a very small freak, as well