"Hello, Mr. Dulong, esteemed Director of Boulder City Hall. I am the Lord of Dawn City—"
"Luka."
Shelter, B4 level, reading room.
Luka, dressed in formal attire, sat on the sofa.
A holographic computer pen rested on the coffee table before him. Pale blue beams interwove above it, forming a conical three-dimensional projection.
Through the pale blue cone, he could see the bay window of the Boulder City Hall director's office, as well as the director seated behind his desk.
"The Lord of Dawn City..." Dulong frowned slightly. "Where is your manager?"
If the information was correct, he remembered that the Alliance's highest authority was supposed to be its manager.
What the hell was a Lord of Dawn City?
And this Luka...
That weathered old face looked less like a city lord and more like a farmer.
What the hell was the New Alliance's manager up to?
He could not make heads or tails of it.
Without taking Mr. Dulong's change in attitude to heart, Luka continued in a mild tone, following the manager's instructions.
"Our manager is currently inspecting Dawn City and may not be able to return to Clear Spring City anytime soon. Communications there are somewhat unreliable, so in order to show you the respect and importance you deserve, he entrusted me with this conference call."
"When our manager assigned me this task, he specifically instructed me that Boulder City is the Alliance's neighbor and friend, and that I must demonstrate our goodwill during these talks."
A trace of barely perceptible disdain showed on Dulong's face at those lofty words.
Friends?
Did Boulder City need such things?
He had originally wanted to say, "Since your manager isn't here, we can talk when he returns," but thinking that it might be a long wait, he swallowed those words.