Aurelian Palace, central wing, Sovereign Hall.
Olin entered the lounge. It was filled with senior Affairs Officers waiting to meet the Governor, along with representatives and personnel from various organizations.
The walls here were covered in slowly writhing biomembranes that emitted a faint glow. Every so often, they shifted into a different color and pattern, never repeating the same one.
Above them was a dome-shaped transparent glass canopy. Soft light shone down from it, but every so often it turned at an angle, as if a huge eye were watching everything in the hall.
At that moment, the Governor's office door opened, and Cassian emerged with an internal affairs officer.
Olin glanced inside. The Federation flag flashed past atop the Governor's broad desk before the door swiftly shut again.
When Cassian saw him, he exchanged a few words with the internal affairs officer, then gestured for Olin to follow him toward a side corridor.
The two stopped before a partitioned viewing wall. Miniature luminous plants sat on the tabletop, lighting up this side of the corridor, while a faint botanical fragrance filled the air.
"How is it going?" Olin asked.
Cassian said, "The Strategic Affairs Department just sent over a report. Fan Zhentong most likely separated off a portion of his flesh and blood and sent it there once." He paused. "He may have deliberately let us know that."
"Separated flesh and blood?"
"Yes. How should I explain it? Like the one beside the Governor—we can always see him in different places at the same time, and speak with different 'versions' of him."
Olin recalled that being whose appearance, and even gender, no one knew. Understanding dawned on him, and he suddenly asked in a rather cheerful tone, "So the West Bank Party's attempt failed?"
Cassian gave a grunt.
"It