The Qinggang Council
At the time the Temporary Containment Center was under attack by the Mechanical Ghost, in Qinggang's Central City district,
in a black council hall with an extraordinarily high ceiling,
long tables and chairs gave the room an air of mysterious antiquity. The light fell upon the tabletop, while everything around it lay in darkness.
Zhang Chiguo sat alone at the lower end of the table, his expression stern as he reported to the figures across from him:
"I have only two recommendations."
"First, authorize the release of one of Miss Ai's locks!"
"Second, reject the Drunk Investigator's application for promotion to Independent Investigator."
"He's far too clever for his own good. He's still under the Disaster Management Bureau's authority, yet he's already using his Secret School ties to form factions, set up an investigators' club, and even teach ordinary investigators unsafe methods for enhancing Mental Activity."
"If he gets promoted and gains the authority of an Independent Investigator, I doubt he'll be willing to shoulder the responsibility of guarding the secret prison, as the current Independent Investigators do!"
"..."
Three figures sat across from Zhang Chiguo. Behind them, several screens were mounted on the wall.
Each screen represented someone listening to the meeting without wanting to appear in person.
After Zhang Chiguo finished speaking, only the figure on the right replied softly, "You've come to the Qinggang Council Hall to report in person for the first time, and this is what you want to discuss?"
"I believe these are the most important issues," Zhang Chiguo said.
The figure across from him fell silent for a while, then lightly tapped the tabletop with their knuckles. "We have our own reasons for how we're handling the Drunk Investigator's promotion. That's not your concern."
"Also, we can't grant Miss Ai