"What? The committee members all got upset stomachs from the food, and now they're banding together to report the Head Chef?"
A synthesized mechanical voice rang out in the Warden's office.
"How could that happen? I've reviewed the Head Chef's ingredient list. Carbohydrates, protein, fats, vitamins—not a single thing missing. It achieves the perfect thermic effect of food. You could certainly call it nutritious and well balanced.
"This is the foundation that has kept him employed in this prison for two hundred years. How could he make a mistake at such a critical time?
"All right, understood. I'll be there right away."
The office door flew open with a bang, and a Construct clad entirely in metal armor, forming the outline of a humanoid creature, hurried toward the circular corridor.
Passing a Snakefolk woman who was cleaning, he turned his glowing blue eyes on her.
"You're one of the new kitchen workers. What are you doing here?"
He kept a file on everyone who entered the prison. The four new kitchen workers were talented people recommended by the Collector, so he had not needed to conduct much of an interview and had had little contact with them.
But he at least recognized their faces and knew this was not a time when she should be wandering around here.
Bella blinked and said somewhat nervously,
"Sorry, sir. I'm new here, and I just wanted to get familiar with the surroundings. Am I disturbing you?" The Warden's mechanical voice sounded almost personable. "Since the entire prison is under lockdown, you should remain in your bedrooms outside working hours. Those are the rules of the Great Wall Prison. Didn't the Head Chef tell you beforehand?"
"Sorry, I didn't know. I'll leave right away." Bella hurriedly bowed, acting like an ignorant, reckless odd-job worker.