Meeting

The Meeting

The ten Transcendents did not understand why President Barnard had stayed in the presidential office all night without coming out. However, the office was fully equipped with living facilities, so there was no need to worry.

Of course, several of the seconded Transcendents secretly looked down on him. Had he not just gained the presidency and become reluctant to leave the presidential office?

"The meeting is about to begin. Has the president still not come out?" Absalom, the newly appointed Secretary of State, arrived outside the presidential office and asked one of the Transcendents.

This was President Barnard's first government meeting. Secretary Absalom was anxious. First, the agenda submitted for this meeting worried him; second, President Barnard's continued absence seemed rather strange.

"Wait another ten minutes. If President Barnard still hasn't come out, I'll knock and remind him," the Transcendent said after checking the time.

"Then I'll have to trouble you," Secretary Absalom said, nodding.

He turned and headed for the conference hall. The preliminary preparations still had to be made, and it was also up to him to contact the officials who had already arrived and secure their support.

Inside the presidential office, President Barnard opened his eyes with difficulty. His head hurt.

It was the sign of a hangover. He could not help looking to the side and found himself lying on the sofa. Two empty bottles of red wine lay before him, while aide Delamond had passed out on the other side and had yet to wake.

President Barnard shook his head. His memories of the previous night were extremely hazy. He must have blacked out from drinking.

"I can't drink like this again," President Barnard muttered to himself as he got up and stretched, feeling the discomfort caused by a night spent sleeping in