21. Interlude: Reception (III, 12)

Lost in thought, Kael slowly leaned back against his chair.

A very important reception was about to begin, yet he had not changed into formal attire. He was still dressed in black, looking as though he were about to attend a funeral.

Several documents lay before him, spread in a fan across the heavy brown desk. They were all pale white, thin, and soft in texture, which meant they had all come from the Scarlena Family.

This was a paper-making family that had risen to prominence in recent years. Four years ago, they had officially become the sole supplier of all official documents within the Sol System. They had emerged victorious from the bidding process open to every paper mill in the system.

Now, the Scarlena Family was gathering wealth, power, and prestige at an unimaginable pace—naturally, this would cause certain problems, for human nature was complicated. But Kael had no intention of considering what came next. At least for now, the Scarlena Family remained diligent and compliant with the rules.

If, in the future, they became oppressors and slavers wielding whips and daggers, then someone would naturally sharpen their sword with patience and set out into the night.

Still, what he wanted to see more than intervention was "prevention," and he was not alone in thinking so.

"Reform the system."

With that, Kael Lohars—the Grand Inquisitor, Grand Justiciar, and sole investigator of the Administratum's independent Oversight and Investigation Department—chose to stop thinking.

He rose, organized the documents, then pushed open the door without a word and left the Adeptus Arbites headquarters on Duns A-2. He had temporarily requisitioned this empty office, intending to review and approve every document before the reception began, but he had failed utterly.

At this rate, he would probably have to work overtime after the