Looking at the familiar city before him, Odys smiled. Backlund, I'm back.
This time, he had returned in an official capacity. He didn't have to worry about MI9 or the Church of the God of Steam and Machinery making trouble for him.
At least, they wouldn't openly make things difficult for Lenburg's ambassador to the Loen Kingdom.
After the train arrived, Odys thanked the guards for escorting him and disembarked with his two attendants and a dozen or so diplomatic staff.
Under the agreement between Loen and Lenburg, the escort guards were not permitted to leave the train unless the king of Lenburg himself was visiting.
If they disembarked, it would amount to an invasion of Loen territory.
Of course, Loen had to show due regard when an ambassador took up his post, especially one from an ally like Lenburg. Appearances had to be maintained.
The Loen police had already taken control of the station, and the deputy minister of foreign affairs was waiting on the platform to greet him.
Carriages stood ready outside. Under police escort, Odys headed to the Lenburg Embassy in West Borough to take over from the previous ambassador, Earl Connery.
The embassy's main buildings were the offices and the reception hall. The former housed the staff, while the latter was used for meetings and entertaining guests.
Behind them lay a sizable courtyard. On the other side of its rear wall stood several residential buildings for the staff.
There wasn't much to hand over. Only two recent cross-border cases between Lenburg and Loen required the ambassador's involvement.
He was also expected to host a ball at the end of the month.
Earl Connery had attended many balls, and custom called for him to return the invitations by then.
Finally, Earl Connery introduced the embassy's senior officials: