Signing

"Nothing at all?" Hesta asked. "Like if he gave me a book, a pen—"

"He wouldn't give you anything that cheap." Simoya slammed on the brakes at a red light and turned to look at her. "If he gives you anything, it'll be a one-way ticket to AHgAs's economic court."

"Wow, that's impressive." Ligo exclaimed from the back seat. "When does he usually invite people to dinner? Can I come along and watch?"

Simoya stared at the changing numbers beneath the red light ahead, inexplicably feeling the veins near her temples throb.

"...Do whatever you want."

"You'll be coming with us the whole time too?" Hesta asked.

"Of course!"

Kexi Workstation.

Simoya practically jogged up the stone steps outside the entrance, with Hesta following behind in long strides.

The two passed through an empty lobby and several offices with their doors shut tight. The entire workstation was deserted; even in broad daylight, there were hardly any staff in sight.

"Why is this place so dead?"

"More than half of District 12's workstations were shut down this year. Kexi Workstation is one of the few still operating," Simoya answered quietly. "Its staff has also been cut by sixty percent."

They headed straight to an office on the east side of the second floor. Before they even entered, Hesta heard a low, efficient voice. Though the speaker talked very slowly, Hesta still could not understand a word. She guessed it might have been the local language of District 12.

"Kendall is on the phone." Simoya gestured for Hesta to sit in the office's reception area. "Try not to make any noise."

Hesta's gaze fell on a metal rack nearby, where several framed photographs stood. In them, a middle-aged woman with gray-white hair stared into the camera. Her short curly hair clung