The guard was relatively easy to find, since he was still at the Royal Academy of Medicine, doing the same job.
"For me, it's a very leisurely job."
The old guard was getting on in years, but he was still in good spirits.
"I really like this job. Being here every day, watching those lively boys and girls coming and going, feels wonderful. It almost makes you feel young again, doesn't it? They have a future, a long future ahead of them, and thinking about that makes me happy. That's why I refused when my family wanted to send me to a nursing home, sir. I don't think nursing homes are good places. They're more like places where a group of people with little time left huddle together for warmth. But that isn't a good thing. One day, you might wake up and be told that the gentleman next door has passed away. Oh, how sad, but then you soon start thinking, perhaps I'll be next... Places like that aren't good for your physical or mental health."
"That's true."
Li Wei nodded quietly and took a sip of tea, while the old guard continued.
"Ah... Right, you're here to ask about Lake's disappearance, aren't you? Such a poor young man. I really wish I knew what happened to him. After all these years, it's still a mystery..."
"Do you still remember what happened that night?"
"Oh, of course I do. It was a perfectly ordinary evening. Classes had ended, and we were making our night patrols. I covered the east, and Lake covered the west. He was a wonderful young man, funny, friendly, and very responsible. I followed my usual patrol route, and everything was normal. But when I got back to the guardroom, Lake hadn't returned yet. That surprised