Sigma District, the Police Department director's office.
"Tell the bureau chiefs of the district Police Bureaus to follow these standards in cracking down on the cults that have been running rampant lately. Make sure you choke off their arrogance like wringing the neck of a squawking rooster!"
"Yes, Director Olof."
"You may go. Put up the resting sign. I'll rest alone for a while."
"Yes."
The middle-aged man in a suit bowed to Olof, then turned and left the director's office.
Olof got up, locked the door, then tossed a red disc the size of a button into each of the room's four corners.
Bzz, bzz-
After several vibrations, a pale red dome of light enveloped the room.
Olof made a cup of strong coffee and set it beside him on his desk.
Then he sat down and tapped his black wristwatch several times in a steady pattern.
Several projected screens instantly appeared in the air before him.
At the center of each screen was a person whose face had been blurred into black-and-white pixels. Their backgrounds were obscured as well.
Only the three-digit identifier in the upper-right corner of each projection screen was visible.
Olof swept his gaze over them.
Including himself, everyone from [002] to [009] was present.
002 spoke first. "This is a rare occasion. Aside from 000 and 001, everyone's here today. I'm sure you've also noticed that we have a newcomer: 006, who just joined us. The position has been vacant for a long time since the previous 006, Qi Tian, withdrew. I'm honored to have found another friend among the vast sea of people whose experiences and aspirations match our own..."
"002, did you call us all here because you have something important to announce? If not, I'm leaving."
004's projection screen flickered, and