Kallen walked up to Dawensi, who had already picked up Kallen's physical examination form.
"Ten points?"
Dawensi looked at Kallen with a meaningful smile.
As Kallen looked at him, he recalled the impassioned speech Dawensi had given during the lecture he had attended.
Old Saman was about the same age as Dawensi, but Old Saman's self-imposed "exile" was genuine, a wholly passive retreat from the world.
This man was different. He, too, seemed to spend his days in an idle post drinking tea and smoking, looking a little unkempt, but in reality, his heart still burned.
The more someone was like that, the more intriguing they were, but also the more dangerous.
Kallen asked, "What is it? Has no one ever gotten full marks?"
"They have, they have." Dawensi smiled. "But they generally looked rather dull-eyed."
"I'm like that too, actually."
"I don't see it. Looking at you reminds me of when I was young. Ah, what wonderful youth."
Dawensi handed Kallen his physical examination form. "Everything's done. Just get it stamped later. With this many people, you only need to send one person."
"Understood. Thank you."
"You're welcome. Where do you usually live? York City?"
"Yes."
Dawensi lifted his teacup, took a sip, and asked,
"Do you like tea?"
"No."
"Oh, all right." Dawensi shifted sideways and shook his empty cigarette pack.
Kallen took his cigarettes out of his pocket and set them directly in front of him.
"Hmm, this brand. I usually only get to smoke these by cadging them off the other directors. I could never bear to buy them myself. You're giving me the whole pack? Does this count as bribery?"
"My examination is already over, so no."
"Hmm, yes. You like smoking, then? As it happens, I still have some..."
"No, I don't smoke."
"You