The Round Table Conference was the highest-level meeting of the Prison Keeper Organization.
It was chaired by the Standing Management Council, with members of the Highest Office attending as observers.
It was a multiparty meeting held through virtual holographic technology.
The leaders of every Containment Facility in the human world were required to attend.
The preparation time for the Round Table Conference was one hour.
During that time, all Containment Facility leaders had to immediately set aside whatever they were doing to attend.
Doctor straightened the white coat draped over him, then carefully polished his monocle.
Only after doing all this did Doctor sit in his office chair and quietly wait for the meeting to begin.
"Good morning, everyone! Thank you for your contributions to humanity!"
A pleasant female voice sounded in the ears of everyone attending the Round Table Conference.
Doctor slowly opened his eyes and looked around.
He was now inside a building that resembled a temple.
Before him stood a huge ring-shaped conference table.
Overhead was a swath of chaos, while towering white jade pillars stood all around.
Doctor adjusted the nonexistent monocle on his face.
Clearly, this was a virtual space, much like a setting in a VR game.
Pillars of light descended into the temple from time to time.
Each pillar of light represented someone taking their seat.
Five people sat high up at the head of the round table.
They were the five councilors of the Standing Management Council.
These five councilors were independent of all Containment Facilities and represented only the Standing Management Council.
Below them were the senior officials of the Highest Office.
Last came Containment Facility leaders like Doctor.
A white-haired old man sat beside Doctor.
The old man gave Doctor a slight smile.
"Doctor! We meet again!"
Doctor spoke with a touch of respect.
"Mentor, it's been a long time!"
The old man was Doctor's mentor, as well as the leader of Huaxia's C01 Containment Facility.
His codename was "Warden"!
Warden glanced at Doctor, then chuckled.
"I heard your C03 snatched 137 from J01?"
Hearing this, Doctor replied with a perfectly straight face.
"After a containment failure, 137 appeared within C03's jurisdiction. Under the Warden Regulations, I had both the right and the obligation to contain it!"
Warden shook his head with a laugh.
"Why keep up the act with me? I was the one who taught you the Warden Regulations!"
As he spoke, Warden smoothed his white hair.
"Just trade 137 for some benefits. There's no need to cling to it!"
"J01 treasures 137, but to us, it's only so useful!"
Doctor nodded. That had been his plan to begin with.
There were two reasons he had rejected J01's exchange request at the time.
The first was that it needed to be discussed on a formal occasion like this, and J01 had to bring it up themselves.
That way, Doctor could secure more benefits for C03.
The more important reason was the second: Doctor wanted to get under the skin of J01's leader.
Warden continued, his tone somewhat heavy.
"This meeting is most likely about the 301 you contained!"
"Have you figured out how to keep 301?"
Doctor shrugged.
"He told me to play it by ear!"
Warden froze for a moment, then laughed heartily.
"After all these years, you haven't changed a bit!"
"So be it! With him around, we won't lose out even if we fail to keep 301 in the end!"
Doctor shrugged indifferently.
On Doctor's other side sat a young man.
His codename was "Director," and he led Huaxia's C02 Containment Facility.
Hearing Doctor and Warden's conversation, he chimed in.
"Doctor! I'm more interested in the 292 you contained a while ago than in 301!"
He smiled with his lips pressed together, looking somewhat shy.
"Why don't you name a price?"
Doctor glanced at him.
"Sorry, I have no plans to trade 292!"
Director did not seem to mind. He leaned back against his chair and chuckled.
"The data on 292 has barely changed. Doctor, you're not planning to keep the research results to yourself, are you?"
Doctor nodded very seriously.
"That's exactly what I'm planning!"
Director froze for a moment, then gave a couple of chuckles.
"Doctor, has anyone ever told you that you're terrible at conversation?"
Warden murmured thoughtfully.
"I've mentioned that problem to him!"
Doctor nodded very seriously once again.
"Yes! That's right. My mentor told me!"
Director immediately pressed a hand to his forehead.
He felt that talking to Doctor was far more exhausting than studying anomalies.
All three were leaders of Containment Facilities in Huaxia.
Their conversation therefore took place over a separate private channel equipped with safeguards against eavesdropping,
so they were not worried about anyone listening in on their conversation.
Just then, the five councilors seated at the head exchanged glances, and one of them stood and spoke in a ringing voice.
His voice sounded over the public channel.
"The meeting will now begin!"
"First, on behalf of the council members, I would like to thank everyone here for your contributions!"
With that, he bowed.
Then he launched into a long-winded opening speech.
Warden listened with great interest.
Doctor and Director, however, felt rather drowsy.
After the opening speech ended, the councilor spoke in a grave voice.
"First, I have something to report to you all. The investigation into U01 has concluded, and the findings are now available!"
As his words fell, a screen of light appeared before everyone.
It displayed Enzo's personal information and the findings of the investigation into U01.
"Mr. Smith, do you have anything to add?"
Everyone's gaze fell on a middle-aged man with a head of silver hair.
He was Smith, the leader of U01 Containment Facility.
Smith stood, his expression filled with guilt.
"I'm sure you've all seen the investigation's findings."
"I am deeply pained by this. It was our negligence that led to such serious consequences!"
"Fortunately, it was discovered in time, preventing even greater losses to our Prison Keeper Organization!"
"Here, I would like to offer my sincere thanks to Doctor!"
With that, he bowed deeply in Doctor's direction.
After hearing this, Director scoffed beside him.
"Tsk! Pinning the blame on the Saints again!"
He said this entirely because the investigation's findings pointed the finger squarely at the Saints.
Warden said with a chuckle.
"Deflecting the issue has always been their usual tactic!"
"Just treat it as hot air!"
Doctor touched the rim of his eye without speaking.
After straightening up, Smith continued.
"Rest assured, everyone. All personnel involved have been investigated. I guarantee that nothing like this will happen again!"
"Under the Warden Regulations, anyone whose dereliction of duty causes harm to the Prison Keeper Organization must be suspended and punished!"
"Councilor, I am willing to accept punishment!"
The councilor nodded.
"Very good, Mr. Smith. Your sense of responsibility is admirable!"
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