A quarter of an hour later, Robert returned to his office alone.
He stepped into the door as usual, stepped lightly on the carpet at the door, and then stopped - someone was already sitting in his place.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Secretary-General."
A young man's voice came. This was a typical young man's voice. His vocal range was on the high side, and he would occasionally have a slightly suppressed nasal sound when speaking in a low voice.
"Avinash?" Robert whispered the name.
The soft chair squirmed and turned around, and the young man on the chair waved to Robert.
By blood, Avinash belongs to District 11. He has brown skin and slightly curly black hair common to people in District 11. His eye sockets are deep and his eyes are bright. Those light green eyes like prehnite are just like the first impression of his whole person - warm and clear.
Robert was not surprised to see Avinash in person at this moment. It was he who personally gave the young man an ultimatum last night: If he does not show up before six o'clock today, then the appointment he had signed privately with the coalition government of the third district will The agreement will be immediately voided.
"Tomorrow afternoon, there will be a press conference here." Robert got straight to the point, "We need you to attend and speak - as the representative of Tan Yi City's first mercury needle task force, it is time to announce our plan."
"I'm sorry," Avinash said in a calm voice, "Didn't I already agree on when you would bring the new guy and when I would take over the task force... I don't like to deal with the media."
Although this was not the first time he talked to Avinash, the other person's straightforward and inhumane attitude still aroused Robert's secret annoyance. He narrowed his slender eyes and said, "What if I have to ask you to attend?" ?”
"Then I need a handwritten letter from all the Third District Council," Avinash raised his head, "Although the task force officially belongs to Tan Yi... it is better for you to act according to the charter."
Robert walked slowly along the edge of the office in this spacious room, his eyes barely leaving Avinash on the chair.
"Chiba Masaki came here today." Robert suddenly said, "She also mentioned you."
"I know, I saw her car... What did she mention about me?"
"She asked about the conditions offered to you by the third district." Robert paused, his eyes looking a little suspicious, "How did she know about this, Avinash?"
Avinash shook his head slightly and smiled, "To be honest, Mr. Secretary-General, you either underestimated the intelligence system of AHgAs, or you underestimated Chiba's influence within AHgAs..." He raised his eyes and looked at Robert, "It's not surprising that she knows these things."
"Didn't one of us reveal it to her?"
Avinash's head tilted slightly to his shoulder, "You doubt me?"
Robert had a straight face and did not answer. Avinash's somewhat frivolous smile at this moment already irritated him, but he restrained himself and just raised his chin mockingly.
"I just want to know whether your repeated obstruction of the task force's mission has anything to do with Chiba?"
"Yes," Avinash replied.
"Did you take the initiative, or did she coerce you?"
"It's difficult to answer, Mr. Secretary-General," Avinash said, his eyes downcast and half-closed under long lashes. In silence, he picked up a quill pen on Robert's desk and stroked the loose and soft feathers on it expressionlessly, "Do you believe in fate?"
"What's the meaning?"
"If you are here for the little girl from the monastery, there is no need to be so angry - as long as you really take her out of the base, I will immediately take over the task force affairs."
Robert was extremely annoyed. His eyebrows knitted together and he spoke word by word, "After all, you still don't believe that we can bring people out - with your attitude, how on earth are we going to cooperate?"
"All cooperation must be based on division of labor. After you complete your part, I will complete mine." Avinash said, getting up from the chair and standing up, "I am here to remind you today, pay attention boundary."
The two faced off silently, and then Avinash bowed and walked towards the door.
"Wait!" Robert shouted towards Avinash's back, "What did you mean by fate...?"
"It's just a rule of thumb." Avinash said with a smile, "Chiba Masaki's fate is to drag everyone close to her to misfortune, whether they are her friends, her lovers, or her enemies."
"This is my advice to you. Don't be friends with such a person, but don't be her enemy." Avinash didn't stop. He opened the door and turned around, "Take care."
The door slammed shut, and Robert stood alone in his office, suddenly feeling a tremor.
…
…
In the early morning of the last day after being discharged from the hospital, Hesta sat quietly on the bed as usual, waiting for the nurse to come for rounds.
Her injuries had completely healed, at a speed she couldn't even comprehend.
Since a few days ago, her bedside has been filled with all kinds of flowers. Most of the bouquets contain small cards with blessings written on them, and Hestad doesn't recognize any of them.
These bouquets come one after another, and the nurse will help clear a batch every evening, and new flowers will be delivered the next day.
There were footsteps outside the door. Hesta put down her book and looked at the door.
"Jane?" The doctor and nurse pushed the door open together, "Are you feeling okay today?"
Hesta nodded.
The nurse smiled and placed a stack of cards of different sizes on Hesta's bedside. Judging from the material and pattern of the cards, they should also be blessing cards sandwiched between flowers.
"There are so many flowers sent today that I can't take them all." The nurse smiled and aligned the cards. "Congratulations, you will leave the base tomorrow."
"You mean discharged?"
The doctor and nurse looked at each other, "...Didn't Ms. Chiba tell you? The base has agreed to the city hall's request and will allow you to return to the citizens and live an ordinary life. The press conference was held a few days ago. I’m just waiting for you to recover and be discharged from hospital.”
Hesta said softly "Oh", Chiba indeed didn't tell her.
But since Miss Chiba didn't talk about it, it means that this matter is not important.
On this day, she accepted the doctor's questioning and examination as usual, and then sat quietly on the bed and waited.
The hands of the clock slowly pointed from seven to nine, and finally there was a knock on the door again outside the ward.
Hesta raised her head and said, "Please come in."
The young nurse leaned halfway in and said, "Hesta, you have a friend who came to see you. He said you asked him to come at this time...Is this the case?"
"Yes." Hesta nodded.
The nurse's mouth sank slightly, "Now is not the hospital's visiting time, so we won't do it next time, okay?"
Hesta smiled, "Thank you."
The nurse also smiled, "He's at the nurse's desk."
After the nurse left, Hestad changed her clothes - it was a suede jacket left to her by Chiba. The back hem of the clothes was loose and hung, blocking the two pistols Hestad had on her back.
She walked towards the nurse's desk. At the end of the road, Sean was already waiting there.
