Hesta took the two invitations and looked at them carefully in her hands.
"The previous adjudicator once showed us a red pen," Hestad continued comparing the differences between the two invitations without looking up. "At that time, he said that he would hand the pen to anyone. In the hands of someone, that person will automatically be promoted to the next adjudicator...Is this possible?"
"Yes, although that is another procedure." The bartender replied, "As the current adjudicator, you have the full right to retain the candidate you like and wait until the right time to give the other party a token. This method is called 'token granting'" '."
"Does this require my personal invitation letter?"
"Yes, it also requires you to provide an untainted invitation."
Hesta was lost in thought. She raised her head and looked at the dark ceiling, "So, since my invitation has been contaminated, I will no longer be able to decide the next adjudicator through the token grant?"
"right."
"At the same time, even if my invitation is not contaminated, I cannot designate Si Lei as my successor - because her invitation is also contaminated... Can I understand this?"
"It's a shame," the bartender smiled, "but it's true."
Si Lei spoke again, "But what exactly is the pollution in your mouth -"
"You wouldn't say it directly, would you?" Hesta looked at the bartender.
The bartender smiled and didn't answer.
Hesta thought for a while and then asked: "Then if I bring some other invitations over now, can you help me identify their status?"
"Of course," the bartender nodded, "you are the arbiter and we are happy to oblige."
"Do you have a phone here?"
"Over there," the bartender raised his hand and pointed to a landline phone hanging on the wall not far behind Hesta, "you can use it as you like."
"Thank you."
About a quarter of an hour later, René appeared at the elevator entrance on the second floor, smelling of alcohol, with a red face and four invitations in his hands.
"Female... Madam..." René burped unsteadily. He firmly grasped the fire cabinet on the side with one hand and handed the invitation letter to Hestad with the other hand. "You... you want... "
"It's commendable that it came quickly," Hesta said softly, "Now, put these four invitations over there."
Rene looked in the direction indicated by Hesta's gaze. In the darkness, he saw nothing except the neon tube that read "Hard Rock Bar" and a few spotlights.
"...There's no one over there." Rene was confused, "Who should... give the things... to?"
"Put it on the bar and come back."
"Okay...ok, I'll...go there now."
Rene looked at the invitation in his hand, and then at Hesta. He stepped forward suspiciously, and within three meters, he bumped into the corner of a low table.
Si Lei took advantage of the situation and tried to help him: "You——"
"Don't go," Hesta looked at Si Lei and whispered, "Let him go on his own."
Si Lei retracted his hand that was ready to help and stood there watching.
Rene stumbled towards the bar. He slapped the four invitations on the table with exaggerated movements, and then ran back quickly.
"Okay," Rene smiled, "Now...?"
"Officer Si Lei, please take him to the elevator and wait for a while."
"good."
Si Lei grabbed one of Rene's shoulders and dragged the drunkard with question marks on his head toward the elevator. Rico pushed Hesta back to the bar - Ms. Putina was already counting four invitations.
"That gentleman left too fast," Putina whispered, "I didn't even have time to say hello to him..."
"Do you have any questions for him?"
"No." Putina smiled and said, "Please wait a moment."
Soon, the bartender returned to the bar again. She pushed the invitation letter to Hesta, "One of the invitation letters this time is contaminated, and the remaining three are normal."
Hesta's expression was normal, as if she had expected this result. She took the invitation, quickly took out three of them, and pressed hard on the paper with her index finger.
"What are you doing?" Putina asked curiously.
"Now, could you please check if these three invitations are still in normal condition?"
"...Uh, of course." Putina looked at Hesta, "You just touched them -"
"Yes, I just touched them, and the bacterial dust on my hands was all left on them." Hesta looked into the bartender's eyes. "If this is not considered pollution, then I will take a pen Does it count to draw on it? Do you want me to try it?"
Putina smiled, "...of course you can try it, but let me tell you directly, it doesn't count."
"Okay." Hesta whispered, "I understand."
Li Ge looked on in confusion, "So the key is...?"
Hesta placed the four invitations in front of Rico, and then turned them over one by one.
Among the four invitations, three were empty on the back, and only one had a line on the back:
"Absolute obedience deprives us of all self, but also gives us a new freedom: the freedom to hate, lie, abuse, and betray without guilt.
You are sad
Albodonica
Rico reacted belatedly, "So, every invitation that Albodonica has left a message on is considered contaminated?"
Rico turned the invitation back to the front. There was an unfamiliar name written in the upper left corner of the invitation: Helen Bastia.
Rico tilted his head: "...This Albodonica seems to only select women to leave messages?"
Hesta was silent for a while, then suddenly raised her head and spoke to Putinna: "Do you understand what a 'security inspection' is?"
"Of course, in order to eliminate potential safety hazards on the ship, some safety inspections will be carried out regularly on the cruise ship. The operational matters are different for different projects. It is recommended that you read your "Guide" again."
"We read it before we came here," Rico added, "but we didn't turn it over."
Putina just smiled and looked at Hesta, "By the way, given that there are three untainted invitations here, if you are willing, there is still an option -"
"Can I ask how long you have been working here?" Hesta asked suddenly.
"I'm a newcomer on this ship. Counting from the first day on the ship, to today... it's less than ten years?"
"These are still newbies, how long have you old people been working here?"
"Then I can't compare," the bartender gently touched the workbench. "Most of the more than 200 people traveling this time are senior."
"You probably have a lot of affection for this ship."
"Yes," the bartender smiled and looked at the invitation next to him. "There is a way to help you get around the current rule that you cannot appoint a successor. Do you want to hear it?"
(End of chapter)
