His hair would be completely white by the time Long Feng returned, Inspector-General Hyo was certain.
Between the new responsibilities that came with his recent 'promotion', the new direction the Dai Li were taking, taking some of Long Feng's responsibilities on top of his own, and various politicians badgering him about the sill-absent Earth King, Hyo was extremely stressed.
When Agent Lanh poked his head into his office, Hyo pierced him with a glare. "Keep your hands in sight. I am in no mood for your shenanigans."
Lanh gave him a wounded look, which he ignored. "Um. The Avatar is in the city. With some of his friends," the boy reported. "Sir."
Hyo stared at him. "Please tell me you're joking."
The young agent shook his head, and Hyo suppressed a groan. "Of course they are. Where are they now?"
"Um. Outside. They, uh. They want to talk to someone in charge. They... don't look pleased, sir."
Hyo could feel a headache coming on. "Given the majority of their encounters with the Dai Li..." He looked at the candle-clock and sighed. Of course they'd pick now, when he'd planned to see his daughter for the first time in three days, to turn up.
"All right. I'll deal with this."
Damn it.
"Tell Mi-Cha I'm going to be late," he ordered the boy. Lanh bowed and vanished, and Hyo put his head in his hands. "I'm getting too old for this."
Lanh reappeared. "You're barely forty, Hyo-sir."
"Out!"
The impudent scut grinned and withdrew.
With a final sigh, Hyo rose from his desk and went to deal with the Avatar.
Author's Notes: Just a short little bit because I like Hyo-sir.
This takes place over a year after the series finale and is probably concurrent with Rebecca Hb's - no, wait, that story isn't finished yet. Sorry.