CHAPTER 5
The crowd didn't easily disperse. Nor did the reporters.
People craned their necks one way or another to catch a last glimpse of the new Lumiose Gym Leader. While League Trainers stood firm at safety barricades, I walked off the podium along with Diantha and the others. Voices clamored over one another to be heard as microphones and cameras were shoved in my general direction.
"Leader Raynard! Why did you only return after fifteen years? Why not sooner?"
"Did the Odaria Tragedy motivate you to become one of Kalos's pillars?"
"What have you been up to since leaving Kalos? There aren't any records of you in League Circuits or Conferences—"
"You're listed in a public Ability Holder registry—"
"Did you decide to become an Electric Specialist like your mother?"
"Leader Raynard—"
On and on how they blabbered. It was enough to give anyone a headache much less me, but I kept my emotions in check and smiled in their direction. I left the retreating procession of Kalos elites and veered toward the reporters. Normally I wouldn't have bothered giving them the time of day, but I had a reputation to keep now as a public figure. That meant I had to occasionally play nice with the media.
The reporters only grew more frantic as I drew closer. I paused in place in front of flashing cameras and looked left and right with a thoughtful expression. I took my time so that they'd get more pictures of me for the morning and evening papers. The more exposure, the better.
"First, I'm honored to become one of Kalos's gym leaders. It's a duty I'll treat with the utmost respect and sincerity. And please," I paused, smiling, "do call me Ray."
Before the reporters could fight between themselves to ask questions, I took the initiative.
"I may not have participated in any League Circuits after leaving Kalos, but I was under the tutelage of my grandfather, Bernil Odaria," I explained smoothly. "I also underwent intense training in isolation for a time."
That quieted them down a bit. My grandfather had been an outstanding Dark Specialist in the service of the League. Ultimately, though, he retired as an active trainer when he grew older and became one of their archive keepers instead. His name still carried a lot of respect.
"As for my specialty, I'm pleased to inform you that the League's website should be updated before the day is over. I'll be running a Dark type gym," I finished.
That got me a renewed round of rapidfire questioning and camera flashes.
House Odaria had a storied history of Dark Specialists, but that wasn't what the reporters were shocked by. Throughout generations, the Lumiose Gym had always been run by an Electric Specialist. You also didn't typically see a lot of major Dark type gyms in Kalos or… the rest of the world, really, in general.
It wasn't because Dark types were stigmatized. That was a thing of the past. They used to be feared as bad omens and associated with criminal trainers, but people didn't really care about that as much in today's age. The trainer community certainly didn't. Dark types were some of the most useful Pokemon to have especially in high-tier battling. Governments and Leagues also employed a lot of Dark Specialists to help with security measures.
So why weren't there a lot of notable Dark Gyms then? To train a Dark type could be simple enough, but to become a Specialist at the highest level was a whole other matter. The Dark was not just the shadows or the night. It was so much more and yet so much less.
You and your Pokemon had to gaze into the abyss both within and beyond… and if you weren't careful, you'd be swallowed whole.
The hyenas in front of me could have cared less about any such intricacies.
"What about the Odaria Tragedy—"
"Have you surpassed your grandfather?"
"But the Odaria Tragedy—"
"Do you truly believe you possess the qualifications to be a Gym Leader—"
Odaria Tragedy, Odaria Tragedy. It kept coming out of their mouths. I'd expected it, but these people really wanted to dig up old wounds and headlines for more views. My countenance was a perfectly happy one as I focused my mind. A bottomless sea, I reminded myself. My mental mindscape rippled as I visualized it. Empty. Unknown. Calm.
I gave safe answers to some harmless questions while I was busy doing that. There was seemingly no end in sight, but a melodious voice soon interrupted.
"Gym Leader Ray has the strength to be one of our nation's pillars. I would not have nominated him as the new Lumiose Gym Leader otherwise," Diantha politely inserted herself into the conversation. Heels clicked against the ground as the tall woman came to a stop next to me. "Now then, I'm afraid we must be off. The Kalos League has much to do in light of the upcoming Lumiose Conference. I hope to see all of you there covering another summer of stunning battles."
With a graceful wave of her hand, Diantha turned on her heel and walked away. I followed close behind.
"I thought I'd come and see if you needed saving, but I guess you didn't really need it," Diantha mused out loud to me.
"It was appreciated regardless. I suppose you were worried about how I'd react to any mentions of my past?" I replied in the middle of adjusting my brooch. Diantha's silence was all I needed to hear. "You don't have to worry about that. I may not act for a living like you do, but I'm good at keeping a handle on my emotions."
"So it would seem," Diantha murmured. She shot me a quick look over her shoulder. "It's certainly… one way of putting it."
I didn't comment on the cautionary tone she used.
The two of us headed for a brightly colored tent deeper in the plaza. I held the tent flaps open for Diantha and received a quiet thank you in return. When I followed her inside, several different pairs of eyes focused their gazes on me. The Kalos elites had been waiting.
The president and prime minister of the civilian side of our government were the first to approach me. They congratulated me once again on my appointment, shook my hand, posed for some group pictures taken by a League Trainer, and then left me in private with Diantha and Elite Four. Any silence did not last for long.
Clinking sounds filled the air as a man in a full suit of armor came up to greet me.
"Good morrow, Raynard—" he began.
I politely interjected with my nickname, but the man looked at me with a positively aghast face.
"Forgive me, but I must observe a certain amount of decorum! It is with a glad heart that I welcome back a fellow countryman. Truly, my heart doth beat with immense joy in this fortuitous meeting. I, Sir Wikstrom of House Gampi, am so very pleased to make your acquaintance," the man finally finished introducing himself. He even brought a fist up to his plated chest in a sign of respect.
Wikstrom Gampi was a Steel Specialist from a decorated family of knights, so his formal manner of speaking wasn't entirely odd. I just wondered if he'd had his armor custom-made like my own outfit or if it was a family heirloom. It looked uncomfortable to wear in the summer.
"Raynard Odaria, son of Cedric and Agnes Odaria. I greet the esteemed knight of House Gampi. Delighted to make your acquaintance as well, Sir Wikstrom," I answered without batting an eye.
Wikstrom beamed at me. Evidently he was pleased at the fact that I'd humored him and responded in kind.
"I can already tell you possess a noble spirit! I would expect no less of one who bears the name of Odaria," Wikstrom praised. "Diantha has told us much about you—"
I gave Diantha a subtle look here, but she only smiled reassuringly at me.
"—and I would be honored to have a duel with you sometime perhaps, should fate ever guide our free moments to align," Wikstrom continued. He waved his hands around energetically. "Ah, but to witness a rematch between you and Diantha would be a thrilling sight of its own!"
Oh. I was initially worried that Diantha had told them about the sort of and sort of not shady stuff I've done as the Problem Solver, but that didn't look to be the case. It seemed she had only told them about how I was the person who fought her last year at the Battle Chateau.
"Hmm. I believe I'll be busy adapting to the role of a Gym Leader for some time, but perhaps in the future, yes," I vaguely answered. Wikstrom was not deterred in the slightest.
"Marvelous. Until then, the Elite Four's blade of hardened Steel shall train tirelessly—"
"Hold on, Wikstrom, let the rest of us have a chance to speak," a new voice interrupted.
The newest contender was a pink-haired woman even taller than Diantha. She sauntered toward me and placed one hand on her hip. Her other hand was used to pull down tinted shades a mere inch, allowing me a better glimpse of fiery orange eyes.
"Hello, Ray," she emphasized. Her eyes didn't leave mine as she smiled. The expression itself was warm, but there was also something else hidden behind it… a burning curiosity. "Your little mischief at the Battle Chateau last year certainly gave me much to talk about on the Holo Caster at the time. Even now people still wonder where Monsieur Nuit has gone. Please, I do look forward to whatever else you'll stir up in Kalos."
Malva Pachira, a Fire Specialist who worked as a news reporter in her spare time. She was the public face of the Holo Caster and held a close partnership with Lysandre Labs, but she had also collaborated with other organizations like Lumiose Daily before. Like Diantha, there was probably no one in Kalos who wouldn't be able to recognize her face.
Though I held no particular affection for reporters, Malva Pachira was a woman known for her fairness and neutrality. Thus, I saw no reason for any animosity between us.
"Only good things, I hope."
Malva laughed. "Of course. I didn't mean to imply otherwise."
Satisfied, she let the last two members of the Kalos Elite Four take her place now. One of them was a man in a distinct white outfit — a chef's uniform — who held a hand out in a friendly gesture. We shook hands. He had a solid two inches on me and was about six foot two by my estimation, much taller than average.
"Siebold Zumi," he greeted in a quiet voice. "Your speech was very inspirational. I hope we can work together to preserve the peace of Kalos."
Short and to the point but friendly. Like Siebold's outfit suggested, he was a Water Specialist who also happened to be a very famous chef. Critics, gourmets, and more casual lovers of fine dining all sang praises about his cooking. People even fought to get reservations at the luxury restaurant he owned. Speaking of—
"I'm glad I can pay my compliments to the chef this time," I mused out loud. Siebold cocked a brow in confusion. "I dined once at La Mer before. The meal I had back then is still the best I've had to date. I even dreamed about it for a few days after."
That was the biggest compliment I could personally give seeing as how I typically had recurring nightmares. Luckily, it sat well with Siebold.
He actually offered a large, genuine smile in response. "Is that so? Please feel free to come by again. There's always tables kept in reserve for friends and coworkers. And, if you don't mind, I'd love to hear more in detail about what you thought of your previous experience. Were the dishes…"
He rambled on. Siebold seemed like a nice guy, though he was surprisingly chatty when it came to food. I felt a bit envious of him in all honesty. There wasn't a lot I was passionate about anymore if anything at all.
The older woman standing next to him wisely cut Siebold off mid-tangent.
"Hello to you, Ray," she greeted cheerfully. Her eyes may have been closed, but I could still somehow feel the kindness radiating from them as she smiled at me. Her hands grasped both of mine in a way that reminded me of my late grandmother. "It's a great day for Kalos to have such a brilliant young man join the ranks of our League. I'm sure the next few months will be particularly hectic for you, but please do remember to get adequate rest."
I knew better than to underestimate her relaxed countenance and motherly aura. As nice as Drasna Fericelle could be and was known for, she was also an esteemed Dragon Specialist who had held her position in the Elite Four for decades. She had personally trained many League and Ace Trainers. Rumor had it that people disappeared overnight if they actually managed to piss her off.
Basically, she was a kind lady you didn't want to get on the wrong side of.
"Much appreciated," I said with a dip of my head. "And the honor is all mine. I have the chance to work alongside veterans like you."
Drasna gently squeezed my hands in response.
There was no time for small talk after introductions. This was a busy time for both me and the Kalos League, and Diantha tapped a foot against the floor impatiently.
"I'm sorry Morgan could not be in attendance for your swearing-in ceremony," she apologized in my direction. "His secretary informed me that he's recovering from a fever, but apparently he insisted on coming to the post-ceremony meeting at the very least—"
She paused when the tent flaps were flung open. A middle-aged man came bustling in with sweat glistening on his partially bald head. It was Morgan Bernard, the mayor of Lumiose City.
"My apologies, my apologies," the man wheezed out as he slid to a halt in our circle. A handkerchief was promptly dug out of his pocket and used to wipe away his sweat. "I had to take some medication, but I'm here now. Diantha."
He paused after saying our Champion's name in a careful, almost afraid voice. He then greeted the rest of us in turn, but he spent the most time ingratiating himself to me with a hearty handshake and flattering words. I was reminded once again that Diantha had made some sort of deal with him regarding my influence over the city going forward. Mayor Bernard seemed like the type who was easily cowed into submission.
Our Champion smiled wryly. "Good to see you, Morgan, but don't overwork yourself. We've got a lot ahead of us to prepare for. Now…" She trailed off, gaze turning sharp as she regarded our group as a whole. "Let's begin the purpose of this meeting. As we all know, the Lumiose Conference is in five days."
A Conference was the peak of any country's League Circuit and what all trainers and civilians looked forward to most within a given year. It was a time for celebration and people to come together in a shared love for Pokemon and the spirit of battling. It was also a chance for the League and government to draw in a lot of revenue from ticket sales. At the same time, they strove to promote our beautiful country to tourists visiting from abroad for the event.
It was truly a national event of the highest honor and prestige.
"In spite of the recent murder, all tickets to the Conference have sold out. That is obviously good news, and we should endeavor to repay the trust the people have shown. Criminals — both ordinary ones and the Phantom alike — may be tempted to disrupt the festivities. Like every year, we must ensure everyone's safety," Diantha began.
She rapped a knuckle against a whiteboard behind her. There, a printed map of the city was displayed in full color. "Local law enforcement will help patrol the streets and maintain order during all the heavy foot traffic Lumiose is expected to see over the next month. Wikstrom, Drasna— you'll help oversee and coordinate joint efforts between the League and local police. Malva, Siebold— the two of you will assist me with overseeing security details at the Lumiose Stadium and its general vicinity."
Various nods or words of assent came swiftly from the Elite Four. Satisfied, Diantha turned now to look at me.
"I hope this doesn't overwhelm you so soon after being appointed, Ray. The Conference may be a League-hosted affair, but the city is still your jurisdiction. We've always respected the influence of the reigning Lumiose Gym Leader during this annual event, and this applies to you as well. Anything the League does will pass through your and Mayor Bernard's eyes and ears first. You'll have a say in all preparations. Most important of all: feel free to let me or the League know if there is anything you require of us for the duration of the Conference."
"Understood."
My first day on the job, and I already had a huge task looming ahead of me.
The next hour was spent discussing various aspects of the upcoming Conference and how forces would be positioned in the city. Starting a whole week ago, the Kalos League had begun reallocating League Trainers spread throughout the country at various checkpoints. Even some reserve forces and trainees had been called upon to assist with security efforts. Diantha went through several lines and circles drawn on a city map of where they planned to station people. I didn't have a problem with most of it, but I did interject a few times to assert my own opinions of where people needed to patrol.
Most notably, I pointed out areas that had seen a recent uptick in crimes or where unsavory people had started to gather from my own recent investigations. I also walked Diantha and the others through areas with fewer than normal security cameras, potential escape routes in the alleys if things ever got dicey, and my general knowledge of the Lumiose backstreets. The group couldn't have been more impressed by my contributions and jotted down notes.
"One last thing before we wrap things up," Diantha announced toward the end. She looked straight at me before continuing. "Ray, I'm placing you in command of the Dark Specialist group we've put together for the event. Most of them are already employed with the League, but some are freelance guards we've hired. I've told them to come meet you in the Lumiose Gym's lobby this evening."
Aha. Now that was something mildly interesting I looked forward to.
It was standard protocol for every regional League to have Dark, Ghost, and Psychic Specialists under their employ. Pokemon of those types had access to a wide range of useful techniques for interrogation, protection, and more, making them highly valuable.
I clasped my gloved hands behind my back with a small smile. "I'll take good care of them," I promised. "I actually have something to say, too. I don't dare to ignore my duties at the gym, but I do plan on regularly patrolling the city from now on. If you see any strange occurrences like shadows traveling across the streets, well… I'll let you know now that it's probably me and my Pokemon."
Diantha's lips twitched, but her eyes ultimately betrayed the mirth she restrained. "Of course. Lumiose is under your protection from now on."
With that, the meeting was finally adjourned.
I was not able to leave right away, though. I had to sit through a quick photo session with Mayor Bernard and add dozens of new and important numbers to my phone of city and League departments first. Only then was I permitted to leave the tent.
When I emerged into fresh air, I saw that Centrico Plaza had been virtually cleared out. The crowd, the podium and broadcasting equipment, the makeshift tents… everything was gone except for passersby. The only traces that remained were bits of confetti on the floor. Those would be cleaned up later by sanitation workers.
Briskly, I set off for the pride of our city, the behemoth of a landmark which stood in the middle of this plaza. Its names were interchangeable and one and the same.
The Lumiose Gym and the Prism Tower.
Iron, iron, and yet more iron shot upwards into the sky as if to pierce the heavens. Their beautifully painted exterior reflected a lustrous white that symbolized many things, equality and peace chief among them. Four arched legs made up the corners of the partial open-lattice structure. Each had elevators and entrances attached to them that allowed civilians to ride up to observation decks and other floors high above. I did not head for those but for the main entrance at the front facing part of the tower. There, numerous glass doors led into the Lumiose Gym's main lobby. These were typically reserved for the use of staff, incoming trainers, and spectators during the League Circuit season.
The moment I walked through an automatic door, I felt like I was a young boy on my way to visit mom at work again.
It was exceedingly quiet in the lobby. The gym was obviously shut down for the remainder of the season, but there were still two receptionists at the counter. All of the previous Lumiose staff aside from the gym trainers had been rehired by me and the League for the next year. I greeted them kindly and asked to use the intercom.
First thing was first: greeting all existing staff. It was important to establish a kind reputation and know the people I'd be working with for the foreseeable future.
And when I said all existing staff, I meant everyone.
Janitors, security guards, electricians, technicians— every single person who helped with various parts of maintenance or upkeep around the Prism Tower showed up in the lobby.
"Good morning, everyone. As you may or may not already know, I'll be the one leading the Lumiose Gym from now on. Feel free to call me Ray," I told them in a brief but gentle introduction. "Please don't hesitate to contact me directly from now on if there are problems around the tower or any other issues you face. We're here as a team."
I even bothered to go around and personally greet everyone one-by-one, noting down faces and names as I went. Everyone seemed happy with my amicable demeanor. Step one: complete.
The next thing I did was take a personal tour of the premises. I already knew the entire layout thanks to childhood experiences with mom, but I refreshed my memory anyway.
If I was going to face a possible assassination attempt here in the future, then it was best to have a fresh mental map of where everything was.
First, there was what lay below the tower itself. There was a whole underground section accessible by private elevators and platforms. Many rooms down here had been set aside for gym challenge purposes, but they were matched almost one for one by numerous backup generators and electrical systems. The Prism Tower was a breathtaking sight to see at night when it glowed with thousands of lights, but it also took an astronomical amount of power. Besides the power supply rooms, there was a mix of training areas, one of which was a massive underground pool that mom made specifically for her own team. Gyarados really liked that. I took the time to let him and the others out so they could familiarize ourselves with our new base. Half stayed to spar, but the other half of my team followed me to explore the rest of the building.
The main lobby was connected to some elevators, bathrooms, waiting rooms, a souvenir shop, and most important of all, the battle hall. A quick peek inside revealed that not much had changed from my childhood. They were still using a standard field in there.
I lingered for a few moments by the top of the stands. Memories of mom fighting challengers played behind my eyelids before I shook myself out of it.
We went up to the second floor. There wasn't much to see up here. It was for staff only, so there were a bunch of offices, meeting rooms, and a dining hall among other things. From here, I used a private elevator to ride up to each tier of the building. My mental map of this place rapidly expanded with notes on exits and entrances, shortcuts, and even how long it took to get from one part of the tower to the other.
I liked to be thorough.
There was a private observation deck at the summit, so my Pokemon and I took a break up there. Wind rustled my clothing and sent strands of silver hair whipping across my eyes. I calmly brushed them aside and peered down at the city below.
It looked so small and yet so vast… To think I was now one of the two people who helped govern it all was astounding.
Once upon a time, it had been mom in my position. I wondered what she would think of me now knowing that I stood where she once did. There was also a part of me that didn't want to know.
Unlike most Gym Leaders in existence, I wasn't doing it out of any particular passion for the city or the craft I'd honed for many years. I was doing it because it was a means to an end. My goal was to catch the Phantom.
I practically heard mom scolding me in my ears after I thought that.
Raynard Odaria, a Gym Leader cannot run a gym without passion to guide them.
So be it. I would do my best to emulate that passion she once spoke of. I didn't want to embarrass mom in the afterlife.
Without a word, I went back down the tower. I had time to kill before the League Trainers Diantha spoke of showed up in the evening, so I planned on getting as much done as possible.
First order of business was redecorating the office to my tastes. It had been cleared out after Meyer's death, so all I had to do was put the stuff shipped over from my estate and jazz club in the right spots. Once I was satisfied with my new working space, I sat down at the desk and pulled open a bottom drawer. It was literally filled to the brim with folders.
Upon my request, Diantha had handed over copies of every single case file pertaining to the Phantom. I pulled out a few now to look through and spread stuff out on the table. Some of my Pokemon peered at them over the desk and grimaced alongside me.
We got to see pictures the public had never laid eyes on: gruesome crime scenes and mutilated bodies. It was to the point where the League had no idea what the hell was responsible for it all.
The Phantom covered their tracks thoroughly, and that included messing up the bodies past the point of recognition with dozens of attacks. Any Pokemon could have been responsible judging by the sheer variety of wounds inflicted. The killer was truly a lowlife to go so far as to hurt victims beyond simply killing them. Even their corpses were messed up at the Phantom's whims.
"Well," I said out loud, breaking the tense silence. "I'm relying on you guys so that I don't suffer the same fate. I believe in you."
The Pokemon scattered around my office gave me varying looks of emotion. Duh seemed to be the silent and unanimous answer.
Almost without me realizing it, my gaze was drawn to a certain file still tucked away in the drawer. The top portion was labeled Agnes and Cedric Odaria. I didn't hesitate. I pulled it out and opened the folder.
My neutral expression didn't change, but my knuckles turned white. I almost ripped the folder from holding it so tightly. I could tell that Astre, who had been sitting on my shoulder this whole time, wanted to look away from the awful pictures of my parents' corpses. He only kept looking because I did… because I forced myself to remember why I was doing all this.
I gradually loosened my grip on the case file. I let myself look at it a little longer, and then I put it away without a word. The office was quiet as I stored the rest of the files.
They would be viewed again another time. The mood for investigation had already slipped away.
I pulled up notes on my laptop now. I was going to take my job as a Gym Leader seriously even if I wasn't particularly enthusiastic about it, so there were several things that needed to be addressed.
First, gym trainers. Since I had changed the Lumiose Gym's type specialty, I had none barring Mathis. He was going to join me at the gym around lunch once he finished training the new bartenders for the Little Star. My plan of action to rectify the lack of gym trainers was opening up job applications online and potentially scouting some of those Dark Specialists under the League's employ. I'd have to see if my silver tongue could get them to switch allegiances.
Second, the gym challenge and battle. Most gyms had a trial challengers had to pass if they wanted to battle the gym leader. Sometimes they came in the form of puzzles and other times they were far more elaborate. I would have to brainstorm what I wanted before I called up any construction companies to remodel the gym's interior. At the very least, there was something I knew for sure I wanted changed already. That standard battlefield on the first floor had bothered me the moment I laid eyes on it. A vision for what it could be had sprouted in my mind already.
If I was going to fight teenagers in the fall, then I was going to give them challenges they weren't normally used to. That was part of my duties after all.
Third, gym Pokemon. This wasn't actually that large of an issue. I planned on adopting some Dark types from shelters and purchasing others from reputable breeders, but most of this issue was going to be handled by the Kalos League on my behalf. The League had tons and tons of Pokemon they kept in reserve to be partnered with trainees. The best part was that many of those Pokemon were Dark types due to them being so vital in everyday security details. Diantha had agreed to send me a lot of them since the next League Circuit wasn't far off, so that saved me tedious time and effort.
Whatever would I do without that woman?
Final business was the gym badge. I had to come up with a new name because of the type specialty change.
I decided to start there and called out to the Pokemon lounging in my office.
"Team meeting— well, half a team meeting considering the others are down below training. I need name ideas for a Dark gym badge. Let me hear only your best and brightest ideas."
I got everything from a plain and simple Shadow to an even simpler Dark all the way to an extravagant Void Burning Oblivion for name options. That last one came from Pangoro. The giant bipedal Pokemon fidgeted awkwardly under our combined gazes and cleared his throat.
He'd thought it sounded cool.
"…Let's… consider this brainstorming session as a work in progress," I finally said.
No one verbally commented on Pangoro's previous suggestion.
We went on to discuss other potential name ideas and the symbolism behind them. Honestly, my Pokemon were more into it than I was. I was satisfied choosing any name and being done with it, but that would have been a sloppy job that'd piss my mom off, so I actively participated in the conversation.
Admittedly, I did get more into brainstorming at some point.
We eventually put a hold on that topic and moved on to gym challenge options. This was harder than picking a gym name because I had no idea what I found fun anymore. When Mathis dropped by during lunch, I even wrangled him into sitting in my office and brainstorming with us, but we didn't make much progress.
As evening rolled around, I left Mathis to familiarize himself with the Prism Tower and took my team out on a patrol. Half of them dispersed to shadow travel while the others stayed within their Pokeballs as I physically strolled down streets.
I caught a lot of attention from locals because of the coverage on my swearing-in ceremony this morning and the eye-catching outfit, but it was all within my plans. Who knew? Maybe the Phantom was watching somewhere and grinding their teeth over how nonchalant I was about everything.
We didn't find anything out of the ordinary and returned back to the Prism Tower by 6:30 PM. Dinner was quickly devoured, and when the clock hit seven o'clock…
I took the stairs down to the lobby.
The ground floor was full of uniformed men and women standing in organized rows and columns. They snapped further to attention when I strode up in front of their ranks and came to a halt. Wordlessly, my gaze slid left and right.
I hadn't lied when I told Diantha I would take good care of them.
What she didn't know was that I was very picky when it came to direct subordinates. Mathis was lucky he'd met my standards.
I was going to make sure these fine gentlemen and ladies did their utter best to help protect the city.
Author's Note: As always, thank you for all the kind reviews, comments, favorites, follows, etc. Your support is greatly appreciated!