Having a park in the complex would be an understatement. Almost every considerate species of greenery presented itself in its fullest glory. Trees, bamboo, and plants thrive under this huge area between the buildings. It would be a perfect place for art and camera scenery where Julius pulled his phone out from his overcoat’s inner pockets and took a picture.
He captured the Department of Staff Building with the sunlight reflecting the greenery that surrounded the building and the fencing of a walking intersection with a little sunburst seeping under the roof of the breezeway.
“What is that?!” Empress Cai asked, who stopped midway before reaching the pathway leading to the building’s entrance. She strolled back with her eyes staring right at Julius’s smartphone.
“It’s a smartphone,” Julius replied, hovering down his device. He revealed the screen to her and Daiyu.
“I heard a snapping sound. Was that from here?”
Julius nodded. “Correct. It’s the camera. It’s like our eyes when we see something in the world, and this stores those moments you cherish or want a memory of.”
“From this piece of brick? I know what cameras are but not something that can be this thin and small…”
Her knowledge of cameras was enough for Julius to react, unexpected as that was more of the advanced technology, he had heard existed in Raal so far. Julius remembered from the conversation with Alyssa before departing for Raal and the stuff he saw, such technology didn’t exist. Those modern buildings by Earth’s standards aren’t the same. Additionally, they are not built the same way despite both being similar, so cranes assumingly aren’t a thing either.
She continued further mentioning how much aspect ratio and megapixels were when Julius blurted and continued walking. “Tell me, what’s your most advanced technology?”
“We have jìsuànjī (计算机),” Daiyu muttered from behind.
Oddly, they have computers. If that’s the case, why are they falling behind or in a stagnant position? “How about phones? Any form of communication?”
The two nodded with a hum. Julius then turned to the pathway leading to the Department of Staff Building’s entrance.
“Are there any other countries in Raal that have technology at a similar level as yours?” Julius continued.
Empress Cai was silent.
The three reached the door and were met by one of the staff who opened the door for them. Julius was waiting for her response as he was greeted by another who had already heard the orders. She directed him to the elevator which was much more functional than the one at David’s building. It opened and he went to the side where the buttons were. Empress Cai and Daiyu went in.
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New Data Entry added!
Department of Staff
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“Click number three, and someone there will direct you to the photo ops.”
Julius nodded with a sincere smile, before clicking, ‘三’. “Thank you.”
The elevator door quickly closed and went up, leaving the three silently together. So far, the West Cai Dynasty seemed to embrace all Hanzi (Chinese Characters) logographic-like systems. Not a trace of a Latin script or any alphabet system anywhere. When he saw Celeste confused during her brief confrontation with Empress Cai, he couldn’t keep them off of his mind.
Julius decided to keep things quiet until they left the elevator. When the door opened, he swiftly turned to the left. Another lady staff was waiting for him as she happily waved. All the staff he came through in the building wore long white tunics. Along their right arm would have a black badge on their upper sleeves. On the badge was ‘人’ imprinted with white ink. The variation came to light when this lady who waved at him, Empress Cai, and Daiyu had another character written below: 拍照者 (Photographer).
She’s the one. Julius comprehended, moving at a quicker pace to the waving lady. Empress Cai sped past him like a race, and she waved at the lady. She reached her first, greeting her like best friends. The lady gestured all inside.
“Hello, General. It’s good to meet you,” The lady greeted.
“Oh, please. You can call me Julius. I don’t feel qualified.”
The lady shook her head. “No, sir. I will not.”
Julius smiled. “I admire your loyalty. Then just call me General. What do I call you?”
“Call me Lin. Nice to meet you.” She gestured her hand out.
Julius grabbed and shook her palm. “Likewise.”
Empress Cai and Daiyu went in first with Julius following Lin into an open space room crowded with tons of machinery and a spot where there were seats and a wide whiteboard on the wall, facing back to the seats.
Lin went to her desk where there was a computer. There was a modified camera at the table, and she directed Julius to sit down in the comfy chair. Once he sat down, he eyed around the distinctive camera. That’s a strange structural design. He reached down his belt, pulling out his pistol from his holster.
Empress Cai was frightened when she saw a glimpse of Julius pulling out.
Julius turned right at her gasping face. “Oh, no…no. It’s not what it looks like,” he uttered, unloading the revolver from his black SIG P210 pistol. Afterward, he placed the magazine on the table and cock the barrel to remove the sole bullet inside. “I brought it out because this camera’s design reminded me of this, so I just wanted to compare.”
Lin turned her attention from the computer to Julius’s unloaded gun. “What is this thing?”
“That’s his weapon! And don’t touch it! I don’t want people getting hurt!” Empress Cai exclaimed, asserting to not have anyone touching his pistol.
“How dangerous is it?”
“Well, this trigger,” he said, pointing at it. “…a push of our finger will ignite a blast as loud as a bomb and faster than any archer can fire an arrow.”
“Sounds tempting. Anyway, the camera is ready, so move back to its focus.”
The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.
Julius sat straight up high enough for his eyes to remain in line with the camera lens. Lin vocally commanded him to adjust until she could see the perfect image of his face on her computer screen. When it was perfect, she slammed her palm hard on the table, triggering the camera flash. A printer across from her turned on with the machinery whirl sound and gears running.
“Even though I got your information, I need you to confirm it vocally when we get to the process of the identification. Is that clear?”
Julius nodded.
“Ok, perfect. So, here we go,” she pleasingly muttered, hovering her fingers on the keyboard.
The whole process was like a quick interview. Lin was an evident multi-tasker and an excellent computer typer. She remained in eye contact with Julius and the other two as if having a conversation while continuously typing. When he looked at the keyboard, it was just flat like a tablet. No screens or tactile keys, but rather an empty black canvas like a drawing board.
When it was all completed, Lin ended with a heavy quick tap from her index finger like clicking on the enter button. Subsequently, the printer began printing. She stood from her seat, walking to the printer which was on the wall behind Julius’s right since Lin’s spot was at the corner of the entire crowded space.
Within ten seconds, a card-sized with his face on it came out. Lin grabbed it and did a careful check before tearing off the rough edges of the plastic, then handing it to Julius.
He gave a look around it. “Perfect, thank you.”
“My pleasure, General.”
Growl!
“Oh, shoot. Well, I haven’t eaten anything for the day, and I’m constantly trying to hold the hunger in.”
“I cannot blame you as lunch is right around the corner,” Lin commented, pointing at the antique clock mounted on the wall with the shorthand pointing between one and two o’clock.
“And we are starting your training after lunchtime,” Empress Cai added.
Julius stood from his seat, reloaded his pistol, and re-equipped it back into his holster. He took out his red wallet and inserted his new identification card into the transparent flap. “How could I forget things when you are around,” he bantered, ending with a smirk before heading out to the door.
“You have one fancy mouth to be talking,” Empress Cai reacted to his remark.
“It is a gift of hard work. I wouldn’t be here without it, now come on. We have stomachs to feed.” Julius strolled away from their view, prompting them to move.
“Hey! Wait for us!” she yelled back.
Julius didn’t flinch as he continuously walked back to the elevator while hearing their heavy footsteps sprinting.
30.2
Ten Minutes Later.
Julius, Empress Cai, and Daiyu were walking through a separate breezeway as they finally reached to the 自助餐厅大楼 (Cafeteria Building). Being three stories high, Julius saw the windows open from the left and right sides of the entrance. Each level was divided based on a red stripe painted over the row of bricks, and each side had two tall Lattice windows (格子窗) per level, opened like a casement.
Turning to the entrance the breezeway turned into a bridge, overarching a lengthy stream of water flowing parallel to the building’s front. The water was clean and well maintained while appearing to flow from left to right continuously as if it had a directional path like a river.
Julius heard his name called while he was watching the water stream, finding a couple fishes that looked like Koi. He turned right at the bridge leading to the entrance. There was Celeste waving along with Solomon and Sally who were observing the fishes.
“So, how’s Longyue?” Julius asked, anticipating their perspective rating.
“Our rooms are so grand. I’ve never experienced it before. It’s like a home where each of us is in the same room with our own beds and spaces,” Celeste said, indicating her praise for the residence that was provided. Her smiling response was obvious.
Sally leaned up from the railing. “Where’s your stuff? There was still one more bed vacant.”
Ah, they don’t know. “Change of plans for me. I’m the new General representing the Empress. The prior General had disappeared for more than a month. I’ll be residing at a different building within the complex.”
“That’s sudden news,” Sally disappointedly replied. “How long do you think we are going to stay here?”
“A long while…Let’s talk the rest inside,” Julius said, gesturing.
Julius opened the double door, revealing the crowded cafeteria. The entire first floor was all open space that was filled with tables, open kitchens with vast serving stations, and a lot of smoke with the charcoal smell that hovered around the area. Those windows save the place from overheating.
Everyone at the site immediately reacted to him entering the cafeteria and quickly stopped before bowing to Empress Cai and Julius. Everyone here must have received the news. But out of all places, a loyalty greeting from the entire kitchen is insane.
“Can you all not bow or do any of the formalities when we are in the Kitchen!” Julius yelled for the entire floor and above to hear. “I will not accept any rejections to my statement!”
The next second it reverted back to normal operations, and the group went to look for a spare round table. Daiyu went ahead first and swiftly took claim for a spare table. A waiter came once everyone arrived at their own seats.
“What drinks can I get for you all?” The male waiter asked, first to Empress Cai.
“The usual tea,” Empress Cai answered with a nod, then gestured to Julius.
“I’ll take cold water and a bottle of baijiu (白酒).”
Julius then turned to the three Skolritters, who had no idea what the waiter was asking but grasped the idea he was getting their drink orders when Celeste requested orange juice. Solomon wanted a cold lime juice, leaving Sally desiring some ice and cold sugary water.
Daiyu and Lin both shared a love of black tea due to the stronger taste in their mouths.
“Alright, it shall be out shortly,” The male waiter said. He bowed at Empress Cai and Julius before departing.
Impressive. No notepads. All mentality power. Julius was impressed at the waiter’s process of information.
Empress Cai went by Julius’s shoulder, whispering to follow her. He went along with her to the serving stations. Daiyu and Lin followed too, leaving the three Skolritters at the table.
The four grabbed a plate from one of the carts and entered the first section, meat. It’s a free-for-all layout, meaning there are no long lines as it follows a system of serve and go. No need to wait unless the desired cuisine needs to be on the grill as requested or if it’s a soup dish.
“Welcome to our cuisines. This cafeteria represents our entire culture and love of our food. The ingredients and sources are all local, so it’s all fresh from nature,” Empress Cai presented as if it was another tour. She went to the large spoon, taking two servings of what she called everyone’s favorite food.
“Cai Diced Chicken (蔡鸡丁),” Julius muttered. Almost exactly looks like Kung Pao Chicken. He noted the significant similarities between the two. The amount of chili peppers, cubes of chicken, and peanuts mixed in with the green onions scattered around the dish. Empress Cai took two servings hence he went with four. The next five along the way were either beef or pork. He wasn’t interested until the last two serving stations caught his eye. No way. Char siu (叉烧 ) and Siu yuk (烧肉 ). I’m taking that all the way. He got two servings of each before going through the other sections of the buffet.
Empress Cai and Julius returned to the table with their filled plates. Julius was amazed by the serving size of the plate because this large plate would serve for a table at most three. He assumed this one big plate would likely take half of Skoltor’s recommended daily calorie intake, making only two meals needed a day. His seat was next to Empress Cai. Being the new general representing the Empress and a disciple, sitting with each other at events is expected.
Julius glared over her plate, finding it to be heavy meat with minuscule amounts of vegetables. “We both are meat eaters. That’s impressive.”
“Unfortunately, we don’t agree with fruits and vegetables,” Empress Cai said, glaring at his dish. “However, at least you can eat…I hope.”
Julius shrugged his shoulders. “I can. Otherwise, I look too skinny if I don’t eat.”
The male waiter and two more that followed him came with the drinks, placing them carefully on the round table. One poured baijiu for Julius into a glass while the other handled the teapot, pouring it into Empress Cai’s ceramic cup. Afterward, they carefully back away and leave the area.
“We got to eat first. The training is waiting for us,” Empress Cai suggested, lifting her chopsticks and spoon.
“Way ahead of you, my lady,” Julius responded, already holding his chopsticks while bracing a fight against his hungry stomach’s growling.