Committee member Pedra walks out of the changing room.
He sees Delegate Mark sitting in front of a mirror and shaping his sideburns into sharp summits with pomade.
A tie, ablaze with bright colors, is around his neck.
Committee Member Ⅰ: Isn't that scarf a bit too high-profile?
Mark stops his beauty procedures and looks at Pedra in the mirror.
Delegate: I think it fits me just well.
Delegate: You chose a grey shirt. Wise decision.
Committee Member Ⅰ: ...
Committee Member Ⅰ: Looks like you're fully prepared.
Mark doesn't answer that question. Instead, he pulls out a volume of files and starts to draw and write on them.
Debate Moderator: Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce the first debater of the day, Pedra Paul Gonzalez Rosa.
Debate Moderator: Graduated from the Law School of the University of São Paulo, he is a member of the committee and more importantly, the challenger of the debate.
Pedra lifts the curtain and steps onto the stage.
Debate Moderator: The other debater of the day is the delegate of the House of Integratus, Mark Hal. Over the past ten years, he has served the Foundation by drafting countless acts and conventions.
Debate Moderator: The topic of the debate today, Storm Reformation: Manpower and Discipline, is exactly a work of his.
Not one seat has been left empty around the debate stage.
Madam Z's eyes follow Mark as he walks into the lights on the stage with a big smile.
The people on the stage are greeting each other. Madam Z takes off her glasses and wipes them again.
The chamber is filled with noises. The confrontation between the two sides in her blurred vision is a scene she has seen many times.
Debate Moderator: Alright, both sides are seated.
Debate Moderator: Before we start the debate officially, I suggest we give Mark the draft writer an opportunity to introduce the draft.
Debate Moderator: Would you please, Mark?
Delegate: With pleasure.
Delegate: Storm Reformation and its advocators believe in such a goal:
Delegate: In this ever changing environment smitten by the "Storm," this draft will help the Foundation win the trust of a considerable number of arcanists who have different backgrounds and abilities, in a more efficient and stable way.
Committee Member Ⅰ: That is exactly where I must raise an objection.
Committee Member Ⅰ: The draft has a huge risk which Mark Hal has not realized at all.
Delegate: No, sir. I totally understand what you're trying to say.
Delegate: You have put forward several questionable arguments to prove Vertin's suspicion of disloyalty.
Delegate: In response to that, please allow me to invoke the following cases to prove Vertin's competence for leading the unregistered arcanists.
Delegate: Please turn to page 373 of Vertin's personnel file. As you can see, since Vertin became the Timekeeper, the number of unregistered arcanists she has rescued so far is, 63.
Delegate: That is a number unmatched by that of anyone present. If that's not enough to prove her loyalty, let's continue ...
Committee Member Ⅰ: I have to say, Mark, you have completely misunderstood my point of view.
Committee Member Ⅰ: I don't care what Vertin has done.
Committee Member Ⅰ: But the feasibility of the draft.
Committee Member Ⅰ: According to the existing regulations, the duties of educating and disciplining unregistered arcanists are taken by the School of Discipline.
Committee Member Ⅰ: While you suggested in the draft that Timekeeper's personal teaching would replace the current collective training ...
Committee Member Ⅰ: Have you ever thought about the budget that we could possibly spend on it?
Committee Member Ⅰ: The Foundation spends an alarming sum of money on education every year, and there is no way we pay extra for personal training.
Delegate: What, budget?
Delegate: Um, I don't see why we're talking about budget all of a sudden.
Delegate: Did you really read the draft? I didn't mention a word about budget ...
Committee Member Ⅰ: Of course you didn't, which exactly proves you have never realized the risk I just mentioned.
Debate Moderator: Oh, it seems the real topic of the debate has just surfaced.
Debate Moderator: I believe everyone in the hall is looking forward to where it goes. So Mark, in terms of this point, we would like to know your real thoughts ...
Z: ...
She gets up, walking towards the entrance.
This is already a composition which the White would like to see.
Z: The Black stone is left there alone. That last move is also a defense in panic.
Z: If I were the player...
She gazes into the air, lost in her thoughts. She doesn't feel the gaze cast upon her from another direction.
Constantine is watching Madam Z from her corner.
As Madam Z walks to the entrance, somebody stops her.
A white item is handed to her.
And then ...
She disappears as soon as she steps out of the hall.
Constantine averts her eyes and looks back at the two debaters on the stage.
As soon as she has left the hall, Madam Z takes out that white note.
Z: What is it?
Secretary Sharon: Sonetto asked me to give it to you personally.
It looks like a simple, usual letter.
"Dear Madam Z, With this letter I send you my best regards."
"I have been instructed to manage affairs on behalf of Timekeeper during her treatment."
"Please let me know if there are any missions to alleviate the situation. I will do my best to meet your expectations."
"Sincerely, Sonetto"
Z: Good news.
