The receptionist is confirming the name list just submitted by the House of Integratus.
The vice president is coming her way. It's rare to see her picking up the files herself.
But as the daily agenda tracker shows, the chance of the vice president asking for this name list is 85%.
Constantine: Do we have the candidates' name list? Show it to me.
Clerk: Yes, please wait a minute. It'll be prepared right away.
That's right. Thanks to the invention designed by Laplace Scientific Computing Center, everything here is highly controllable, efficient, and has logic within.
The fingers of the receptionist lightly percuss the keyboard. She will be able to locate the files faster than ever.
Suddenly, she freezes.
Clerk: Um, why is the light on?
With a horrible prediction in her mind, she hesitantly turns to the wall with an open mouth and round eyes.
"Buzzz ..."
A gigantic projection appears on the wall.
An apple shows up in the blurry projection. Under such a poor resolution, it looks like a massive red alert.
A sentence in a crooked font emerges beneath that giant pixel apple .
The words are glaring, "THIS IS WAR!"
Regulus: Warning, warning! Everybody, listen up. We have taken over the Foundation!
Regulus: Our demands are: release us, set Vertin free!
Regulus: You have three days. After that, we are ...
The receptionist cuts off the power, terrified.
The lobby, which sees people striding in and stalking off all the time, now freezes in dead silence.
Clerk: Madam ... I ...
Clerk: I didn't ... I ...
Clerk: ...
Constantine: What's the matter? Something wrong with the printer?
Clerk: No, no ... Oh right, the candidate name list ... Here you are.
She passed on the name list with a pale face.
Constantine: Thank you, this is exactly what I need.
Constantine casts a quick look at the wall.
The source of the disturbance has gone.
Constantine: Sorry for the scene.
Constantine: Like others here, they also have the right to make their voices heard. It is the essential step for us to come to an agreement.
Constantine: We will take care of this, don't worry.
She smiles. As she does so, the people around her are visibly relieved and stored to life.
Constantine: However ... perhaps we should stop using the old projector. It may lead to accidents, don't you think?
Clerk: Understood! I'll remove the transfer devices now ...
She jumps up on her feet and salutes her.
Constantine turns around and leaves.
Regulus: Oh bloody hell! How dare they cut off the power ...
Regulus: This Pirate has so much left to declare!
Regulus: Wimps! Cowards! Hypocrites!
Sotheby: Hear, hear! I can't agree more. It is very rude to hang up before others finish their words!
APPLe: This is not telephone, Ms. Sotheby.
APPLe: But of course, that's not the point.
APPLe: No matter what, we've communicated to them the most crucial requirement for negotiation.
APPLe: I'm sure they will respond to us properly.
Regulus: Humph ... I just wanna take the chance to show our attitude ...
Regulus: Taking over the radio station at the headquarters of the Foundation ... It's a gas in the late hundreds of years ...
Regulus: sighs It would've been perfect if we could have another You Can't Win to close it out.
APPLe: We could look around here to see if there's other broadcasting equipment.
APPLe: However, this APPLe does not recommend frequent provocation.
APPLe: Right now it's more important to patrol the surroundings in case we are ambushed by the guards.
APPLe: Ms. Druvis is forming abatis alone downstairs. Perhaps she needs our help.
Regulus: Mmm ... Fine, you have a point.
Regulus: This Pirate ... has decided to put off the plan to liberate the Foundation!
Almost reluctantly, she forces herself to stop looking at the radio.
Regulus: Besides forming abatis, what else do we need to do?
APPLe: There's much to be done, Captain.
APPLe: Find water sources. Transfer essential equipment. Reserve enough food. Set up multiple defenses in the woods.
APPLe: And arrange a duty schedule. Make sure someone is garrisoned outside the suitcase, while others are resting inside.
Sotheby: Well, I have the tomato and potato seeds from Ms. Druvis. We must plant them in the suitcase to guarantee food supply!
Regulus: Um ... Tomato and potato ...
Regulus: All vegetables, no meat … they're meant for the piggies that grow my bacon.
Regulus: When I was wandering the seas, at least I could have a grilled sea bass every day ...
Regulus: sighs I wonder what Vertin eats in rehab ... Will she be hungry ...
"Grrrr ..."
Regulus: Oooh! Almost forgot about the goodies X sent!
Regulus: We'll definitely hang in there for a few more days with them!
Regulus: Sotheby, Mr. APPLe, you go downstairs first. I'll meet up with you once I bring the box down there!
Sotheby: Alright! We will meet you at the entrance. Stay safe!
