Chapter 37 - 28 Integrity
The Spirit Car settled down on an ancient circular square.
The lighting here was dim; a few worn brass street lamps failed to properly illuminate the ground, and the stone fountain in the center was covered in dust. The surrounding houses appeared somber and profound under the heavy night.
Rod followed the crowd off the car and, led by the driver, entered a large house directly ahead.
Before entering, Rod noticed a large Spirit Lamp hanging on one side of the building, with a plaque next to it that read, "Iron Cross District Defense Department".
The interior of the house was brightly lit; in the center was a large hall, with dozens of small rooms on each side. A man dressed in a dark shirt and black vest stood in front of a large table, staring thoughtfully at the map on it.
The driver called out, "Your Excellency, the Defense Chief, the cadets have arrived."
The Defense Chief snapped out of his reverie, lifting his head; Rod saw a massive scar on his face, cutting diagonally across his eyes, almost as if it had cleaved his head open.
"Oh good, very good, too good, finally some new strength has arrived."
The Defense Chief tried to force a smile, but the thick worries made his facial muscles extremely stiff, and his smile resembled a cry.
The driver handed over a sheet of paper, "Here’s their roster and detailed information."
The Defense Chief’s gaze quickly scanned the document.