Chapter 518: An Interesting Conversation
(Righteous Faction, Officers Mess Hall. 7:01 AM)
The scent of eggs, toasted bread, and overly boiled lentils filled the wide mess hall as Leo and Veyr strode in with the posture of men who belonged there, their boots polished to perfection and their shoulders squared just enough to project command without arrogance, as their footsteps echoed softly against the clean stone tiles beneath.
They didn’t look around nervously or hesitate near the entrance like guests would, instead navigating the hall with the casual certainty of officers who had done this routine countless times, nodding to a few familiar faces that they had memorized during mission briefing and returning salutes without a hint of discomfort, as they moved toward the long rectangular table reserved exclusively for base Lieutenants.
Veyr adjusted the cuffs on his uniform just as Leo slid into his usual spot, right side, second chair from the head of the table, cutting into the slightly rubbery-looking ham steak on his plate without so much as glancing at the officers across him.
However, sitting just beside him, a dark-haired lieutenant with a thick moustache scrunched up his nose.
"Gosh, Larry," he muttered, leaning back a little. "You smell like a rat took a shit in your hair."
"And not a small rat either," another added from the left. "Maybe a pregnant one, who somehow also took a dump in Aaron’s hair.... What have you two been rolling around in?"
All eyes turned towards Leo and Veyr, but Leo didn’t flinch at all under the scrutiny.
He simply raised his fork and knife with the sort of elegant precision that would’ve made Amanda proud, sliced a neat piece of egg, and replied with complete nonchalance, "The two of us visited the maintenance workers office this morning, to do something about the foul-smelling sink problem that’s been giving everyone grief."
He paused only to chew once before continuing, "We met with the cleaning supervisor, Barry. Told him the issue needs to be fixed today or he will be in trouble and I guess a bit of his scent lingered."