Chapter 40 The Warden and the Director
The Round Table Conference was the highest-level meeting of the Wardens’ organization.
It was presided over by the Standing Administrative Council, with members of the High Office attending as observers.
The conference was conducted through virtual holographic technology, allowing multiple participants to meet at once.
The leaders of every containment facility in the human world were compelled to attend.
The preparation period for the Round Table Conference was one hour.
During that time, every facility leader, no matter what they were doing, had to put down whatever was in their hands and attend the meeting immediately.
The Doctor straightened the white coat draped over his shoulders, then carefully polished his monocle.
Only after completing these preparations did he sit down in his office chair and quietly await the beginning of the conference.
………………
“Good morning, everyone! Thank you for all you do for humanity!”
A pleasant female voice sounded in the ears of every participant in the Round Table Conference.
The Doctor slowly opened his eyes and swept his gaze around.
He was now standing inside a building resembling a temple.
Before him stood a massive circular conference table.
Above them was a stretch of chaos, while towering white jade pillars rose all around.
The Doctor pushed up the nonexistent monocle on his face.
Clearly, this was a fabricated space, much like the setting of a virtual-reality game.
From time to time, pillars of light descended within the temple.
Each pillar of light represented another participant taking their seat.
Five people sat high above the head of the round table.
They were the five councilors of the Standing Administrative Council.
These five councilors had separated themselves from all containment facilities and represented only the Standing Administrative Council.
Below them were the senior officials of the High Office.
Only after them came facility leaders like the Doctor.
Seated beside the Doctor was an elderly man with a head of snow-white hair.
The old man smiled faintly at him.
“Doctor! We meet again!”
The Doctor replied with a hint of respect, “Mentor, it has been a long time!”
The old man was the Doctor’s mentor, as well as the leader of Containment Facility C01 in Huaxia.
His codename was the Warden.
The Warden glanced at the Doctor, then chuckled softly.
“I heard your C03 snatched S137 from J01?”
The Doctor answered with a solemn expression, “S137 appeared within C03’s jurisdiction after containment failure. According to the Warden Regulations, I had both the right and the duty to contain it!”
The Warden shook his head with a laugh.
“Why are you putting on an act in front of me? I was the one who taught you the Warden Regulations!”
As he spoke, the Warden stroked his white hair.
“Just exchange S137 for some benefits. There’s no need to cling to it so tightly!”
“J01 treats S137 like a treasure, but as far as we’re concerned, S137 is only moderately useful.”
The Doctor nodded. That had been his intention all along.
There were two reasons he had refused J01’s request for an exchange at the time.
The first was that the matter had to be brought up in a formal setting—and J01 had to be the one to propose it.
Only then could the Doctor secure greater benefits for C03.
More importantly, however, the Doctor wanted to disgust J01’s leader a little.
The Warden continued, his tone somewhat heavy.
“This meeting is most likely related to the S301 you contained.”
“Have you thought about how you’re going to keep S301?”
The Doctor shrugged.
“That person told me to improvise.”
The Warden froze for a moment, then burst into hearty laughter.
“After all these years, you haven’t changed in the slightest!”
“Still, with that person around, even if we fail to keep S301 in the end, we won’t be the ones to suffer.”
The Doctor shrugged indifferently.
Seated on the Doctor’s other side was a young man.
His codename was the Director, and he led Containment Facility C02 in Huaxia.
After hearing the Doctor and the Warden’s conversation, he joined in.
“Doctor! Compared with S301, I’m more interested in S292, which you contained recently!”
He pressed his lips together in a somewhat bashful smile.
“How about naming a price?”
The Doctor cast him a glance.
“Sorry. I have no intention of trading S292.”
The Director did not seem to mind. He leaned back against his chair and chuckled.
“The data on S292 has barely changed at all. Doctor, you wouldn’t happen to be planning to keep the research results for yourself, would you?”
The Doctor nodded with complete seriousness.
“That is indeed what I’m planning.”
The Director stared blankly for a moment, then chuckled twice.
“Doctor, has anyone ever told you that you’re terrible at conversation?”
The Warden let out a thoughtful hum.
“I’ve discussed that problem with him before.”
The Doctor nodded solemnly again.
“Yes. That’s right. My mentor has told me that before.”
The Director immediately covered his forehead with one hand.
He felt that talking with the Doctor was far more exhausting than researching anomalies.
All three men were leaders of containment facilities in Huaxia.
Thus, their conversation took place over a private channel equipped with anti-surveillance measures, and they had no fear of anyone eavesdropping.
Just then, the five councilors seated at the head of the table exchanged glances. One of them rose and spoke in a ringing voice.
His voice sounded throughout the public channel.
“The meeting is now in session!”
“First, on behalf of the council, I would like to thank everyone present for your contributions!”
With that, he bowed.
He then launched into a long opening speech.
The Warden listened with great interest.
The Doctor and the Director, however, both looked as though they were about to fall asleep.
When the opening remarks finally ended, the councilor spoke in a solemn tone.
“First, I must inform everyone of an important matter. The investigation into U01 has concluded, and the results are now available!”
As his voice fell, a luminous display appeared before every participant.
It showed Enzo’s personal information, along with the results of the investigation into U01.
“Mr. Smith, is there anything you would like to add?”
Everyone’s gaze turned toward a middle-aged man with silver hair.
He was Smith, the leader of Containment Facility U01.
Smith rose to his feet, his face filled with deep remorse.
“I believe everyone has seen the results of the investigation.”
“I am deeply grieved by what happened. Our negligence led to these serious consequences.”
“Fortunately, the problem was discovered in time, preventing the Warden organization from suffering even greater losses.”
“Here, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Doctor.”
With that, he bowed deeply in the Doctor’s direction.
After hearing this, the Director scoffed from the side.
“Tch! They’re dumping the blame on the Saint again!”
He said this because the investigation’s conclusions had directed all suspicion toward the Saint.
The Warden laughed heartily.
“Redirecting blame has always been their usual tactic!”
“Just treat it as if he’s talking nonsense.”
The Doctor touched the rim of his eye but said nothing.
After straightening up, Smith continued.
“Everyone, rest assured. All personnel involved have undergone investigation. I guarantee that such an incident will never happen again.”
“According to the Warden Regulations, anyone whose dereliction of duty causes damage to the Warden organization must be suspended and punished.”
“Councilor, I am willing to accept my punishment!”
The councilor nodded.
“Very good, Mr. Smith. Your awareness of your responsibility is truly admirable!”