The next morning, at the top level of Cold Steel Arena.
A long table, seven chairs. The seven people involved in the negotiation sat on either side of the table, their seating arrangement distinctly marking their boundaries. The five crew members of the Dawn Star sat on the shaded side, their expressions as indifferent as five wooden sculptures; on the other end, Gaius Otimis faced Gongsun Ce, impeccably dressed in a suit, his face stern, the short beard on his chin neatly trimmed like a game model texture.
A Cold Steel battle beast walked in with a tea tray, serving each person a cup of ice-cold tea, the layer of frost on the water surface sinking the already awkward atmosphere to rock bottom.
Gaius picked up the teacup without changing his expression: "I'm very pleased to have an opportunity to communicate face-to-face with everyone."
"It's an honor to speak with your robot in person." Gongsun Ce smiled.
