243 No Commen (2/2)
Hearing Abraham's words, even Sergey, who tried to be patient for once, could not help but be infuriated. Was it necessary to refuse to answer such a question?
His expression turned cold and he glared at Abraham for a long time, but Abraham was still expressionless. After a long pause, Sergey asked again, ”Who is your teacher?”
The answer was still silence. The discussions in the hall gradually became noisier until Sergey pounded his gavel. ”Silence! Do you refuse to answer this question too, Mr. Abraham?” He looked to Abraham with obvious anger.
”Sorry.” Abraham sighed and looked bitter and helpless. ”Unless you have the approval and written permission of the Fourth Department, I cannot answer.”
”Cannot answer?”
The audience was again in an uproar and even the commissioners were startled.
”…”
The Fourth Division was a division of the governmental system after centuries of evolution.
The First Division included all administrative organs of Anglo, such as commercial business, tax management, and so on. They were the foundation of the kingdom's administrative system management.
The Second Division included the police force, epidemic prevention, fire protection, and so on. It was an indispensable part for the kingdom.
The Third Division was agriculture, education, land, population survey, and more. It was in charge managing the people's livelihood.
As for the Fourth Division, it was a war department. Combining the army, logistics, weapons forging, the destructive technical research, it was in charge of all acts of violence and active defense of the armed forces.
It was what ordinary people called the 'military.’ It was said that there was also a Fifth Division, but no one had ever directly acknowledged its existence.
”I Cannot answer.”
Hearing his professor’s reply, Ye Qingxuan slapped his forehead, covered his face and sighed. He suddenly wanted to die. His worst nightmare had come true!
No one knew how many strict confidential agreements Abraham had signed with the military. Abraham did not even have a photo of himself as a youth. Fortunately, Abraham had submitted a resume certificate from the military and managed to account for the past.
After a brief discussion of the commissioners, Sergey forced down his anger and asked, ”Mr. Abraham, according to the Union’s investigation, you had thirty-one years of military history before you entered the Royal Academy of Music, but your resume says that when you were only forty-two-years-old when you were discharged. So exactly how old were you when you enlisted?”
”Sorry,” Abraham replied woodenly. ”Unless you have the approval and written permission of the Fourth Division, I cannot answer.”
Sergey's face turned livid. Emotions battled on his face fascinatingly. After a long while, he gritted his teeth and asked, ”As far as I know, your birth information is not complete. You claim to be the son of a gardener, but according to the Union's investigation, there are no local gardeners and there is no Wilson family. Can you explain this?”
”Sorry, unless you have the approval and written permission of the Fourth Division, I cannot answer.”
Sergey’s expression was pained as if he had a toothache. ”Is this confidential too?”
”Sorry, unless you have the approval and written permission of the Fourth Division, I cannot answer.”
”What are the military designations that you served?”
”Sorry, unless you have the approval and written permission of the Fourth Division, I cannot answer.”
”What about the last year before you retired?” Sergey was totally outraged. ”Your resume says that you were locked in the Tower Green because of some significant punishment. Can you not answer this either?!”
Abraham was still numb and everyone could guess his answer. ”Sorry, unless you have the approval and written permission of the Fourth Division, I cannot answer.”
”Enough is enough, Mr. Abraham!” Sergey furiously banged the gavel in his hand. ”Who is your immediate superior? I believe the Union can receive permission... ”
”I'm sorry.” Abraham sighed. ”Unless you have the approval and written permission of the Fourth Division, I cannot answer.”
”What else can you say other than ‘I cannot answer’?!”
”Sorry, unless you, uh...” Abraham realized halfway through his sentence and sighed powerlessly. He could say a lot, actually, but why did they only ask what he could not answer? He asked tentatively, ”Why don't you ask something else? I taught three very talented students, they are... ”
”Enough!” Heisenberg, who had been indifferent this entire time, interrupted him. He fixed his cold eyes upon Abraham and said in an extremely serious voice, ”Mr. Abraham, do you think that since the Fourth Division is a shield allowing you to act so recklessly? You should know that the Musician’s Union has special-purpose phone lines with all Anglo's major departments.”
”Sorry.” Abraham shook his head.
”Somebody get me the Fourth Division! I want to see Abraham's detailed file!” Sergey squeezed from clenched teeth. ”I'd like to see what else he can't say!”
Soon, the Modifications musicians outside managed to directly contact uptown’s military office through an underground cable. On the other end of the line, a gentle female voice said, ”Hello, this is the sixth receptionist, do you have an appointment?”
”Hello, Madam,” Sergey said coldly. ”This is the Musician’s Union. We need to check the history of a citizen.”
Soon, after a simple confirmation, the soft and sweet voice asked, ”Please provide us the registration number and name you need to check.”
Sergey glanced at Abraham. Seeing his still-numb expression, he huffed and reported the information on his resume.
The call disconnected instantly.
Everyone was stunned and bewildered.
Then, after a few busy signals, the call was connected again. This time the sweet female voice was gone, replaced by an indifferent and wizened voice.
”Who is it?” he asked.
”This is the Musician’s Union—”
Sergey was interrupted before he could finish his words by a cold machine-like and monotone voice, ”I'm sorry. Whatever you want to ask, we cannot answer unless you have the approval and written permission of the Fourth Division.”
”Dammit!” Sergey was stunned and immediately became furious. ”This is the Musician’s Union!”
”I'm sorry, unless you have the permission from the Fourth Division...” the cold voice repeated.
”We have members of the royal family as witnesses! We have the Church’s recognition!” Sergey growled. ”Do you know who I am?! I am—”
”—otherwise we cannot answer.”
The line ended; only a busy tone could be heard. An awkward busy tone.
In the awkward atmosphere, everyone looked at each other in silence and embarrassment. In the end, they all looked to the royal family behind the curtain. Soon, a note was sent out from it. After reading, those council members’ expressions changed until they grew helpless.
”Uh, let’s skip this part.” Barthélémy could not help but cough a little. ”At least, now no one doubts that he is a member of the Fourth Division.”
Sergey's face was gloomy. He grunted without saying a word.
The room was silent.