113 Chapter 113: Revisiting Southampton City (1/2)
”So where exactly are we supposed to go?” I asked after disembarking from the train that took us all the way to Southampton City. The cities were connected by an international railway network that stretched for thousands of kilometers across the Federation. The high-speed trains allowed for us to cross vast distances in a matter of hours, much like how planes did the job in the early twenty-first century. Otherwise we would have to leave a day or two earlier.
”The Stuart Corporation Building,” Alicia replied as she glanced at the electronic invitation she received in her smartphone. ”It should be about thirty minutes from the station by bus.”
The two of us had brought along bags. Mine was a standard backpack, with my formal clothing and shoes neatly folded or inserted inside, while Alicia was carrying a smaller sling bag. I had no doubt she had some sort of formal gown inside there as well. She certainly wasn't going to attend the engagement party in a simple summer dress and sandals.
She looked pretty good, I had to say. A sleeveless, light lavender dress that matched her violet hair and exposed her shoulders and slender arms. She would have worn a hat as well, but that wouldn't be appropriate. I mean, why would you wear a hat inside a train, bus or building?
I had told her that her dress suited her earlier, when we met up, and she seemed very happy about the praise.
”It feels as if we are really going out,” she giggled. Then she stopped. ”Wait, we are going out, aren't we?”
”Um…if you say so.”
”What's with that?” Alicia had punched me good-naturedly. Anyway, that was pretty much what happened before we boarded the train, and I basically spent most of the ride dozing off. I wasn't sure what Alicia was doing, but she was probably reading or watching a video on her smartphone while seated beside me.
I hoped I wasn't drooling. Ugh.
After we left the massive train station, we headed to a bus stop, which, according to Alicia's smartphone and Google Maps, indicated the prime route to take. Since I didn't know the way or even our destination, I just followed her without any complaints.
”We're here!”
Before I knew it, Alicia nudged me and we got off the bus. Stepping onto the concrete, I glanced around and saw that we were in a bustling capital district that was packed full of commercial buildings and people in suits and stuff. Even though it was a Saturday, a weekend, there were still many people working here. Engaged in conversation with their smartphones, hurriedly trotting across the pavement, entering or exiting the many shining, silver skyscrapers that dotted the landscape.
I didn't have a degree in architecture, but even I could tell that whoever designed this district was opting for an ultra-modern look. The shapes of the commercial skyscrapers were sleek. Some of them were domed, some of them were curved, and others were…weirdly shaped.
”There it is. The Stuart Corporation Building!”
Tugging at my hand, Alicia led me to one of the tallest skyscrapers in the district. This one looked even crazier than the weird designs I had seen, resembling a castle tower than a proper building. It had to be over two hundred stories high. Painted in a fresh, coat of silver-white paint, the grand, pristine building stood proudly among its brethren of skyscrapers. Lights and golden ornaments accentuated it against the otherwise dull skyline of grayish silver, with gigantic electronic bulletin boards arrogantly showing off the logo of the Stuart Corporation. The clean, bright windows stood out against the white paint, reflecting the sunlight off their translucent surfaces.
Arches and contours ran around the top of the building, which, as I said earlier, made it resemble a castle tower. Ribbings in the walls gave off the sensation similar to the Ishimura from Dead Space, a Gothic design that inspired a feeling of the sublime and the uncanny (okay, that was the literature student in me speaking absolute nonsense). Did Lionel Stuart, Cecilia's father, want to project an air of royalty or something? Was that why he had his main corporation building look like a castle? He wanted to pretend to be a king of his commercial domain or something?
”Impressive, isn't it?” Alicia asked, giggling at my reaction. She shrugged when I glanced at her. ”This isn't the first time I've been here. I accompanied my father to the Stuart Corporation Building about twice or thrice before.”
”Your father isn't coming today?” I asked. Alicia shook her head.
”No, he wasn't invited this time. And he has no interest in Cecilia's engagement ceremony.” She frowned. ”He would have refused the invitation anyhow. He has a dinner with the board of directors tonight, concerning the discussion of school policies.”
He was a busy man, if he had to work on a Saturday night. I pitied him, and hoped I didn't become an academy director in future.
”Anyway, let's go in.”
The interior of the building was even more impressive than its exterior. My first impression was that of a first-class hotel, the lobby spread out across the first floor in a vast sprawl. Dozens of lamps decorated the walls and ceilings, illuminating huge, blue sofas that were probably impeccably arranged by professional interior designers. Grand, mahogany coffee tables littered the place, giving the building an air of nobility. I was reminded of the castle design outside again.
Right at the center of the lobby was a massive counter that was manned by several receptionists, garbed in starched, professional-looking uniforms.
What an absolute waste of money, I thought sardonically to myself.
”This way,” Alicia said as she motioned toward the elevator. She glanced at her phone. ”We're to meet up in the seventy-fourth floor.” She smiled as she turned to me. ”It's the rest area. We can spend the next few hours there while waiting for the engagement party to begin, and then get changed…maybe an hour before it starts.”
”Sounds good to me,” I agreed as I followed her into the elevator.
The moment we stepped out into the seventy-fourth floor, I found someone waiting for us there.
”Brother!”
Adrian Stuart hurled himself at me, and I deftly dodged him. He almost toppled into the elevator just before the doors shut. Damn. If I had given him a little kick, he would have gone right into the elevator and taken upstairs. And I would be rid of the annoying bugger.
”How mean!” Adrian whined as he turned toward me. ”To avoid my greeting like that!”
”That's…quite the greeting, Adrian,” Alicia remarked, amused. The fourteen-year-old turned toward her.