Editing City Series:Volume6b Chapter5 (section)

===Part 3===

The hallway ended almost immediately after Schweitzer and Alfred began walking again.

It ended in double doors surrounded by the white walls and ceiling of the hallway. The metal doors had minimal decorations carved into its surface. The floor was brown tile and a little wet. No sign remained of the battles they had fought with the artificial creatures. Except, that is, for their torn clothing and injuries.

“This looks familiar,” commented Alfred, hooking Rein König’s pommel on the door’s handle.

He pulled.

Schweitzer rushed through the door, keeping his stance low.

Alfred followed and looked around with Rein König ready at his hip.

They found…

“Kitchen counters?”

The large room’s 20-yard walls had stovetops and ovens installed and a 4-yard square counter sat in the center. Smaller counters were on all four sides of that larger one and the pathways between them contained shelves full of cooking tools and spices.

Alfred kicked at the hoses and tools cluttering up those pathways. On the far side was a counter opening up on the adjacent room.

The scene looked odd, but…

“Only because I don’t usually see it from the kitchen,” concluded Schweitzer.

Alfred nodded in agreement.

“Oh?” said a voice from their left.

Lowenzahn turned toward them after opening the charcoal oven on the wall there.

She placed cloths over her hands in preparation to pull a large metal sheet from the oven.

“Weird but perfect timing. Can you help me out?”

“Huh?” Alfred’s shoulders fell and he tilted his head. Then he turned to Schweitzer. “You’re in charge of her, right? So go help her.”

“Since when?”

Schweitzer took a look around and confirmed that the two men and Lowenzahn were the only ones in the kitchen. Past the counter, the mess hall was too dark to make any judgments there.

“Did space revert to the wrong location?” he muttered, scratching his head and stepping forward.

He navigated a pathway too narrow for him, a few trays catching on his legs, to approach Lowenzahn.

She bowed and gestured toward the oven with exaggerated politeness.

Inside, he saw a yard-long leg of venison sitting on a dark metal sheet so it could roast along with some vegetables. Some carved onions had burst atop the brown-cooked venison, giving it an oily sheen.

“Did you cook this?” he asked, grabbing the metal sheet with Der Held.

“I did, but…isn’t that hot?”

“I can cut off the feeling at will. Unlike artificial organs, combat prosthetics generally do not need to feel pain.”

“What about when you touched my butt?”

“It is in both our best interests that I do not answer that.”

He pulled the metal sheet out. She was impressed with how easily he lifted the metal sheet and he judged the food on it to be well made.

He placed the entire sheet atop the serving cart she had prepared.

Then he glanced behind him.

Alfred stood there with Rein König in hand.

Alfred met Schweitzer’s gaze and nodded. Schweitzer returned the nod before facing forward again.

Lowenzahn stood before him, so he crouched down a bit.

“May I ask something, Lowenzahn? We have run into a slight problem and I will try to ask this as indirectly as I can.”

“What is it?”

He thought about how to answer her direct response.

“Where is our commander’s office?”

“In what world is that indirect?” She breathed an exasperated sigh and looked up. “And to answer your question, you’re already there. Whatever room I’m in is your commander’s office.”

“Hm.”

He nodded as she turned around and started pushing the serving cart.

The two men only realized what she had said after the wheels started squeaking.

“Huh?”

Their voices echoed through the kitchen.

Lowenzahn let inertia take the cart and placed her feet on the bottom level. She looked back as it coasted out of the kitchen.

She was smiling.

“Welcome to the Sofort Leser’s feast, Captain Hellard Schweitzer and Lieutenant Alfred Maldrick. I am Lowenzahn Naylor, the Sofort Leser who commands the Geheimnis Agency.”

And…

“Today is my 20th birthday. …Did you bring me a present?”