Stairmount looks above. One of Saturn delegation team members, whom he recognizes as Mintsand Marine, is standing not far from him.

"You should use the time to relax efficiently," Mintsand Marine utters again. "We'll return to our work routine like crazy people soon after. Especially you, the main character."

Mintsand Marine smiles kindly. In his early forties, Mintsand is a young man with masculine looks. He is tall, his chest is well-built and muscular, and his face expresses sternness and alertness. His lapis lazuli hair which is neatly arranged reflects the sunlight. His eminence-purple eyes narrow as he smiles. He steps his stocky-and-athletic body closer to Stairmount.

Stairmount forces a smile. "Thanks for your caring, Mr. Marine."

"Just call me Mintsand, Mr. Rivers."

"Okay... And you too, just call me Stairmount."

"You have a Saturnian name?" Marine asks abruptly. "It's a bit strange to call you by Jupiterian name while you are actually the Saturnian."

Stairmount forces a smile once again. "Yes, I have... my Saturnian name, is Schynn."

"Schynn Rivers... nice name." Marine praises. "Well, this is better. Later in the future, we'll just call you by your Saturnian name, okay?"

"That's fine. Nothing's different, after all. The Jupiterian can't spell my Saturnian name, that's why my parents gave me a Jupiterian name to be written on my ID card. But at home, they call me Schynn."

"Apparently your parents still stick to the old tradition. But why are you more accustomed to speaking in the Jupiterian language? And by then you are not fluent in Saturnian language, just like a foreigner who just begins to learn Saturnian language."

"Because I live in Jupiter, there Jupiterian is the main language. Mastering the Jupiterian language is a must."

"But there are a lot of Saturnian-Jupiterian people who still keep speaking in Saturnian language. Why are you different from them?"

Stairmount decides not to respond to that question.

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"By the way, from what area of Saturn do you originally come from?"

"I was born and grew up in Jupiter."

"How about your parents?"

"They are from Jewel Prefecture. My father is from Nephrite and my mother is from Jadeite."

"Ah, that means you have been coming to the right place! This is the hometown of your parents, right?"

Stairmount nods.

"And you have helped the people of your ancestral hometown. You have been filial to your ancestors."

Marine's words just now were like sharp blades which stabs straight into Stairmount's heart. His suddenly dry tongue forbids him to say even a word.

But luckily Marine doesn't notice the change in Stairmount's facial expression. He keeps talking to him, and now asks about this and that. About Stairmount's life in Jupiter, about his studies and accomplishments, and how he can be entrusted to carry out this important state duty. Marine is very kind to him, very different from when he was at the previous time. Nevertheless, he is indeed not close with any of Saturn Delegation Team members - don't expect them to get close, they were even almost beating each other in the meeting room. Even after Stairmount has helped in discovering the Ramscal Pathogen in the southern area for the first time, as well as provides the effective therapeutic method for that pathogen, and thus manages to save the lives of many people, Saturn delegation team members remain unimpressed with him. So, it can be said that Marine's current attitude is extraordinary.

However, Stairmount himself is basically not used to getting along easily with other people. Towards men, or women, it's all the same. That's why he has only a few friends, but his few friends are mostly very qualified in their friendship and loyalty, for example James. He is canny in behaving, that's true, but to get closed to other people, he is not very talented at it. More precisely to say, he has no interest in it. Only one person who could attract him to approach that person first - Daphne. He himself once wonders how he could be more active to get along with that young woman, and in the end, he can only conclude that it is indeed the power of Mate, he is mated to Daphne. But with the others, he is back to his original principles. Especially with the Saturn Delegate team - and that includes Marine, of course. So to Marine's friendly questions, Stairmount simply answers all of them in a brief, in polite manner but not showing that he is willing to get more closer.

"Wow, time flies so fast, it's getting dark." Marine looks at the big yellow sunset getting ready to sink on the purplish-blue west horizon, then looks at the watch in his ultra-cyber minipad. "It's time for dinner. Ronnand, Snow, and the others - we have made an appointment for dinner at the Seven Stars restaurant. Would you like to join us for dinner too?"

"Sorry, I've made an appointment for dinner with my team," Stairmount replies curtly. He indeed has promised to have dinner with them, and on the other hand, he feels grateful for making that appointment. The reason is, he still feels uncomfortable having dinner with the Saturn Delegation team.

"Ah, it's fine. Then, next time, okay?" Marine smiles. He gets to his feet. Stairmount follows him. "We'll have dinner together on the next time, Schynn. It is a pleasure to talk with you today."

Marine holds out his hand for handshaking. Stairmount returns the handshake. "So am I, Mintsand."

However, when Stairmount turns around and walks away, it turns out that Marine is still standing there. Watching Stairmount who keeps walking away, and finally, disappears from the views.

Copyright ©️ by boundless_universe