On the pulpit, Gessa Adonis—now a brigadier general—spoke with a stern expression and a harsh tone:
"...The appointment letters in your hands are your final appointments.
"You may be dissatisfied, you may be resentful, you may be indignant.
"But, orders are orders!
"No delays allowed! No appeals allowed! No refusals allowed!"
Gessa waved his hand: "Now, by command—open them!"
The officers in the cathedral simultaneously broke the wax seals, unveiling their fate.
-----------------
[Camp Outside the City]
[Outside the Reserve Officers' Dormitory]
Houdel hid in the corner outside the dormitory, tightly closed his eyes, and forcefully opened the notice.
After grimacing and preparing himself mentally for a while, he summoned the courage to open his eyes again.
As soon as he glanced at it, he quickly searched the letter with his eyes scanning line by line.
The official officer who handed him the envelope had already told him, "Blue means 'yes', red means 'no'."
