The 5-Star Master Teacher Imperial Headquarters occupied twelve square blocks of prime real estate in the Mid-Spire District.
Built from white spirit-marble quarried from the western peaks, the central citadel featured soaring rows of stone pillars, gold-trimmed domes, and hundreds of ritual pennants bearing the stitched emblems of the Seven Noble Arts. Passing beneath the grand arches were hundreds of distinguished scholars in flowing silk, each with deferential junior students carrying velvet-lined scroll cases.
Frank strode through the main bronze entry doors with his hands tucked casually into the front pouch of his denim bib.
Beside him, Shen Shitou and Jiang Ling’er carried two modest canvas duffel bags containing spare work gloves, a spool of braided chalk line, a set of pipe taps, and Frank’s thermos of cold oolong tea.
Frank’s eyes were not admiring the vaulted fresco ceilings depicting the Third Epoch Sages climbing on cranes. Instead, he was staring intently at a lit up brass bulletin board mounted beside the public notice round hall, where official royal guild proclamations were posted beneath enchanted glass.
“Ling’er,” Frank said, his eyes scanning the fine print on the town parchment. “Read paragraph four of the Guild Commercial Bylaws.”
Princess Jiang Ling’er adjusted her welding goggles. She leaned over the brass railing to squint at the gold-trimmed calligraphy.
