Rhys took the elevator down and arrived on the first floor, the doors opening with a clean chime into a guarded, open space.
"Commander." The STF personnel stationed there saluted as soon as they saw him.
"Easy, easy. This is my off day." Rhys acknowledged the salute without slowing down.
Hearing him, the soldiers didn't lower their respect. They stepped closer and offered to help carry his load. He refused in the end, keeping the buckets in his own hands.
From the moment he left the headquarters building until he reached the laboratory building, he was greeted and welcomed by STF members along the way, each salute catching him as he passed.
Even some noticed him from afar and hurried over to greet him and ask if they could help, only for Rhys to repeat the same line, almost like a practiced defense. "Leave me alone. I'm enjoying my off day."
He looked like he was snapping at them, brushing them off, or ignoring them, and yet not a single soldier seemed offended.
