The soldiers with weapons at their waists and clerks in civilian shoes busied themselves between tents, and it seemed as if Monkey had stumbled into another world.
With thick skin, he stopped a clerk and found out the location of the tent where the Mason Commissioner was.
Upon reaching the entrance of the Mason Commissioner's tent, he realized he was not the only one the commissioner wanted to see—inside, there were about thirty people gathered, some he knew, others he didn't.
Suddenly, Monkey saw his friend Doug among them. Doug also saw Monkey and waved to him with a smile.
Monkey hurried into the crowd, squeezed to his friend's side, and asked excitedly: "Why are you here too?"
"All preparatory cadets were called." Doug answered as concisely as always.
Monkey was about to ask further when the atmosphere in the tent suddenly changed. Everyone closed their heels together, standing upright with their backs straight.
Monkey instinctively stood at attention as well.
