The Front Gate

Mr. Dillion stood in the heart of the laboratory, a place teeming with instruments, screens, and the ceaseless hum of machinery. It was a room that held the secrets of their kingdom, and Mr. Dillion, the brilliant mind behind many of its inventions, was keenly aware of the weight of responsibility that rested on his shoulders. Today, that weight felt particularly heavy.

General Firoh had informed him of his impending visit, and the minutes were slipping away like grains of sand through an hourglass. Mr. Dillion wasn't one to reprimand the general for tardiness; such a move would be nothing short of criminal, and he knew the consequences would be severe.

With a flourish that seemed to punctuate his entrance, General Firoh strode into the laboratory. He appeared less at ease than usual, a hint of unease shadowing his features. "How are we looking?" he asked, his tone casual but his eyes intense.