Synopsis

The chapter opens with Den and his friends celebrating their success in the civil servant exam. Den discovers the dorms are full and must return to his boarding house, where he grapples with being watched by the Chancellor. He then attends a training center entrance ceremony where he makes the acquaintance of other trainees and experiences some age-based misunderstandings. Den also comes across two figures named Bull and Lion who appear to have opposing views on the Empire and its future.