A knock came and Lyons—still with his eyes fixed on his nightstand— said, "Come in."

The door swing open. It was the butler. "Sir, the hall has been assembled."

Lyons waved him away. Now was the time. Turning away from the nightstand, Lyons walked out of the room and reached the hallway. He descended quite a number of stairs, before reaching the basement door.

As he opened the door, noise of chattering people hit him. He could make out what each one of them was saying.

The noises died down as the people spotted Lyons. He looked ahead to see a multitude. Hundreds and hundreds of Brookehurtian citizens. He smiled...