No one spoke; all eyes were fixed on Rod with an anxious gaze.
Herman grasped his hand, and Horus pinched his shoulder.
Before his hand could be broken or his shoulder dislocated, Rod announced, "The mission was successful!"
The hall fell into absolute silence for a moment.
The next second, massive cheers shook the heavens.
Nearly everyone jumped up, embracing and kissing anything and anyone nearby.
Herman exclaimed ecstatically, "I knew it! I just knew you would succeed, you've never let me down! Not once! Rod, you're our hero, our rising star, our hope!"
His beard-covered face moved in close, like a gaping maw kissing Rod fiercely, covering his face with saliva.
"Alright, alright, alright!"
Rod shoved him away firmly; no one could endure being kissed by a bearded man with such vigor.
