Ah, so you're in charge of the financials, then? Is there no final tally? Surely the research center has an account at the bank? Perhaps counting backwards will help, though I have no intention on explaining how you might perform your duties...

...as what? The administrative assistant's assistant?

[ He pauses, though. ]

Your manner of speech, though. You wouldn't happen to hail from the same world as Maia, the erstwhile Emperor of...whatever place he was the emperor of, would you?