"Come! Have a seat with us! I do once again apologize for the venue, but I assure you, this is one of the best kebab places that you can find."
The Section Chief of the Hoarding Department, Clement White, guided everyone to a separate table in the shop, where the other Section Chiefs from the Branch Guild were gathered along with several Team Leaders.
The members from the Main Guild glanced over at those already seated, exchanging nods and offering brief greetings.
"It’s nice to see you."
"It’s been a while."
That was all.
Just a brief greeting before they returned to their conversation.
This didn’t go unnoticed by those from the Main Guild, but no one said anything as the gold-rimmed Section Chief laughed and gestured toward the table.
"Come. Let’s have a seat and talk. There’s quite a lot that we need to catch up on."
His friendliness was hard to refuse as everyone got seated.
"There are drinks for everyone, and if anybody wants to order something, feel free to do so. This is all on us."
He began to pour drinks into the cups of everyone present.
Seeing him act like this, the tension eased up slightly.
Soon, Section Chief White sat down as he poured himself a drink.
"I can tell the mood here is a bit tense, but there’s really no need for it to be. I know this is just a kebab shop, but I’m sure you all understand our current circumstances. It’s not that I’m trying to slight anyone."
He eyed the Team Leaders and the Section Chief as he spoke.
"...I want our relationship to be good. I don’t want us to have any conflicts or anything like that. That’s why I want us to be more relaxed with each other. This place is also fitting for such an atmosphere."
It truly did seem like he meant those words.
But not everyone believed his words.
"So you want us to be more relaxed with each other?"
Team Leader Soran asked, her eyes drifting over the many drinks laid out before her as her fingers brushed restlessly against each other.
"...That doesn’t sound too bad."
"I’m glad you think so!" Section Chief White replied, taking a good sip of his drink as he placed it on the table. "I want all of us to be relaxed. Especially since we’re soon going to be taking part in the World Congress. Its important that we all have a harmonious relationship if we want to achieve a good ranking. And for that to happen..."
The Section Chief paused as he reached for his drink again, gulped down the last of it, then set the glass aside and looked toward the Main Guild’s Section Chief.
"....I hope you can let us lead in the Congress."
***
The dinner was going smoothly.
Despite the small hiccup at the start, everyone eventually got seated. Well, for the most part. Some had no choice but to squeeze onto the same seat.
My table was especially full.
"So, Squad Leader... How have you been doing? It’s been a while since we’ve heard from you. How are you doing?"
"I’m fine."
"But are you? You looked so weird during the broadcast. What really happened?"
"I’m sure you all know by now."
"But is it true?"
"Sort of. I was lucky."
I was surrounded by my squad members. Although it had been a while since I had last gone on an expedition with them, I still saw them quite a bit back in the Guild. They all seemed very interested in what I had been doing.
I answered as patiently as possible while eating the kebab.
’I guess they weren’t lying when they said that it’s really good.’
It was good.
Much better than I anticipated.
But I couldn’t quite enjoy the kebab as much as I wanted to. Not when I was being stared at from all directions. I massaged my face.
’It feels like I’m in the zoo.’
"You sure are grabbing a lot of attention. How does that feel? I’m sure the PR team will be all over you soon enough."
Lifting my head, I was met with a bubbly smile. Catherine rested her chin in both hands, her legs swinging lightly beneath the table as her smile grew even sweeter.
I felt my innards curl at her smile.
This crazy bitch... Just what sort of stunt was she trying to pull?
"It’s important that you go talk with the PR team. A person’s image is extremely important. This industry isn’t just about going through gates and removing anomalies. It’s also about maintaining image and sponsorship. The more money the better, right?"
"I..."
I was just about to reply to her when I stopped.
Wait, did she just say money?
I blinked a couple of times, my mind churning as I thought back to her words. Zoey and Kyle’s figures stood out in my mind.
’Indeed, don’t the two make a lot from sponsorships? As far as I’m aware, Zoey makes a lot of money from her modelling gig, while Kyle also gets quite a lot of money from similar endeavors.’
Since I rarely went out with them, I wasn’t fully aware of just how famous they were, though I knew they were well known. Every so often, I’d catch sight of posters or billboards bearing their faces.
I had never bothered since I was more preoccupied with my games and everything else that was around me, but now that I thought about it carefully, this wasn’t something that I could ignore. Especially since I was in desperate need of money.
’Money... Yes, money is everything. I need more money in order to acquire more fragments and buy SP points.’
Previously, my games were my only source of money, but with everything that had happened, I now had another path to create money.
My thoughts became clear as I raised my head.
"...What do I need to do?"
"To be honest, your appearance isn’t too bad. It’s just that you can look quite scary. But still, you might not need to go there for your appearance, you can-huh?"
As if not expecting my answer, her expression momentarily froze. She wasn’t the only one. Kyle, Zoey, and everyone else who was around me stopped, their eyes widening slightly as they all turned to look in my direction.
I massaged my face again.
No, seriously, am I really not in a zoo?
"Wait, what?"
Kyle was the first one to speak up, his head snapping in my direction.
"Are you really interested in this stuff? You... who hates attention and interacting with people?"
I felt my brows furrow at Kyle’s words.
"Ehm."
Quickly realizing what he had said, Kyle coughed.
"I’m just saying. I’m surprised that you would be interested in something like this, considering how you usually are."
"I know."
"Then...?"
"I need money."
"...."
Kyle’s lips parted, silently mouthing something along the lines of, "But what about your ga—" only for him to stop short, as if a realization had just struck him. He then looked at me with clear pity.
This guy...
"No, my game did not flop."
"Okay."
"...It didn’t."
"I believe you."
"I’m telling you, my game is doing well."
"And I said I believe you."
I gave up.
Seeing the pity in his eyes deepen, I knew there was no way I could convince him. Even if I brought up the game stats and everything else, he still wouldn’t believe me. Worse still, he could probably look all of it up on the internet anyway.
"Oh, right... I did hear that you were a game developer."
My attention fell on Catherine once more as she stared at me with her bubbly smile.
"That could be something the PR team could work with. Let me check real quick."
Turning her head, her attention fell on someone else a couple of tables away. She waved her hand.
"Patrick! Patrick!"
Immediately, a young man with a bowl cut and a long nose paused mid-bite, his head slowly turning toward Catherine. He wasn’t the only one. Several others turned as well, their gazes shifting in our direction as Catherine pointed at me.
"He seems pretty interested in doing some PR work. Why don’t you help him out since you work there? I’m sure that with your skills, you might be able to help him out quite a lot."
"...Oh."
Patrick’s gaze flickered over me for a moment before he shook his head.
"I wish I could help, but I’ve been quite swamped lately. Maybe another time."
"Oh, come on..."
Catherine dismissively waved her hand.
"I know you’re busy, but you can’t be that busy. I’m also sure your job won’t be that hard. Everyone pretty much knows his face by now. There’s a lot you can work with."
"Hmm."
Patrick paused, shooting me a sidelong look before turning away with a quiet scoff. Shaking his head, he muttered, "Let’s be real. Everyone knows it’s all luck..."
His words were quiet, yet loud enough for all of us to hear, freezing the atmosphere in an instant. I wasn’t particularly surprised, already familiar with their true thoughts after spending time in the Branch Guild. Still, when I turned my head, it wasn’t the expressions on the others’ faces that caught my attention.
Something else drew my attention instead, my eyes pausing for a brief moment. But just as I was about to speak, a loud crashing sound echoed.
CRASH!
Followed by a loud voice.
"Ya’ll are fucking bastards... hic!"
The entire venue fell completely still as every head turned toward the noise. I followed suit, and that was when I finally noticed the woman standing there, a bottle of alcohol in her hand as she slurred her words.
"You all are fucking bastards... hic!!"
She repeated.
As if she had already forgotten she had said it moments earlier.
"You... all... think we’re stupid? He... he. You’re... stupid. Your mother is stupid. No, I am your mother!"