"...There’s something that I need to speak with you all about."
An important meeting was currently taking place within the Containment Department. It was a gathering of the department’s Squad Leaders, with Zoey presiding over the meeting. Sitting at the head of the table, she presided over the meeting.
It wasn’t unusual for the Squad Leaders to gather together like this.
There were always matters that the Squad Leaders needed to discuss and arrange. With the arrival of the new recruits in particular, it was only natural for them to gather and decide where each recruit would be assigned.
More specifically, which teams they’d be joining.
At this very moment, an unusual atmosphere hung over the room as Zoey interlocked her fingers and stared at each of the Squad Leaders in turn. Rowan, Clara, Kyle, Catherine... every single Squad Leader was present.
All besides one.
And this time, it was by choice.
Unlike the rest, he was told a different meeting time.
"I believe... Seth is faking it."
"——!"
"....!"
The eyes of several widened at the revelation.
"Faking? What could..."
"I believe that the side effects that he is.. no, was experiencing have long passed, and he’s taking advantage of the situation to get out of his duties."
"....."
The room fell silent, all eyes still focused on Zoey.
Her words were hard to process.
The Jin-No, Seth was really faking his side effects. But why would he do that? There was really no benefit to it. Especially since recruiting good players was beneficial to each other’s teams. The better the team, the more points they’d gain.
But as everyone thought it deeply, they all suddenly realized...
’Yes, it might be possible.’
’If it’s him...’
Swoosh! Swoosh!
Heads turned in a certain direction.
Instantly, Kyle’s brow twitched. Feeling the numerous gazes directed at him, he forced a smile.
"I..."
His lip twitched the moment he opened his mouth.
Was Seth faking it?
Yes! Yes!
Kyle wanted to slam his hand over the table and tell everyone present. That bastard was really faking it!
Unlike the others, Kyle was actually connected with Seth. He knew all about Seth’s actions from the Realmwalker and the others. To make matters even worse, Seth was very much aware of what was going on and very likely watching the entire conversation through him.
’Ah, I should make them stop.’
"Kyle, I understand that Seth is your friend. Someone who you think of as a brother."
No, not this guy.
This guy is crazy.
"...But he’s not here right now. You can come clean. Is he faking it? Consider this your safe space."
Safe space my ass!
Kyle wanted to cry, but the only thing he could do was force himself to smile.
In the end—
Fuck it.
"Yes, he’s totally fak—"
Clank!
The door opened abruptly as a figure emerged right after. All heads turned, with Zoey and several others standing up in shock.
"Hm?"
Seth looked around the room, looking completely stunned.
"What’s this? I thought the meeting was supposed to start later. Why is everyone here? Am I missing something?"
He pretended to check his watch.
There was nothing on his wrist.
"Am I late?"
Kyle was the only one to notice as he hurriedly swallowed his saliva.
"That..."
Kyle opened his mouth to speak, but the moment he locked eyes with Seth, he lowered his head.
"Seth."
Zoey’s voice resounded, grabbing Seth’s attention. Still sitting in her seat, she stared Seth straight in the face.
"You’re faking it, aren’t you? You’re—"
Crack!
Zoey’s words came to an abrupt halt as a large crack materialized on the decks out of nowhere, startling the Squad Leaders.
Seth’s expression similarly changed.
"This!"
He clenched his teeth.
"I knew it, I shouldn’t have come here. I—"
"Come clean, Seth. You—"
BANG!
The table shattered in half.
"You better sto—"
"Hueep!"
Thump!
Catherine’s chair broke, causing her to fall on the floor.
"You—"
BANG!
The lights above flickered before twisting and falling in Catherine’s direction.
"What!? Why? Akh!"
Just barely, she managed to move to the side and dodge the lights.
Zoey’s face turned grave.
"This is definitely on purpose. You—"
Crack!
This time, it was the projector.
It started with the bolts on the left, forcing the projector to tilt before the remaining bolts suddenly fell. The projector shot toward Catherine, her eyes widening as she watched the massive block of metal fly straight at her.
"Heek! What?!"
She didn’t think twice before rolling on the ground again.
BANG!
By the time the projector fell, her hair and clothes were a mess. With heavy breaths, she was just about to say something when Zoey’s voice echoed once more.
Catherine’s eyes widened in desperation as she looked at her sister.
"No, stop speaking!"
"Are you trying to—"
Swoosh!
It was the ceiling tile this time.
After barely dodging the first one, the second one fell, and Catherine’s face paled.
"No! Stop! Stop!"
"That’s—"
Swoosh!
"Hiek!"
"This is—
Swooosh!
"Stop!!"
The words finally reached Zoey, who finally stopped speaking, her eyes narrowing as she watched every tile fall towards the haggard-looking Catherine. It was only then that the tiles stopped falling.
"Wow."
Seth’s surprised voice followed right after as he looked at Catherine.
"Maybe you’re right."
Seth turned back to look at Zoey.
"...Maybe I am cured. Seems like she’s even more unlucky than me."
Was what Zoey’s eyes seemed to say.
But fearing that something worse might happen to Catherine, she held herself back. Keeping her mouth shut, she let out a long sigh before turning her attention toward the others.
Seeing the expressions on their faces, she could only wave a hand toward Seth, silently dismissing him from the meeting.
Go, just go.
"Ah, but—"
Just go!
Zoey glared at Seth, who took a moment to look at everyone present. Lowering his head, he turned around and left the room.
It was only then that the meeting finally regained some semblance of calm. The aftermath of the events had left the entire room in utter chaos.
Amidst the silence, Catherine’s angry voice suddenly rang out.
"That ba-guy! He did it on purpose. He—"
Bang!
"Hieeek!"
***
Images of Catherine’s pale face and haggard expression surfaced in my mind.
"Keuk."
Each time they did, I felt my shoulders tremble.
"Keke."
These side effects...
I was having too much fun with them. I could pretty much use the excuse to get out of anything that I wanted.
Long meeting that was going to last hours with others rambling nonsense?
No problem!
Boring recruit program?
No problem!
Award ceremony?
No problem!
Too many reporters?
No problem!
"Kuek!"
This was the greatest thing that had ever happened to me. I was in such a good mood that even my constant headaches felt like nothing. I felt like I was floating.
’Ah, what a wonderful turn of events.’
Clank!
Closing the door to my office, I headed toward my desk with a satisfied smile. Along the way, I let out a few quiet cackles as I thought back to what had happened earlier.
But just as I reached my desk, something caught my attention.
The moment I caught sight of it, I froze.
"Oh..."
My heart sank as I reached for it.
And the moment I did, a notification appeared before my very eyes.
"Kek."
A cackle followed.
But this time, it wasn’t from me.
"Looks like the side effects are still active, after all."