"How did it go? Did you manage to talk to the Section Chief?"
"No, it’s useless."
Zoey shook her head, looking at Kyle from above as he sat in his cubicle. With her hands resting on the walls of the barrier around his desk, she stared at the numerous files scattered across Kyle’s desk.
She whistled.
"...You really have it bad, don’t you?"
"Tell me about it."
It wasn’t just her squad that had been hit by the numerous absurd requests and quota requirements. They had all been hit with the same thing.
It was such a ridiculous thing that Zoey struggled to understand why the Section Chief had yet to do anything about it.
"It’s like he’s completely lost the will to fight."
"Well, maybe."
Kyle scratched the side of his face and sighed.
"To be honest, it’s not like there’s much he can do at the moment. He’s getting pressured from all sides, and he’s probably struggling to get some sleep himself. It’s a miracle that he hasn’t quit just yet."
"....."
Zoey didn’t reply.
Actually, she knew all of this herself. It was just that... the situation was incredibly frustrating. The obvious targeting from the other departments, and the lack of reaction from their side, was really making her second-guess her stay at the Guild.
’I did get a couple of good offers, but I don’t know...’
Zoey could quit at any moment, but the thought of leaving the Guild and helping those bastards trying to tear the department apart was setting her off.
’Right, leaving would just make them happy.’
Zoey’s jaw clenched.
"Ah, right."
Zoey suddenly remembered something. In particular, the last part of her conversation with the Section Chief, as she turned to face Kyle again.
"The last part of my conversation with the Section Chief was a bit weird, to be honest. He talked about a leash and something about the Guild Master and Seth. Do you know anything about that?"
"What?"
Kyle made a strange face.
"Leash? Guild Master? You sure you heard correctly?"
"Yeah, I did."
Zoey studied Kyle’s face closely. She wanted to see if he knew something, but looking at him closely, it didn’t seem like it.
’Strange.’
Zoey had always known that Seth was hiding something. However, the more she pried, the further away it seemed to get her. She was curious, but thinking about the mess that had occurred every time she got curious, she decided to give up.
Her toes curled when she thought back to the situation at the hospital.
"Talk of the devil."
Turning her head, Zoey spotted Seth as he returned to the Guild, his members following closely behind him.
The moment he entered, it was as if time had stopped for everyone present, all heads lifting and turning towards him. Not a single person looked away as he made his way towards his own office.
’It’s so strange.’
Zoey thought back to the past.
Things hadn’t been like this back then. There was a time when he used to be ignored by everyone, or even questioned. But now...? It was as if his every action attracted the attention of everyone around him.
And it wasn’t simply because he was now famous.
That played a part in it too, but looking at him, he seemed to change every time she saw him.
Not only did his eyes seem deeper, but his overall presence felt more intimidating. His eyes in particular... Something about them seemed to suck in those who stared for too long, leaving them staring back at a wall of emptiness.
"Hm?"
As if sensing their stares, Seth’s head turned in their direction.
His deep eyes locked with theirs as he made his way towards them, his squad separating from him as Kyle stood up and placed his hands over the top of his cubicle walls.
He put on a friendly smile.
"How did your trip go? I heard all about your new mission. Are you sure about it?"
"...It’s manageable."
Seth replied, his lips curling into a smile.
Zoey stared at the interaction without saying anything, but for some reason, something about it felt quite uncomfortable. It was as if both sides were faking it.
’Nah, I’m probably imagining things.’
The two were practically brothers.
Clearing her throat, she asked something that she was curious about: "Right, aren’t you investigating VILE - 1048? Are you sure about it...? That seems to be something that most people and even the Bureau have given up on."
"Right."
Seth pinched his forehead.
"...I didn’t plan for all of this to go public, but it’s whatever. I just came back from Royal Chambers to get some information. I think I’ve got a lead, but I’ll have to see."
"Makes se..."
Zoey’s words came to an abrupt halt as a hand rested over Seth’s shoulder, followed by a flirtatious voice.
"Babe, I’ve got something serious to say."
Zoey, alongside Kyle, blinked rapidly as they stared at the newcomer. When did she...?
To make matters even worse, Seth didn’t even seem fazed by her sudden appearance. Rather, he looked at her calmly before saying, "You seem to have gained weight."
Soran’s face froze, along with that of everyone who managed to overhear their conversation.
With a pale face, Soran pulled her hand away from Seth’s shoulder as she wiped her face several times with her hand. Zoey’s lips quivered at the sight, as did Kyle’s, as the two tried their best to look away.
This...
This had probably been the first time the two had seen Soran this speechless. It was a sight that made it difficult for them to hold their composure.
And it wasn’t like he was done.
"You’re pregnant, right? That’s what you wanted to say, correct?"
Seth just didn’t seem to want to stop.
The more he spoke, the more speechless Soran seemed to be.
It was as if he could read her thoughts.
"Doesn’t mean that you should shove your face with food. Eat less."
"...."
"Fatty."
"....!!!"
"Pftt!
"Kuek!"
Unable to hold it in, Kyle and Zoey both burst out laughing as Soran clenched her chest tightly, her breaths heavy.
In the end, catching her breath, she glared at Seth before pointing her finger at him.
"You... I, ugh."
She clenched her shirt once more before finally recomposing herself. As she did, she spoke before Seth even had the chance to say anything.
This time, it was his turn to be speechless.
"You’ve been promoted."
"Pig—Huh?"
Seth stopped mid-insult. This time, it was his turn to look surprised.
Soran’s glare intensified, her eyes seemingly spitting fire. You were about to call me a pig, weren’t you? At least, that was what they seemed to say in Zoey’s mind.
"I’ve been promoted?" Seth’s incredulous voice whispered in the air.
"Yes."
Soran clapped her hands, gathering everyone’s attention towards her.
Not that she needed to, considering how everyone’s attention was already centered on them.
Clearing her throat, she smiled brightly and announced Seth’s promotion to everyone present.
"Let’s congratulate the newest member of the higher management! A big round of applause to Team Leader Thorne!"
Clap! Clap! Clap!
Her claps resounded throughout the entire area.
But besides her, no one clapped.
"Woot! Woot!"
His promotion was only met with silence.
This...
Wasn’t this bad?
As expected, when Zoey turned to look in Seth’s direction, she noticed a considerable shift in his expression.
And before she realized it, she found herself subconsciously taking a step back.