Life didn't get easier, even in another world.

Creeeek

Tak Tak Tak Tak

The door opened and a man walked into the room with steady and elegant steps. 

Following him was another person who entered after him and closed the door before walking behind the man.

As soon as the first man entered, the other people in the room all stood up from their seats and bowed their heads a little bit with respect.

"Sit down, sit down."

The man casually waved his hand to them, telling them to sit down, and continued to walk to the head of the table.

All the other people in the room sat down on their chairs after the man did, except for the one who had followed him inside. He stood right beside him like a wooden stick.

The others in the room stared at the man that was standing beside their master with different gazes, but no one said any word. They all waited for their master to explain things to them.

"Ahem!"

The person sitting at the head of the table coughed and brushed away the white hair strands from his face.

"I'm sure you've all already guessed what is this meeting for."

The others didn't answer him.

As if he didn't care if they answered or not, the man continued to talk with a gentle smile on his lips and a soft voice.

"He is the new member of your team. Welcome him, everyone!"

"...."

"...."

Instead of welcoming, the others in the team glared at the man with intense gazes. 

"What is wrong? Why the long face, guys?"

The master tilted once before resting his chin on his palm.

Finally, someone opened his mouth while still glaring at the man.

"What is the meaning of this, master?"

"The meaning of what?"

The woman talked with her teeth gritted.

"I'm asking why would someone whom we had never seen or heard of before suddenly join us? And why didn't you inform us before? He hasn't even worked for us for half a year yet and he is becoming one of the ranks?"

The man called master touched the gem on his necklace and tilted his head while still having a gentle smile on his lips.

"Why? Because I say so!"

But his tone was completely opposite to his smiling face.

Everyone in the room felt chills run down their spines. The woman shuddered and looked away. She gulped before turning to someone else.

"Hey! You, Fifth! Say something! You are the only one who had actually seen this dude before! I heard he saved you? Was that why recommended him?"

"...."

The Fifth glared at the women.

"I never recommended anyone."

He then looked between his master and the man before opening his mouth.

"What are we going to call him? The Seventh?"

"What? Hey!"

The woman's protest was completely ignored by The fifth and master. 

As soon as he received that question, the master moved back and glanced at the man.

"Nope. He says he doesn't like to have such nicknames."

"...."

"...."

"Not cool at all, right?"

He shook his head from side to side with a disappointed face.

The woman clenched his fists but didn't say anything else. She took a few deep breathes before leaning back. 

Another woman sitting beside her smiled with an amused face while The Fifth only avoided everyone's gazes with a frown.

Someone else joined the conversation at that moment while leaning back on his seat with his arms folded.

"So you want to move someone who has such a bloodlust towards you up in the ranks..."

He was not the only one thinking that. Everyone in the room could feel the huge pressure that was being emanated from the hoodied man.

Smile

The master's smile grew bigger.

"That is... something for me to deal with."

He said that while playing with his necklace with one finger.

"But you guys... you should try to be nice to him... He is your new member after all..."

He smiled even more. His long white eyelashes shadowed his silver pupils as his eyes curved into a crescent moon shape while he smiled.

"Okay?"

But his voice was completely different from his smiling face. The cold and emotionless words made everyone stiffen up. No one dared to say anything and all just obediently nodded their heads.

As everyone else was still staring at their master in silence, the same man who was leaning on his chair spoke again.

"So, what are you going to call you, mister hidden face?"

"Haha!"

The master chuckled as soon as he heard that and raised his hand.

Pat Pat

He clapped his hands once before patting the new member's arm excitedly.

"You already had a nickname, am I right? Hehe!"

He then turned to the others.

"Call him Mr. Hey!"

"...."

"...."

"...."

"Mr... what?"

The master answered with an energetic voice.

"Mr. Hey!"

Ignoring the others' faces, the master waved his hand to the others.

"Shoo shoo. Now go. Get out all of you! Oh, not you Mr. Hey! You stay here."

He grabbed Mr, Hey's arm with one hand while gesturing at the door with the other.

It was obvious that none of them liked the idea of leaving their master alone with that weirdo, but they had no choice but to follow the orders. Standing up one by one, they all sent different gazes towards their new member before leaving the room.

Clack

As the last person left the room, the two of them were finally alone.

"Well, what do you think?"

The master turned to Mr. Hey with a happy face.

"I told you there was no need for all of these."

His answer came back almost immediately. His voice was cold and one couldn't sense a single bit of respect or fear in his tone.

"Oh my! How cold! Even though I gathered them all here just for you..."

The master's voice trailed off as if he was really sad.

"For me?"

Mr. Hey scoffed and strode to one of the chairs.

"Yeah. It was for me. I know you have been trying so hard to impress me."

Plop

He plopped down on a chair.

"Sigh!"

The master sighed.

"Tell me, why do you hate me so much?"

"...."

"Why are you like this, huh? Have I not done enough for you?"

Looking at the master's fake sad expression, Mr. Hey folded his arms.

"No, you've actually done nothing for me. Not even the thing that you promised at first."

"...."

The master blinked and sighed again.

"That's... not wrong... But I promised I will do what you asked me in no time, but what you wanted before and what you want now. I will make sure to fulfill my side of the agreement."

He stood up as he continued to talk.

"You only wanted to do me some 'favors' in exchange for some info before... but you have finally agreed to work directly under me after all! Hehe! So much change at once... After a single incident! It makes me really curious you know... Is that boy really that important to you?"

"..."

As if he didn't need Mr. Hey's answer, the master kept talking while he slowly walked to the door. 

"Don't worry. I will give you the information you asked for as soon as I can."

He paused for a moment and smiled.

"Actually, It won't take long as I had already been looking for that boy... You know he is quite an interesting individual even for me-"

BAM

The man couldn't finish his sentence as the sound of the table being slammed interrupted his words. The master stopped walking and turned to Mr. Hey.

"Pffft."

The stone table that everyone was sitting behind was cracked and was near to falling apart.

"Alright! Alright! Chill! As I promised, I will not touch him until you are done with your business. But I still can't promise that I will be able to stop my curiosity for long, so you'd better hurry. Hehe!"

Clack

The master opened the door as he laughed.

"I wonder what you have to do with him... Is it an old grudge or something? Maybe revenge? Hoho! I knew he had a mysterious past but... What has the poor boy done for you to be so worked up about him... Especially in the short time that you were here... Or maybe not! Maybe even before that?..."

He stepped out of the door.

"Hmm~ Hmm~ That makes things even more interesting, hehe!"

Clack

And closed the door, leaving the room as he was sighing to himself.

Thud

The stone table shattered and fell apart.

"Haaa!"

In the empty room, he leaned back on his chair and stared at the ceiling.

"Interesting...huh...?"

He chuckled.

"Yeah, sure it might be interesting."

. . . . . . .

The members were busily going around and preparing themselves for the upcoming mission. 

Some carried equipment, some hurriedly ordered the documents, some others were busy helping the team leader, and the others were training their bodies.

In the middle of all that, there was one person who was deeply asleep with his head on the table.