The Company was more like an absolute chaos when it was lunch time,
And I didn't get the chance to know till the third week because I was simply sticking to the office all day long before, as I wished to do today, before being kicked out to have a life.
"Who needs to have a life here?"
I clicked my tongue then just decided to ignore everyone and sat on the very edge of the cafeteria— way too far from the middle where the majority were.
At least there was a corner.
"and at least, the food is good."
The last thing I ate was a meal with Hero yesterday, before that festival thing. After that I didn't even think about food. It was a pretty good improvement that it took half a day only to be able to eat a full meal again.
Full vegetarian meal, for now.
"What brought you here after all this time?"
"Comprehensive."
"Comprehensive?"
Sials repeated as if he didn't understand anything. And that was a good reaction since I myself just said the first word that came to my mind.
"I have to have a job life, and know others. That's why."
"Ah… that makes sense. You barely talk or see your roommates, let alone others."
"What are you trying to say?"
"Nothing." His smile frustrated me. "I'm suggesting a little human interaction so you could at least considered as something beside 'the crazy cold wealthy newcomer.'"
Crazy was something I've already heard of. Cold was something decided by my attitude. But wealthy?
I looked at my clothes to see if I'm wearing something luxurious… but there's nothing.
The suit was the one the company gave me, since I couldn't afford something like it. The shoes was one Hero gave me from his dad's room because mine was in a poor shape with holes after the old company's craziness. Nothing besides that, so I was actually borrowing everything.
And it's not as if I have the newest phone or something. Mine was the edition of five years ago.
Agh—
Thinking about all of this made me sigh.
How many months do I need to free myself from debt with my current salary?
Maybe twelve? More?
With my usual salary that would take around six years.
"Why do you suddenly shut yourself down?"
"What's up with that 'wealthy'?"
"You were thinking about that?"
"Don't underestimate the power of debts over human beings."
He gave me a pitiful look, as if he said 'you? Debts?'.
"You did a background check already. Why this look?"
"Look at yourself in the mirror and you'll know."
"So looks decided these things?"
"With clothes, attitude, and laughter. Yes"
And what?
"Laughter? Did you hear me laugh before?"
"Alex did."
"Alex?"
"You seemed to have a nice conversation with him or something."
"I laugh at him, not with him. Plus… are you all crazy? What on earth decides if someone's laughter means that he is wealthy or not? Are you some kind of teenager?"
"I told you what I've heard. And, to your knowledge, since you are barely interacting with your colleagues then they will automatically use everything they hear as kind of information. Since you are the hottest topic these weeks."
The amount of craziness in his speech was enough for me to laugh about it. Why was my tragedy being a hot topic to others? Were they psychopaths or something?
Crazy people in a crazy company in a crazy city. All in one.
Agh—
"...?" When I stopped laughing, I managed to see that Drew and Dean were also sitting with us, aside from Adeline who I would never know why she was involved at all.
They were looking at me as if I was a helpless case.
"What?"
"Alex was true in this one thing— wooh"
"That was crazy—"
The twins spoke, Silas was doing his best to stifle his laugh, and Adeline was just trying to show nothing on her face but she failed.
Those crazy human beings—
"You may as well pay attention to the fact that everyone in the cafeteria was silent too to hear." She finally laughed, So did Silas with the twins and I just couldn't hold myself from exhaling while I wiped my face.
No.
I'm not staying here for more than this two weeks. I may lose my mind before it.
"Get out of my sight, I need to finish my food in peace."
No one answered, as they were still laughing and saying things about millionaires and childish stuff like that.
I didn't wait for them to finish and when I finished my meal I just headed to the office…
Making an oath to not come to the cafeteria again.
=============
"So. You didn't get along with your colleagues?"
My team leader asked the moment opened the door, as if my expressions said it all.
"They are a bunch of idiots."
"are they?" He seemed to agree but without saying it out loud. "Okay. If just being you won't work then what about working together?"
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"You have a task whether you like it or not."
"Seriously."
"Yes."
Agh—
I hate the tasks he gave me because somehow every time they ended up being some kind of a problem.
"Where?"
"The re—" "Noo!"
"I didn't say anything yet, kid."
"No. Not the research team, not in this life."
"That thing won't happen again. Johan will join you anyway."
"Believe it or not. That accident was better than working with the researchers. They are utterly crazy! One of them just told me last week that he would be too happy if I donated myself for his research because he is working on some kind of project to speed up the appearance of the specialization. And I'm the perfect lab rat. How could I step on their cursed floors after that?"
"Oh. Okay then… Johan will go alone."
I sighed.
"Your task now is with team A"
"Khh kh— what?"
"Team A."
"But—" "you have to be responsible for what you've done."
But that person tried to sacrifice me.
Any team else will be fine— no,no. I already had enough problems with the HR and the main department's office.
I really wanted this two weeks to pass too fast…
"What should I do?"
"Just go and watch."
"Excuse me?"
"you heard it right."
"Watch?"
"There are seven newcomers in that team. Go to watch them carefully and write reports about their specifications."
"...?"
"This task's long is one week."
"...?!"
"See you next week. Make some good friends."
"Right… new friends."
All the conversation was held while I was still at the door, so when he threw my bag at me in the end I felt like a homeless person.
"See you next week?"
"Just go."
"..."
The way to the office of team A was full of self-talking and random stops to regret all my life's decisions.
And when I was finally there, nobody gave me a second glance. Just one asked where Johan was and I told him that he was doing another task. Other than that? Even the stupid leader didn't pay much attention to my existence.
It was comfortable in many ways and I knew that taking any place wouldn't matter so I sat at the chair outside their meeting table.
"Now— the newcomers."
There were Adeline, Drew, Dean, and four others I had no idea who they were.
The three I knew weren't there at first. It was after five minutes of existing like nothing that they came from outside.
And—
I was so embarrassed when the twins nearly threw a party when they saw me in their lifeless office.
"So you will join us in the next Vessel?"
"No."
"The one after?"
"No. I'm here to watch."
"So you can just watch?"
"Who do you think I am?"
"Nathan Vale? The newcomer who finished three Vessels in his first two weeks?"
"No. You two will have your impossible dreams come to reality before you see me going into a Vessel with my own will."
"So you won't help?"
When Adeline joined this I didn't know what to do besides sighing.
"What's wrong with you all?"
"What?"
"You can't just throw someone who doesn't have a specialization there just because he accidentally secured two."
"You don't have one?"
"Really?"
"What?"
When the three of them talked together I looked at them with disbelief.
"That's my question. What?"
"But they say you have like— two?"
"Eh?"
"Something about drawing attention and mental strength."
"...?"
"Someone said too that you may have something similar to our leader's sense of Vessels."
"...??"
"No one will ever believe you if you tell them that you don't have one, even me."
"You too? You did see me in that Vessel before. Did I use anything special?"
"I don't know."
Adeline seemed to ignore her senses and believe what others said, aside with the twins of course.
"Okay, believe what you want. Who are the four newcomers beside you?"
"In this team?" Drew asked, then Dean continued. "That girl over there, her name is Natalie. that man who is talking to the team leader, his name is Charles, and the one who's sleeping on the sofa there… he is Mike."
"But those are three?"
"The last is over there," Dean pointed with his head to the back. And Alex himself was there, talking with the rest as if he was the leader or something. "You know him well."
"Yeah."
My stomach started to churn at this point.
"I know him—"
Alex looked over by coincidence that moment then gave the most terrified look ever before hiding it.
Was I a monster?
No. But if he'll treat me like one, I won't stop him—
I'll give him reasons.
So, before turning around as if I didn't see him. I simply smiled at him before swiping my thumb in front of my neck.
He surely took the message well, as he turned even before I did…
"Everyone!" The team's leader suddenly shouted, taking all the attention. "Next Vessel is in fifteen minutes. It will take a team of seven."
Someone started to give everyone papers. When I took mine (which I didn't think that they would give me.) I knew that it was the exploration records for the Vessel.
The Happy Carnival Vessel.
And the records in my hands was one of many the team leader made me memorize.
It was a savage Vessel…
One that doing things wrong on it may cause your death if you're lucky and living there as a doll if you are out of luck.
Going into this, they say…
Are they out of their minds?
"The seven who will join are Derek, Mali, Dean, Drew, Adeline, Alex, and Hanna."
Then he looked at me in the eyes.
"And if the E's newcomer will come because he is afraid about his friends then I won't deny."
…
So that's your play, huh.
"You all, get ready in ten."
I really hate this man.