Chapter 805: First Day [1]

The man led me past the workstations and towards a room on the other side of the floor.

Four people stood around a table inside. A map filled most of its surface, with one of them dragging a finger along a highlighted section while the others watched.

The moment we entered, the man moving his finger stopped.

Their attention settled on me.

"This is the member assigned to your team."

"...Today?"

"Yes."

The man at the table looked towards me again. His gaze stopped briefly on my shirt before returning to my face.

I looked down as well.

There wasn’t anything on it.

Probably.

"He’ll be with you for the next two months. The details are in the file."

The guide handed him the tablet.

I remained near the entrance while he read through it. The other three continued looking at me, although one eventually returned her attention to the map.

It seemed like a rather good map.

I could understand wanting to look at it.

"Is there a reason for the mask?"

The question came from the woman nearest to me. Her hair was tied neatly behind her head, and she held a pen between two fingers.

"I was trying to make a good first impression."

"By covering your face?"

"I’m really handsome."

"....."

She looked towards the guide.

I sighed before reaching for the mask.

"It’s fine. I can take it off."

The other disguise was already in place. Removing the mask wouldn’t reveal anything besides the face I was going to be using here.

Still, I liked the mask.

It made me feel protected.

I folded it and put it in my pocket while the four of them took another look.

Nobody seemed to recognise me.

Good.

"This is one of our elite containment teams."

The guide explained.

"They’ll be supervising your work and helping you familiarise yourself with the department."

I nodded.

Elite.

There was a rather nice ring to it.

"Adrian Keller. He’s the Team Leader."

The man holding the tablet lifted his head.

His dark hair was combed back neatly, and his jacket remained buttoned even as he leaned against the table. He gave me a small nod.

"Welcome."

"Thank you."

"This is Vera Sloan. She handles analysis and field assessments."

The woman who asked about my mask lowered her pen.

"Have you worked in containment before?"

"Yes."

"For how long?"

"A while."

Adrian passed the tablet towards her before she could ask anything else.

The guide continued.

"Marcus Dale. Retrieval and field containment."

The tallest of the four looked towards me. His shoulders stretched the jacket a little, although the fabric otherwise sat perfectly.

He offered his hand.

I lifted my uninjured one, and he paused before adjusting his grip.

"Your other hand?"

"A little injured."

Actually, I could move it now, but I still went on the cautious side.

It would probably take one more week for it to heal.

Damn mimic.

"I see."

His eyes briefly moved towards my wrist. Then he let go.

"And Tessa Reed. Equipment and operational support."

The last woman straightened from the table. Her hair stopped near her chin, and a small device rested against her ear.

She touched it once before speaking.

"Hello."

"Hello."

She gave me a brief nod before glancing towards the folded mask sticking out of my pocket.

I pushed it farther inside.

Why was I suddenly so aware of everything I was wearing?

"And you are?"

Adrian asked.

I straightened.

"Emile Crow."

The name came out quite naturally.

"A pleasure to meet all of you."

They nodded.

Not at the same time, but close enough.

The guide exchanged a few more words with Adrian about my access and temporary assignment. I listened without interrupting, occasionally pulling at the bottom of my shirt.

The more time passed, the more self-aware of my clothing I became.

It wasn’t like I was dressed badly. I was wearing my usual suit, but the shirt was filled with creases and untucked, whilst my blazer was way oversized compared to their tailor-made ones.

How annoying.

"Well, I’ll leave him with you."

The guide placed a temporary access card on the table before turning towards me.

"Someone will contact you once your accommodation is ready."

"Alright."

I picked up the card, and he left shortly afterwards.

The door closed.

For a moment, nobody said anything.

Then Adrian handed the tablet back to Vera.

"We’ll show you around before continuing."

I nodded.

"How considerate."

His gaze lingered on me briefly before he moved towards the door.

*

The tour was rather quick.

Adrian pointed out the equipment counter, the briefing rooms, and the passage leading towards the containment bays. Marcus walked beside him, while Vera and Tessa followed a little farther behind.

I remained between them.

"Your card will only open the areas you’re authorised to enter."

Adrian calmly said as he showed me around.

"If a door doesn’t open, don’t try another way in."

"Do people do that?"

He looked at me, then looked at my clothes.

I looked back.

After a moment, he continued walking.

That wasn’t much of an answer.

But why was he looking at my clothes again?

I subconsciously tucked my shirt in.

We passed a glass wall overlooking several enclosed bays. Someone inside was checking a case with a long instrument, watching the readings on a separate screen.

I slowed down a little.

"Those are the—"

"You won’t need to go in there yet."

Adrian pointed towards another passage.

"The workrooms are this way."

"Ah."

I followed him.

Vera was still reading my file. Once, she looked up at me before returning to the screen.

I wondered what it said.

Hopefully something nice.

Something about my talents would’ve been good.

We reached a wider corridor shortly afterwards.

Adrian suddenly stopped.

Marcus moved aside, and the two women immediately followed. I looked towards them, wondering what was happening, before noticing the group approaching from the opposite direction.

My steps slowed.

Liora.

She walked at the front, with several people following a short distance behind her. All wore dark suits, but there was something about the way the others moved around them that drew my attention.

A man approaching the crossing stopped to let them pass.

Someone near a workstation straightened.

Beside me, Adrian lowered his head.

The others did the same.

"....."

I looked between them.

A hand touched my arm.

"Head down."

Marcus spoke quietly.

"Pay your respects."

Oh.

We were doing that.

I lowered my head before he could remind me again.

The footsteps grew closer.

For a moment, all I could see was the floor and the shoes passing in front of me.

Then the pace slowed slightly.

I raised my eyes just enough to see Liora looking in my direction.

Her gaze rested on my face.

I kept still.

The moment lasted a little longer than I would’ve liked, but she eventually looked away and continued walking.

Nobody in her group said anything.

Only after they passed did Adrian lift his head.

I straightened too, looking back towards the group.

"That’s Liora Halecrest’s team."

Marcus said, his voice soft.

"I see."

"The best in the Guild. You’ll be seeing them around, so remember that."

I watched them disappear around the corner.

Right.

I would make sure to remember where the floor was.

"This way."

Adrian was already moving.

I followed before Marcus could help me with that too.

Our next stop was a room with several desks and a display covering part of the wall.

The moment we entered, Tessa went towards one of the terminals. Vera placed the tablet beside her keyboard, and Marcus took off his jacket before opening a case beneath his desk.

Adrian pointed towards a seat near the end.

"You can use that one for now. Your login details should arrive shortly."

"Alright."

I approached the desk while he returned to the others.

"The second report. Has it been updated?"

Vera turned her screen towards him.

"Just came through."

They started discussing something on the display. Tessa joined in a moment later, and Marcus brought the open case over.

I remained standing beside my chair.

Nobody looked back.

"....."

Slowly, I sat down.

The screen in front of me was black. I touched the mouse, but it only brought up a page asking for information I didn’t have yet.

I looked towards the others.

Still nothing.

For once, nobody was asking me to do anything.

How strange.

But at the same time, it felt nice.

Maybe I could consider this my own vacation...?