"…" Uno is speechless after saw his face in the mirror, at this point, the thought of suicide flash through his brain.
Aside from the looking fine mustache, his face is full of stroke and patterns from a black marker, he looks like one of those deep Indian tribe whose face is covered by certain patterns nor symbols.
Furthermore, it was using a permanent black marker! Is this thing could be erased? I don't want to face anyone with a face like this. Should I consider myself becoming a hikikomori?
"I think you should use a mask for a while until it disappears, here," Tornado suggested as he gives him a mask, and truth be told before he gives the mask.
He wanted to laugh after saw his friend's depressed expression but if he did, no doubt Uno will commit suicide.
The ruckus this trio makes attracts Alpha's attention, he is curious what is the reason behind it, so he said this to the man so the conversation between them could end.
"Can we continue after you get more answers? Find the reasonable one or make sense ok? I don't want to hear those nonsense guests again, urgh my ear. Just go." Alpha makes a 'shoo shoo' gesture and the man nodded, "yes sir!"
Alpha turned his body only to find Uno wearing a mask, Clover puts on makeup on a zombie, and Tornado having a conversation with Uno. He heard a glimpse of what they talking about.
"Un, that's what happens," Uno said after he recounts the information they got earlier, about four NPCs who got injured despite being a lvl 100.
"Are they fine?" Tornado asked worriedly and this make Uno, especially Clover who is having fun putting on makeup and after Tornado said the words, they both wonder if this is the Tornado they all love and knew.
"Tornado, are you fine? Did you get too tired and need a good sleep? Do you need a massage perhaps? Don't worry! I know a thing or two about massage."
"Clover, this guy didn't need a massage or a good night's sleep, a huge sum of money is enough."
Hearing Uno's words, Clover's eyes lit up, and realized that Tornado is a money maniac.
"You're right! But I have only a million dollars from last month's paycheck."
Pu!
Alpha and Uno spurt their saliva to the ground. You say you have only a million? Then what are we supposed to say? We only got five hundred dollars from last month! Also, why are you saying it as if that was ten bucks? What's more, you saying it with a face of regret! Uno thought and he felt stifled on his chest.
Alpha and Uno's salary from the guild could consider high than the average ones but comparing it to the girl in front of them, it was like heavens and earth!
For them, a million dollars is enough to make them accomplish a life's goal.
Tornado who becoming the person they are all talking is confused and forms a frown on his forehead.
'Did these guys taking the wrong medicine?'
"Ehem," he clears his throat to gather the attention to him, and all of them at once avert their gaze to him.
"Looks like we have a misunderstanding here, what I'm trying to say is that, they are injured, and we are treating those four NPCs until they become healthy again." Tornado paused for a second to see the reactions around him and was satisfied.
"I don't need a name for those four but considering they got a Player's ID, it was safe to assume that they coming from rich and influential families, so by treating their wounds until they could kicking and shooting again, we able to form a goodwill from them."
"This…" Alpha didn't expect that this guy would think a step further! Indeed, everything he said makes sense! Forming goodwill to influential families is the first step to boost the city's market.
Is this what Uno said earlier? When he is reliable, he is a different person? Alpha thought, therefore he averts his gaze from Tornado to Uno, to which the latter looked at Clover then both of them nodded at the same time.
'What are they up to?' Alpha muttered, and the next thing comes into the scene, both of them equip themselves with a weapon and aiming it at Tornado.
"Who are you? Tornado isn't that smart! Are you a shapeshifter or something?" Uno slowly circling Tornado from distance and Clover does the same.
"The heck?" Alpha is stunned by the sudden changes.
"Not that smart…" Tornado's mouth twitched slightly. Tornado then realizes what are they thinking right now, thus he slaps his forehead in disappointment.
They only know the old version of him, about a few years ago so seeing him talking like earlier, it was like another person possessed him or disguises as him!
Disappointed!
C'mon, guys, we knew each other for five damn years. He said himself then sigh helplessly.
"Okay, okay calm down, both of you. I could prove it that I'm the Tornado, you all love."
"Clover, on your chest area, there is a birthmark that looks like a fox with nine tails, may I know that is correct?"
"Wait, seriously?" Clover asked doubtfully and take a peek at her chest area, indeed. There is something that looks like a fox with nine tails! How does he know this?
"Pervert." She said with a pout and cover her chest area then take a step back.
Ignoring her, Tornado looked at his best friend, pondering for a few moments, and shortly after, a smug is formed on his mouth.
Uno felt goosebumps after saw that smug, after that, his guts tell him that he must acknowledge the person in front of him as the real Tornado!
"Fine fine, I'll acknowledge you as the real one!"
"Eh? But I didn't do anything yet…" He said disappointedly but Uno heaved a sigh of relief.
My guts never fail me! If I let him do as he pleases, I think my biggest secret will be revealed. Uno thought but his thought leads him to another question.
"Right, Tornado. How did you know that fox with nine tails on her chest is a birthmark?" He asked cur
"Yeah! I wanna know! How come you know I have a fox-like birthmark while I didn't? That's unfair!" Clover exclaimed.
"Well, it's a long story actually." Tornado didn't want to reveal how he knows it! It was a painful memory and the least one he wanted to remember.
"Make it short." Uno suggested and Tornado looked at him with a face saying 'really n****?'
Aware of Tornado's reaction, Uno said innocently. "What?"
Of course, Uno knows that he didn't want to tell the story but the latter about to reveal his secret! An eye for an eye!
Tornado also aware of Uno's intention and thus, he lamenting for his past decision, 'why on earth did I make a friend like him at the time? Am I really desperate looking for one?'
He hesitates for a moment but then, he makes eye contact with Clover, her eyes are full of anticipation, and adding her beautiful oceanic eyes, it was the last push to make him give up, therefore, he could only give in because of those beautiful eyes.
"Alright, you win!" He shouted then looked at Clover, "Clover, are you sure you want to know?" He cautioned her.
Tornado's expression is serious, which makes her nervous to hear the story, she ponders for a few breaths then nodded with determination.
"Yes! Don't worry Tornado, I'll be fine."
Seeing this, he sighed. He really doesn't want to tell this but looks like the time has come. He then told them what happens.
Around a year later after players are trapped in the game, that time, Tornado and Clover went into an abandoned subway to clear a main quest from the game.
The first few hours after entering, everything went smooth but suddenly, the subway shook wildly as if there is an earthquake, they both immediately take cover.
Shortly after, a creature fell from the sky into the subway then landed on a train that was crashed into the walls. The figure left behind a huge hole on the roof of the subway and as a result, sunlight enters the subway through it.
Alarmed, Tornado and Clover equip themselves with a weapon, Tornado at the time equip himself a Katana, a cheap weapon but deadly if one maximize the perks on the Katana category.
Uncover it from its sheath, the Katana glistened a sharp light under the dim subway.
"Clover, search a way out while I distract it when it wakes up," Tornado ordered her and she nodded as her reply.
Tornado approaches it carefully, he knows very well that the key to survival is to avoid a fight with an opponent he couldn't win, but this time, it was different.
They are trapped in a subway due to the earthquake earlier blocked their exits, when this creature wakes up, this thing will send them to its stomach.