There were several sofas laid outside the meeting room, I took the liberty and sat on one of them.
'KLM Enterprise.'
A name lingered inside of my mind.
As I turned on my phone and entered the company into the Guild's database, a small loading wheel materialized on the screen after I pressed the confirmation button.
'This should be enough.'
While the name of the project was never explicitly mentioned, there was ample information for me to work with.
The Guild's database―accessible to all employees but segregating information based on employee rank―contained more than enough data for me to find what I was looking for.
'KLM Enterprise, a concept that seemed too difficult to achieve with a low budget and a project that the company doesn't find quite promising.'
With all the information that I had, it wasn't that hard to look for what I was looking for.
Eventually, my eyes settled on a certain project that appeared on my screen.
I narrowed my eyes and concentrated. In the vision, this was supposed to be the project that was bound to succeed. The importance of this matter was nothing to scoff at.
— ●
[The Labyrinth]
Contestants from six to eight diverse groups, each hailing from different guilds, are thrust into a colossal maze brimming with monsters. These creatures carry valuable points that contestants can exchange for ingenious devices to aid their escape from the treacherous labyrinth. The fastest group that can escape the labyrinth will be declared the winner.
— ●
'A labyrinth show, huh?'
This concept was undeniably unique. Reflecting on all the shows I had viewed in the past, this was the first time I encountered a program of this particular genre.
The more I thought about it, the more confident I was in this being the project that was bound to succeed in my vision. Not only was the concept unique, but it belonged to KLM Enterprise, was made by an unknown director, and sounded too difficult to produce with a limited budget.
"This is the one."
I tapped on the screen.
I was sure now. This was the project that I was going to choose.
Clank—!
Right on cue, the conference room doors swung open, and a stream of people spilled out.
A few of them glanced in my direction, shooting strange looks, but for the most part, I remained unnoticed.
"There you are."
As if he had a massive headache, Dean approached me while massaging his temples.
"...You don't know the mess that you've caused."
"Didn't you tell me to choose whatever I wanted, and that there was no pressure?"
"I was lying."
Dean slouched on the couch next to me, gazing upwards with vacant eyes.
"You could've warned me beforehand if you were going to do something like that..."
"Again, you told me no pressure."
"I told you I was lying!"
He gave me a sour look, but I still shrugged.
"...and how was I supposed to know that?"
If only it was so easy to tell if someone was lying or not.
"No, never mind that."
As if his headache intensified, Dean stopped arguing.
"Sigh... well, it's too late to back out of the mess that you've caused. Since you rejected the two projects, the Unit leader decided to give those two projects away. [Top Stars] will go to the manager of Dark Canines, and [Superstars of Tomorrow] will go to the manager of White Foxed. In short, we no longer have those two projects to choose from."
From how quiet and dispirited his voice was, Dean sounded as if he had lost everything.
I sighed in relief. The projects were ticking time bombs anyway.
Knowing that I could no longer choose them, I sensed a significant burden lift from my shoulders.
When I regained my senses, Dean was staring at me with his head tilted.
"So, in the time that you were out, did you manage to find a project?"
I nodded my head.
Of course, I had one.
In fact, I was just waiting for you to ask.
"Yes, there's one project that I really like."
"Let me see."
"I have it on my phone, let me open it. Here."
"Alright."
As he took my phone, Dean's expression suddenly turned strange. I expected such a reaction from him.
Clearing my throat, I readied myself for the speech I had prepared. All the good points, and bad points and how this was worth the gamble. However, as I began to speak, Dean interrupted me.
"Although the project may se—"
"It's taken."
"Uh, what...?"
I blinked my eyes, unable to process the information.
Dean eyed me with a strange look.
"I said, that the project is taken. It was selected not too long ago."
My mouth suddenly felt dry as the words refused to come out.
I took a deep breath.
"...Who selected the project?"
The sudden piece of news threw me off, but I was still able to retain my calm.
'They must've already distributed all the projects.'
That was the only explanation I could think of.
"Just before leaving, actually."
"Did all the projects get distributed, then?"
"No, they didn't."
Uh?
Dean continued to look at me strangely.
"Besides the two projects you rejected, almost every other project is still free. Well, it makes it three now. The project you just showed me is also taken."
Wait, what?
What's going on...?
As if he was unable to see my inner turmoil, Dean continued,
"Everyone was surprised at first, but since no one wanted the project, we just let him have it. He seemed rather keen on taking on the project. Plus, I honestly didn't think you'd also be interested in the project..."
I scooched up from my seat. The very air that felt lighter just moments prior suddenly became incredibly suffocating.
"You know, I'm rather surprised that you're also interested in the project. Everyone in the room judged that it was a bad project, but to think two people would want the same project... Hah, this place is filled with nutjobs."
Dean chuckled lightly as he spoke those words, but I failed to find any humor in what he had said.
No, rather, the more he spoke the more suffocating the air felt.
Licking my dry lips, I hesitated. Just who was he talking about? Why was this never mentioned in the visions?
'Could this be the butterfly effect?'
Was this all a result of my meddling...?
My mouth felt incredibly dry.
It wasn't as if I didn't expect a scenario like this. It was bound to happen.
I just didn't expect it to happen so soon.
"Oh, here's the one you're looking for."
Dean suddenly stood up as two figures came out from the meeting room.
The unit leader was present, along with another individual I didn't recognize. He appeared to be around my age, sporting a bowl cut and dressed in a black suit. My initial impression of him was that he seemed amiable, exuding a remarkably unassuming demeanor.
Even his smile seemed friendly...
"You guys are still here?"
The Unit leader looked at me, cooly. I couldn't quite tell if he hated me or just didn't care about me. His expression was hard to read.
"Haha, well I was talking to Liam to see if he found a project he liked. Listen to this..."
Dean tapped me on the shoulder, nudging his head toward the other recruit.
"...The project he chose is the same as the one Richard chose. He's a new recruit just like Liam. I think he started just a month before him What are the chances?"
So he's called Richard?
"Oh?"
The unit leader raised his brow, alternating his gaze between Richard and me. Even Richard seemed surprised as he looked directly at me.
"So we have two recruits who are way in over their heads."
The unit leader nodded.
"Great..."
"Hahahah."
Dean laughed, patting him on the shoulder. The two seemed to be on good terms.
"Cheer up. We were both like that too back in the day."
"No, we weren't."
"Well... just a little."
"Just you."
"Hey... come on, you know well that it wasn't just me."
With the two busy talking with each other, my gaze met with the other recruit's. He smiled warmly at me.
"I didn't expect someone would also choose this project."
He started a conversation with me. The more I looked at him, the friendlier he seemed.
"The project has a lot of potential."
I replied honestly.
I didn't just think this because of what I saw in the vision. The concept was really interesting, and thinking about the girls, I knew they'd enjoy such a show as well.
"I'm glad I'm not the only one that thinks this way."
"But it seems like it's just us two who think the project has a lot of potential."
"Haha, yes. I can still remember the way everyone looked at me. It was as if I was an idiot."
"I can imagine."
No, I really could.
"Well, since we're talking, I might as well shoot my shot. What are the chances of you giving the project to me?"
"I'm sorry."
He bowed politely. The more I looked at him, the better my impression of him seemed.
I still didn't let my guard down.
"...I really like this project. I don't think I'll be able to part with it."
"That's a pity."
It wasn't like I didn't expect him to reject me.
I still shot my shot.
There was no harm in asking.
"Let's go, Liam."
Before I could say anything else, Dean tapped me on the shoulder.
Ah...
What the hell was I going to do now?
On the way out, Dean patted me on the shoulder as he tried to cheer me up.
"Don't think too much about it. We still have two days to choose our projects. It's a pity that those two projects have been taken, but I'm sure out of the thirt-no, twelve remaining projects, one is bound to do well."
I stopped myself from replying.
If only that was the case.
Quietly nodding my head, I followed Dean out. As I was leaving, I found Richard waving his hand at me.
'Good luck.'
He mouthed slowly.
Ah, he really did look like a nice guy.
I nodded back at him, my eyes lingering on him for a few seconds longer.
"Don't worry too much, Liam. I think I may have been a bit too harsh on you. Suddenly putting you on the spot like that and asking you to choose, I'm sorry."
"No, it's fine."
"But man, you really had to reject those two projects like that. Are you the type of person that just simply overthinks everything?"
"Maybe..."
Do I overthink too much?
Maybe.
I guess I was the type that overthought too much from time to time.
It happens.
So...
'I hope I'm not overthinking things right now.'
I felt my heart clench as a thought crossed my mind.
'...I hope it's the butterfly effect. No, it's most likely the butterfly effect.'
Right.
Because...
If that wasn't the case, it would only mean one thing.
'I'm not the only one that can see the future.'