Meanwhile, as Aiden gawked at Mai's appearance, Three Face waited patiently outside the room, her arms folded as she watched the door.
She stood there for minutes, and just when her patience was running thin, she heard the sound of the door opening.
"Tud!"
A red-haired woman in a business suit was the first the appear, seeing Mai's appearance Three Face was forced to nod in acknowledgement of her beauty, but what followed surprised her more than a bit.
It was a man, it was Aiden to be exact, as he walked out in his sleek ensemble, his long hair cascading like a dark waterfall down his back, tied into a neat ponytail that reached his waist, he exuded an aura of mystery, and intrigue.
Each strand of hair seemed to glisten with an otherworldly sheen, framing his chiseled features in a veil of darkness.
His eyes, like twin black holes, seemed to absorb all light around them, appearing darker and more intense than those of any other person in the room.
They held a depth of knowledge and experience far beyond his years, yet also harbored a hint of caution, as if constantly wary of the world around him.
Despite his slender frame, there was an undeniable strength and power in his presence. His broad shoulders and muscular physique spoke of years of discipline and hardship, each sinewy muscle rippling beneath the fabric of his clothing with every movement.
He moved with a quiet grace, his every step calculated and deliberate, as if always ready for whatever challenges may come his way.
As he adjusted the collar of his black turtleneck shirt and straightened the lapels of his long coat, his expression remained guarded, his eyes flickering with a mixture of apprehension and determination.
"This bastard had me monologing," Three Face thought to herself as she snapped out of her little daze, Mai's change was expected as Three Face had seen how beautiful she was before, but Aiden was completely unexpected.
Not to get her wrong, she did find Aiden handsome before but now it was just unreasonable, his skin was perfect, his hair seemed as though they were dipped in high-quality ink, and his muscles had become more evident, "and what's with those eyes?" Three Face thought to herself.
It wasn't her fault, previously Aiden had looked like a beggar with his messy hair and sweat-filled face, his clothes were also too baggy so his form wasn't as evident as it was now.
Clearing her throat, Three Face said with a hum, "You both cleaned up nicely, clothes produced by raindrop sure do meet expectations."
"This is raindrop!" Mai suddenly yelled startling Aiden a bit.
Aiden had heard about raindrop, hell, he even had a score to settle with them for the way they treated Whisper, but he hadn't really owned any of their products.
He heard that just their clothes were worth thousands of Creda's, and Three Face had just let them take their pick.
Noticing Mai's surprise, Three Face giggled a bit as she said, "Don't worry, I don't wear those clothes anyway, wait a moment I have something for you."
Saying this she walked away disappearing into the mansion once again leaving Aiden and Mai who waited for her footsteps to grow distant.
Turning towards Mai, Aiden was once again shocked by the way she repeatedly lost herself, "Mai this is so unlike you, don't you find Three Face a tiny bit suspicious? Why is she giving us these things?"
"I don't know about you Aiden but I grew up watching clothes like this on TV, do you know why I became a Contractor in the first place?" Mai suddenly asked Aiden, leaving him tongue-tied.
Before he could even reply Mai interrupted him, "I became a Contractor for the money, it's things like this that excite me, money, wealth, the power only serve the purpose of protecting myself."
Hearing what Mai said, Aiden narrowed his eyes, he was quiet for a bit until a sigh escaped his lips, "then would you sell me out for enough money?" He asked, startling Mai a bit as a look of thought appeared on her face.
Seeing the expression on Mai's face Aiden was surprised as well, "I was wrong about her," he thought to himself, and in the next moment his mind worked on ways to remedy the situation.
Just as Aiden decided to find a way to kill her, Mai responded to Aiden's question, her voice coming in a sincere tone, "I have my principles, don't think I'm a brainless idiot consumed by my pursuit of wealth, we've been through so much together, which is why I'm revealing this side of myself to you, plus knowing you is proving to be more beneficial than not."
Just as Mai finished speaking, Three Face finally arrived with two luxurious boxes on hand.
Opening the boxes Three Face, let out a sigh, and without even letting them say anything, explained, "The first is the Raindrop Black Onyx Watch for men, it boasts a sleek and masculine design. The dial features a striking black onyx face with silver hour markers and hands, creating a bold and sophisticated look. The stainless steel case is coated in a matte black finish, adding to its understated yet luxurious appeal, also, the watch is secured with a black leather strap, exuding elegance and refinement."
Turning to Mai, Three Face continued without pause, "This is the Raindrop Black Onyx Watch for women, it exudes elegance and grace with its sleek design. The dial features a black onyx face with delicate silver hour markers and hands, creating a timeless and sophisticated aesthetic. The stainless steel case is coated in a matte black finish, adding to its understated beauty. The watch is adorned with a black leather strap, adding a touch of luxury to any outfit."
Feeling surprised by the way Three Face explained the details of the watch Mai accepted the gift.
"Was she a sales rep? Or-" Landon's voice sounded out in Aiden's head.
Aiden on the other hand hesitated quite a bit.
Seeing Aiden's hesitation, Three Face drew her hand back as she asked, "Aiden, do you know the reason I brought you here?"
"To spy on me," Aiden responded earning him a giggle from Three Face, as she said. "I brought you here to make amends, let's put everything behind us shall we," Three Face said as she stretched her hand towards Aiden.
After a moment of deliberation, Aiden let out a sigh as he took the watch and put It on, but he wasn't fooled by Three Face's kindness.
He figured that there was a reason she was being nice, it simply didn't make sense. If what she was saying was true why didn't she treat all the candidates she poisoned like this?
Emerging from the mansion, Aiden and Mai were greeted by the butler as they climbed back into the waiting limousine, the butler had been surprised by their change in appearance as he had personally seen them before, but true to his professionalism, he didn't show it.
Inside the vehicle, Aiden suddenly asked again as he crossed his legs, "What's next after this? Are we going to get tested?"
Hearing Aiden speak Three Face responded, her voice calm as she spoke, "Originally, you were supposed to take an ability test, but you'll have to take it tomorrow, right now, you're going to be attending a lecture for the newly initiated before you say anything, don't downplay this lecture, the information that's going to be revealed is something that old newbies bought with their hard-earned points in the past, but you're having it for free."
"Ohh what information is that?" Mai asked, her curiosity palpable, and Three Face replied, "You'll find out. Also, it's forbidden to fight at the headquarters, so watch yourself."
With Three Face words, Aiden nodded his head and resumed looking out the window.
He might have looked quiet on the outside, but he was having a full-on conversation with Landon in his head, "What do you plan to do now that you've made it back to the shelter?" Landon asked.
Thinking for a bit Aiden responded, "I have a lot of work to do, for my short-term goals, I have to gain a stable foothold in the Silence, regain my bearings, and understand how the organization works, with that information I'll be able to navigate and come up with a next course of action, after all, I may be getting a visit from the Blue Dragon Syndicate, or The Order of Desolation."
"That's good," Landon said, before asking, "What about your long-term goals?"
At the mention of long-term goals, Aiden didn't even need to think about it, he answered immediately, "My long-term goals have never changed, they have only increased, first I have to find a cure to hell energy shock, then I have to find my sister, kill the demon that destroyed my family, find the Matter Sovereign, it's a long list, but I'll handle it as they come."
As Aiden and Landon spoke, the duo realized that they had reached the Silence's headquarters, to which only contractors affiliated with the Silence were given access.
Tall men and women all in some kind of black attire could be seen walking in and out of the Silence's wide gates, painting a busy picture on the canvas.
Getting out of the car with Three Face and Mai, Aiden marveled at the building's familiar yet unfamiliar design.
The skyscraper was majestic, towering over the city skyline with a sleek and imposing facade.
Its architecture was modern and futuristic, featuring sleek lines and reflective glass surfaces.
At the top of the building, was a distinctive crown-like structure housing the private offices of the organization's leaders, offering a panoramic views of the city below, and further up was the logo of a sword in a circle.
Out of an impulse, Aiden decided to use his energy eyes and discovered something he'd never seen before,
He discovered subtle, enigmatic symbols etched into the structure, these symbols glowing with a strong multicolored light that was visible even from this distance causing Aiden to sigh in amazement.
As Aiden snapped out of his daze, he discovered that Three Face was already ahead of him, so he quickly followed behind.
With long strides, Aiden caught up to them, ignoring the gazes of the other Contractor's as they noticed the group of Three.
"Isn't that Miss Three Face?"
"Why is she here?"
"The last time I saw her was when she came to register the newbies a few days ago?"
"Who is that Contractor behind her, he's so handsome."
Whispers flew, the majority of them reaching Aiden's ears. Hearing the contents of their conversations Aiden sighed, he missed human company.
After walking for a while they reached the grand lobby prompting Aiden to quickly take in his surroundings.
With marble floors, high ceilings, and a striking chandelier. The reception area was staffed by impeccably dressed attendants who discreetly screened visitors before granting them access, into the three elevators.