On the way to leaving the estate, someone couldn't help muttering a few words of discontent to their companion who felt the same way.
Ugly words were said in the spur of the moment and under the fanning of other people's support.
Although Instructor Mary uprooted the root of resentment and hostility, the decaying remnants still struggled to fight with their dying breath.
"The Everett family is so stingy! They are so rich and their corporation is so huge, but they can't even afford to hire all 40 of us. We all completed the special training! What bulls**t test was that?! A talent showcase?! How is that related in any way to being a house staff?! They're just toying with us!" He exclaimed in anger, still feeling slightly upset in his heart.
With his start, others joined in one by one. This led to the negative feelings that were weak at first to strength with numbers.
"I agree. They should have just hired all of us! They have the financial resources to do so!" A girl chipped in, expressing her views. Her face scrunched up to display the unhappiness in her heart.
"Stuckups!"
"I knew it! I guessed from the very beginning that they were rich snobs! I shouldn't have come here and wasted my time!"
"I mean, which wealthy family that owns an estate like this can be good people?! Their money must be dirty. It's a good thing I won't be staying!"
"Exactly! And look at that young master, acting so gentle and polite even though he looks down on us inwardly, he's a total hypocrite—I can tell!"
"What does he think he is?! He's nothing without his family!"
"None of them would be anything without their money and wealth! They won't be able to let me spare them even a single glance if I saw them on the streets!"
"And that guy with the weird outfit, he must have mental issues to be wearing those things in this day and age! Does he fancy himself an ancient scholar!? Living in the past…"
Originally, they were just grumbling lowly amongst themselves, but as more and more of them joined, their voices started growing louder and louder. Eventually, their mean-spirited words were overheard by the guards escorting them. Even the people who were heading in the opposite direction as them could hear their voices full of indignation and cumulating resentment.
The escorting guards glared, their eyes like knives. They felt dissatisfied and offended by the slandering, ungrateful talk of these people about their boss and his family, and were about to move their hands and feet with a heavy hand when…
A punch was thrown out of the blue at the one with the loudest mouth and coincidentally was the same one who started this complaining club.
"Ah!" The young man screamed in pain as he held his throbbing face. He was unable to react to the sneak attack and was punched directly in the eye. A purple, blue bruise emerged around his left eye.
"Ahh!" Some of the young women who joined in on the complaint screamed in fright as they huddled together for safety.
While the other young men who were shocked at first by the unexpected turn of events, turned with angry eyes to the person who threw the punch.
It was no longer early in the morning. The sun shone down from the middle of the sky onto the dark world, brightening it up temporarily until it sets and the night falls.
During its hours of work, its golden rays beamed down onto the ground and colored the touched gold.
By chance, one of its numerous golden beams touched the top of a head of sky blue.
The brilliant sunlight reflecting off of the sky blue hair dazzled the eyes of the people in front.
A gentle halo seemed to surround the person.
After a while, once the light changed angles, they were finally able to see who exactly dared to mess with them.
To their surprise, it was the youngest member of their special training group—Rip. The one who everyone in their group called a genius.
But after the initial surprise, a mean and ugly look appeared on their faces, they pointed at Rip, swearing and insulting him. Calling him names with an immature and vicious air about them.
They looked unbecoming and uncultured, with bad characters unbefitting of ones whose job will be to serve others. Not even all the special training could rectify their ugly souls.
Rip merely scoffed at all the words they spat out. This angered them even more, thinking that even a little kid looked down on them, and recalling that he was also one of the ones who got hired while they didn't, a surging anger of unfairness rampaged within them.
With their anger bubbling and boiling to the breaking point, one of them suddenly stretched out their hands and wanted to maliciously push Rip to the ground!
"Guh ah!" Someone suddenly screamed horrifyingly in a high-pitched voice. It was a voice full of pain and fear, as well as a hint of mortified anger.
A terrifying strength could be felt on their wrists that were grabbed ahold of in an iron-tight grip that threatened to crush their bones into dust.
Frightened by the sudden scream of pain, the group of people who were just in the heat of swearing and cursing panicked and looked around. What entered their eyes was a dash of orange and yellow that blinded their eyes from their brilliance and brightness.
Just a second after that blinding feeling came the feeling of weakness and trepidation.
No one dared to get angry or shout, cowering behind one another.
An aura of strength and danger rolled off of Chase's body as he tightened his grip on the wrist of the one who attempted to harm Rip. He was like a wolf, his blood red eyes piercingly cold, giving off a murderous aura.
"Ow! Ow! Let me go!" They screamed and cried as tears and snot covered their face.
"H-Hey! L-Let her go!!" Tremblingly, a young woman spoke out. Although scared, she still braved it out for the sake of her friend.
Chase glared with eyes filled with calm anger as he swung his arm and threw the girl in his hands to the one who spoke.
Trembling together, neither of them dared to speak again. The girl whose wrists were grasped rubbed the thick red lines around her wrists, feeling aggrieved and hateful.
Chase did not show any mercy at all to a girl like her. He did not control his strength at all when he interrupted her cruel actions of pushing Rip.
The powerful atmosphere around Chase made the rowdy and uncultured group of miscreants fall back, afraid to confront him.
At this time, the guards reacted and threw to the ground the ones who imprudently flapped their mouths, slandering and badmouthing their boss and his family.
Not giving Chase the chance to do anything else. Unable to show off his skills, Chase backed off.
The guards bent each of the miscreants' arms to the back of their body and pressed them tightly against the uneven, stone ground.
However, most of them still wouldn't admit their fault and resisted against the guards' strong grip, shouting hatred for this unfair, violent treatment that they did not deserve.
"What's going on here?" A voice filled with mild amusement suddenly cut into the scene and asked.
The leader of the guards saw who it was and saluted in respect.
"Secretary Ethans!"
Levi nodded in acknowledgment.
Surveying the scene, Levi chuckled to himself. He didn't expect this lively scene to greet him when he decided to come here this morning to formally meet the applicants who passed the test.
With nothing on his plate this morning, Levi remembered that today was the day when the new employees will be moving into the Everett Mansion and settling into the dormitory built for the servants and maids.
Since there was nothing interesting going on besides that, Levi decided to check out the new employees. Among them, only some of the old staff remained, many of which were fired after they failed to endure the special training and failed to impress Levi and Ian with their talent.
Altogether, 31 new employees were hired and 46 old employees stayed on, resulting in a total of 77 employees who will be looking after the operation of the Everett Mansion.
The number 77 might seem like a lot, but compared to the previous 234, it's only one-third of the original amount. And it's only because some of the previous staff remained, or else, the mansion would end up short-staffed.
Coming close to the special training building, Levi saw that two distinct groups had been formed. One of the groups was already heading towards the mansion while the other group was being escorted out by the guards.
This was to ensure they don't wander around in the estate and get themselves arrested and killed by the gang members who live within the estate, mistaking them as spies or hitmen since they are strangers.
At the same time, this was to prevent any of the spies among the group from possibly obtaining information once they are out of their sight.
It was both a protection and a prevention measure.
Levi waved his hand with the closed fan and said lightly, "Pull them up."
Immediately, the guards lifted up the reluctant people they held down into a stand. Still with their arms trapped behind their backs, unable to try anything.
"Is this how you guys treat people?!" One of them couldn't help but shout furiously as he struggled violently within the hold, however, behind his anger was an inconspicuous trace of fear underlining his tone.
He was the same young man whose face got punched in by Rip.
Under the influence of anger and fear, his bruised face looked horrifying yet pathetic.
There were always vague rumors floating around about the mafia background behind the Everett Touch, Inc. However, they were never confirmed, only gossip that was spread around as entertainment.
At this moment, the veiled truth has never been so clear and it frightened the young man and his companions.
Levi smiled and leisurely strolled in front of the person who shouted. "No. But this is how we treat beings who are even lower than dogs. At least dogs are loyal, and you… hm."
Levi's disgusted expression and mocking words irked the young man, however, his mouth wouldn't move. Invisible chains seemed to strangle his neck, cutting into his skin, preventing his voice from coming out. He felt as if the moment a single sound slipped out of his mouth, the chains would tighten and his breath would be gone for good.
Shuddering, he fell silent.
A satisfied expression appeared in Levi's eyes, but since his eyes were naturally narrow to the point of no gap, no one saw it.
Turning around, Levi said to the group of new employees with a hint of sternness, "What are you all looking at? Hurry up and report to the main mansion—don't dawdle!"
Overwhelmed by the sudden intimidating aura around Levi, the group of people hurriedly bowed to him and left in a hurry.
Seeing that they all left, Levi looked at the three who mysteriously remained where they were.
Rip.
Chase.
And…
Blake.
With a cold and fierce look on his face, Rip still felt suffocated from his anger at the ones who dared to speak ill of his big brother Ian.
Just one punch was not enough.
He would never let them off easy!
Stubbornly remaining where he was, Rip obviously had no intentions of leaving.
On the other hand, Chase stayed because he was worried about Rip getting into trouble. Although it was the other side that started this by saying all those ugly words, it was Rip who attacked first after all.
—And, don't let Rip know, but Chase also stayed because he was afraid that if the two sides started fighting, Rip would lose miserably instantly.
As for Blake, no one knows why he stayed. Perhaps it's to support his friends.
"Why are you three still here?" Levi raised an eyebrow and asked, although he didn't care, he still asked anyway, counting it as another one of his pastimes.
Taking this opportunity, Rip accused with righteous indignation, "They insulted young master Ian!" He sharply pointed a finger at the captured people.
Rip knew Levi thanks to the teachings of the special training, and from how close he looked to be with Ian, Rip regarded him as someone he could trust despite the other's off-putting and questionable face.
"Oh?" At first glance, Levi seemed to feel nothing from the statement. However, the moment he turned his gaze towards the group of detained people, a gaze like sharp claws grazed their skin. Peeling off their flesh, revealing their blackened bones.
"Take them away," said Levi, lightly. A slight smile on his lips that showed nothing of the ominous event that was about to fall upon them.
The guards complied and, with haste, dragged away the group of terrified people while covering their mouths with gloved hands, leaving just two scared and quivering former applicants who did not speak out against the Everett family.
Giving them a nonchalant glance, Levi gestured for the rest of the free guards to escort those two out of the estate territory. As for what happens after that… they know the drill.
"Come with me."
With that, Levi turned around elegantly and walked away, his golden hair flew into the air and bent at an angle before falling down lightly onto his back.
The three looked at each other.
Though confused, they still followed after Levi's long swaying robes.
But the direction they were heading in was different from the rest of their group—it was not the route to the mansion.
The atmosphere fell into a silence, with the noise of plants and animals being the only source of sound that naturally accompanied the silence.
As they walked and walked, they found themselves away from other buildings, surrounded by woodland creatures, tall trees, and beautiful, fragrant flowers.
Adorable bunnies of white, gray, black, etc. hopped around innocently, and curiously looked at the passing humans. They had no sense of danger at all, ignorantly confident that no harm would come to them.
Colors of the rainbow could be seen everywhere, but the most prominent and dominating was greenery. Healthy, strong trees towered above the woods with their broad, green leaves casting cool shadows over the living creatures of the woodland. Chirping birds sang sweetly and danced in the air, flying close to the humans before fluttering past.
Delicate, gorgeous flowers ripe for the picking of positively inconceivable bouquets grew like mushrooms after the rain along the forest path.
It was like a scene from wonderland. Everywhere, as far as the eye can see, was beauty. Beauty beyond compare, natural with not a hint of artificial touch.
"Wow! It's so beautiful here!" Rip exclaimed as he breathed in the fresh air regularly produced by the hardworking plants. No words could accurately describe this amazing, wondrous sight, so Rip could only settle on the word "beautiful", which spilled out of his mouth unconsciously.
"It is." Levi agreed and continued to lead them forward mysteriously.
None of the three knew where they were heading and none of them recognized this area. In the first place, why did he want to lead them to another place? They should be at the main mansion right now, reporting for their first day of work.
At last, after an hour's walk, Levi stopped and turned around to face them.
Just then, a slight breeze blew by.
Hair shining as though brushed with golden dust.
Long robes that carried a mysterious and elegant air as they draped over his body.
Fan that he placed against his chest as he unfolded his other arm with an open palm in a welcome gesture toward a one-way glass door.
"Welcome to the…"