"How are you holding up?"
Klein offered a small reassuring smile. He probably could tell that Conrad was not feeling too well. That was to be expected. After all, he was being paired up with the same girl who almost hacked him to death.
_This sure is making my stomach hurt_
Connie did not say that of course. Instead, he just nodded his head.
"Yea, I'm managing, thanks. Just a bit on edge"
"I understand. Miss Sandra can be a bit stern at times but that's only when she handles work. Otherwise, she's actually a kind person"
Kind huh?
Perhaps the word 'kind' had a different meaning in this place. There's no way a person, that takes innocents as hostages and uses that to blackmail another person for their benefit kind.
Extortionist was the better term to describe her.
He could feel his blood starting to boil and immediately tried with all of his might to hold back his hostility from leaking out.
"I guess I'll just have to get use to her then. Since I'll be working here and all"
"I'd appreciate that"
Connie could not help but notice the slight tremor in Klein's voice. Perhaps he was lying to him to make him feel better. Beyond the context of the situation, he could somehow tell that maybe Klein might be a good person compared to him, even though he is an assassin.
_Although those swords on his back give me a different vibe_
"So, about Meliora. She's not going to attack me again, is she?"
Connie glared at Klein intensely, that brought a brief moment of silence in the hallway that was filled by their footsteps. Klein cleared his throat before replying.
"Don't worry about it. She has already been scolded for her outburst. It would have been different if Miss Mae wasn't around…Still, Sardes does not approve inhumane acts against civilians"
So, their employee almost kills a person and the best they can do is give her a slap on the wrist? These people are crazy, all of them. However, he still felt grateful to Mae for saving his life, a heartfelt thank you was in order since he did not get the opportunity to do so.
Klein continued.
"…Mel can be a hassle to deal with, but she's… well, she has her reasons. Please be patient with her"
"I'll see what I can do"
They both nodded at each other, but Connie was not reassured. He still felt uneasy.
_I'll just keep my distance_
They continued down the hallway until they reached a heavy wooden door. Klein knocked twice and the guard inside responded to the signal. The door creaked open as it revealed a small dimly lit room with a single table and two chairs.
Connie gulped as he saw her again.
Mel sat over the table with her hands cuffed in front of her. She had a defiant look on her face but compared to the last expression he saw from her. This was better and less intimidating. Albeit this seemed a bit extreme for a petite shaped high school girl with glasses. Then again, she's possibly the most dangerous person in the room right now.
A grown man being scared of a little girl in this situation was justified. They went inside and approached the table.
"Meliora, it's been decided…"
"…"
Klein cleared his throat again and began to speak with a steady voice. Mel's eyes flicked from Connie then to Klein, however she said nothing.
"…Conrad Adre Thorne is now an official member of Sardes. Miss Sandra has put him under your care until he can stand on his own. You are tasked with providing him the training he needs to survive in both worlds. This is also your punishment; you have no say in the matter"
Mel narrowed her eyes, her defiance turned into curiosity. She seemed as though she wanted to say something but chalked it down after taking a deep breath before exhaling it.
"Fine. I'll show him what I can. But wouldn't you be more suited on assassin part of the training?"
_Assassin? _
Connie had heard that word being mentioned before but he did not think much of it because of the intense situation he was in. But when he thought about it now, a chill ran down his spine.
_Am I going to have to kill people for money now? _
Assassins referred to individuals who target people for political, religious, or ideological reasons. Their actions often have a broader Implications beyond financial gain. At least that's what he understood from watching all those assassin movies as a teenager.
_Killing people for money_
No matter how he looked at it. It was still inhumane. This was leagues apart from what he was used to. Unlike pickpocketing, where you subtly steal people's valuables. Assassination was stealing a life that can never be brought back.
_What did I get myself into? _
While Connie was lost in his own thoughts. The conversation between Klein and Mel continued till the next thing he knew. Klein was uncuffing her hands.
"Next time you plan on confining me for hours, at least leave me some manga volumes to read. It felt like torture being locked up here with nothing to keep me company"
"I'll keep that mind"
Klein chuckled as Mel and Connie left the room
***
Conrad left the room and roamed the halls once more. This time he was following the lead of Meliora.
Unlike with Klein, the silence between them was deafening. He could feel the weight of the situation pressing down on him.
Of course, Connie was wary of this girl. He walked steps behind her and kept his eyes on her body for any subtle movements that might be hostile.
But there was no way she would attack him, she was confined and forced to babysit him for that reason. Also, she looked like the type of person who would enforce rules rather than break them herself.
It did not hurt to be careful though.
Their footsteps were the only sound which made their silence that much more noticeable. These corridors were surprisingly empty for such a big hotel.
_Damn it, why am I treating her like this? I stole from her, and she beat me up for it. It's natural right? I'm wary of her as if she's some dangerous animal. Though, I'm not completely off mark with that one_
Connie was conscious of the effort he made in trying to get away from her, if he had it his way, he would have long bolted out of this place.
_Maybe I could start things off by apologizing…Wait a minute. She's the one who almost killed me. If anyone who should be apologizing is her_
He recalled pickpocketing her and later on, her stabbing his body in cold blood. Her crime dwarfed his petty crimes with its brutality.
Connie mustered up his courage and as he was about to say the first words they blocked up in his throat. Her intense and commanding presence caused him to choke on his own words.
_Haah. Forget it. I shouldn't force things_
And so, he gave up.
After what felt like an eternity, they finally reached a door with a bold red sign on top that said, 'Authorized Personnel Only'.
Before they could enter, Mel stopped and turned to face Connie. For a brief moment, she just looked at him with an unreadable expression.
Then, she bowed deeply, much to Connie's surprise.
"I owe you an apology"
She broke the silence.
"Eh?"
"I'm sorry for lashing out my anger on you. If Kael did not intervene, you would have died on that subway. When I had lost those cards to a civilian, I felt so embarrassed and incompetent. In turn I pointed my sword at you. Please, forgive me"
Connie blinked; her voice sounded sincere. He did not expect an apology to come from her first, especially from someone like her. Now he felt bad for not doing it first. At least this did help to ease the tension he felt earlier.
"I, uhh… appreciate that. I'm sorry too, for… putting you through that"
Mel straightened up; her soft gaze was once again overlapped by a stern expression. She nodded with a hint of a smile playing on her lips.
"My name, I couldn't tell you the last time. Sorry for being rude"
"I understand why now"
The last time he asked for her name she flat out rejected him. At first, he was a bit pissed off by this, but after everything that has happened, he could see why.
"In case you've forgotten mine. It's Conrad Adre Thorne, you can call me Connie"
"Meliora Lynn Akerman"
"Akerman... Why do I get the feeling I've heard that last name before?"
Connie dug through his memories in search of that surname. But nothing came up. That was until Mel reminded him.
"You've probably heard it from my older brother. Fern Kael Akerman"
"Eh?!"
Now that she mentioned it. She and Fern did sort of lookalike or have similar features in a way. They both had black hair—but that could hardly be used as an indication. But they do have blue colored sort of eyes. So that checks out.
_That explains a lot_
It mainly explained how they were both psychopaths. Other than that, he got nothing.
"So, he's your big brother huh? That must be…. fun"
He said with an awkward smile. It was too difficult to fake a perfect one.
"….."
She said nothing, but at least he was assured that their differences had been settled. Mel stepped to the side and raised her hand towards the door, gesturing Connie to go in first.
"...You can go in first"
The "Authorized Personnel Only" sign still made him uneasy though, but since he was an official employee, he assumed its fine.
He pushed the door open and went inside.
What greeted him behind the door was a bustling hive. The air was thick with mouthwatering aroma of sizzling meats, freshly baked bread and all kinds of cuisines he could not make out.
"Woah"
Bright overhead lights sparkled across stainless steel countertops. Cutting boards, utensils, and an array of knives were all neatly displayed. Chefs in pristine white uniforms moved swiftly, their hands even somewhat blurry as they skillfully sliced, deep-fried and plated the meals. The noise of clanging pots, sizzling pans, and shouted orders had Connie flabbergasted.
"This is so—"
He had barely taken two steps in when he felt a sudden sharp pressure under his chin. A cold blade pressed against his neck, held by someone who had seemingly appeared out of nowhere.
Connie froze.
When he slightly turned his head to look, he saw him.
"What do you think you're doing in here, damn donkey?"
It was the Head Chef, Lucian Jude Fitzroy. The fierce expression he displayed was a lot more different than the indifferent one he showed in the office. On top of that, his voice was low and menacing.
_He seems pissed_
Connie had a look of terror on his face. He did not understand why Lucian was glaring at him with eyes that burned with anger, but he still raised his hands slowly to try and diffuse the situation.
"I'm sorry but I don't understand. Since I work here now, I thought it would be okay. I don't get what the problem is"
Lucian growled as he pointed his finger to a prominently displayed sign that read 'AUTHORISED PERSONNEL ONLY'. Connie cursed himself for ignoring that sign at the entrance.
"Only chefs and maintenance are allowed in the kitchen. Can't you read?"
"I didn't know. I'll be more careful next time. I don't mean any disrespect"
Connie said in a trembling voice. That might have been enough to convince him because he lowered the knife, but when Connie turned around, he was grabbed by the neck with one hand, and the now visible kitchen knife was positioned on his neck again.
_Why does this keep happening to me? _
Wait a minute…
Behind Lucian's murderous figure, he saw Mel covering her mouth with a hand. She was slightly giggling under there, clearly amused by the situation. Also, she did not even set one foot inside the kitchen.
_That psycho set me up_
"Listen here. There's nothing in this world I hate more than customers entering the kitchen uninvited. The moment you set foot in here, you had already signed your own death warra—"
"—that girl over there's the one who said this door is fine to… enter. It's… it's not my… fault."
At that point, Connie was being strangled.
If he was going down, he might as well go out with the same person who led him to his death. Lucian's eyes flickered to Mel, who immediately straightened up.
"That so? I get the picture now."
He let out an exasperated sigh and finally lowered his knife. Connie took ragged breaths after being released from the choke.
"Since you're still new here I'll let you off just this once. Next time, your dead meat"
"Yes, sir…. chef sir"
Connie said as he quickly rushed over to the door with his hands rubbing his neck. Lucian gave Mel a stern but slightly soft look.
"Meliora, don't pull that stunt ever again. This is a kitchen, not a playground."
"My deepest apologies. It won't happen again."
She bowed and they got away from the Head Chef.
As they walked out, Connie gave Mel a reproachful look.
"You did that on purpose didn't you?"
She grinned while slightly chuckling, not even trying to hide her amusement.
"Consider it as initiation."
_Wonder where did I hear that before? _
Connie took deep breaths to disperse the lingering adrenaline pumping through his veins. This is definitely going to be a wild ride.