"No, thanks. I'd rather be alone for a bit."
"Got it... then see you next week."
Scott nodded to James and started walking away. All around him, he saw other management bureau employees dressed in the same black coats as James. His first step into his new life had almost been ruined, leaving him with a terrible impression of the abnormality management bureau.
"Oh, right. Hey, Scott! Don't you dare go to Block 13! Absolutely don't!"
James was shouting something behind him, but Scott barely heard it.
"Ugh, I'm so done with this."
As Scott stepped out into the city, he let out a big sigh. Above him, the high-pitched calls of mocking birds seemed to laugh at his state. The exhaust fumes from a passing Mk-2, a truck marked with arms, only added to his frustration.
"Cough, cough! Damn it! Get it together, Scott! You came here to reinvent yourself in this city! That was your plan, right? Don't let this get you down!"
With a self-boost, Scott lifted his chin. He pulled out his phone and checked the email about the interview he'd received three days ago. With renewed determination, he started walking toward his new future.
Subject: [October 13] Interview Invitation
Dear Scott Orlando,
Thank you for reaching out to us despite living outside the area.
I'm Liar, the recruitment officer at Lexy Transport Services, Limbo City branch. We would be thrilled to have you come in for an interview, and I'm reaching out to confirm the schedule.
Date and Time: October 13 (Monday), 10:00 AM
**Venue:** Quetzalcoatl's Building, 13th Floor
**Lexie Transportation Services Co., Ltd., Limbo City Branch**
**Address:** 400 Aktor Kamzin High Street, Block 13, Limbo City
*Please check the attached map for the interview location.*
**What to Bring:** Nothing specific
**Duration:** 30 minutes
*We will cover all transportation costs for the interview, so please rest assured.*
*If you need to cancel your interview, please let us know in advance.*
"Hey, I'm back!"
Dorothy returns home after finishing a task for the inspector. The sign hanging on the door, which reads "Walter's Strange House," clatters cheerfully, as if welcoming her arrival.
"Welcome back, Miss Dorothy,"
Maria, the maid, greets her warmly. With her prominent chest that stands out even in her maid's uniform and her tall, model-like figure, Maria is a striking beauty with pale platinum-blonde hair braided neatly. Seeing her gentle smile, Dorothy's expression softens.
"Hi, Maria."
"You did a fantastic job today, Miss Dorothy."
"Well, I think I did a hundred-point job, for sure!"
*That witch, I'm so fed up with her! Next time I see her, I'm going to yank out those antennae!*
"..."
*Oh, it was terrifying. The look on her face when the robber died...*
"The screams of a man have been coming from the back room all this time... 'Please stop' and 'Help me,' you know. I can't get that voice out of my head."
"Seems like it's getting bad reviews," Dorothy grimaced at the voices of the rescued, including Burning, coming from the TV.
Seeing her reaction, Maria's elegant face broke into an amused smile.
"Hehehe, looks like it."
"What did she do wrong?"
"Hehehe, no idea."
"…And could you please start calling me President instead of Miss already?"
"Hehehe, I'll try to remember starting tomorrow. Miss."
Maria effortlessly took off Dorothy's coat and received her cane and grimoire.
"Oh, Miss. There's blood on your precious coat."
"Oh, really? Ugh, it's idiot blood. It's contagious."
"A faint smell of blood is also coming from your dress… Hehehe, you should take a bath before tea time."
"…But I want my tea first."
"Hehehe, no way. Come now, come now, take off that dress too."
"Ah, stop it! I'll do it myself! I'll take it off myself!!"
The commotion at the entrance must have caught the attention of a girl holding a teacup, who peeked out from the living room.
"Oh, welcome home, Dolly."
At the sight of her, with her ears resembling those of a rabbit twitching slightly, her twin-tailed white hair matching her snow-white dress, Dorothy's expression instantly transformed into one as innocent as a child's.
"Welcome back, Luna."
"Hehehe, welcome home, my dear Dolly."
The girl called Luna gently kissed Dorothy's forehead and smiled at her with the tenderness of a mother to her child.
"By the way, why are you in your underwear?"
"Maria…"
"Got her blood on me, so I need to wash up quickly in the bathroom."
"I got it, I can wash myself."
"That's sweet, but let me clean every nook and cranny for you."
"Huh? Did you catch that? I said I can do it myself."
"Hehehe, leave it to me, madam."
Maria affectionately called Luna "madam" and led Dorothy, who had an awkward expression, toward the bath.
"Stop calling me madam, Maria."
"Welcome back, madam."
A little while later, the elderly butler returned and, just like Maria, bowed to Luna, addressing her as "madam."
"Stop it, Arthur. Just call me Luna."
"My apologies, Luna. Where is Miss Dorothy?"
"She went to take a bath with Maria."
"I see."
Arthur glanced towards the bathroom and let out a small sigh of relief.
"You always work so hard."
"Haha, what are you talking about? I'm not going senile just yet!"
"You're over seventy now, don't push yourself too hard."
"Just barely over seventy, no problem at all."
"Hehehe... Right. You really are a wonderful person, Arthur."
Luna smiled approvingly, praising the butler who, even in his old age, never lost his dignity or loyalty to Dorothy. "However, I do hope Miss finds herself a partner soon," he added.
"Oh, you've been worrying about it too? How sweet of you," she replied, touched by his concern.
"Indeed, at her age, it's rather concerning that there hasn't been any talk of romance. I'd like to see Miss's wedding dress etched into my memory before I die," the butler said sincerely.
"Yes... but don't worry," Luna reassured him with a meaningful smile, as if she could foresee what was about to happen. "She'll find someone tomorrow. A perfect match... a wonderful boy."
"Aaah! Aaah! Aaah!"
After spending the night in a cheap hotel in District 13, Scott was now sprinting toward the interview venue, screaming at the top of his lungs. "Why does the alarm always fail when it matters most?! Damn it all!"
His left wristwatch showed 9:55 AM. The interview was scheduled for 10 AM sharp. Instead of starting his new life on a bright note, he seemed to be stumbling right from the start.
"Aaaaah!"
"What's wrong with that guy?"
"Is he human? I've never seen him before."
"Aaaaaah!"
"Mom, what's wrong with that guy?"
"That, dear Jasmine, is a person wearing another's skin. It's best to stay away from him."
Scott startled a few passersby as he sprinted down the street for a few minutes. Spotting his target high-rise, he dashed inside and made a beeline for the elevator.
"Whooooooooooaaaaa!"
*ding ding ding ding ding*
"Aaaaaaaaahhhh!!!"
*ding ding ding ding ding*
He frantically mashed the elevator button. Though mashing it wouldn't make it go any faster or help him catch up on time, he couldn't help himself.
*ding*
Maybe his desperate cries worked, because the elevator arrived promptly. Scott rushed in and, with trembling fingers, hit the button.
"Stopping at floor 15."
"No, no! It's floor 13, 13!!"
"Stopping at floor 14."
"Calm down! Calm down, me! It's 13! 13, 13, 13!!"
"J-j-j-j-stopping at floor 13."
In his panic, he hit the wrong button a couple of times before finally pressing the correct floor number three times hard. As the elevator doors closed, he finally caught his breath.
"Ah... damn it, calm down. The time..."
The clock had already ticked past 10:03 a.m., the appointed time.
"Damn it, this is the worst! Why didn't my alarm go off today? Damn it! Damn it all!!"
Fueled by self-loathing, Scott grabbed his head and groaned. He pounded his head repeatedly, utterly hating his life where nothing ever went his way. This job opportunity, which he had finally found, was now ruined.
"Maybe if I really apologize, they might still give me a chance," he thought. Despite having only a handful of past experiences where apologies had worked, he decided to bet everything on the hope that this interviewer would be understanding.
"Okay, stay calm. Just keep it together, Scott. This is my chance for a fresh start in this town. I can change. I definitely can!"
*Ching*
"Thirteenth floor."
As the elevator announced its arrival, the doors opened quietly, revealing the doors ahead—the gateway to his future.
"Okay, nothing to worry about. Just believe in yourself, Scott!"
Scott knocked a few times and, without waiting for a response, turned the doorknob and swung the door open with gusto.
"Hello, I'm Scott Orlando—"
He bowed deeply, almost interrupting himself.
"I'm so sorry for being late for the interview! My alarm clock malfunctioned... I'm really sorry! But I truly want to work here! This is my last shot! When I saw your company name, it felt like fate! Although I don't know much about this town, I'm eager to fit in and contribute as soon as possible! I really, really want to work here! I want to work here more than anything! So please, give me a chance! Give me a chance to make up for this! I promise I'll prove myself and be an asset to your team!"
Scott bowed his head and launched into a passionate excuse, his voice ringing out loud and clear without even looking at the interviewer's face. (Is this it? No, not yet... I haven't even looked at their face! I've already said everything I can... now it's up to the interviewer!!)
With a desperate hope, Scott lifted his head. In front of him, under the extreme tension that had taken over, stood Dorothy, staring at him with her large, gem-like eyes, wrapped only in a bath towel.
"You're hired," Dorothy said, snapping her fingers as she spoke, and the open door suddenly closed.
"Whoa!?"
"Welcome!" She approached Scott with a beaming smile, clearly delighted by the sudden closing of the door.
"Thank you so much for coming! I've been waiting for someone like you!"
"Eh, ah... eh?"
"Yes, yes, your passion... it really resonated with me! Great job, great job. You're excellent; join our family right away!!"
"Um..."
She took Scott's hand, still wearing just the bath towel. The scent of sweet shampoo wafted from her damp golden hair, and the towel seemed about to slip off, revealing a body that was out of proportion to her petite frame.
After a few seconds of staring at the beautiful girl who didn't look anything like an interviewer, Scott gently brushed her hand away.
"Sorry, I got the room wrong," he said, quickly turning to leave in a rush...
"But hold it, you're part of the family now," Dorothy snapped her fingers, and the door was instantly covered in thick, red-black thorny vines.
"Whoa, what the—?!"
"Don't touch. They're poisonous," she warned.
"Huh?! Wait a minute!"
"Calm down, come over here. Maria will make you some delicious tea."
"No way, no way, no way! I have a job interview to get to! And where am I even...!?"
The entrance before Scott was far from what one would expect in an office building. It was an ultra-luxurious, stylish interior that seemed impossible to fit within the building's dimensions.
"Hehe, surprised? This place..."
"Oh, do we have a guest?"
"Wha!?!"
Following Dorothy, Luna appeared, wearing a chic bathrobe. Her silver-tinged white hair was wrapped in a towel, and upon seeing Scott staring wide-eyed, she chuckled mysteriously, "Oh, hehe."
"W-what? Wh-what is this!?"
"Sorry about my appearance. We were just in the bath," she explained.
"Luna, he's the new family member. According to Ryoko, we heard he was coming for an interview at noon, but he came much earlier."