Once back in Aether, Mike knew his fate anyway, so he took a car directly to the company building.
At the company building, he went directly to inform them about his mission, it took hours, and he got scolded for "this" and "that",
He wanted to be educated enough and wait until they gave him the magic words, sadly it could take hours to settle the things.
Some procedures are really slow, but he cared 0% about it, he just waited,
And also cared –99% about the scolding he was receiving, they even talked about cutting the salary or things like that,
But Mike did not blink his eyes or change the boring on his face, he knew he was about to be fired from there anyway.
What he expected was to receive the money after being fired give them the equipment, pistols, and ammo, and show his middle finger to the one in the armory before leaving.
That last thought made him somehow show a smile, and the ones scolding him stopped talking and looked at him weirdly.
-"Come on man, finish it quickly, I need to curse that man openly" - He wished for the moment to arrive soon in his thoughts.
They took the weapons, the pistols only, since the sword was his property.
When everything was finally ending, he was somehow sad the man didn't show up.
He would love to see the man's happy face when showing him his middle finger suddenly.
And luckily for Mike, the man showed himself.
Mike was already happy to receive some money after being fired, so he could not help but wait for the man to talk and show him his thoughts.
-Blood, your sword, by law, you cannot carry that weapon openly now so easily, what about giving it to the company instead? - Said the shady skinny man.
Giving it, not selling, not like he wanted to sell it whatever the case; Mike showed a smile at the stupid request, and the man misunderstood it like he was accepting, but
-Hope to not see you, never ever, bastard - He got Mike's middle finger in front of his face suddenly.
But Mike was quick and got inside the taxi by the time the shady man reacted, he was already leaving.
Inside the taxi.
-I love the happy endings, don't you agree?-
The taxi driver saw the discussion before, he was somehow willing to collaborate to take Mike away when he knew the company they were at.
Most people in Aether weren't fond of the current government, and they knew that the company belonged to politicians.
So, the man was happy to help someone curse in the face of one of those people.
-Haha! That was funny, where should I drive you to?-
Mike gave him the direction and enjoyed a talk with the driver. Most people in Aether went along quick while talking bad about the politicians.
It was fun for them, and since the incident earlier in front of the company building, they chatted so happily that he gave Mike a discount for the ride.
Once inside the home,
-Claire, I got the most brilliant idea! I missed you, yeah, whatever, now! My idea! I will insult openly politicians and corrupts just before taking a taxi! - Mike's life was about sarcasm anyway, and it didn't surprise the android.
-Master, I hoped they did not beat you up so hard in Aotheles, now I feel like they really did. - But the android learned from Mike.
It was the perfect example of how the student surpassed the master.
-Tsk tsk tsk, you know nothing about great ideas, I am taking a bath to wash away your words - Said Mike while passing beside the android.
On really, Claire was worried about Mike, she had confidence her master would be alive but still was worried about him.
But once looking at how tired Mike looked and still up for sarcasm and stupid ideas, she was now relieved, like a heavy weight on her was suddenly lifted.
If her master dies, not only there will be no more users of the Bloody Hand, but there will be no more house and no more Claire,
She was instructed to detonate everything here, including herself if her master died.
But only she knew that if her master died, she would take revenge on him; somehow, another flaw in her system was that way of thinking should break the orders given by the guild.
Now, in the bathroom, he received a call and being informed by the android of who was calling him, something in his brain made a quick light.
Still, it was a very subtle light, he made note of it and decided to answer, the android connected the call to the speakers in the house.
-"Advanced technology is awesome" - He thought of it as another fact he liked about the house.
But it was not a simple function, Claire made it herself to work that way, anyway, she had no intention of explaining her master.
-Mike, you fine? I was told you arrived at Aether already; man, I just barely could call you right now - It was "Male", Rose's male bodyguard.
His voice was somehow strange, was it the speakers? He did not care for it and just talked casually.
-I am perfectly fine, not disappeared like someone, lucky me I guess-
-I am glad you have the mood to tell sarcasm. Anyway, I was barely informed you were fired, so I thought maybe you would like to get a job? - Male offered a work all of a sudden.
Male usually talked directly and sometimes in some cryptic way, but this was like he was being pushed to talk.
-What do you mean? You want to give me a work?-
-No rush man-well-I... - His words were somehow strange in order - What about asking my boss, Rose herself, I am sure you can... or wait, just leave it to me, I can get you a job for her.-
He was indeed pushed to talk with Mike, and he found it. Clearly, Rose or maybe Kat was there insisting he to fix his words,
And given "Male's" way of talking, those words were crashing.
-I will give it some thinking, but I will make sure to call you later - Mike really meant his words,
He wanted to get a simple and honest job, that or becoming an ability user mercenary, but that last option was still away from his reach.
It was possible to become one of those mercenaries, but he wanted to become stronger first.
On Aotheles the only reason he won was because the opponent was a telekinesis user, and his ability was the perfect counter to telekinesis.
The telekinesis cannot reach the opponent's body, but the Bloody Hand can reach the opponent's body, as simple as that.
Also, he thought of playing with Rose's bodyguards a little.
-Oh, ok, will call you later, probably - Said Male.
-Sure sure, don't make your boss wait and go do your job, bye... -
The phone call ended.
-Haha! Is she so shy to send Male to make the call for her? Or I am naturally handsome, maybe both reasons? - he joked.
-Master, I think is just a way to keep an image of authority, she could not keep it if was the one calling you directly - His sarcasm was broken in a moment.
-You cold and electronic female, you are blind-
-Blind? I can say the same for you on each training session - She said.
-... Hey that's funny so I accept it for this time-
...
On the other side of the call, Kat took the phone away from Male's face, she made sure the call had ended.
Male was tied upside down on a rope from the ceiling.
He was injured from what looked like a whip or something similar.
In the same room, Rose was a little back watching the scenario.
-Is the punishment over now? - Asked Male.
-Not even in your dreams - Said Kat - You were ordered to investigate him deeply, but the information you got is totally different from the truth - her voice cold even to her own brother.
-For now, let's settle things like this - This time, it was Rose speaking, making Male recover his happiness a little.
-"Finally freedom! Mike, don't hide your information like that next time please, I am too lazy to search hard things on my own" - Male admitted his laziness in thoughts.
-Remember, bring Mike to my side, I want him now more than always, he will be a very important asset for my new company - Rose was serious in her words, she had an idea of what Mike's ability was about.
Similar to Louis his ability must be a mutated one. That was her conclusion after the incidents in Aotheles;
She was informed about everything there, she was part of the third party involved, and they sold Richard and tried to mess up things even more.
-And Kat, watch your brother closely, make sure he gets Mike-
-Yes, I promise you we will hand him to your new company - Kat then made a cut to the rope holding Male in mid-air,
*THUD*
-O-o...Ouch!! -He took time to put his pain in words - Tell me first before cutting the rope! - And said from the ground.
He was being restricted by special chains, and could not use his power to break free or get up.
Kat got him from the ground and carried him.
-Let's start by giving you another scolding, it is my turn now, Lady Rose already finished with you, but why should I release you when you made me work to tiredness to get Mike's real information?-
-Ehmm... I'm sorry?-
-And I am sorry too, for your future punishment-