Mark and Smith entered the boss's office, only to find it empty. Mark glanced around curiously, breaking the silence.
"What's taking him so long?" he asked, moving toward one of the chairs.
Smith leaned against the wall, arms folded. "The boss is a busy man. He's probably up the hospital handling some urgent matters. We've got no choice but to wait."
Mark sat in the chair facing the boss's desk. A few minutes passed in silence before he grew restless. "If I really don't have Standz, and your group is recruiting people with Standz pressure, why are you all so certain the boss would want me here?"
Smith smirked. "I already told you. You're a mystery, Mark. And mysteries intrigue us. But more importantly…" Smith hesitated before adding, "You remind the boss of someone he idolized."
Mark tilted his head, confused. "What do you mean? Was this person Standzless too?"
Smith shook his head. "No. You're the only one with that issue."
Mark frowned slightly, sensing Smith wasn't telling him everything. Smith sighed. "The person I'm talking about was the strongest this region ever had. Losing him broke us. That's why the boss and I are rebuilding the Seirei Exorcism Group—to restore what we lost."
Mark leaned forward, curiosity piqued. "If he was so strong, how does someone like that die? Was it during an exorcism?"
Smith's expression darkened. "No, it wasn't during an exorcism. I never met him personally, but I know he always faced danger head-on. He was selfless, always ready to sacrifice himself for others. The complete opposite of how you claim to be."
Mark crossed his arms. "If I remind the boss of him, and I'm nothing like him, how does that make sense? And if he wasn't Standzless like me, what's the connection?"
Smith smiled faintly. "You'll figure it out one day. You're not ready for the answer yet."
Mark scowled, realizing Smith wouldn't budge. "At least tell me his name."
Before Smith could reply, the door opened, and the boss stepped in. "His name was Kyoka. Kyoka Carter."
Smith straightened immediately and bowed slightly. "How long have you been listening, sir?"
The boss chuckled as he sat down at his desk. "Long enough. Don't worry, I enjoyed your little chat."
Smith pouted. "You've got to stop eavesdropping, sir."
The boss waved it off with a grin and turned his attention to Mark. "So, you really don't have Standz. What an odd fellow."
Mark met his gaze. "My name's Mark Carter, and I've got some questions about this Kyoka guy."
The boss studied Mark for a moment. "Do you know him?"
Mark shook his head. "Never met him. But I'm curious about the surname Carter. That means he's from my hometown. In the Carter clan, everyone shares the same last name. Is that the similarity you're talking about?"
The boss smiled cryptically. "Yes and no. But you've got sharp instincts. That's good."
He extended his hand. "You'd make an excellent addition to our team."
Mark stared at the outstretched hand, thoughts racing. (No, this is all an act. They decided to recruit me long before I got here. But why? Is this really my calling?)
Reluctantly, he shook the boss's hand. "Fine. But don't expect me to risk my life for this."
The boss laughed. "Fair enough. But if you're getting paid double, you'll work double."
At that moment, a slim woman in a tuxedo entered the room. She bowed slightly. "Apologies for being late."
The boss gestured dismissively. "You're right on time, Ninda."
Mark eyed her curiously. "Who's she?"
Smith answered, "That's Ninda. She's ranked equal to me and serves as the boss's right-hand…woman."
Ninda stood silently, ignoring everyone. The boss added, "She's an extreme introvert. Give it time—you might forget she's even here."
Mark turned back to the boss. "Don't expect too much from me. I'm Standzless, remember?"
Hearing this, Ninda glanced at Mark in confusion but quickly composed herself.
The boss leaned forward. "Don't use that as an excuse."
Mark smirked. "Was it that obvious?"
The boss turned to Smith. "We've got enough recruits for now. Start training the newbies tomorrow with Ninda's help."
Smith nodded. "Understood."
Mark stood up. "I'm going to check on my sister."
As he moved to leave, the boss remarked, "You call her your sister, but you're not blood-related."
Mark glanced back. "Doesn't matter. She's family. Screw the Carter clan for all I care."
The boss chuckled. "Suit yourself. But before you leave, there'll be documents to sign. To join officially, you'll need to agree to certain terms—like never killing a Seirei. Exorcism is about guiding them back to their world, not destroying them."
Mark nodded. "Fine. But right now, I need to see Bri."
The boss motioned to Ninda. "Take him to see Bri and show him where he'll be staying."
Ninda bowed and led Mark out.
(MEANWHILE AT SHELON ORGANIZATION)
Elizabeth stood trembling before Cobi, the boss of the Shelon Organization. "It's done, sir," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Cobi turned to face her, a dangerous smile spreading across his face. "All the contenders?"
Elizabeth nodded. "Yes. The Standz from all selected contenders have been removed and transferred to the Seirei, as you requested."
Cobi's grin widened. "A mindless army of Seirei. Perfect. I'll be the ultimate villain. I just need to play the role right."
Elizabeth's voice broke as she pleaded, "I've done what you asked. Please, let me go. I can't take this anymore."
Cobi's expression darkened. "You fool. You don't see it, do you? The future I envision—for both of us. Together, we'll kill if we have to."
Tears streamed down Elizabeth's face. "Why? It's too cruel. The screams of the contenders as I extracted their Standz, the Seirei tortured with shock treatments to control them—it's monstrous!"
Cobi's voice softened, almost mockingly. "I know. But this is the only path forward. First, we take down the Seirei Exorcism Group in this region. Then, the real chaos begins."
Elizabeth hesitated. "But we don't even know where their agency is."
Cobi smirked. "I have a plan. Just follow my orders."
Elizabeth reluctantly nodded and left.
As the door closed, Cobi muttered to himself, "Tomorrow, the Seirei Exorcism Group will fall."