Capítulo 8: Temporary Member... For Now

Kamille stared at Rise for a few seconds, which the latter enjoyed so much.

"You want to join my guild?" He inquired—not really a serious question but more like a reaction.

For him, Espers wanting to join his guild was as normal as it could be. However, it was still a bit surprising coming from Rise's caliber. He might not know a lot about rumors, but at least he had heard of Rise's name before.

Rise was among the promising Esper the Union had, and the government might not permit him to leave.

This time, Rise's eyes flickered reminiscently, and he finally averted his gaze. He leaned his back on the seat and then nodded his head. After a while, he returned his gaze to Kamille and smiled.

This smile was devoid of any mischief or any odd element that he had always exuded since they started this conversation.

"I do. I really want to be your... member, Guild Leader."

This sudden shift of mood also surprised Kamille a bit. So, he could also be serious... Just as he was about to say something, the door to the room opened.

Both of them turned in the direction of the door with different expressions.

"Hayes, what happened?" Kamille stood up, and his expression immediately returned to its usual seriousness.

On the other hand, Rise's expression soured, and he glared at the newcomer. Hayes glanced at him for a second before he was ignored, looking smug as he answered Kamille.

"Guild Leader, there's a new mana intensity update."

As its name suggests, every gate has its own mana intensity, varying according to its grade. Since this was an evolving gate, the mana intensity and its growth were the main focus of observation.

Kamille's attention was instantly drawn; he turned slightly to Rise, who quickly changed his expression.

"We'll talk about this later. About your room..." He looked at Hayes and instructed, "Lead Rise to his room. I'll go ahead first."

Without saying more, Kamille rushed to the observation room, leaving the two inside the room.

The second that Kamille was out of sight, the expressions of the two became distorted as they both revealed their hostility. Rise, who usually did not mind Hayes was annoyed from ruining his moment with Kamille, while Hayes was obviously because he just did not like Rise and the way he behaved around the guild leader.

A deafening silence filled with hostility shrouded the air between the two. No one talked for a while, it was like the first one who broke this stalemate was the loser.

Yet, in the end, Rise was the one who first shattered the silence. It was not because he could not wait anymore, but it was more he had long passed the immature stalemate with Hayes.

Usually, they were already bickering. This Hayes and him were not yet at that stage; let him be the mature one.

Rise stood and casually brushed his hair, glancing at the seat next to him with disappointment as though he had yet to be satisfied talking with his Guild Leader.

"About my room... Can I choose myself?" Rise inquired, even if he already knew what Hayes would say.

As expected, Hayes frowned and flat-out refused.

"As a temporary member, you just need to follow our arrangement." He sounded so provocative, wanting to piss off Rise. He likely thought that if Rise made a commotion like he usually did, he would be sent back by Guild Leader immediately.

What a devious plan! Rise smirked. It was so damn obvious; this Hayes was not yet the seasoned Hayes he knew. Someone who really knew how to drive his buttons and knew where to provoke him the most.

Still, he commends that effort. He kind of missed this kind of Hayes as well, so...

"Why are you smirking? Do you have any complaints?" Hayes provoked once more, yet he sounded irritated.

This time, Rise laughed—the kind that was almost like a giggle. It was just so funny how he was the one more annoyed by his plan than Rise.

Rise shook his head and then walked forward until he was about to pass Hayes. He stopped and met Hayes' gaze through his thick glasses.

Their height was almost the same, so one was towering over the other. Even if he was annoyed, Hayes still stared so intently at him, challenging him.

If it was the younger and more hot-blooded version of him, Rise would accept that without any hesitation. Unfortunately for Hayes, his eyes were only focused on his goal, and that goal was in this location. No one could make him leave.

Rise casually looked at Hayes and shook his head.

"I don't have any complaints." He sounded so good-natured, so unlike the Rise everyone knew. Rise then leaned and whispered in a more taunting manner. "A temporary member?" He laughed, "Not for long."

Rise did not continue on, though, but he enjoyed that half-shock and half-confusion that appeared in Hayes' face.

"W-What do you mean?"

Rise laughed yet did not answer him; he only continued on and walked ahead. Hayes followed him, asking and shouting. "What do you mean? Hey!"

Now, this is how you provoke people, Hayes. Rise still did not answer him until they stopped at his temporary room. They even circled around since Hayes refused to let Rise know where his room was, but the building was only so large that Rise could even figure it out on his own.

Opening the door to the room, Hayes still stubbornly demanded an answer.

Rise, turn, and finally look at him. His eyes narrowed with a playful glint. "Do you really want to know?"

Hayes paused, slightly hesitating. Truthfully, he still thought he had misheard things or that Rise was only playing around. Who did not know that while he was a troublemaker in the Union, he always got away with it every time? This showed just how much important he was to the government.

How would those old fogeys let him join a guild? That was impossible. Right?

"You're joking..." Hayes' words were more of a statement than a question.

Rise laughed, and before fully closing the door, he decided to play around more. One of Hayes' traits that he always exploited in their arguments... He was such an overthinker. He loved to think of even the most impossible outcomes.

Think until you can't fall asleep. Serve you right for interrupting my moment with Kamille.

"Guess," Rise smiled sheepishly and winked, his hand immediately slammed the door, ignoring Hayes' surprised and irritated gaze.

"Rise!" He shouted and even hit the door to no avail; Rise had already ignored him and walked further inside the room.

After all, Hayes would not cause a commotion for longer as he treasured his reputation as the Vice Leader so much. Rise sat on the bed and then breathed before he let out a laugh, almost like a squeal of excitement.

He then lay down and smiled while looking at the ceiling.

A temporary member? Yes... for now.