When the three lowly cultists returned to the hub area, there was a line of light from the obelisk to one of the caves. The enchanted ceiling no longer glowed with sunset’s light. In exchange, there were two moons in the ceiling letting out pale light from above, complete with clouds and stars of the night sky.

“There are still places I want to show you but time's up, let’s go,” Wesk said.

Viers followed them inside the tunnel with the line of light. With that light as the guide, they reached their destination. It was a lounge, comfy with many sofas and small round tables. There was a piano in the center of a small stage. The room is quite big, enough for fifty people.

I expect a military-like briefing room or conference room, but they used a Starbucks design… I dig it. They even got a bar and bartenders in waiter suits.

Each table had four seats arranged in a circle. Wesk and Abe picked a seat and Viers sat beside them. There were other groups of fours and threes.

“They're the other teams? Why most have four members?” Viers asked.

“Normally a team consists of four members, new members are put inside a team with openings. Two months ago our team have a full roster but two are dead now, you are the new addition.”

Viers snorted. Welcome to dog eat dog world, he chided in his head.

Wesk called the waiter and ordered a drink. “Jor, what do you want?”

“Honey Lemonade, shaken, not stirred.” Said Viers coolly, at least in his mind.

“Honey? Lemonade? Hah!” Abe snickered, Viers only smiled in response.

The waiter seemed perplexed at first but he replied ‘certainly’ before returning with their orders shortly. Thankfully they had lemonade here, the three enjoyed their drinks and made small talk while more and more cultists came in.

About forty people here. Half of them are level 1s, the rest are level 0s. Only one in four are women… that ratio is still quite a lot in this line of business.

With a bit of sensing, Viers could sense their levels. Level 1s had a presence that differentiates them from the 0s. He was interrupted by a feminine voice.

“May I join you, gentlemen?”

“Certainly, Lady Farley,” Wesk replied, he and Abe hurriedly standing as he said so but Viers remained seated.

“No need to be so formal. Let us enjoy the evening without too many formalities.” Farley sat elegantly on the empty seat.

“If you say so, Two-Face Lady. How are things lately in the cult?” Said Viers informally without reservation.

“Haha, this is what I like about you. Your ‘don’t give a damn to other people’ thing. Very refreshing. Jor, like that name? I’m the one that picked it for you.” Farley said, crossing her legs.

Farley wore a white dress with flower motifs, not sexy nor formal but it showed her elegance and expensiveness of the dress. A far cry from the three’s ordinary clothes. She had no makeup but her hair was arranged beautifully. Her neck-length brown hair seemed glossy in the lounge's lighting.

“Nothing to like or dislike. You dressed up tonight, got a date? And you still have not answered my previous question.”

“How do I look? Did I make your heart race? Wait until the red tape, okay? The cult’s agenda is moving along smoothly, we-”

“You know what, let me stop you right there. I’ve got too much on my plate already. Things are very hectic for me… a few days ago I and four others made a trip to a lake then it all went to hell from there.”

Viers interrupted. Wesk and Abe winced because of his rudeness and eyed Farley for irritation.

Contrary to their expectations, Farley let out a small laugh before replying. “Like I said, refreshing attitude. Very well, I won't bore you with the cult’s activities. How do you find your new affinity? You also killed your opponent yesterday, nice job.”

“The affinity is adequate for now, I can't wait to upgrade it once more. I killed a church guy named Leon, he was strong. He should be a high-value target. I’ll get a handsome reward for my accomplishment, right?” Viers said in a straight face but he thought the opposite of his words.

Hmph, how dare she ask me about that fake power with a straight face. I won't forget this, a Viers always pays his debts. I don't know about the Isuels take on debts but Viers certainly do.

“Don't worry, you’ll get your reward. Ah look, it's starting. See you later.”

Monica and Bernard came and Farley joined them. Both of them also dressed up for the occasion although since they wore quite expensive clothing the last time Viers saw them, it wasn't that different in his eyes. The Styra siblings stood on the stage then... they talked.

By this point, Viers only half-listened to anything they said. Stuff about what they achieved, Dumuzin’s glory, Church’s losses, and other unimportant things. He only caught two words about what the other groups were doing while his group was assisting the Ghoul. Something about assassination and raid.

Bernard was the main speaker while Monica and Farley pitched in now and then. The crowd sometimes cheered but to what Viers didn't really know. The atmosphere was akin to those passionate speeches in the movies in Viers’s opinion, only minus a fitting BGM.

He invoked the skill he learned when his boss chewed him after he messed up on Earth. Whatever words went inside his left ear, he spat it out through his right. Keeping his brain as healthy as possible, free from words contamination. The hard part of this skill was making an attentive face while actually he was not.

It worked wonders for him in the past. Although the skill had negative effects in the long term relationship, yet his relationship with the cult won't be a long one in his mind.

Finally, Bernard reached the part where Viers and the others receive their rewards of yesterday’s battle. He said about what they did and the amount of how much they get. The butler Gavin came out from nowhere and politely gave a pouch containing the crystals for each of them.

“Jor. For killing a loathsome church’s dog on the same level as him, ten crystals!” Bernard loudly said. The old butler, Gavin approached and gave him his reward while extending Viers his congratulations. Viers accepted his reward without saying anything.

Since he got double than the normal amount, many level 0 cultists, his 'colleagues', threw him an inquisitive look. Assessing, judging him.

This Gavin guy… his vibe reminded me of a certain demon plus butler. Hehe, I thought every butler is named Sebastian. Ten Cs, huh… well, most 0s only got around five crystals. Considering a crystal is a hundred gold coins, it really is a grand sum.

Wesk and Abe also got ten crystals each. After the award-giving, Bernard said his closing speech then the gathering turned into a party. They used magic items for replicating sound systems, music suitable for dances surrounded Viers like he was in a ballroom.

The lights dimmed in the lounge then many exotically dressed dancers came in. Taking the mostly male cultists to the dance floor. The dancers also approached Viers’s group. Three dancers, each one was a beauty and they pressed their bodies to Viers and the other two. Giggling and making cute faces the whole time.

“Gentlemen, it's time to rest our weary soul after yesterday’s ordeal. Now excuse me, shall we dance, beauty?” Wesk addressed Viers then took the young woman to the dance floor.

“Remember to not overdo it, boy. Hahaha.” Abe also did the same with his girl. The poison youth went hand in hand with the dancer to the floor.

They may be of age yet but aren't I too young for this thing?

Looking at their behavior, Viers rolled his eyes while shaking his head. After politely refusing the girl that had no regard for his personal space, Viers sat alone, observing. Soon, male dancers came and approached the female cultists. The dancers’ purposes and intentions were clear in Viers’s eyes.

Most of the cultists danced on the floor following the rhythm of the music but some went out of the lounge with their new companion. Viers didn't try to fool himself of what they were going to do. Seeing Viers sitting alone, a male dancer (?) approached him which Viers rejected vehemently. Cold sweats ran down on his back because of the mental attack he suffered.

Holy… that was terrifying. I reject that girl then they thought I swing that way? I’ve got to get out of here. I don’t need this kind of misunderstanding and complications on my Path.

Viers had no intention of joining this kind of activity. Not because he didn't want to but because he chose not to. The atmosphere became too much for him to bear, Viers was readying to leave but Farley intercepted him.

“Hi handsome, why are you sitting alone? No one caught your fancy?” Her playfulness mixed in her voice.

“Hehe, change the handsome to fatty, no need for insults. And no, I don't fancy anyone.” Said Viers while sipping his drink. Viers fully realized he was fat and not denying it. Although he made the effort to rectify that, it’s still a long way from his ideal weight.

“Lies. What is your type? A quiet and proper girl like Paina? Older? Younger? Ooh, is it someone like me?” Farley smiled while looking down on the sitting Viers.

“Kheh, it doesn’t matter. You’ll find I have a very high tolerance for any kind of seduction because I don’t think with my dick. Now excuse me, I've got a dorm curfew… and so are you.” Viers sneered.

“You may not know this since you never really interacted with our classmates but sometimes they went out at night. Yisha half turned a blind eye for their ‘soiree’. Just don’t get caught red-handed.”

“Naughty teens, but it has nothing to do with me. They can party with cows and goblins for all I care, carousing with mud and cow dungs.”

“Ufufu… Hey, ask me for a dance.” Viers reply made Farley laugh and lightened the mood.

“No.” Sparing not even a second to reply.

“Ugghh, why are you making this so difficult?” She felt a tinge of annoyance.

“Unpleasant? I feel the same, my whole life’s plan is wrecked because you roped me into all of this.” Viers spread his hands, implying the whole cult.

“It’s not all bad for you… Fine, if you want to play it that way, it’s also good. I order you to dance with me. If you don’t, Uncle Gavin will break your legs.” Farley innocently smiled.

Silence hung between them while the crowd danced in the lounge. Viers sighed a deep and long one before saying his answer.

“As you wish, my Lady.”

Viers took Farley’s hand with his right and carried his potato sack with his left as he walked to the dance floor.

“Why are you carrying that?”

“It’s important.”

“More important than me?”

“Ob-viously.” Viers said the word in the tone of a certain professor with a name very similar to ‘snake’.

“Mrggh…” Farley growled.

When they arrived, Gavin cleared the floor and changed the music to a slower and softer one. English ballroom dance kind of music. Since only Viers and Farley were on the floor, needless to say, all eyes were on them. On him, more specifically.

“I must warn you first. I don’t know how to dance, correction, I never dance before. Most likely I will step on your toes.”

“Its fine, just dance.”

His right arm on her waist while his left was tucked to his back along with the sack. Their faces were close, Farley led the dance while Viers was struggling to follow awkwardly.

A misstep, two missteps, hand moving gracelessly, rigid posture. His first dance ever was far from the romantic ones in films. More than once he heard the gallery snickered and whispering snide comments. Which he didn't mind, he and Farley stare at each other's eyes the whole time.

They danced for three minutes and Viers stepped on her foot six times.

After the dance, Viers bowed then leave the lounge. Trying not to think the gazes of cultists that drilled on his back. His head was filled with his plans for his days ahead.

All her antics… she only wants to know my secret by getting close to me. However, I’m not the other harem stories MCs that make idiot decisions when a woman is involved. The reason is as I said earlier, I don’t think with my dick.

Money and women/sex are the source of 99% problems in the world! I already have money problems, I won’t be ensnared by women problems too!

Well, of course I’m attracted to women, I don't have ED… but there are priorities in life. In this world, in this life, personal power and strength first! Everything else comes second.

Unfortunately, not everybody can think smart like me. Mhuhuhu…

Viers left, humming the familiar tune of a certain tale as old as time.