The weekend arrived and Seth was finally given a break. The work given to him at the Federation base wasn’t considered hard, but who would say no to a break? It was summer vacation for him after all. It could be said that he hardly felt the vacation part.

Seth’s normal routine for the weekends was to report to his master for training. He wasn’t an Awaken, so he had to train himself to be stronger. Much of his training was done in the mindscape, combating various monsters in different scenario.He did physical training during the week at the Federation Branch base, but it wasn’t enough for him. Besides the time that Jacks pushed Kong and him to the limit to acquire data, Seth hadn’t pushed his body to the max since. The mission for exterminating locusts could not be considered taxing, since all he really did was shoot. All he did was aim and reloaded the rifle. Sure his arms was sore and numb at the end of the mission, however that was it. In the end it was considered more of a mental exhaustion. His master believed that only by pushing oneself can a person improve. Hence the reason why once Seth finished training in the mindscape, his master would put him through the wringer at the end of every training session. Seth was once again preparing to leave for his master’s hideout once Saturday arrived.

After catching up on a few hours of extra sleep.

Hey, it was summer vacation after all.

Once Seth finally decided to get up, it was 12 in the afternoon already. He left his house after a quickbite and headed for the park to meet his master. That plan quickly went down the gutter when he happened to see a certain someone on the way there.

Just as Seth was about to enter the park, he coincidentally saw Kong across the street and waved to greet him. Knowing Kong’s personality, Seth had thought Kong would simply nod his head in acknowledgement and move on.

That did not happen. In fact, Kong stared at Seth for a bit and then grinned.

That cant be good.

Kong walked straight towards Seth and asked “Do you have any plans today?”

“Yes I-”

“Change them. I’ll bring you to a fun place.” Kong then proceeded to drag Seth towards the opposite direction. Seth could have shaken Kong off , but he had to admit he was curious about the kind of place that Kong would call ‘fun’.

After walking for about twenty minutes, Seth found a recognizable building. The Mercenary Association Building.

That can’t be right. We were here the other day and it’s too empty to be considered a ‘fun’ place for Kong’s taste. Seth thought as he remembered the clean lobby inside when they entered last time.

It was then that Kong proceeded towards the side of the back building through a shady alleyway. It was the kind of place where suspicious people would loiter, but thankfully it was clear. When they exited, Seth surprisingly found a spacious clearing.

Kong stopped at a shabby backdoor entrance and said “ We’re here. Don't say anything and let me lead.”

“Wait a minute, where’s here? You haven’t-”

Boom!

Kong kicked the doors opened and dragged Seth in.

“Hello everybody! Everyone alive and kicking?” Kong shouted as he entered.

Seth took in his new surroundings. If the lobby of the front of the mercenary Association was clean and pristine, this place was the exact opposite. The room was dimly lit and everything in the room looked mediocre. There was also a bar and reception area. Seth sighted several tables filled with a variety of different people. If Seth had to describe this crowd in a single word, it would be dubious. they looked like the kind of people Seth wish to avoid meeting in a narrow alleyway at night.

Now this is the kind of place I expected when entering the Mercenary Association building. As Seth was taking in the new place, he realized a problem.

Everyone was staring at them. And not in a friendly way.

“Oh no! The lunatic is here,” Seth heard someone mutter.

“Kong you know the rules. You can't just bring anyone here.” The man reprimanded as he looked at Seth.It was a muscular bald man who spoke . He was a head taller than Seth and was staring menacingly at Seth. There was one aspect though that set him apart.

His skin was blue.

Even if it was rude to stare, Seth just couldn’t help himself. It was the first time he met an Awaken whose skin was blue. Seth wondered what kind of abilities made your skin blue. The blue man had got up and walked over to the two boys.

“What?You got a problem with me bringing my friend Seth here?” Kong sneered and took a step forward looking at the man.

A staredown ensued between the blue man and Kong. Seth could almost see the sparks flying between the two. After a moment, the blue man took a step back.

“Get out of here Kong. We don't need your nonsense here.”

Seth relaxed his body a bit. He hadn’t realized he had unconsciously gone into battle mode. The atmospherehad became tense when they had entered the building. He could see that everyone was watching the situation and was prepared to jump in to assist the blue man. Seth estimated there was at least thirty people against them if everyone in the room acted. Those were odds he did not like

“Fine. I’ll come back another day.” Kong said and slowly turned around. Seth let out a breath of relief and prepared to follow. However , it seem that Seth had relaxed too soon.

“-NOT!”

Before Kong had finished his sentence, he reversed himself and swung his fist. The blue man was sent flying.

“Damn! The lunatic at it again! Get him!”Someone yelled. Every person sitting at the tables got up simultaneously and began to run at them.

Kong merely grinned at the site and beckoned them forward. “ Come on! Bring it!”

Dont egg them on! Seth groaned internally and wanted to facepalm himself. Why did he ever believe in Kong’s words in the first place? What prevented him from actually facepalming was the two men charging at him. “I’m a victim too!” Seth shouted hoping to deter the men charging at him.

Unfortunately his words failed to have any effect.

Seth had no choice but to confront the two men. He sidestepped the first one and gave him a small push with one hand. A push that didn’t stop the man’s running momentum, but instead increased enough for him to run into the wall and knock himself out. Seth swung his leg for a low kick and trip the other person who had come swinging at Seth. Seth watched the surprise register on the man’s face as his punch missed Seth before he hit himself on the floor and knocked himself out.

Taking a peek to the side, Seth watched as a bunch of mercenaries decided the best way to stop Kong was to dogpile on him as they saw him as the main threat. It was evident that Kong had already beaten a few as there was a few bodies laying on the floor. One of the bodies had been smashed through a nearby table. Despite the mercenaries best efforts to pile up on Kong, the best they could do was restrain him by grabbing onto his limbs. Seth watched in amazement as Kong threw a punch despite the various mercenaries trying to restrain him by holding onto his limbs. One mercenary clung on to the the arm, while three mercenaries held onto his waist trying to push Kong back.

Seth would thought the scene was comedic if he hadn't been dragged in.

Seth ducked as a chair flew at him and swept the legs of an incoming mercenary. They just don’t stop coming! Seth thought internally as he tried to avoid the incoming blows. Fortunately he realized halfway through that there was no “ill” intent in all of the punches. No one had used any Awaken abilities or weapons. At most a few chairs and beer bottles were thrown which Seth easily avoided. Seth had expected someone to crack a bottle in half and tried to stab him with it like they did on TV shows, but no one performed such actions.

This was the most “half hearted” fight that Seth had ever participated in. It was as if the rules had already been decided before the fight started. Everyone knew the rules, except for him and Seth only picked it up as the brawl progressed. Since no one was serious, Seth was “polite” enough to leave anyone who ran at him with all their limbs intact, although they would be waking up with aches and bruises.

The brawl continued for ten minutes and showed no sign of stopping. Seth trying to make himself scarce was wondering if he should just escape and leave Kong, but then a voice broke out

“What is going on here?”

The voice wasn’t loud, but it carried authority an authority that demanded attention, no matter the environment.

The atmosphere of the room instantly stilled and everyone in the room froze. Every person except for one

Kong.

Kong was punching a person who was curled up the floor all the while cackling manically. Seth wanted to hide in a hole in shame for knowing such a person.

Seth looked at the owner of the voice. She was an hunched elderly lady. Her white hair was tied up in a bun. Her face scrunched up as she scrutinized everyone in the room. The elderly lady wore a pink kimono and was half the height of Seth. She looked like any old lady you pass by on the streets. However Seth could tell her miniature stature was not one to look down on, evident from the way her presence took control of the room the moment she spoke.

“Of course it would be this brat.”

Faster than Seth’s eye could see, Kong was sent flying out the door. Seth had not even seen how she did it.

Wind? Telekinesis? Brute strength?

The list of possibilities went down his mind as he wondered how she had sent Kong flying.

“You. Follow me. And someone tell that foolish brat to find me when he wakes up.” The elderly lady commanded, giving no time for Seth to respond as she had already turn around and started to walk away. Seth had no choice but to comply since he was technically an accomplice of Kong who had started the fight. Not for the first time, Seth cursed the maniac in his mind.

Seth followed the elderly lady to an office on the second floor and was motioned to sit on the sofa meant for guests. After he was seated, she stared at him, making him more nervous by the minute. He felt as if he was a student who was sent to the dean for causing trouble, even though he was not the cause of it. He was just guilty by being there.

“This just had to happen on the day I came in.” The lady muttered. “ I suppose introductions are in order. I am the Mercenary Branch Manager here.You can call me Manager Koh, or Granny. That’s what most of the punks downstair call me anyways. ”

That actually made a lot of sense. He figured that the person in front of him held a position. The fact that she handled Kong so easily and dispelled the chaos just by appearing was proof.

Seeing as Seth had nothing to say, she continued. “I figured that i would be meeting you sooner or later, but not here in this capacity. I have some questions and explanations for you, but I can't say anything officially as the Mercenary Branch manager. That punk Jacks is still working at the federation?”

“Yes?” Seth answered meekly. What did she mean that she was expecting me? How had she gotten my information when i never met her in the first place? The only place that had his personal information was the Federation, and they were separate entities from the Mercenary Association. They did not share information as far as Seth knew.

“Good. Tell him to bring you over to the usual place. He’ll know what I mean. Now it is time to determine the punishment for the brawl downstairs.”

Seth waited in trepidation.

“You’’ll be tasked with a mission by the Association. There will be no reward as the as it will serve as your fine.”

Seth waited for a moment for Manager Koh to continue, but then realized she had no intention of adding more.“Wait that’s it?”

The lady raised an eyebrow. “Not happy?Did you wish for more punishment? You were only dragged into this mess by Kong. I can tell just by looking. This is your first offense, so the punishment won't be heavy. Now Kong on the other hand will be banned for a month from entering this building. The damaged furniture will be paid for by all everyone downstairs.”

Seth let out a sigh of relief. “No, I'm perfectly happy with it.”

“Good. Get your task from the receptionist downstairs. Send in that Kong next. I have a few choice words for that brat.”

Seth was quite sure there was something wrong with Kong's mind and no amount of lecturing could fix it.