“Cheers to another successful client!”

The table cheered in joy, with few disgruntled faces. Drinks clinked together, sweets were eaten in secret and silence accompanied the group.

“Boss!” Sync yelled. “Way to go! Another gold mine struck by you!” The Boss only smiled, already used to her drunk loudness.

Cynic, her twin, side-eyed her, taking a sip of his white wine in silence.

“Sync, be careful.” Ruin spoke with concern, staring at the huge amount of beer getting chugged down by her. “You really don’t want to wake up with a hangover.”

“Ah! Don’t worry! I’ll pay for your food, Ruin!” Sync patted her shoulder across the table, nearly spilling Jade’s peach iced tea, which earned her a glare from him. However, she was too drunk to notice anything.

“It was wise of you to conduct the celebrations in a private room.” Nova remarked, turning towards Boss as she continued to sip on her rice wine. While the group was eating together at a large round table, the Boss sat on the balcony. A lone chair remained opposite of her.

“Had to be cautious after nearly getting jailed for child negligence.” She smirked, raising her cup in front of her. “It is a rare occurrence for a customer to buy a premium package and enlist for all of our services.”

“They even took the divorce package!” Sync cried out before getting a piece of bread shoved in her mouth by Cynic, who had finally broken his silence.

“Die, pig.” After uttering his words, he resumed his silence.

Ruin came to Sync’s rescue, helping her with the shoved bun. “You’re so drunk. They didn’t take that package.”

“Ah~ Marriages and couples smooch~” Sync murmured before finally getting knocked out by the alcohol.

“Last one calls dibs on carrying Sync back to her room.” Jade called out.

Everyone’s hand shot up in a flash. Ruin looked up to see everyone staring at her.

“Fine, I’ll carry her.” She pulled out a napkin to wipe Sync’s mouth.

“Back to the topic of the client.” Cynic remarked. “Is it a scam?”

Jade scoffed. “Only a fool would think of scamming any one of us.” He eyed Sync’s passed-out form. “Except some.”

The Boss nodded her head on their words. She turned towards Nova, who hadn’t spoken much on the topic of their ‘client’. “What about you Nova? What are your—”

A sudden chill caught everyone off guard. Even Sync, who was passed out suddenly woke up. 

“New member!” She slumped down, back to her dreams.

“It wasn’t a coincidence.” Jade scoffed in annoyance and got up. “Nonsense. As if we aren’t able to handle the business.” He walked out of the room, ignoring the pleas of Ruin.

“So, the client will be a test for the newbie?” Ruin asked the Boss, who had never participated in the recruitment process since she was the last one to be employed. “This will be my first time testing someone.”

“You will be given enough time to prepare for your examination.” Nova’s words assured Ruin, who had begun to dread the unexpectedness of the situation.

“But I don’t understand one thing.” Cynic spoke up, promptly turning towards Nova. “Why now? After getting Ruin, we should have enough for probably another set.”

(in this context and world, refers to a period of 100 earth years, which would normally be denoted with a century)

“The rules of employment are not set by me, Cynic.” The Boss refilled her cup, taking a sip of it. “Talk to the main Boss if you are unhappy with the arrangement.”

Nobody said anything against her words cause they knew the consequences of doing so. After all, no fool manages to survive this world for centuries.

“How to deal with the new employee then?” Nova spoke up, breaking this silence on the present matter.

“Simple, you, Ruin and Sync will travel to the city tomorrow first thing in the morning and distribute advertisements about our hiring. Cynic and Jade will begin their preparations for both the client and the newbie.”

“What about you, Boss?” Ruin glanced at a passed-out Sync.

“Me? I’ll make some preparations for our newest client.”

“They are visiting tomorrow?!” Ruin got up in shock, feeling herself already getting overwhelmed. “I’ll have to start preparing for my reading right now!” She scampered off to her room, making sure to carry Sync with her as well.

Cynic kept his glass down. “I wonder what plans you have made for tomorrow. After all, you never resist the moment to play with your clients.”

The Boss shrugged, picking up her cup before throwing it towards Cynic. He caught the cup with one hand, examining the small remaining rice wine with confidence.

“How amusing.” Cynic got up and picked up his jacket. “I’ll see you both tomorrow.”

He walked out of the room, a slight smirk on his lips.

Nova sighed, shaking his head in disbelief. “You shouldn’t treat him like a child. He is way smarter for his good.”

“Think of it as a part of his training.” The Boss mused. “Besides, no matter how long you have been practising for, it is never too late to learn more.”

“And you will never stop trying to embarrass him?”

“He started it first!” The Boss crossed her arms, a small pout of her lips.

“If we hadn’t been working together, I would have taken you for a kid.”

The Boss smiled, the rice wine slowly getting to her. “How amusing of you to address me as a child when you are the one trying to run away.”

“We both know that it is useless.”

“I can still read their fate and find them. You just have to ask.”

The air shifted, tension arising between them.

“I am good. No need for you to do it.”

A sad smile rested on Boss’s lips. “Whatever you desire,”

Nova chuckled. “May you receive it.” He got up and checked his watch. “I hope that you can carry yourself back to the room.”

The Boss sneered, “Why, wanna try carrying this grandma?”

Nova shook his head, amused. “Help yourself, then.” With his words, he left the room.

The Boss smiled to herself, staring at the empty cup on the tray. “I wonder, what game have you prepared for us.”

She looked up, gazing at the bright moon. “Oh, how amusing you are.”