[ Message:
You have been requested to report to the Mercenary department of Association to provide information on Mr. Pearson's case.]
Looking at the message from the Mercenary association's website, a smile stretched out on Max's face.
It looked like they found out some link. It was obvious they couldn't stay calm after the kidnapping of the Mage King's daughter.
Whatever the reason it may be, the fact is, it would help Max. he will just have to pass his leads onto them and wait for them to complete the quest for him.
.....
After a few minutes of walking, Max finally reached his dorm.
He slowly turned the door knob to avoid any kind of noise from leaking out. Seeing the dark room, he let out a sigh. It looked like they were all asleep.
He moved his hands around the wall on the left side of the door trying to find the switches to the lights.
'Ah.. Found it.'
Click!
As the room lightened up, he froze at the sight before his eyes.
August, Wilson, and Fatty were all present inside the hall. August was sitting on the sofa with a heavy frown on his face. Wilson was meditating, and the fatty was lying on the sofa asleep as his drool dripped on the floor.
"So, you are finally back," August said with a smile which didn't seem to be a smile at all.
"Yeah," Max replied while scratching his head and tried to think of some excuse.
"Why were you late?" He gave him a stare and he felt sweat on his back.
"What does it matter? He is back, isn't that all right?" Wilson said, as he finally got out of his meditation.
"Shut up! This is my duty as this dorm's observer. Go back to your room and sleep."
August shouted at Wilson.
Hearing him, Wilson's face twitched as a vein popped out on his neck.
"What did you say, you noble dog?" Wilson took a step forward towards August.
"No...No... Don't take it away. I want to eat more, I am not done yet."
Thankfully, before the situation could worsen, Fatty's wailing distracted everyone.
"If you want to sleep, go back to your room, you lump of mass." August kicked Fatty and Fatty woke up with a scream like a pig being slaughtered.
"Ahh!"
"Who in hell did that? Show your face in front of this daddy," Fatty got up while spewing curses.
But as August's face came into his vision, he froze.
"Whose daddy are you?" August asked as a vein bulged out of his forehead.
"No....No...I didn't mean it." Hearing Fatty's plea, August ignored him and shifted his gaze to Max before speaking.
"This is the last time. From now on, no one will leave the dorm or come late without getting permission from me. And I am not your Steward."
Giving them his direction, he walked back into his room and slammed his door shut.
'Why is he so angry today? And isn't he changing? I mean his behaviour. Or is it just me?'
As Max came back to his senses, He found Wilson missing and only Fatty lying on the ground groaning in pain.
He approached him and helped him up.
"Why the hell were you sleeping here?" He couldn't help but asked.
"Wilson was meditating and August was waiting for you. I was feeling bored with Axle missing. So, I thought of talking to them a bit. But those two didn't pay any attention to me and I fell asleep." Fatty spoke with teary eyes.
"Huh.. What do you mean Axle is missing?" Max asked with a questioning gaze.
Fatty answered him by pointing towards a piece of crumpled paper beside the trash can.
Out of curiosity, Max picked it up and found a message.
.....
"It's me, Axle. I won't be back for a few days. Since August is the Dorm in charge, I give you the responsibility of protecting my dear Mio-Chan."
"Bye."
....
No wonder August was in a bad mood. That letter didn't even state his reason for leaving. Besides, was it even allowed to take leave like that?
"Could you help me get to my room?" Hearing the fatty's voice, Max found him clutching his sides with a pale face.
It looked like he really got a hard hit. So, Max gave him a shoulder and helped him to reach his bed.
....
Finally, after finishing the tiresome day, Max got to his own bed and, following his usual routine, he checked his stats and FP.
As the system's window opened, he got a pleasant surprise.