Efim blinked at me for a moment,
"Why did you call our God 'Lord' instead of 'Heavenly Judge'?"
I opened my mouth but my mind went blank. Only one question kept circling in my thoughts: Wait, isn't that what they call ████ ██████ ?
Eventually I offered a polite smile at Efim,
"Well, different places have different names and cultures."
He nodded before shrugging,
"Alright then ! Have fun playing chess with him !"
Before I could recover, he slammed the door shut. The broad man standing ahead of me dropped his dumbbell with a loud crash. He walked over, grabbing a nearby desk, two stools, and a chessboard.
He extended a hand, waiting for a handshake. I lifted my arm, freezing midway before awkwardly letting it drop.
He sighed, his voice surprisingly rough,
"Don't be scared. I may look terrifying, but I assure you I'm not. Which color would you like ?"
I pointed at the black pieces without uttering a word.
He rotated the board and pushed his first pawn forward,
"You know, this place isn't that bad. But there are definitely people here who are mean."
I moved my knight to counter,
"Really ? To me, most seem fine."
He let out a boisterous laugh,
"Yeah, most. But if you're on the patrol duty, don't expect everyone to be kind ! Some of them always look down on more feminine people."
My hands hovered over the board. I stared at him for a second before placing a pawn on g6. Suddenly remembering my earlier conversation with Cassandra.
No wonder why Cassandra said these people are cruel.
The man waved a hand in front of my face,
"Hey, are you alright ? I'm all ears if something's on your mind."
I shook my head, snapping out of it,
"No, it's nothing."
He slid his knight to c3,
"You know, I've met quite a few people like you."
Instinctively, I raised my head, tilting it slightly after completing my turn,
"Huh ?"
He chuckled, advancing his pawn to d4,
"Yes. People who spend all their time serving others without paying attention to themselves. That's the vibe the characters you play give off."
I froze momentarily, masking my surprise by quickly castling my king,
"How did you know ?"
He pulled a piece of paper from his pocket, suddenly beaming,
"I watch your movies ! You look incredible on screen and the stage ! I don't get why some critics say you're overrated—you're a literal angel sent from heaven !"
I bit my lip, forcing a smile while he hastily pulled out a pen and made his move. He handed me the paper, silently begging for an autograph.
Another day, another signing... isn't that what you used to wish for, Aléssio ?
Didn't you dream of becoming so popular that you wish everyone would recognize you ?
I signed the paper before adjusting my pawn,
"So... out of all the films I've acted in, which one is your favorite ?"
He paused to think as he moved his queen to b3,
"Definitely 'Patches of Memories'. The vibes just suit you so well. That's why I told you, never judge me by my looks !"
I loosened my guard a little.
Perhaps he isn't like the usual "fans" ?
He captured my pawn on c4,
"You know, when I heard you joined the 'Saviors' program, I was shocked ! Especially since you chose the mechanic division when almost no one else did !"
I shifted another piece to c6,
"Is it really that surprising ?"
He slapped the table,
"Yeah ! During my time working temporarily for Elysium Ark, news of your enrollment was plastered on billboards !"
"Do you know how people reacted ?" He advanced his pawn to e4,
"Some said that the harsh weather on Earth could kill you. Others said that whoever let you go was a cruel monster !"
I paused again.
I took a deep breath and pinched the bridge of my nose,
"Well... it's understandable for them to be worried of their idol."
No, it's not understandable if you're only worried or care about someone's appearance.
The man shook his head as he took his turn,
"No ! It's not ! It makes no sense ! If you wanted to do it, then it's fine ! It's your choice after all ! They're not babysitters who are supposed to protect you every second !"
I drew my hand away, my mouth slightly opened. A small genuine smile was formed as I took my turn.
He leaned back in his stool,
"Sorry if I startled you. But seriously, I never knew you had a passion for fixing machines ! I really hope you can sell one of your creations or robots someday ! I'm one hundred percent going to buy it !"
At last, someone that I can truly call a fan.
"It's fine actually." I replied, waiting for him to respond on the board,
"It's quite refreshing to hear it."
He chuckled as he took a sip from a water bottle before sliding his rook to d1,
"Seriously though, if you need help with lifting anything heavy, just call me."
As I shifted my knight, my thoughts drifted back to that mysterious contract. I could probably use some help from him.
But wouldn't that mean I'm taking advantage of his trust ?
Either way, I still took the chance,
"So... what are those contracts for ?"
He paused, resting his chin in his hand for a while,
"Well... they're divided to two types. One is public and one is secret."
I tapped my chin, repositioning my bishop,
"Let me guess. Public contracts are for general workers like us. While on the other hand, secret ones are mostly handled strictly by Vera or the administration ?"
He snapped his fingers,
"Bingo !"
I asked, shrugging casually,
"Mind explaining a bit more to me ?"
"Sure !" He accidentally misplaced his bishop, completely oblivious as he continued speaking,
"So, one of the examples for the public contract is hiring bodyguards. Maybe celebrities hiring one of the guards here to give them a temporary protection."
I listened intently, fishing for more information while I slid my knight at a4.
He moved his piece without thinking,
"So yes. It's quite a contrast if you think about the other locations. The reason I decided to stay is because I have value here. If I didn't, I'd probably be jobless and starving !"
He crossed his arms behind his head,
"Well. That's why some places are deserted and some aren't. Where there are values, there is hope. Elysium people only pay attention to those who prove themselves worthy enough—even if it's temporary."
I watched him closely, searching for any signs of lie,
"So, how about the secret ones ? Do any of you know anything about it ?"
He waited for my turn before replying,
"Sadly no."
"Oh... I see." My shoulders dropped slightly as I lowered my chin toward my chest,
"It's fine if you don't know. I mean, looking at your boss, she seems like someone who is strict and secretive."
He slammed his hand down on the table again,
"Speaking of the boss, how about that new girl ?! Is she really associated with the boss ?!"
I stared blankly at him for a moment, caught off guard by the sudden shout.
I wouldn't be surprised if Sheng Yue will be considered as a famous person here in the next forty-eight hours.