After returning to the mine at dawn for her scheduled appointment, Rosaline managed to secure another half kilogram of ore.
The island's overseer, a leader among the locals, announced that the distribution of Healing Crystals would cease in two weeks. The Hunter Association had cited "safety concerns"—their usual pretext for tightening control.
The perks of a double life, Rosaline mused, thinking of the bag of crystals as she sat on the ferry with Beethoven and his crew. Another successful haul. One step closer to retirement. As for the internal politics of the Association... as long as it doesn't bleed into my life, they can burn for all I care.
She popped a honey-butter-lemon potato chip into her mouth—a new flavor the manufacturers claimed would "revolutionize the snacking experience."
If she could ignore Zenis's smug face acting as the brand ambassador on the packaging, the taste wasn't actually half-bad.
"Back sooner than expected, Rosaline."
A man's voice drifted from beside her. He had hair as white as fresh snow and piercing red eyes. He was half-lounging in his chair, wearing a crisp white shirt and slacks, casually shaking one leather-clad foot.
This was Adrian Vale—the company's top salesman, nicknamed the 'Commission Snatcher.' No matter how high the targets were set, he was the one who inevitably shattered the records.
"Morning, Adrian," Rosaline greeted him with her usual professional indifference.
"Another boring day, wouldn't you agree? Wake up early, leave late. Yawn." Adrian spoke with a lethargic drawl, stretching his arms. "I just want to go home and sleep."
"Tell me about it," Rosaline muttered, continuing to munch on her chips before offering the bag to him.
"If I'm going to punish my stomach, I'd rather stick to the office coffee," Adrian declined.
Rosaline's lips quivered into a dry smile. The office coffee was legendary for its poor quality—brewed from beans that fell well below sub-standard. Everyone agreed it existed solely for the caffeine hit; flavor was a luxury they didn't possess.
The huntress began scanning her emails, checking for quotes or purchase orders from clients.
"Rosaline! Adrian! I need you both to help the accounting department with a stock count today," her boss barked as he stepped in, a smile plastered on his face and a coffee cup in hand.
Rosaline exchanged a glance with Adrian. "Uh... Boss, isn't the warehouse staff usually responsible for that?"
"Oh... he quit this morning," the boss replied nonchalantly. "And one of the accountants resigned too. The new one."
"...Didn't she just start last week?" Rosaline asked, seeking clarification.
"Yep. Gone," the boss said calmly. "So, accounting requested some muscle from sales to help with the audit."
Rosaline was stunned by the suddenness but not entirely surprised. This was a small, family-run business—a fiefdom where the boss's mother, the head of accounting, ruled with an iron fist. The turnover rate was abysmal, largely due to an archaic system that prioritized rigid discipline and 'loyalty' over actual performance.
Then there was the 'Golden Child' system—the accounting department. Despite the boss's father being the owner, the true power resided in the ledgers managed by his mother.
Their rules were draconian: probationers were forbidden from being sick, taking leave, or being late. A single infraction resulted in a 400% penalty on their behavior score. You were expected to "prove your devotion" through absolute compliance, dress codes, and daily sales plans, regardless of whether you were hitting your targets or working yourself to the bone.
This was why the office was a ghost town. The telesales department—Rosaline's team—consisted of only five people, including the boss. Accounting was down to three. One HR, one IT support. And now, the warehouse manager-slash-driver was gone.
"We'll finish up here and head down, sir," Adrian said.
The boss nodded and retreated to his office.
Sigh. Rosaline let out a faint breath, clearing her emails and documents while maintaining her "customer-service smile."
…
…
Rosaline and Adrian headed down to the basement—the warehouse.
The elevator didn't service the basement level to prevent unauthorized removal of goods, so the only way in was a single, heavily monitored staircase. Adrian reached the door first and swung it open. It wasn't locked; someone was already inside.
"Lady first~" Adrian teased with a playful grin.
Rosaline gave a small, involuntary smile but said nothing, stepping into the cool, dim air of the storage facility.
The warehouse was a cavernous room filled with plastic bins organized on steel racks. Labels indicated various products, and a separate, reinforced room sat off to the side for "special items."
"This place is surprisingly organized," Adrian noted, his bored demeanor replaced by a light hum as he looked around. "I've never actually been down here properly."
Rosaline kept her observations to herself, following him deeper into the stacks.
"Finally! I've been waiting forever for the boss to send help!" A plump, middle-aged woman with a brown ponytail barked. This was Flora, a tall, sturdy woman and a verified 'Golden Child' of the company. "Come on! Let's get this audit over with."
An 'audit' meant a physical count to ensure the stock matched the records—a biennial ritual used to catch discrepancies and, more often than not, blame people.
"Where are the others, Miss Flora?" Adrian asked smoothly.
"Working! Accounting is swamped! I have to get back to my desk soon too!" Flora snapped. She was clearly annoyed at being assigned to the count.
Right... as if you don't spend two hours a day just gossiping, Rosaline thought, resisting the urge to roll her eyes. In a toxic environment like this, one didn't provoke the "favorites" unless they wanted to be shown the door.
"Of course, Miss. Flora. Let's make this quick then," Adrian stepped forward, his charm in full effect.
"My, Adrian! Not just handsome, but efficient too. I like that," Flora cooed, her tone shifting to something more predatory. "You looking for someone to take care of you?"
Adrian gave a soft laugh but remained non-committal.
"I'm serious! I'm single and available," Flora persisted.
"I'm enjoying the bachelor life for now, ma'am," Adrian replied with practiced politeness.
While they bantered, Rosaline began the count. She kept a professional distance, noting that Adrian had the situation under control. Even for someone as talented as Adrian, offending the accounting department was professional suicide.
They worked through the morning, with Flora recording the numbers Rosaline and Adrian called out. The work was slow, hampered by Flora's constant attempts to flirt with Adrian.
By midday, they had covered most of the floor—except for two areas: the high-sensitivity room and the vault at the very back.
The vault door was a massive slab of steel, resembling a bank safe. It was pristinely kept, free of the dust that coated the rest of the warehouse. It stood there like a final boss guarding its loot. Rosaline felt an aura emanating from it—a weight that ordinary objects didn't possess.
"What's in there?" Adrian asked.
"Company secrets," Flora replied with a wink.
Rosaline extended her Hunter senses to probe the interior. For the most part, it felt mundane.
Wait... what is that? Deep within, she felt something faint—something so thin it was almost a void, yet it pulsed with a low, latent power. An Artifact?
"Miss. Flora, I think I see a cockroach near you," Adrian said suddenly.
"Eek! Where!? Get it away!" Flora's face paled instantly. She scrambled back, looking around frantically.
"It's right by your leg!"
"Aaah! Get it off me!" Flora shrieked, stomping her feet rhythmically before sprinting out of the warehouse like a woman possessed.
The moment the door slammed shut behind her, the playfulness vanished from Adrian's face. He walked straight to the vault, eyeing the fingerprint scanner beside the heavy door.
"What are you doing?" Rosaline asked, her voice low.
"Just a bit of curiosity," Adrian said, looking back at her. "Aren't you interested too?"
Yes, Rosaline answered internally, her face a mask of cold indifference. Her deep blue eyes locked onto his.
Adrian met her gaze and allowed a small, knowing smirk to play on his lips. "You're just as inquisitive as I am, aren't you?"
Rosaline stiffened.
Adrian turned back to the massive safe, his red eyes reflecting the cold steel. His smile widened with a dangerous, hungry curiosity.