Martin left the office with a spring in his step.

For once, Martin left before the people under him instead of staying until the very end. All it took was a smile, a few encouraging words, and one simple instruction to keep doing what they were already doing.

Telling them they were the best people for the task felt more satisfying than it probably should have.

The fresh sunset air waiting outside only made it better.

Do I need more from life? Hell nah! I can work, leave earlier, then grind until midnight. I even start my shift later than usual! Haha!

Martin stopped by his usual bakery and picked up a few donuts, which tasted far better than cigarettes ever could. He washed them down with Coke because today deserved sugar, caffeine, and zero regrets.

His excitement for the night rose with every step.

At last, it was time for the expansion.

Martin walked into his studio apartment, quickly washed off the sweat from work, and hopped into bed. His body still carried the weight of the office, but his mind had already raced ahead to the second world, where he often felt more alive than he did in real life.

As soon as he logged in, a voice call from NukEncore came through.

[NukEncore: Maaaaaaaaaartin!]

[Emperoar: Hi! What’s up?]

[NukEncore: Hello! I’m just in a bad mood because I have a whole month of work ahead of me! I have evening shifts, too! What a terrible schedule!]

Evening concerts had been perfect until the game turned them into a personal attack on her precious Martin time.

At least NukEncore had company in her suffering. Chaosgraphy would have busier days ahead of her as well, with more movie shoots and everything that came with them.

Crimson Halo’s schedule was harder to guess, while Cassandra had it the easiest. She had assistants she had personally trained, and from what NukEncore had heard, half of Cassandra’s empire ran on her saying yes, no, or "fix it."

Keeping up with trends and world news was a walk in the park for her, too.

[Emperoar: Evening shifts? Make sure you return home with your friends. Never go alone. And I know it’s cliché, but don’t go into dark alleys, okay?]

[NukEncore: ...mhm. If I didn’t log in for days, how worried would you be?]

[Emperoar: A lot. Especially since I don’t know what you actually look like or even your real name.]

That hit NukEncore harder than expected.

She pressed a hand to her stomach and silently grimaced.

[Emperoar: I’d bother Chaos a lot since you two know each other.]

[NukEncore: Mhm. That’s fine. You see, I think we’ll eventually meet in real life. When you meet me, don’t go all stupid like you did when you saw Cassandra.]

Martin narrowed his eyes.

Why would I? And man, working late? I hope she’s doing well in real life. Gotta motivate her.

[Emperoar: Fine, fine. It’s a promise. You see, I got a promotion today. Things are finally changing for the better, so we just have to keep going, right?]

[NukEncore: Haha! Congratulations, Martin! Does that mean you have more time now?]

[Emperoar: Yeah!]

She sounded so genuinely pleased and happy for him that Martin’s heart warmed, and he wanted to see her even more.

Samu’s Restaurant was louder than usual when Martin arrived.

Players filled the tables in loose groups, checking equipment screens, arguing over rumors, and ordering food buffs as if the expansion would personally punish anyone who entered on an empty stomach. Plates moved across the room faster than usual, drinks disappeared almost as soon as they were set down, and every few seconds, someone said "expansion" in a voice that was not nearly as quiet as they thought.

Behind the counter, Samu watched it all with the expression of a man suffering from success.

NukEncore had already claimed their usual table and looked offended that the rest of the world had failed to arrive on her schedule. The moment she noticed Martin, her mood brightened so quickly that her earlier complaint almost looked fake.

Before Martin could greet her properly, a golden blur slipped away from Crimson Halo’s side.

Kinnami flew across the short distance with her warm green eyes fixed on him. The wolf spirit circled Martin once, brushed her glowing body against his side, and pressed her head briefly against his hand as if confirming that work had returned him in one piece.

Martin grinned despite himself and lowered his palm over her head. "I’m back."

Kinnami’s tail swept through the air with proud satisfaction before she flew back to Crimson Halo and settled near her shoulder.

Crimson Halo smiled softly at the sight. "She waited for you."

"Looks like someone had a better welcome than all of us," Chaosgraphy said.

Martin turned toward her voice and found Chaosgraphy approaching with her usual graceful confidence, making the crowded restaurant look like a path prepared for her alone. She slid into her seat with a lazy smile, while Crimson Halo took her place nearby with Kinnami glowing beside her.

Kill Clause arrived last, already reading a message window with the focus of someone who refused to let excitement ruin discipline.

Within minutes, menus, cups, and plates were pushed aside until their usual table had turned into a small war council.

For a moment, Martin found the situation funny.

A few hours ago, he had been standing in an office, pretending he knew how to look like a supervisor. Now he sat at a restaurant table with his party, waiting for orders that might throw them into the front line of a guild operation.

Apparently, both worlds had decided he looked responsible.

Chaosgraphy reclined in her seat. "We’ll meet other guild members, so before we actually meet them, I’ll make one thing clear. We have to crush them all."

Her words sounded nothing like the speech Martin had given before, but he still understood where she was coming from.

Crimson Halo voiced his thoughts. "Yes. Fame, money, items, guild growth, and character progression are all on the line. That’s what Cassandra Selfmore wants."

She gave a side glance at the actual Cassandra Selfmore sitting beside her, then hid the curve of her smile behind her cup.

My, it is indeed amusing with the real one sitting beside us while Martin knows nothing. We’re such bullies, aren’t we?

Unaware of her thoughts, Martin nodded. "Yeah. We’re also underleveled compared to most of the guild, but we have our own cards and skills that no one else has. We won’t be crushed that easily."

"Do you guys think this expansion will last a whole week?" NukEncore asked.

She leaned forward with genuine curiosity, both elbows almost touching the table before she remembered herself and straightened like a diva who had nearly been caught acting like a beginner.

She truly was the noob of the team.

Chaosgraphy scoffed. "You think it would take weeks to take a single spot? We aren’t fighting high-level monsters or dealing with some complicated zone. As far as I know, we’ll have a shotcaller, and he has enough information to guide us to the right place."

"Oh? A shotcaller? Now I am intrigued." NukEncore lifted her gaze to Chaosgraphy.

Chaosgraphy chuckled. "It doesn’t matter how he sounds."

"How did you know that was on my mind?" NukEncore looked at Chaosgraphy as if she could read minds.

Chaosgraphy rolled her eyes upward.

I wonder how.

Martin chimed in. "As long as he gives clear and short commands, he’ll be fine. Personally, I think loud shotcallers with passion are the best. Those can move a crowd."

"Oh, yes." NukEncore nodded with immediate approval.

Kill Clause kept her eyes on her message window, but the corner of her mouth twitched as if she had judged the conversation and decided it was only half useless.

Several message windows opened at once, sending the same pale glow across the table.

The noise in Samu’s Restaurant changed. It did not disappear, but it tightened, as if every player who mattered had just received the same command.

Kill Clause drew everyone’s attention. "We got the message. It’s time to meet at the foot of the academy’s headquarters. It’s less crowded there, and not everyone can just wander in. Our team is Party Twenty. Keep that in mind."

"Yes, boss!" Martin said with a half-chuckle.

His words drew a wide smile from Kill Clause, one that made Martin think he had perhaps touched some soft spot in her heart. Then he followed behind her as if she had cast a charm on him.

It was time to see what kind of storm Cassandra Selfmore had gathered.