Chapter 26 - Zero Order
’America yaaaaa!’
A completely out-of-place meme from my other life’s internet flashed through my mind as I watched the woman’s almost exaggerated enthusiasm even after fully knowing I was from another country.
"Yes."
I nodded to her previous question.
"After all, no sane local teenager would book a Presidential Suite in the most expensive hotel in his own country."
"Uh..."
Her smile stiffened.
Apparently she hadn’t expected that answer.
For a brief second, an awkward silence settled inside the elevator.
Then I chuckled.
"I’m joking."
I extended my right hand.
"Hello I am Evren."
She looked at me for another moment before smiling again and accepting the handshake.
"I’m Jane, the master of miscellaneous things."
She said proudly.
"That sounds like an incredibly difficult profession."
She laughed.
"It really is."
The attendant beside us smiled politely, clearly pretending not to listen.
I leaned slightly toward Jane.
Lowering my voice so only she could hear, I whispered.
"Did the Master send you here?"
The smile on her face completely disappeared.
She slowly released my hand, she glanced toward the hotel attendant.
The attendant immediately understood.
When the elevator reached the next floor.
Ding.
He bowed slightly.
"I will deliver it to your room safely sir."
The doors opened as he stepped outside.
The doors closed once more.
Now, only the two of us remained.
The pleasant atmosphere from moments ago vanished as Jane turned toward me.
The warmth in her expression was gone and a faint killing intent leaked from her body.
"Who are you?"
I met her gaze without flinching.
"Come now, don’t ruin my vacation. I had heard that the Warsaw Branch had a reputation for being welcoming."
Though I looked completely relaxed.
Inwardly, I was sweating bullets.
Fortunately, she couldn’t recognize me and she had no reason to.
To Jane, I should have been nothing more than a random eighteen-year-old tourist from North Federation who looked like filthy rich.
Someone who had suddenly appeared in here.
Someone who absolutely shouldn’t know about the Master.
That was precisely why she was so unsettled.
This wasn’t information an ordinary person could possibly possess.
Because this entire situation, belonged to another story.
One of the major novels that had inspired the game.
Jane and the organization behind her operated across multiple countries.
Their business wasn’t entirely legal nor illegal.
They simply dealt in things, most people were hesitant to do.
I clasped my hands behind my back and adopted what I hoped looked like the posture of someone completely in control.
"Let’s continue this conversation in my room, I paid quite a lot for that you know,"
"You’re giving me orders?" Jane said narrowing her eyes.
"I would call it an invitation, and someone of your rank can’t possibly deny me."
The elevator chimed one last time as the doors opened.
I stepped out first without looking back.
After several seconds, footsteps echoed behind me as Jane followed.
After all, she really didn’t have another choice.
***
"Why exactly am I pouring you orange juice?" Jane questioned.
I took another leisurely sip before setting the glass down.
"You work here and I paid an absurd amount of money for this suite."
"..."
She looked thoroughly unconvinced.
I ignored her expression.
"I came here from the New York branch."
Jane’s expression subtly stiffened.
The New York Branch was one of the organization’s largest and most influential branches.
Certainly far above the Warsaw Branch in terms of authority.
If what I implied was true, then offending me could become a career-changing mistake.
She silently studied me for several seconds.
"What exactly do you want?"
’Good! She’s beginning to believe.’
Since entering this room, I had been carefully constructing a fake identity of someone mysterious and important.
And someone who outranked her.
As long as she accepted those assumptions herself, I wouldn’t have to prove anything.
People were remarkably good at constructing mental scenarios, especially when they are smart.
"I have my own mission that doesn’t concern the Warsaw Branch. However if I require assistance, your branch will need to cooperate."
She remained silent studying me.
I continued.
"Until then, I need four things. A VIP invitation for the auction, the best motorcycle you have, a gun and an account at the ICB1 with enough funds for my current operations."
Jane frowned.
"Sir, those requests require authorization from–"
I gently raised my index finger, lightly pressed it against her lips.
"Shh."
She froze.
"Jane, you are misunderstanding something."
My voice remained calm.
"I may not look particularly strong, but there’s a reason I’m a Zero Order."
"!!!"
Her pupils contracted violently.
For the first time since entering the room, real fear appeared on her face.
Within the Continental there existed six official ranks.
From Sixth Order to First Order.
Higher rank meant greater authority.
Greater authority meant access to deeper secrets.
But, there was another rank.
Zero Order.
The pillars of the organization.
Most had their identities hidden, and only a few were well known.
And now, an eighteen-year-old young man sat casually drinking orange juice while claiming to belong to that legendary rank.
Jane quietly observed him.
Initially, she had only intended to approach an obviously wealthy foreign guest.
People like him were excellent customers.
Sometimes even better business partners.
But he mentioned the Master and then the New York Branch.
Now, he called himself a Zero Order.
None of it should have been possible.
Yet, there was something else bothering her.
Something she had noticed long before the conversation reached this point.
’He is perfect.’
His movements, posture and even the rhythm of his breathing.
Nothing stood out.
Yet, everything felt strangely complete, which should be impossible for a normal human.
And ordinary people would never notice that simple thing, yet Jane did.
Because she had been watching him from the very beginning.
’A disguise? Or maybe a technique?’
Still, one inconsistency remained.
She swallowed.
"Sir, as far as I know, the Zero Order in New York is already well known within the upper ranks, so how are–"
He interrupted her before taking another sip of orange juice.
"I said, that I came through New York, not that I am from New York."
Jane’s heartbeat skipped.
’He’s avoiding the question.’
Or perhaps, he simply didn’t think explaining himself was necessary.
She had heard rumors.
The Zero Orders were eccentric.
But Jane herself was no ordinary member.
And was a Fourth-Circle Mage and a Third Order executive.
Someone with enough authority to command an entire regional operation.
Yet sitting across from this young man, she felt like a junior employee speaking to the company’s mysterious founder.
’Either this is the greatest bluff I’ve ever seen, or he’s the real thing.’
She leaned toward the second possibility.
After all, very few people even knew that the Master existed.
Jane too was among them, and not because of her rank.
But because, the Master was her uncle.
Which raised an even more unsettling possibility.
’Was he targeting me from the beginning? Or did he already know I would approach him?’
A chill ran down her spine.
The latter possibility was somehow even more frightening.
It would mean everything, from the expensive suite to the casual conversation in the elevator, had been calculated in advance.
She unconsciously straightened her posture.
The young man remained perfectly calm as if none of this mattered.
"So, how much time will it take to complete that?"
Jane lowered her head slightly.
"...I will have everything prepared before the end of the night."
She paused before adding respectfully.
"Have a pleasant stay, sir."
International Credits Bank