It was seven o'clock. The sky above was covered with gray clouds, blocking the sunlight from warming the air. The temperature was chilly as an autumn breeze blew through New York City. People wore thick clothes, and steam escaped their mouths as they sighed.
When none of the employees had come to the office, Klaus was already sitting at his desk with a stack of files.
Klaus took care of many things. One of them was designing a new product. The Elemental Gun was just a stepping stone for Mors Industries to penetrate the market. He needed to create other products if he wanted the company to venture into the weapons industry.
The announcement of the Elemental Gun marked the beginning of the weaponry market race. Other companies would make innovations to rival Mors Industries' flagship product.
Although Klaus believed the Elemental Gun was superior to all weapons on the market, he could not sit still and watch other competing companies develop their products. He had to make new products to keep Mors Industries on top.
Because from the start, his goal was to monopolize the market.
As Klaus focused on his work, a woman entered his office. She was surprised as she saw Klaus at his desk.
"Ah, boss. Sorry, I didn't know you were already in the office."
"It's okay. I have a plate full of paperwork to finish. What's up, Sheila?"
Sheila pursed her lips. She was hiding something behind her back. Drawing closer, she put a shopping bag on the table.
Naturally, Klaus raised his eyebrows in wonder. He didn't remember telling the secretary to buy something for this morning.
"What is it?" Klaus asked.
"It's a present."
Klaus twisted his face in confusion. His birthday was still a few months away. She told him to open it before he asked why she gave him a present.
He was taken aback for a moment as he found out the gift was a watch—more precisely, a luxurious one. Roman letters were beautifully engraved under the crystal, and the bezel was shiny as it was made of gold. Seeing it at a glance, Klaus immediately knew it was not a cheap thing.
"Wow, I don't know what to say. Thank you, Sheila."
The short-haired woman smiled and hid her clasped hands behind her back. "I'm glad you like it."
Turning her body, Sheila left the room.
Klaus was glued to the present. He removed the smartlink and put on his new watch. Lifting it above his head, he looked at it with an enchanted look.
"It's beautiful," Klaus muttered.
Behind the door, Sheila quietly peered at Klaus with her lips curled up. She felt relieved that her boss liked the watch.
The gift was her way of saying thank you.
Klaus had done a lot for her, from helping her save orphans to freeing herself from her past sins. Not many men were willing to get involved in other people's matters, let alone help them solve their problems.
She felt grateful to have a boss like Klaus but didn't know how to repay him, so she gave him a present.
Pursing her lips in pleasure, Sheila returned to her desk in a good mood.
"I think she saw it," Klaus muttered.
Of course, Klaus knew Sheila was peeking at him, letting her think he would like it. He was not into watches, but he did appreciate Sheila. In his life, no one had ever given him a gift other than his mother.
Besides, it was from his subordinate. So, he had to show them some gratitude.
And then, he returned to his work.
...
The sun was rising overhead, but the sunlight did not reach the earth because the clouds swarming in the sky.
It was half an hour to lunch break. Klaus went to the CEO's office to meet Alexa.
As he arrived at the door, the two secretaries stood up and greeted Klaus behind the desk. He looked at the door for a moment before going inside. Pensive, he thought that someday this room would be his.
Alexa had only signed on as CEO for one year. She was tasked with helping the company until it was stable enough before Klaus took over it completely.
Going inside, Klaus saw Alexa with a mountain of papers at the desk.
"You look very busy," Klaus said.
The woman raised her head. "Ah, Klaus. I'm glad to see you. Take a seat."
Klaus sat down in the chair in front of the desk. He picked up one of the papers, raising his eyebrows as he read the document's title.
"Proposal for cooperation, huh?" Klaus chuckled. "I didn't expect the Awakener Association to go this far. "
"Yeah. And they sent this by email. Can you believe it?"
"They overestimate themselves." Klaus shook his head.
He still remembered how Director Logan wanted to meet with him during the Golden Hammer Expo, but he refused. And now, the old man sent a cooperation offer letter via email as if Mors Industries was under them.
Klaus couldn't tell if he should laugh or cry.
"I did as you asked, pending to process them. When are you going to approve them, Klaus? It would be a shame to hang up the Awakener Association. They could be our protectors." Alexa spoke as she reviewed the papers on her desk.
Klaus threw the proposal paper on the table. "Don't do anything. Let them desperately plead. I'm sure they'll cut corners."
Indeed, the Awakener Association could be a powerful ally for Mors Industries. Their existence could protect Mors Industries from the threat of the Five Pillars. However, the company already had the Divine Ursine Alliance as an ally.
Even if the two organizations had a good relationship, Klaus was sure there would be sparks between them someday, considering they had different goals.
However, that did not mean Klaus would do nothing to the Awakener Association. He had plan for them, and he was sure, Director Logan would not give up so easily, given his personality. The old man would definitely use the back door. And that back door was the Rays of Hope.
Klaus had already calculated everything. He would make that man beg him while he got the exclusive right to raid the dungeon.
"Anyway, Klaus," Alexa said. "I asked you here because I need a favor. As you can see, my plate is full."
The CEO handed over a paper contract agreement. After skimming it, Klaus frowned.
"Didn't the House of Blacksmith already agree to our offer?"
"It has," Alexa replied. "It's just a matter of signing the agreement. Richard Dickson wants to do it at the House of Blacksmith's headquarters tomorrow."
"You mean he told us to come to his place?"
"It's more like he wants to invite us. The meeting time conflicted with the Divine Ursine Alliance. I asked to rearrange the schedule, but he insisted us to come tomorrow."
Klaus nodded his head. "I see."
In the middle of their conversation, the phone rang out. Soon after Alexa picked it up, she dropped her jaws. She took off her glasses and massaged her eyes.
Seeing her reaction, Klaus knew something wrong was happening.
"How could I forget," Alexa grumbled. "I have a lunch appointment with the Oathkeeper Guild Leader today."
Apparently, one of the leaders of the Five Pillars guild came to visit the company.
