The day had ended on a high note... kinda, "I'm telling you, it was only a spar where I... got manhandled, but nothing too dangerous." I waved the worries of my team aside from Amelia that just accepted my words and moved on, I was leaning against a wall on the main control room while Dakota was giving me both a tired and angry stare.

"And you managed both of them at the same time, I felt as if my mind would become mush when dealing with that butterfly fuck and here you are casually talking about getting your ass kicked!" I'm honestly surprised of how much trouble she apparently had with the Funeral... I mean, if she is as stubborn as I am, then that abnormality wasn't going to like her a lot.

Gonzales nodded at my words like I was some kind of sage sharing ancient knowledge, "Training with abnormalities... THE GREATEST WAY TO BUILD STRENGTH AND CHARACTER!!!" And now he is pumped.

Rober threw him a look, "Don't go doing that, Trigger is the only one that can do suicidal missions and come back alive." Thanks for the confidence, I guess?

BongBong clapped her hands together as if she suddenly remembered something and pulled out her notepad while writing on it, 'I feel like taking those classes in E.G.O right now!' It's what was written, ah so the time has finally come.

While Dakota seemed... still salty about that, Amelia had finally decided to join our conversation, "What's that all about? Isn't E.G.O just another suit that protects you?" Butterflies came from my coffin, moving around to create words.

'Not Really' they made, making Amelia give me a flat stare that failed to hide the surprises she had shown, "That's... impressive I guess." I rolled my eyes with a small smile on my face, while Rober threw her a smirk.

"I can teach you too if you feel like it, and yes BongBong just name a time and a place." BongBong was static if only for a second Rober frowned, and I smiled at him along with Dakota, making him huff and look away... jealousy? The poor man has handed more ammunition to Dakota.

"Trigger, present yourself at the Manager's office, he would like to talk with you"

The voice of Angela reached my ears and I felt my eyes narrow before sighing and kicking off the wall, "Looks like the Manager wants to talk with me, think about where you want to train in the meantime." I glanced at BongBong that nodded at me with a nervous smile.

Robber for his part narrowed his eyes too and nodded at me, Dakota noticed that me and Rober weren't exactly happy with the manager and threw me a raised brow while I shook my head in her direction and signaled with my head towards Rober. Gonzales was just confused but kept his smile up, while Amelia threw me a curious stare before shrugging and returning her attention elsewhere.

The walk was silent, no matter how I spun it... they could have only called me here for two things only, and whichever it was didn't matter, since both aren't things I really want to talk about.

The elevator and door were still the same, and every step towards his office annoyed me more.

Keep your thoughts steady, doubt in the middle of work can get you killed.

I took a deep breath and let it out while clearing my mind, going to meet someone I frankly don't like. With thoughts like that can't be good for anyone, I walked forward and knocked on his door twice.

"Enter." I did as the manager said and entered his office, seeing him on his chair making direct eye contact with me, eyes narrowed in concealed anger, but I kept my face neutral.

Angela was nowhere to be found, so I'm guessing he wanted this talk to be just between us, "Trigger today has been a little stressful, you have decided yet again to handle an abnormality in your own way, but that hardly matters since your results speak for themselves." He got up and walked up to me while staring at me straight in the eyes, trying to play it off like a threat that just didn't hit.

"But Malkuth has not reported for work at all, Angela right now is going out of her way to get an explanation out of her, but she did mention that you and Malkuth going to the lower levels... so whatever you two may have talked WON'T stay hidden, and you WILL tell me what it was." He all but demanded of me, but I gave him a neutral stare.

"No..." was the only word that came out of my mouth.

He tried to hide his surprise, but I knew better, "I don't think you understand what your position is right now, what did you talk about with Malkuth?" Something about what he said... I stared harder into his eyes, searching for something, and I found it.

Worry, worrying about Malkuth... I understand my position, I think you are the one that doesn't... "so why the sudden care for Malkuth?" I asked, my face still neutral but my gaze intense, he froze for a second and showed a great deal of confusion before cooling his emotions and glaring at me.

He must have talked with Malkuth and must have at least noticed something wasn't right with her, so why worry until now? "Leave Trigger, if you won't cooperate, then Malkuth will." I shook my head and gave him a disappointed stare.

"You should have started with her if she was your main priority." He flinched, but that still confused me... he is supposed to be a NEW manager, he couldn't have known Malkuth beforehand since she is apparently a robot, so where was that worry coming from?

I left his office with a frown on my face, the Sephirah must be a key into the deeper secrets of this facility... something that should become clear when I meet another one, but for now, I'll wait.

But one thing is certain... I glanced behind me, staring at the door of the Manager's office, he is more than just the 'new' Manager.