Yime studied him for a long moment.

She knew he was ambitious, knew the reason why, and knew they needed him as he was a clue to what they were searching for.

If him moving up the ranks provided them with answers, she was all for it.

“They do, results affect your rank.” She said simply. “Perform well, and doors open. Perform exceptionally, and doors you didn’t know existed reveal themselves.”

Makun nodded.

That was all he needed to hear.

“And what ran—”

Knock! Knock!

A measured knock interrupted Makun’s next question.

Yime turned to look at the door. “Oh, she is here.” She said. “Come in.”

The door was pushed open with precision. Danielle stepped through, her posture rigid, her expression unreadable. She moved like someone who had never been late to anything in her life.

Makun glanced at his phone.

4:55 PM. Five minutes before the start of the meeting.

Of course she is early.

It matched everything he had observed about her.

Danielle Carter was the type who arrived early to scope the room, to settle before others arrived, to never be caught off guard. Punctuality and discipline were her life.

She is the stuck up sort. He nodded to himself, Yeah, she is rigid.

Danielle bowed slightly towards Yime, a curt acknowledgment of rank, then walked to the couch and sat beside Makun without waiting for Yime’s direction.

Makun caught Yime’s gaze, a flicker of exasperation passing through her dark eyes. It was the look of someone who had told Danielle a hundred times that she did not need permission to sit, and Danielle had ignored her a hundred times, bowing anyway out of stubborn respect.

Just as Danielle settled, the door to the office opened again.

Sarah walked in, her steps light, a warm smile spreading across her face the moment she entered. She carried herself like someone who genuinely enjoyed being around people, her presence softening the room’s rigid atmosphere.

“Hi, boss!” Sarah said, warmth radiating through her voice.

She waved at Makun, her smile widening. “Hey! How did you like your room? Did you find everything okay?”

“It was good,” Makun replied. “Thank you for bringing me there. I liked it.”

“I’m glad!” She beamed. “If you need anything, just let me know. The first few days can be overwhelming.”

She took a seat on the opposite end of the couch, leaving space between herself and Danielle.

Time slowly passed.

Yime worked on her laptop, fingers tapping steadily, her attention divided between the screen and the room. Danielle sat in silence, her back straight, her eyes forward, saying nothing.

Sarah, however, turned to Makun and started a conversation.

She asked about his journey from Naija City, about his first impressions of Houston, about whether the Ashwood trees had surprised him. Small questions, easy to answer.

Makun could tell she did not do this because she wanted something from him, or because speaking with him was some kind of luxury. No, she did this because she wanted him to feel comfortable, at home, not isolated.

It was deliberate kindness.

Makun looked at her, skeptical. Is she genuine? Or is there some ill motive hidden behind her warmth?

He could not tell, not yet. He would watch and deduce, that was what he did best.

Time ticked on.

4:00 PM appeared on the clock, then 4:05 PM.

Ray still had not come.

Yime lifted her head from her laptop and looked at Danielle. “Where is Ray?”

Sarah shook her head quickly. “He said he had important matters to attend to.”

She tried covering for him, but everyone in the room knew Ray. They knew exactly what he was up to.

Yime’s expression did not change. “Five more minutes. If he does not appear, penalty for your team.”

Sarah’s face fell. Danielle’s expression darkened, her jaw tightening.

Makun had no idea what these penalties meant or what they entailed. But from their reactions, he knew they were serious.

The minutes crawled by, 4:06. 4:07. 4:08. 4:09.

At 4:09 and forty-five seconds, the door burst open.

Ray stumbled into the room, a flask clutched in one hand, his hair dishevelled, his shirt untucked. He caught himself on the doorframe, steadied, then grinned.

“Woohoo! Made it in time, made it in time!” He announced, walking in with the confidence of someone who had not just nearly cost his team a penalty.

He dropped onto the couch beside Sarah, who shot him a withering glare.

“Sorry, sorry,” Ray said, waving his flask dismissively. “I had a cat to rescue. The spirits showed me he needed help. Very important, very urgent, the cat was very grateful.”

Makun looked at him, amused.

Who is going to believe that?

No normal functioning adult could accept that excuse. The flask in his hand made it clear he had been drinking, the cat story was a lie so lazy it was almost impressive.

Yime shook her head slowly, unsurprised. This was not the first time, Ray always had something to do, some excuse to give, some spirit-guided mission that conveniently ended at a bar.

“Now that everyone is here,” Yime said, her tone making it clear she was choosing not to address Ray’s entrance, “let us begin.”

She closed her laptop and looked at the team.

“You have a new team member. I suppose you guys have met.” Her gaze lingered on Makun. “He is joining your team as a field agent. Make sure to guide him properly since he is new to mysticism and its ways.”

Her eyes shifted to Danielle as she said that last part, a clear instruction wrapped in a glance.

Danielle gave a single, curt nod.

“The reason you are here today is to be assigned a mission.” Yime paused. “The difficulty will not be high. It is Makun’s first mission, he needs to get acclimated to how we work here at the MIO.”

She leaned back in her chair.

“During the mission, guide him through the communication procedures, team effectiveness, teamwork, and everything necessary. This is a learning exercise as much as it is an assignment.”

She took her phone out, used it for a bit before looking back at them.

“Check your phones, I’ve sent the mission file.” She looked at Makun. “Team Seven, this is his first, make it count.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep