Chapter 53: That good night out

Around the same time that evening, a different convoy of SUVs rolled into Detroit and pulled up to the USOV branch there. Four identical Chevrolet Suburbans had driven through the facility’s gates, slowly down and parking one after the other.

Suited agents emerged from the vehicles, and from the backseat of one of the SUVs stepped Ophix and Lucien. Director Grey was waiting for them near the said entrance, still outside the main building but within the compound, and as soon as he saw who had arrived, his expression darkened.

“What is she doing here, Director?” Grey asked Lucien as he stepped out beside Ophix. Grey’s face showed a visible frown that conveyed both discomfort and distaste.

“Aww, if it isn’t the ever-frowning Grey,” Ophix said with mock sweetness. She extended her right hand upward, since Grey was much taller than she was, and rubbed his chin as if trying to comfort a small child.

Grey jerked his face away from her touch, and Ophix chuckled softly as she walked past him. Lucien approached Grey’s side and was about to walk past him when he placed his right hand on Grey’s shoulder.

“This is how we get the kid to join the fight,” Lucien said quietly, then continued walking as they all entered USOV’s main facility.

To explain how this situation had come about: Earlier, after Lucien had communicated his plans with Ophix and she had agreed to help, Lucien had called Grey asking for backup transportation home. He explained that their original vehicles had been destroyed by Ophix and that they were currently stranded at her place in that far side of Michigan.

Though Grey wondered why Lucien had gone to see the Black Witch in the first place, he didn’t bother asking questions just yet. Instead, he did as instructed and sent backup vehicles to Lenawee County to pick up Lucien and his remaining team.

…

Meanwhile, Team C and Liam arrived at Giovanni’s, an elegant Italian restaurant. They were all dressed in their suits, having changed into formal wear before leaving the USOV facility earlier that evening.

The restaurant’s interior was beautifully arranged with wooden chairs and tables covered in crisp white and black tablecloths. Stone walls, dim lighting, and a magnificent chandelier above created an intimate atmosphere. The space already had a few other diners who turned to stare as five people in suits walked through the door.

The agents took an entire table to themselves, and shortly after they were seated, a waiter approached and handed each of them a menu to make their selections. He brought out a small notepad and pen, ready to take down their orders.

Within a few minutes, each person had made their choice, and the waiter jotted down their orders before departing. However, the other diners began staring more intently than they should have, and it was pretty obvious that it was because of Liam. He was, after all, the Visor who had been trending on social media all day. Several people pulled out their phones, discreetly taking photos or videos. “Yup, they’ve noticed you, hotshot,” Sarah observed with a grin.

Liam, on the other hand, was extremely uncomfortable with the attention, and it showed clearly on his face. Elaine, who was sitting to his right, leaned over and said reassuringly, “It’s fine. Don’t think too much about it.”

Liam sighed and decided to let it go, choosing instead to focus on being present with his teammates. They sat around a circular table: to Liam’s right was Elaine, to his left was Amir, to Elaine’s right was Silas, and next to Silas was Sarah, completing the circle.

Sarah, ever the social butterfly, decided to get a conversation going. “So, hotshot, what would you say is the best part of working for USOV?”

Liam thought for a moment. “Um, I don’t know. I guess the pay?” The pay was indeed good, but that had never been Liam’s true reason for joining USOV in the first place. He didn’t want to talk about fighting monsters and claiming new summons, he instead wanted to keep the conversation light and casual.

Sarah turned to Silas next. “What about you, geezer?”

Silas looked embarrassed. “Geezer? Come on, I’m not that old,” he protested with a sheepish expression.

Liam gave him a teasing look. “Yeah, Silas, you kind of are that old.” They all had a hearty chuckle at that.

Silas smiled despite his embarrassment and admitted, “Not gonna lie, the pay is much better working at USOV than my old job.”

“So it’s the pay for you too,” Sarah noted, then turned to Amir. “And what about you, pretty eyes?”

“Seems we’re all getting nicknames tonight,” Amir said with a smile, sitting up a bit straighter. “For me, it’s the people at USOV. They’ve really grown on me.”

Sarah nodded approvingly with her eyes closed. “Fair enough. I mean, who doesn’t love Sarah, right?” She shrugged dramatically.

They chuckled as Amir laughed and said, “Dear Lord… I’m talking about everyone.” “Yeah, same thing,” Sarah insisted with mock seriousness, sticking to her playful interpretation.

She then turned toward Elaine. “Alright, team lead! What’s your favorite part about working for USOV?” Elaine laughed lightly at being called by her title and said thoughtfully, “I love that I can help people in need.”

“Boring!” Sarah immediately chimed in with exaggerated disappointment.

“Come on, that’s not fair,” Elaine protested, and they all chuckled at her reaction.

Sarah then announced dramatically, “And as for me—the giver of names and lover of all things that aren’t cats, the best part of working for USOV is…” She intentionally dragged out the pause to create suspense, then finally declared, “…the pay! I can’t even lie!”

They all burst into laughter, completely forgetting they were in a restaurant. Everyone had expected Sarah to say something entirely different given all the buildup she’d created. However, when the laughter died down, Sarah spoke again, but this time in a voice so calm and collected that it almost didn’t sound like her at all.

“But honestly, the real best part of working at USOV is you guys. You’re the closest thing to a family I’ve ever had.”

Everyone went quiet for a moment. The statement was so touching and sincere that it caught them all off guard. Elaine finally broke the silence with a warm smile. “Damn, Sarah, when did you become so sweet and chummy?”

They all chuckled in response to Elaine’s comment, but there was a warmth in their laughter now—the kind that comes from genuine affection and understanding. In that moment, sitting around the table at Giovanni’s, they truly felt like the family Sarah had just described.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep