Horror Game Developer: My games aren't that scary!

Chapter 131 131: Exchange [2]

”So you want to send some of our best talents to the Containment Department?”

Carmen Johansberg, the Section Chief of the Hoarde department, raised his brow as he looked at the Guild Master. He was really struggling to understand what the Guild Masterʼs intentions were with this.

...And that made him extremely cautious.

While Carmen was the Section Chief of one of the most powerful departments within the entire guild, he was still extremely cautious of the friendly-looking man before him.

He, of all people, knew the true nature of the Guild Master.

Though he wore a friendly smile, it was nothing more than a carefully maintained facade. No Guild rose to such prominence without making sacrifices and staining their hands in the process.

Behind the clean and friendly smile were hands that were filled with nothing but blood.

”Yes, thatʼs correct,” the Guild Master continued with that friendly smile of his, ”Thatʼs all youʼll have to do. Just send a few of your best talents. Pick whoever you want, and weʼll have them interact with those of the Containment Department. Have them perform there to see if itʼs truly as easy as you think it is.”

The room fell silent once again, all eyes focused on the smiling Guild Master.

”...You donʼt have to send all your talents at once. We can have it happen by department. Or each of you can just send one or two talents each. It doesnʼt particularly matter, right?” The Guild Master asked, turning his attention towards the haggard-looking Section Chief of the Containment Department.

”Uh... Yeah, sure. It doesnʼt really matter.”

Carmen frowned as he watched the manʼs nonchalant expression and the ease with which he addressed the Guild Master, doing his best to mask the flicker of displeasure tightening his features.

ʼAnnoying bastard.ʼ

While Carmen did believe that the Containment Department of their Guild was the least useful of all their departments, providing the least profits and results, the main reason for such thoughts was the lazy-looking figure beside the Guild Master.

He couldnʼt understand it.

What did the Guild Master see in him to treat him so well?

None of the other Section Chiefs even dared to think of treating the Guild Master the way that he did. So... nonchalantly and so unprofessionally.

Not only that, but he also hardly brought any results.

How could any of the Section Chiefs like him?

He was a cancer to them. A cancer that threatened to topple the entire Guild over if not handled correctly.

”So...? I have yet to receive an answer. What do you think?”

Hearing the Guild Masterʼs voice again, Carmen turned towards the other Section Chiefs. They all appeared to have their own thoughts on the matter, but in the end, they all turned to the Guild Master and nodded.

”Iʼll let Christian know. Heʼll go down to the Containment Department when this starts.”

”...Iʼm on board as well.”

”Same.”

In the end, the only one that was left was Carmen, who remained silent as he watched the others agree.

Feeling everyoneʼs gaze, Carmen eventually relented as well.

”Iʼll do so as well.”

”Goo—”

”But!”

Carmen cut off the Guild Master before he could start speaking as he looked straight at him in the eye. Although he feared and respected the Guild Master, there were certain things that had to be done.

”If our talents can excel in the Containment Department, I wish for you to allocate the budget towards our departments. If even people who arenʼt trained to handle such gates can clear it, I donʼt see how we should waste money on their department.”

His words were met with a bout of silence as everyone looked at him in surprise.

But then—

”Thatʼs a good idea.”

”...Yes, I agree with this.”

”I also think this is a great idea.”

With all of the Section Chiefs keen on the idea, the Guild Master could only smile.

”Alright, as you wish.”

He waved his hand lightly.

”Iʼll agree on your terms. If you can truly prove to me that the Containment Department doesnʼt deserve the budget increase, Iʼll listen to you. Iʼll reward them with something else if thatʼs truly the case.”

”Understood.”

Carmen lowered his head, a thin smile forming on his lips.

That moment marked the start of the agreement

***

News of the exchange rapidly spread throughout the Guild.

There was not one single person who didnʼt hear or talk about it. This was especially massive for those within the Containment Department.

Although... it wasnʼt for the greatest of reasons.

”....Ugh, fuck.”

With both her feet on her desk, Zoey groaned.

With her phone dangling down her hand, her head rolled around the back of her seat as her eyes settled over to Kyle, who was sitting next to her table, alongside a couple of other figures.

Of those, she managed to recognize Rowan talking to a couple of first years, who included Myles, alongside Terrance and a few others she couldnʼt quite recognize.

”Say something.”

Zoey poked Kyleʼs thigh with her phone.

”Do you not care at all about the fact that theyʼre sending those bastards over?”

”Hm?”

Looking at her, Kyle cocked his head.

”Why should I care?”

”Thatʼs...”

Zoey didnʼt even know what to say. But then thinking about it, Kyle didnʼt really care to socialize with the people of the other departments. It was probably why he wasnʼt aware of how annoying they were.

Not only were those bastards arrogant, but they really thought their department was much harder than theirs.

Just thinking about the last interaction she had with them, Zoeyʼs head throbbed.

”Oh, Seth!”

It was Kyleʼs words that brought her out of her thoughts.

Seth? Did he say Seth?

Her head snapped up at once, catching sight of a familiar figure approaching in the distance.

His posture was slightly hunched, and his face looked unusually pale. Most striking of all were the dark circles under his eyes, stark against his skin as he turned toward them, clutching what looked like a cup of coffee.

”Oh.”

Even the way he sounded felt dead.

What sort of...

Kyle was the first to approach him, his expression somewhat concerned.

”Are you okay? You look....”

”Itʼs... nothing.”

Seth replied, his voice slightly hoarse.

”Iʼm fine.”

He didnʼt look fine at all, Zoey thought. In fact, he looked like a walking zombie.

”...Just a lot of work.”

Turning his head slightly, his eyes paused on Rowan, and his face flinched. This didnʼt escape Zoeyʼs sight as she looked at Rowan, who sat upright, his entire presence radiating respect.

ʼ???ʼ

Did she miss something?

No, he did act strangely before, but it wasnʼt this strange.

Zoey squinted her eyes, feeling something amiss. Nevertheless, she quickly dismissed the thought as she adjusted her seating and pretended to do some work while secretly trying to peek in on the conversation between Seth and Kyle.

But...

Looking to her right, she also realized she wasnʼt the only one, with several others peeking at their conversation.

The fuc—

ʼSo what have you been up to lately? I hardly see you these days.ʼ

ʼUh, ah... well, like I said. A lot of work.ʼ

ʼWork? You have a lot of patients?ʼ

ʼNot really.ʼ

ʼThen...?ʼ

ʼIʼm developing a new gam—ʼ

Clank!

The conversation was suddenly interrupted by the sound of something falling. Slowly, everyoneʼs attention turned towards Terrance, whose face twitched.

He then forced a smile as he picked up his laptop and sat down, covering his face with both hands as he saw the massive crack spread on the screen. Zoey felt a little bit of pity for him, but not that much.

He made plenty of money.

Either way, looking at the others, it felt as though everyone was acting somewhat weirdly.

She couldnʼt quite put it into words, but it felt like everyone was somehow paying a lot of attention to Seth.

It almost felt like he had his own secret fan club.

ʼNo, thereʼs no way...ʼ

Zoey tried to dismiss the thought, but her face sank when she saw the others looking at her weirdly.

Wha—

”Hm?”

Zoeyʼs thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a commotion.

Turning her head, her face quickly sank, alongside that of a few others, as several figures appeared in the distance.

”Theyʼre here.”

She heard someone mumble, and her lips pursed.

Indeed, they were.

Those from the other departments.