Chapter 43 – I Want

"It's great, isn't it?" Nick asked.

Horua just stood in front of the huge warehouse, his eyes filled with wonder.

A Zephyx Manufacturer!

He was in front of a Zephyx Manufacturer, and he was about to become an employee of one!

"Let's go in," Nick said with an encouraging smile.

Right now, it was early in the morning. Nick had decided to come during the afternoon because of Horua's sleep schedule.

It was better for Horua to sleep during the night, which was why they had arrived this early.

Working with the Dreamer might seem like rest, but it isn't actually rest. 

Because of that, Nick wanted to get one session of work in before they went home to sleep.

The two of them entered the warehouse, and Horua looked at the huge wall of metal in front of him.

"Is that where it is?" he asked.

Nick nodded. "Yep. Sadly, I can't tell you any specifics without Wyntor."

Horua just nodded, showing that he understood.

A moment later, Horua noticed a tall man with light-brown hair sitting in front of a desk. Right now, there were many different sheets of paper on the desk, and the man was looking at them with furrowed brows.

"You're a bit early," Wyntor said with a smile, not looking up from the sheets of paper.

"Yep," Nick answered with a chuckle. "Also, I brought someone that I want to make into one of my Zephyx Extractors."

"Oh?" Wyntor said as he looked up from his papers.

Yet, when he saw the small boy, he furrowed his brows. "Are you talking about him?"

"Yep!" Nick said with a nod.

Nick pushed Horua forward a little bit, and Horua looked at Wyntor with respect and fear.

"Hello, sir, I want to become a Zephyx Extractor," Horua said, managing not to stutter.

Wyntor looked with an unsatisfied gaze at Horua.

"How old are you?"

"Eleven, sir," Horua said politely.

"Do you have any family?"

Horua was a bit surprised by the question, and even Nick raised an eyebrow in confusion.

"N-no, sir," Horua answered.

"I assume you are from the Dregs?" Wyntor asked.

Horua nodded. "Yes, sir."

"Are you a member of any organization or gang?" 

"No, sir," Horua said.

"What's this all about?" Nick asked. "Why are you asking all of these questions."

"These questions have a purpose, Nick," Wyntor said without looking at him.

"Would anyone come searching for me if you died in here?" Wyntor asked.

This question made Horua quite nervous, and even Nick furrowed his brows.

However, Nick remained quiet.

"No, sir," Horua said with a bit of fear and sadness.

Wyntor continued looking at Horua with an unhappy expression.

"Nick, I need to speak with you privately," Wyntor said before standing up and walking behind the Containment Unit.

Nick looked suspicious and unhappy, but he just followed.

Horua was left alone in front of the Containment Unit.

"Nick, do you actually know what you're doing?" Wyntor asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Please elaborate," Nick said.

"He's a kid, Nick," Wyntor explained. "Just because you managed to withstand the Dreamer doesn't mean that everyone can. There are many cases of Extractors dying while working with a Specter that feeds on mentality when they actually shouldn't have."

"Too much stress can stop your heart or shut your brain down."

"I asked all these questions earlier because I wanted to make sure that no one would be searching for us in case the Dreamer killed him."

Nick furrowed his brows. "So, we can't employ him?" he asked.

"Technically, that's not my decision," Wyntor said.

"Not your decision?" Nick asked with a raised brow.

"I am the president and CEO. I don't deal with personnel issues unless they are directly related to me," Wyntor said. "You are the Chief Zephyx Extractor. It is your duty to build a team of capable Zephyx Extractors and assign the Specters to them."

"If you want to employ this boy, you are free to do so."

"However, if something happens, that's on you."

"If the Dreamer accidentally kills him, it is your fault, and you have to take responsibility and deal with the aftermath."

When Nick heard that, he felt his chest tighten.

Just now, the image of a dead Horua shot through his mind.

"I need to talk to him again," Nick said.

"Alright," Wyntor answered neutrally. "If you decide to employ him, tell me, and I will give you our standard contract."

"Does he know anything about the Dreamer or how we obtained it?"

Nick shook his head. "No."

For some reason, Wyntor's eyes seemed to show some relief.

"Good."

The next moment, the two of them walked to the front of the Containment Unit again.

Wyntor went back to his desk while Nick went over to Horua.

Horua looked with anxiety at Nick.

"Listen, Horua," Nick said. "I want you to know that becoming a Zephyx Extractor is not without its dangers."

"If you decide to become a Zephyx Extractor, you might undergo a short period of horrifying pain."

"The pain might become so bad that you could die."

Horua took a deep breath when he heard that.

"Your survival is not guaranteed, Horua," Nick said with a serious expression. "But if you manage to survive, you will become a Zephyx Extractor here."

"But you might also die."

"Are you sure you want to become a Zephyx Extractor here? It is not too late to turn around," Nick said solemnly.

Horua seemed quite worried as he looked at the ground.

Naturally, he was very scared.

"I will do it!" Horua said as he looked into Nick's eyes with desperation.

"There's nothing left for me in the Dregs."

"My parents are dead!"

"I've never had siblings!"

"I don't have a family!"

"I don't have friends except for you!"

"It's now or never!"

"Nick, I want to make something of my life!"

Nick kept looking at Horua with a serious expression.

"Are you sure?" he asked again.

"I am sure!" Horua answered. "I am strong, and I have a lot of willpower! I can deal with pain!"

Some seconds passed.

And then, Nick nodded.

"Wyntor, give me the contract."