The New Job

On a bright and beautiful Saturday morning, the city streets were open and inviting, free from the usual weekday hustle and bustle. In the local park, sunlight filtered through the vibrant green leaves, casting playful shadows on the ground.

Joggers moved rhythmically along the winding paths, their breath visible in the crisp air as they embraced the invigorating start of the weekend.

Nearby, groups of people practiced yoga, finding their inner peace amidst the gentle rustle of leaves and distant laughter.

Children filled the playgrounds, joyful squeals and delighted shouts mingling with cheerful parents watching over them. The parents, wearing warm smiles, chatted softly while watching their little ones as they swung and slid with uncontained glee.

Scattered across the lush grass, couples set up their picnic spots, laying out an enticing spread of colorful dishes, fresh fruits, and delicious treats, creating cozy oases as they enjoyed each other's company. The aroma of food wafted through the air, mingling with the scent of blooming flowers, enhancing the day's relaxed atmosphere.

Meanwhile, in stark contrast, others were nestled in their offices, buried under heaps of paperwork, racing against the clock to meet deadlines they had struggled to conquer earlier in the week.

Their faces reflected the stress of a long workweek.

Despite the relaxed atmosphere of the day, it wasn't the same for the small house located deep within the suburbs—the Douglas household.

"Mom! Have you seen my tie?" I bellowed down the stairs.

"Ask your sister; I told her to air the suit, and the tie was with it," she replied matter-of-factly.

"But she said I should ask you," I said absentmindedly as I hurried to my sister's room. 

She was helping me shine my shoes because I had already put on the suit before realizing I hadn't polished them yet. 

I paused to catch my breath after rushing over and asked, "Emily, Mom said she doesn't have the tie and that it was with the suit. Can you tell me where you aired it so I can go and get it?"

This chaotic morning was the result of someone thinking it was a great idea to order takeout and throw a celebration late into the night, just a day before their interview.

But I won't lie, the drumsticks were to die for.

Emily gently put down her brush, looked up at me, and responded, "I aired your suit out on the veranda last night, so you can check there." After answering, she quickly returned to shining the shoes.

I then headed to the veranda, where my sister said she had aired the suit. I quickly spotted the tie on the floor. "I guess she was in such a hurry that she didn't notice it fell off."

I picked up the tie from the floor and headed back to my sister's room so she could help me knot it. "Emily, I wonder what I would do without you."

Back in my room, I stood before a full-length mirror, adjusting the lapel of my only tailored navy blue suit. My reflection stared back at me—tall, confident, and ready to take on the world.

I leaned closer to adjust my forest green tie, the color making the green flecks in my hazel eyes pop.

I observed myself carefully.

The deep, rich hue of my suit created a striking contrast against the warmth of my caramel skin, beautifully highlighting my complexion.

My curly hair was styled in a short fade with texture on top, and my strong jawline along with high cheekbones added to my already pleasing aesthetic.

'Not bad,' I thought.

After having a quick breakfast, I waited for the ride I booked to arrive. While I was waiting, I engaged in small talk with my mother and sister for a few minutes before my ride finally came.

We wrapped up our conversation, and my mother and sister escorted me to the car. My mother quickly pulled me aside to adjust my tie.

"Mom, Emily already adjusted it for me at home," I complained as she continued her task as if I hadn't said anything.

When she was done, she stepped back to admire her work and said, "You are never too old for your mother to adjust your tie."

I was instantly baffled. "When did I say that? I was just saying there wasn't a need since Emily already fixed it for me," but I didn't voice my thoughts. After living with my mother for so long, I knew better than to argue with her.

What was the saying again? Ah, yes—"Mother knows best."

After wishing me luck on my interview, I entered the car, heading to the address on the business card I remembered:

Novara Complex, Zone 5 

Dalaba Street

I subconsciously exhaled, preparing my mind for yet another meeting with that strange man.

**************

I was standing in the middle of an office that exuded minimalism, with every piece of furniture arranged in a way that screamed modernity.

In front of me was a desk, and behind it sat a man laughing like a deranged madman. He was bent over, with his arms clasped over his belly, laughing as if he wanted to suck all the air out of the room.

I stood there awkwardly, watching as he continued to cackle maniacally.

When I felt that I had enough, I quietly asked, "Can you please explain to me what is so funny?"

I was shocked when I first entered the office and was greeted by uproarious laughter. At first, I worried that I had gone to the wrong office, but after checking, I confirmed I was indeed in the right place, which only made me more concerned.

Surprisingly, my worry wasn't for myself but for the world. If this is the attitude of one of its protectors, it's a miracle that the world hasn't been annihilated up to this point.

My only source of hope was that the man was just an eccentric in the CDA.

Mr. Alex casually ignored my question and continued laughing, which struck a nerve I didn't know I had. Eventually, he seemed to grow a bit tired from excessive laughter, wiping an imaginary tear from his eye and funnily staring at me.

It looked like he was about to laugh again, but before he could start, I interrupted him. 

"Mr. Alex, if this is how employees at the agency behave, I don't think I'll be able to work in such an environment." 

After dropping out of college, I immediately started working, which gave me a basic understanding of how employers behave. All of my employers, without exception, have been the typical stern and serious types.

Therefore, seeing my potential employer act differently was quite overwhelming.

I figured it was better to be clear about my intentions than to suffer later, even though I was just bluffing to get him to stop. 

I wouldn't be foolish enough to leave ten thousand dollars on the table, especially after coming this far. And just to make it clear, that's a one followed by four zeros.

After seeing that I was serious, he stopped laughing and observed me thoroughly before asking, "Why are you wearing a suit?"

"....."

That was a valid question. Why was I even wearing a suit? It wasn't as if it was the first time I was meeting him, and I'm sure normal agents don't wear suits while battling monsters. If they did, they would look ridiculous.

Even Mr. Alex doesn't wear a suit, and he is the craziest person I know.

I coughed awkwardly before deciding to blame my mother for everything.

"My mom made me wear this. She said it would make me look presentable for the interview.

'Sorry, Mom,' I thought.

There was silence. Mr. Alex and I stared at each other, his eyes locked on mine, trying to detect any lie in my earlier statement. After a while, he stopped and said,

"Seems like you have a good mother." 

I was initially stunned by his reply but quickly covered it up with a response. "I know; she's the best."

************

In my arms, I held the contract for my future line of work. It struck me as somewhat philosophical that a piece of paper could determine the course of my life.

Before I read the contract, Mr. Alex asked me a question.

"I hope you didn't inform anyone about any of this." By "this," I understood he meant the secret of my future job.

"No, I only told my family that I was interviewing for a new startup," I replied honestly.

I didn't spend much time devising a cover story, as I was sure an agency as established as the CDA would be able to sort things out later.

Mr. Alex nodded in response and allowed me to review the contract. After reading it thoroughly—and then reading it again for good measure—I could summarize it in five key clauses, the last being more of a pledge than a clause. They were as follows:

1. Do not reveal crucial information about the CDA to outsiders. If you are found at fault, you will face penalties, and anyone who receives the information will be detained and interrogated thoroughly.

2. In any situation, avoid causing harm to the individuals you are required to protect. If it is discovered that harm was inflicted intentionally, the responsible agent will be demoted in rank and may face detention, depending on the severity of the harm caused. An agent of the lowest rank may be expelled from the agency and detained for a period determined by the gravity of the offense.

3. Ranks are essential in the CDA; they reflect the contributions and battles an agent has undergone. You must show proper respect to those who hold higher ranks than you. Additionally, your rank will determine your weekly remuneration.

4. Do not kill fellow agents. If it is discovered that you committed such an act without a justifiable reason, you will be expelled from the agency and may face the death penalty.

5. As a CDA agent, you must protect all living beings that depend on the collective for their continued existence. Consequently, you are obligated to stop those who wish to harm the collective.

After noting the key points, I looked at Mr. Alex with an outstretched arm and asked him for a pen. He gave me a look that conveyed, "You came here all dressed up but forgot to bring a pen." I chose to ignore his strange expression.

Eventually, he handed me a pen from his desk. I exhaled gently before placing the contract on the desk and signing it. Once I finished, I handed the contract back to Mr. Alex. He took it from my hand, pulled out a stamp from a drawer, and stamped the contract.

After that, he went to the corner of the office to retrieve a file from a cabinet, placed the contract in the file, returned the file to its place, and closed the cabinet.

When he was done, he casually asked,

"How does it feel to have a job?"

I answered honestly, "It feels good."

Once the pleasantries were out of the way, we returned to business.

"So, since you are newly joining the agency, you will be assigned an apprentice rank," he continued. "As for your salary, you will be paid every week, with payments made on Saturday. Since you joined on a Saturday, your pay will be sent to you later this afternoon."

I was pleasantly surprised. A job that pays you even when you haven't worked a day—this seemed too good to be true.

I figured they must have safeguards to prevent someone from running away with their money, especially for an agency as established as the CDA. It would be quite embarrassing if that happened.

That reminds me, I had been planning to ask Mr. Alex about the strange events that occurred yesterday, but just as I was about to speak, Mr. Alex said,

"Any questions you have relating to work can be asked when we meet tonight."

I instantly knew where the meeting would take place without needing to be told—we were going to meet in "The Strange Dream."