Nick didn't immediately answer Vernon and just looked at Wyntor.
Right now, Nick wasn't sure how to feel.
On one hand, he was so happy that Wyntor wasn't selling Dark Dream, but on the other hand, Nick felt guilty.
He felt like he had betrayed Wyntor a little bit.
Although, it couldn't really be called a betrayal.
After all, Wyntor had made clear that he had only created Dark Dream for his inheritance.
Earlier, when Nick had heard that he would be joining Kugelblitz and entering their training program, he had felt bad.
Sure, Kugelblitz was amazing and powerful, but Nick would definitely lose his position as Chief Zephyx Extractor.
He wouldn't even become an area manager or team leader.
He wouldn't even be a "normal" Zephyx Extractor.
He would just become a trainee.
From Chief Zephyx Extractor to trainee.
That would be a brutal drop in status.
Even more, Nick most likely wouldn't have the resources to work on his powers fully.
Would Kugelblitz have caught the Fog just for him?
No, definitely not.
They also wouldn't have given Nick two personal trainers like Manela or Reynold.
His weapons also wouldn't have been as good.
Sure, Nick's path toward the third level would be without problems since everyone in Kugelblitz reached that level, but then, he would just become a normal employee.
Even more, Nick would have to unveil his ability to the upper level of Kugelblitz, and he wasn't sure if they were willing to put effort into researching his power to give it a good evolution.
They might even decide to turn Nick into a spy.
Sure, Nick's skillset was quite good for a spy, but he didn't want to be one.
Metaphorically speaking, Nick's personality was like light, but his skillset was like darkness.
He wouldn't be happy with being a spy or assassin or whatever.
And now, he wouldn't need to be.
Nick enjoyed working with his colleagues and improving Dark Dream.
Nick couldn't help a small and peaceful smile forming on his face as he looked at the table.
Even though Vernon hadn't known Nick for long, he was experienced enough to tell what Nick was thinking about.
"Wyntor is a good boss," Vernon told Nick.
Nick just nodded.
Wyntor didn't show any reaction.
The next moment, Vernon looked at a small thing he was wearing on his wrist.
"It's a bit early, but I think we can already start going to the meeting room," he said as he slowly stood up.
Wyntor also stood up and put the scattered sheets of paper back into an orderly pile.
Nick nodded and followed Vernon to the door.
"Are you going to represent Kugelblitz today?" Nick asked.
"Yes, I volunteered," Vernon said with a laugh. "I want to see Wyntor in action."
"What's there to see?" Wyntor asked with boredom. "Dark Dream is not truly part of any of this. We don't even give the city any Extractors."
"You two are part of the meeting, and that's all that counts," Vernon said.
Suddenly, Vernon stopped moving and opened a random door.
"We're already going to the meeting room," he spoke into the room.
"I'll join you later!"
Nick heard the soft voice of a young woman coming out of the room.
"Sure," Vernon said before closing the door and continuing walking.
Nick knew that every Zephyx Manufacturer was represented by the Chief Zephyx Extractor and an owner in the meeting, and since Vernon was taking part as the owner, it meant that the voice had most likely belonged to Kugelblitz's Chief Zephyx Extractor.
'She sounded quite young,' Nick thought.
'Vernon also seems quite young, even though he has several adult children.'
'Does the increased longevity of Zephyx really have such a strong effect?'
The more powerful one became, the longer they could live.
However, that effect only became apparent after one became an Expert.
The effects of increased longevity weren't very strong for level three or weaker Extractors.
Nick had heard that an Expert would still be in fighting condition when they were already over a hundred years old, which was crazy!
Most people in the Dregs died in their thirties, and only very few people managed to reach their fifties.
The fact that Vernon looked so young while definitely being above 60 meant that he was, at least, an Expert.
Yet, even the Chief Zephyx Extractor sounded so young.
How long did it take to become a Hero, a level six Zephyx Extractor?
Nick had already needed two years to become a John, and becoming a Veteran would take even longer.
How long would Nick take to become a Veteran?
Five years?
Ten years?
What about becoming an Expert?
20 years?
Specialist?
30 years?
40 years?
A Hero?
The Chief Zephyx Extractor had to be at least 100 years old.
And yet, she sounded so young.
Nick looked at Vernon, who was walking in front of him.
Vernon looked like he was in his late 20s or early 30s.
It was so strange to come to terms with the fact that these old people looked like young people.
After a bit of walking, the three of them entered a meeting room.
It was big!
There was a huge and long table in the middle of the room, and there was probably space for over a hundred people on that table!
Even more, Nick had no idea what the table was made out of.
It seemed much… softer? Nick wasn't sure what word to use.
It was still hard, but it felt a bit soft and warm.
"Nobody's here yet, just as expected," Vernon said as he walked to the end of the table.
Yet, before he reached the end, he grabbed one of the chairs and sat down.
Surprisingly, as the representative of Kugelblitz, he didn't sit at the head of the table.
However, he sat near the corner.
The head of the table could fit over five people, but essentially, Vernon sat beside the head.
"Your places are over there," Vernon said, pointing diagonally toward the other end of the table.
Wyntor wordlessly walked over and grabbed a seat near the end of the table.
Then, he gestured for Nick to take the seat beside him, which was directly adjacent to the bottom of the table.
"Sorry, but it's policy during the yearly meeting," Vernon said with a bit of embarrassment.
"I know," Wyntor said.
Naturally, Nick knew what this meant.
The people were arranged based on the prestige and power of their company.
As the owner, Wyntor sat in front of Nick.
The same thing would be true for Kugelblitz.
Vernon would be sitting in front of the Chief Zephyx Extractor.
As the most powerful Manufacturer, Kugelblitz would take the highest seat, while Dark Dream would take the lowest.
Yet, surprisingly, the head and the bottom of the table were empty.
Who would sit there?
