Talia opened her mouth multiple times, but she couldn't offer any explanation that wouldn't have made things worse for her.
"What is your name?" Leo asked.
"Talia," Talia answered, albeit with some hesitation.
"Forget about me. It seems that you didn't have any intentions of intervening when someone else was being bullied here. If I'm not wrong, this wasn't the first time either. So are you sure you deserve to be their superior?"
"I wanted-"
"Enough." Leo raised his hand, gesturing for her to stop speaking. "I neither have the patience to hear your explanation, nor any interest in it. I've seen all I wanted to see."
Talia lowered her head, and clenched the hemp of her skirt tightly. She couldn't even speak out of place since on one side was an Upper Floor Lord, and on the other side was a Top Ranking Hero.
"What is your name?" Leo shifted his attention to Estefan, who also answered right away. This time, he couldn't stop his tears anymore, sobbing like a child while apologizing.
He had offended two high ranking people in a single day? Just how bad was his luck today?
"Estefan, and Talia. I'll remember..." Leo smiled, as a thought crossed his mind.
"And you," he turned to Picollo, who was still on the floor.
Picollo had thought about saving Leo multiple times since he was caught in this mess for speaking up for him. But his legs just refused to move for help.
Fortunately, there was no need for his help in the end. The entire thing felt like a dream to him.
"I originally came here for you, but because of some people, things were derailed. So I will ask you another question... Will you work for me?"
"Work for you?" Picollo asked in disbelief. He was going to work for an Upper Lord? Wouldn't his position rise significantly in that case?
"I will! I absolutely will!" Picollo exclaimed in excitement without even hearing the details properly.
"Good. Then hand in your resignation to the Hero Guild and come to the 969th floor to find me. I will wait for you..." Leo turned around, walked away without any other explanation. It wasn't his fault that Picollo didn't ask for details after all.
'He can't blame me for scamming him later. He selected this offer after all. In any case, it's not like it's bad for him. He will have infinite money to waste in the future after all.'
Leo left the lab, followed by Lancer.
"Can I ask why you're following me?"
Leo ignored Lancer for a few seconds, thinking that maybe they were going in the same direction. But when Lancer entered the same lift without pressing any other floor buttons, it became clear that he was following him.
"I've been assigned as your Guard for the time being." Lancer answered with a straight face. "Amusing, isn't it?"
"Cough, what?" Leo almost choked on his own saliva, and started coughing.
Kayla told him that he would be assigned a S-Rank Hero. That in itself was incredible, but even amongst the heroes, they had selected the strongest outside the top ten?
'Did I sell them orange juice or some hypnosis medicine?'
"Are you sure there aren't any mistakes?"
"There is no mistake. Originally, someone else was assigned to you. But eventually, I was given this position after someone else intervened and forced me to take this place."
"Kayla?" Leo asked, guessing a name.
Lancer looked at Leo, bursting into laughter. "That little girl? You truly have a way with your jokes. But no, it wasn't her. Or rather, I don't think she can even influence decisions of this level in the first place."
"Was it Blaze?" The only other person that Leo had met, who could hold such sway was Blaze. He didn't think of anyone else.
"That's right. That bastard didn't even listen to any excuses. But it's fine. You seem to be more impressive than I heard. It might not be half bad. But I really apologise for spoiling your plan."
'Again with this plan? Just what exactly did he think my plan was?' Leo was really curious now.
"What do you think of that plan?" he asked, albeit without denying that he indeed had a plan.
"Honestly, it was impressive. It definitely would have made your name known across the Tower."
"Although it might have been considered a little too extreme by the guild, what could they even do? You're just that important to them, so they could turn their heads away."
'Just what is he thinking? What grand plan could it be that even I can't guess?' Leo crossed his arm, losing himself in thoughts
He really wanted to ask directly, but he could only swallow his curiosity for now.
'Whatever he's thinking, let him be. It's not as if I would really need protection anymore since I won't be leaving my floor anytime soon. This time already taught me how dangerous the other floors can be.'
Although he didn't know what Lancer was imagining, he did understand one thing. The Guild really did consider him important. With that, he was able to get more things done than he initially thought.
The lift doors opened and Leo stepped out of the Guild. He brought out a glass slab from his other pocket, and contacted Kayla.
....
Kayla heard Leo's words and her expressions grew strange. "Talia and Estefan? Are you sure? Talia might be fine despite her position, but Estefan...?"
"Can you get it done or not?"
"Give me some time. I'll have to discuss it with the higher ups since we are talking about the son of a floor lord."
Kayla disconnected the call, and immediately started contacting the higher ups.
Meanwhile, Leo reached his bedroom entrance.
"Do you have something to say?" he asked Lancer, who was observing him throughout the call.
"Nothing at all." Lancer smiled, watching Leo return to his room. "I'll be selecting a room for myself. You can contact me if you need to go elsewhere, or if there is anything fun."
"Sure." Leo closed the door, having no intention of meeting Lancer again. If anything, he wanted to pretend as if Lancer didn't exist here at all.
There were many things that he had to keep hidden even from Lancer after all. He couldn't get close to Lancer, letting him in important rooms.
Lancer watching the metallic door close. A strange light shone in his eyes as he brought out a small crystal from his pocket.
"The white crystal turned completely black in his presence. Just what kind of monster has Blaze invited? If I hadn't arrived on time, he definitely would've caused a massacre there..."
Clenching the crystal tightly, Lancer walked inside the room right next to Leo's room. "I definitely need to keep an eye on him."
....
On the other floor, a scientist was still researching Leo's elixirs in secret, even going farther than the others had done.
"I did it! I was right! There is nothing special in this composition! With that, I will be able to expose that fraud!"