Byrne felt a wave of relief wash over him as he read the blood-red text in his palm. Fortunately, the interval before the next activation was long enough that it wouldn't interfere with the morning's project promotion meeting.
Hearing Byrne's explanation, Manager Jones didn't give it much thought. "It's good that you're alright. Let me tell you, Director Sarah is attending this meeting in person. I heard she's extremely detail-oriented. When you report later, you must explain the highlights of the proposal thoroughly. And that cost budget—it has to be precise. Don't let any errors slip through."
"Jones , set your heart at ease. I've gone over that proposal at least three times and checked the budget several times. There won't be any mistakes."
Seeing how certain Byrne sounded, the worry on Jones' face faded slightly. He then followed up with a few more instructions regarding the project, emphasizing its importance to the company and urging Byrne to stay sharp.
On the surface, Byrne pretended to listen intently, but internally, he was analyzing the details of the Blood-Red Rule. Although this "Darkness" hadn't lasted long, he had gathered several critical pieces of information.
First, the moment "Vision Darkness" descends, it forcibly pulls a person into an unknown dark space; it isn't a simple loss of sight. Judging by Manager Jones' reaction, this displacement wasn't physical, but rather a state similar to a mental projection.
Second, time flows differently in the dark space compared to reality. Although he wasn't sure exactly how long he had been there due to the deprivation of sight, he was certain it wasn't just one minute.
Third, counter-measures exist within that dark space. Byrne had to admit there was an element of gambling when he chose to hide in the crack. However, the result wasn't bad—he had not only escaped the Night Demon's attack but also discovered that piece of shiny rock. This indicated that fleeing wasn't the only option when facing a crisis in that space.
He had returned to reality at 8:48 AM. According to the hint in his palm, the next Darkness would begin at 5:48 PM. That was exactly when he'd be on his way home from work. Being forcibly dragged into that space while in transit would be far more dangerous than being in the office.
Maybe I should take half a day off, just to be safe.
Knock, knock, knock!
Manager Jones tapped on the desk, sounding slightly annoyed. "Hey, Brother Byrne, are you spacing out again?"
Byrne snapped back to reality, meeting Manager Jones' displeased gaze. He quickly gathered his thoughts and gave a sheepish smile. "Sorry, Jones . I was a bit distracted. Please, go on."
Jones sighed helplessly. "I've said everything I needed to say. Go back and prepare. Just don't drop the ball when the time comes." He waved his hand dismissively.
"Got it, I'll go prepare right now." Byrne took the opportunity to stand up and head for the door. Just as he reached the exit, he paused and turned back to Jones . "Old man Jones , there's something I want to discuss with you."
"What is it?" Jones looked up, already flipping through a file.
Byrne organized his words, trying to sound as natural as possible. "Well, it's like this. I have some private business to attend to. I'd like to take the afternoon off."
Jones frowned and studied Byrne. The project meeting would end by noon, and there wasn't anything Byrne strictly needed to oversee in the afternoon. After a moment's thought, he nodded. "Fine, I'll grant you the half-day off. But you have to guarantee that the morning meeting goes off without a hitch."
"Rest assured, there won't be any problems."
In the blink of an eye, it was 10:30 AM. Byrne had arrived at the company conference room ten minutes early. He had tested the PPT, run through his presentation once more, and ensured every detail was perfect. After the setup, he sat with several other colleagues, waiting.
Soon, the conference room doors pushed open. Jones walked in, accompanying a woman with a powerful presence. She was the client for this project, Sarah. She was tall and strikingly beautiful, dressed in a light-colored professional suit with her brown hair pinned up high. Wearing red high heels, she looked both elegant and efficient. Two assistants in business suits followed behind her.
Her entrance immediately drew the attention of everyone in the room.
"Director Sarah, please have a seat." Jones led her to the head of the table with a smile, then shot a glance at Byrne, signaling him to begin.
Once Sarah was seated, Byrne stood up immediately. "Hello, Director Sarah. I am David Byrne, the head of the design proposal for this project."
Director Sarah nodded slightly, her calm gaze sweeping across the room before resting on him. "Hmm. No need for excessive pleasantries. My time is limited; let's get straight to the point."
"Of course, Director Sarah." Byrne nodded, walked to the projection screen, and opened the PPT. As the clear design blueprints unfolded on the screen, he suppressed all distractions and began his report.
"For the interior decoration design of the Grand Hotel's commercial complex, our team integrated the project's positioning and target audience. Our core design philosophy is..."
He deliberately avoided long-winded introductions and cut straight to the core highlights. From the design concept to practical feasibility and risk management, he explained every segment with clarity.
Throughout the presentation, Byrne kept a close watch on Sarah's reaction. She maintained a neutral expression, showing neither obvious satisfaction nor doubt. She occasionally jotted notes in a notebook, radiating an aura of professional detachment.
Fifteen minutes later, Byrne finished his report. He closed the PPT and looked at her. "Director Sarah, that concludes the design proposal. What are your thoughts?"
All eyes turned toward Sarah. Jones was so nervous his palms were sweating. This hotel project was vital; securing it would not only bring significant profit but also greatly boost the company's reputation.
After a moment, Sarah spoke. "Overall, I am satisfied with the proposal. The design concept aligns with the project's positioning, the details are well-considered, and the cost accounting is clear and reasonable."
Hearing this, Jones let out a long-held breath, a joyful smile spreading across his face. The other colleagues also looked relieved. However, in the next second, her tone shifted.
"However, two small areas need adjustment. First, I'd like the artistic structure in the center of the lobby to be modified to feel more modern, rather than just a simple accumulation of natural elements. Second, the soft furnishings for the guest rooms could use a softer color palette to enhance the comfort of the stay."
She looked at Byrne. "Mr. Byrne, can your team provide a revised plan for these two adjustments within three days?"
Byrne nodded immediately. "No problem, Director Sarah. We will complete the revisions according to your requirements as quickly as possible and ensure the new proposal is submitted for your review within three days."
"Good." Sarah stood up and straightened her suit. "Since the plan is basically settled, my assistant will handle the follow-up coordination with Manager Jones. I have other appointments, so I'll take my leave now."
"Of course, Director Sarah. Have a safe trip." Manager Jones hurried to his feet and personally escorted her and her team out of the conference room.