To Live Again, For the First Time!

On the 8th floor of a skyrise building somewhere in this world... more specifically Polo Country in Hé Continent.

"When is the day going to end already!" If you were to count the number of times he had sighed, that's what you would be doing all day.

"You're one to speak. You're lucky, your clocking off in another hour, we still have four before we're released." The worker seated at the desk to his right gave him a firm pat before going back to his own work.

"What are you even in a rush for? It's not like you have anyone waiting for you at home." Someone from a faraway office table snickered. 

In the end, the man who had been complaining could only release another sigh, knowing that everything the others had said was 100% true. 

He had no one waiting for him at home and he was quite lucky that he was getting half of his day off.

'I guess I'll just have to go through some more of these. It's not like there's ever anything interesting.'

Gran worked at the Mobba as a white-collar worker, scrolling through messages that would serve as crowdsourcing and every once in a while reports from players.

[Wiki- A white-collar worker is a person who performs professional, desk, managerial, or administrative work.]

'I can't believe there are still so many people sending hacking reports. I should ask the manager later if he can propose to the higher-ups that they raise the number of fame points it takes to report...' Gran's index finger of the hand on which his head rested, tapped on the side of his face as he pondered, lost in his own thoughts.

'Well that's probably not going to happen, but isn't it a bit too much for us to be scrutinizing every single one of these clips?'

Even though the cost of the fame points may seem high, it really wasn't considering the sheer number of players, it was simply absurd the amount of work a stapler pusher like him had to do. 

There were a number of people who would report the most mundane of clips and some were even repeated. No matter how fun this game was, at some point, you just kind of want to rip your eyes off you know? (≧▽≦)

His hands moved his mouse almost mechanically, showing how familiar he was with every one of his actions. As if he had repeated them tens of thousands of times.

That was also when he clicked on the feed that popped up on his screen.

At first, there was nothing unusual about the video. Gran strained his eyes, trying his best to concentrate so that he would be able to pick up the details. After all, he didn't want to have to watch this clip multiple times just to come up with the conclusion that there was nothing wrong.

It was a wonder how he still hadn't ruined his eyes seeing as this was all he did all day.

About two seconds into the video, he realized that his actions were unnecessary, because, it was very clear what was wrong with this clip!

'Damn, if this isn't some hacking glitch then I don't know what is.' He thought. 

'Isn't this guy a little too presumptuous? There are clearly recording functions and reporting functions yet he still openly hacks the game... Well, I guess it's a good thing too. At least like this we can send it in and fix the bug.' Gran wouldn't normally be in such a rush to send this up to his superiors, but this time, things were on a much larger scale. 

It wasn't a small glitch that could be left to be fixed at a later date, but something that they wouldn't want to get out. 

For the clips in which it was easy to tell at a glance whether they were reported seriously or as a joke, a refund of the fame points was handed out immediately, as for the remuneration given based on how relevant the report was, that would have to wait for after the whole thing was assessed, but it was usually also given within two working days.

"Damn," Gran unintentionally voiced his thoughts. 

He gave the player who made the report a refund before bringing his supervisor in, to show him the clip.

"Woah, this is insane," Issac expressed, dragging some of his words as Gran nodded violently in agreement. 

If this wasn't enough to attract everyone's attention, then it would be unknown what was.

People started gathering around Gran's workspace and they didn't even have to ask their supervisor Issac to show them what they were watching because he was playing the clip on a replay loop.

"Who is this guy?"

"Damn, even if he's hacking, I think he's my new idol!"

"Too cool. Do we have to ban him?"

"I think this one should go to the higher-ups right?"

"Is the department manager here today?"

"I'll go call him."

Issac picked up his phone and scrolled through his contacts stopping at [Cassie]

"Oi, Cassie, come over here, there's something interesting today."

"You know, if it were anyone else, they would think that you're my superior instead of the other way around." Cassie let out a rueful sigh.

"What would you like me to call you then? Mr. Department Manager, Mr. Superior, or something else?" Issac chuckled. Both Issac and Cassie had met as interns but Cassie was more skilled in more ways than one. He was also more ambitious and hard-working, in the end, he was also promoted faster, but Issac was in no way discontent with this outcome.

He didn't have the ambition to go any further.

'I mean just think about it, the higher your pay, the more work you have to do. The more responsibilities you have to burden yourself with. That's just not for me. I have enough money to be content with my life and not have to worry about going hungry or not having a roof to live under, what more do I need?'

They were still great friends nonetheless, even though they didn't have many similarities when it came to their goals in life.

Their objectives didn't clash either. 

"Just go with Cassie haha... I'll be there in a bit, I'm dropping the call. You know how it is in the elevator." Before Issac could add any more, Cassie had already hung up.

"Oh look the manager is here." Someone informed, at the same time. A tall, caramel-skinned man of lean stature, stepped out of the elevator that had been coming from the upper floors.

He pushed back his dark hair with one hand, the other in his front pocket, looking like an approachable man, an absolute angel if you must.

"Come here! Look, this guy is crazy cool."

It was then that Cassie realized, 'seems like everyone talks to me informally... eh. How did I only notice now?' 

"You're talking about a hacker you know? Can you not sound like he's some kind of idol or something."

Cassie made his way to Gran's workspace where everyone was already gathered.

"It's this guy, he's my new idol, look at him. A chain combo on a tower, even if that's hacking, it's just too cool."

Cassie didn't pay this guy any mind as he earnestly watched the clip, but while everyone else watched the player's maneuvering, his character flipping from one side of the tower to the other, attacking seamlessly. What really caught Cassie's attention was the player's name.

'Hm... this ID seems familiar, but from his tags, he isn't even in the rankings. Maybe it's a side account? Where have I seen it from?'

Cassie pulled out his own phone after watching the short clip two times over. 

In a moment of Eureka, he finally realized it was at their meet. The people in the upper echelons of the company had a gathering in which they had some fun playing the game in teams based on their department after the short conference.

Me (Cassie): [Deputy, have you mention the ID: Doorii before?]

IT Department Deputy Head: [Where did you hear that ID from? Surely I didn't mention it.]

On the other side, Matthew was already somewhat panicky. 'When the hell did I mention that guy, no matter how drunk I could have been, I couldn't have. Right?'

Me (Cassie): [Really, then sorry for interrupting. It must have been from one of the other people from our team back at the meet.]

IT Department Deputy Head: [Wait, tell me what it is you want from him]

Matthew couldn't very well ignore the problem now that it was right in front of his face, staring him down.

Cassie on the other hand found the way his sentence was phrased, very, peculiar.

'Deputy, you should make up your mind. Do you know him or not, because your mouth seems to say two things at the same time?' Of course, Cassie could never actually voice his thoughts, Matthew was still his superior. 

Me (Cassie): [It seems like it's a hacking incident.]

Matthew's whole face relaxed for a split second before becoming serious once again.

IT Department Deputy Head: [I see, can you send me the clip?]

Me (Cassie): [*File*]

Matthew took some time watching the clip and his eyes couldn't help but twitch.

'Do you have to be like this?'

'What if things got out of hand, we would still have to clean up your mess.'

'Why is my life so hard... how am I supposed to explain this?'

'Ah yes, the best plan is no plan at all.'

It was a wonder how he got his position.

IT Department Deputy Head: [Ignore it, it's not hacking. Don't let things get out of hand.]

Cassie was dumbfounded. 

'Deputy, I see that you have chosen your stance but couldn't you come up with something more believable??'

'Not hacking? Do I look like I'm three? Surely not or I wouldn't have been promoted to my position.'

Me (Cassie): [I see, I'll take note. How should I explain this to the others? Around two dozen other people have already seen the clip.]

IT Department Deputy Head: [Don't let it get out of hand... the rest is up to you.]

For a second there Cassie had forgotten his position due to the absurdness of the situation, but he quickly regained his composure.

Me (Cassie): [Leave it to me, Sir.]

***

Mini- theater

Author: How are you going to solve this Cassie?

Cassie: Oh I don't what's better.

Cassie: Coercion? Threatening? Honey trap? 

Cassie: There are just too many options

Author: *Bead of sweat rolls down forehead*

Author: I guess I'll leave that to you then, you seem to have it all figured out.

Cassie: No I still have room for improvement, why don't we sit down and chat for a bit. *smiles brightly* Maybe we can brainstorm toget--

Author: *beep* *beep* *beep* hello who is this? Ah is this the other thing I have to attend to right now? I see. I guess I have to be there ASAP then. 

Author: Ah sorry dear Cassie, I have to get going now *sweating profusely*

Cassie: I see then I won't keep you, we can always make another appointme--

Author has gone offline for good, not to be seen for the foreseeable future...