Face-to-face conversation

At that moment, he had a group of students lined up around him, taking turns asking him questions about sword techniques, movement techniques, or even the basics of cultivation. And the most interesting thing was that Manager Joe answered all of these questions with kindness and politeness.

As he began to answer another question, Manager Joe noticed Mac approaching him. Manager Joe addressed the students in front of him. "I'll be happy to answer all your questions, but later. Because right now there are some important organisational issues regarding the Sect's Library. So, excuse me," Manager Joe said politely and with a professional smile.

The disciples were in no hurry to leave Manager Joe. They thought that he just wanted them to get behind him, but when they turned their heads to look at Manager Joe, they saw a young man dressed in a Sect disciple's uniform walking straight towards them. This confirmed their judgement.

When Mac approached Manager Joe, the manager bowed and asked loudly, "Can I help you?"

All the students near the librarian's desk were very surprised. Mac was surprised too.

They looked at each other and realised what was happening, so they immediately left the librarian's desk.

"What's going on?" asked Mac, confused. Manager Joe laughed a little and replied kindly, but this time he leaned over to Mac and said it so that no one but Mac could hear him, "Student Mac, how can I help you?" Mac squinted his eyes and looked carefully at the cunning fox in front of him and immediately understood, but he did not talk about it, he started to talk about the matter at hand.

But before he started, he looked around to see if anyone was around. When he was sure, he spoke. "Did Lefty come to the Sect's library today?", the serious tone of his voice told of the importance of Mac's question.

"Yes," Manager Joe replied succinctly. "What did he ask?" Manager Joe moved even closer to Mac and said, "He was interested in the works of the ancient god of wisdom and knowledge," his voice was quiet but Mac heard him well.

"The ancient god of knowledge?", Mac asked again. "Yes. That's the one... Thoth," Manager Joe cautiously confirmed.

Although the duties of the manager of the 1st floor of the Sect's library were not very different from those of an ordinary librarian, Manager Joe was special.

Although he was not yet 30 years old, his many years of quality work in the Sect Library, his good relations with the Sect Elders, and his services to the Sect made him a man of great ability, who, with his strength and connections, could be equated with a Sect Elder, albeit informally. Most importantly, he had inside information about the library. This allowed him to be one of those adherents who would soon join the circle of the Sect's Elders. And the Left Vice-Chairman knew this, which is why he was outraged when Manager Joe refused him.

"Did he ask about his 'Recent Work'?", Mac thought for a moment and asked again. Manager Joe didn't say anything, but looking directly into Mac's eyes, he slowly blinked both eyes. Mac understood. It meant "Yes".

Mac furrowed his brow and continued. "Is this about the new ancient book that has just begun to be translated today?"

His voice was like the rustling of a small leaf, but even so, Manager Joe heard him. Manager Joe blinked slowly again. Mac looked him in the eye and asked, "And how is the translation going?" The tired breathing of the Sect's disciples, the light whispering of the staff members who were advising the disciples, and of course the rustle of the pages being turned. None of this mattered at the moment compared to Mac's question, and so it did not distract from the conversation.

Manager Joe looked around and noticed several students gathered around him, their eyes pleading for help. Manager Joe knew that look well. He called out to one of the free disciples to help them.

After making sure no one was looking at him, he said. "Mac, you know how Elder Thoth works. You've spent the most time with him out of all the adepts," to which Mac nodded and continued to listen attentively.

"I mean, you know how he likes to invite adepts over and translate ancient texts with them," Manager Joe said slowly and without rushing. "And?", he was running out of patience, but Mac kept going.

"Today he started translating. But as soon as he started, he didn't invite any of the followers. He didn't even have lunch today. He went into his office in the morning and hasn't come out since," Manager Joe said in a serious tone. Mac thought for a moment and said. "So you're saying it's something special?", he sounded suspicious.

"You know it is. Where do these books come from? Who gives them to us? Where do they go after translation? No one tells us the answers to these and other questions. Maybe your grandfather knows, but I doubt he'll tell you. You know very well that only the Head of the Sect and the Supreme Elders have such information. But I'll tell you what," Manager Joe said confidently and continued.

"Until the book is translated, it will be in the hands of Elder Toth, so if you are really interested, you can go and ask Elder Toth personally. I think he will not refuse you!"

"I understand, Manager Joe," Mac said in a serious tone. "Did the lefty ask you anything else?" added Mac. "No," said Manager Joe, calmly. Mac was about to leave, but stopped and continued. "You do realise that what we have just discussed must not reach the ears of strangers, don't you?" asked Mac coldly, his hard, direct gaze piercing through Manager Joe's body.

"I understand perfectly well," replied Manager Joe kindly, bowing his head slightly. And he continued loudly, "If you have any questions, you can ask the adept standing next to you."

Mac didn't understand what Manager Joe meant, but when he looked in the direction of his gaze, he saw a group of disciples with hopeful eyes looking for answers. Mac looked at them in confusion and asked Manager Joe.

"Manager Joe?"

"Yes?"

"Why are there so many people in the library today? When I went to the library, I waited in line for a long time, and then I could barely get through the front door of the library," Mac said, unhappy.

"Don't you know?", Manager Joe looked surprised.

"I don't know what?", Mac's face was confused.

"The competition!"

"What competition?" Joe's manager turned his head to the side, raised his eyebrows and looked at Mac closely, letting him find the answer for himself.

Mac thought for a second and then exclaimed, "Oh! That's right. The Three Swords Competition!" Manager Joe just smiled a little.

"Isn't it in three months?", Mac continued to ask.

"Yes," replied Manager Joe emotionlessly.

"Then what are they all doing here?"

"They are preparing for the competition."

"Did they all come here to learn sword techniques?" added Mac, curious.

Manager Joe sighed sadly. "If only they were choosing sword techniques or movement techniques" Surprise reappeared on Mac's face, "Then what are they choosing?"

"You know that the Sect Library gives out cultivation techniques to all disciples for free when they join the Sect. And when a disciple reaches the 4th stage of the Energy Core Formation level, they are given the opportunity to borrow books on sword and movement techniques from the Sect Library. Ordinary students at stages 4-6 can take only two books of techniques, at stages 7-8 four books, and books of golden difficulty can be obtained only by completing the tasks of the Sect. But of course, this does not apply to the main disciples of the Sect. After all, they have personal teachers who are the Elders of the Sect. And according to the Sect's Rules, the Elders have the right to take an unlimited number of books of techniques of the Energy Core Formation level. So, in theory, Elder disciples can learn all the Energy Core Formation level technique books from the Sect Library," Manager Joe explained in detail. "And?", boredom washed over Mac, who already knew all this.

"My point is that most of them are ordinary disciples in stages 4-6 and have already used up their two attempts, and to get new books they have to complete tasks, and there are not enough tasks and people willing to do them," Manager Joe said quickly.

"I understand that. But if they can't get a book, what are they doing here?", Mac repeated the question.

"That's the thing, they don't just come in and pick out books on sword techniques. They ask the librarians and adepts for all sorts of information in the hope that it will somehow help them in the competition," Manager Joe said in frustration and continued.

"You saw it yourself when you came over. Didn't you hear what they were asking me?" asked Manager Joe tiredly.

"I think I heard questions about cultivation techniques and sword techniques... is that all?", Mac wondered aloud.

"Not just cultivation techniques. They were asking me things that they usually ask in the House of Education. It's like they had an after-school special here," Manager Joe's voice was displeased.

"Hahaha!", Mac appreciated Manager Joe's joke.

"You find that funny? Do you have any idea how many times I've been asked today why they can't get to the 2nd floor of the library?", Manager Joe asked irritably.

"How many times?", Mac asked with a smile.

"Ten! Ten times! And each one of them asked if there was any way to get around this rule and get to the 2nd floor! A few of them even offered a bribe, but I quickly sent them out!", replied Manager Joe angrily.

"Hehe! What a fun job you have!", Mac laughed openly.

Manager Joe looked at him with contempt and asked. "Are you having fun? Do you like it? Let's switch jobs! I'll be walking around the library like this, and you'll be answering their countless questions here at the desk instead! How about it?"

Mac immediately took a few steps back and waving his arms and head quickly said, "No! No! No! You'd better enjoy it yourself. I have to go," Mac quickly replied.

He was about to turn around and leave, but finally said, "And good luck! And hang in there!" Joe's manager sighed sadly and smiled tiredly, but said nothing. Mac turned and walked towards the dilapidated door to the back garden of the Cult Library.

While Mac talked to Manager Joe, Trevor tried his best to focus on the new movement technique.

Try as he might, he could not ignore the evil glances of the Cult's followers, and so Trevor read the book, but could not read beyond the title on the book's wrapper. Time passed and the people in the library garden changed with it.

The adepts who had witnessed how the Magician and Trevor came here had already left to perform their work duties, and new adepts came to replace them. Like the previous ones, they were clearly not happy to see Trevor sitting in the garden, but they did not know with whom he had come, so as soon as they entered the library garden they went to the worried disciple.

"What are you doing here?" said one of the followers menacingly.

"Don't you know it's forbidden for a student to be here?" the other one said calmly.

Trevor just clutched the book nervously. The saliva in his mouth instantly disappeared as soon as the adherents approached him. His heartbeat accelerated and his breathing became intermittent. He lowered his head and could only see the silhouette of the adepts standing next to him out of the corner of his eye.

At that moment, the old door opened with a creaking sound, allowing another person to leave the library building. He walked calmly towards the adepts, and with them, towards Trevor. The adept's face quickly changed as he recognised the man as Mac. He grimaced as if he had eaten something sour. Mac approached one of them without any shame.

Mac bowed and said, "May I help these adepts?"

The adept smiled and said, "How can an ordinary Sect disciple help me, a Sect Adept and one of the future Floor Managers of the Sect Library?" his arrogance was beyond belief, but the other adepts supported him.

At this time, the same crooked adept began to pull several of the adepts standing next to him in the opposite direction from Mac, but no matter how hard he tried, they would not listen to him and continued to look down on the disciples.

Mac continued, "The little disciple did not know who he was talking to. Forgive the little disciple! How can the little disciple make it up to you?" His voice was full of humility and complete obedience to the disciples.

The adepts smiled and the one to whom Mac bowed said, "Well, we will find out what you can do for us in the process of your re-education. But first, what is your name?", the smile did not leave the adept's face and it could be seen that he was not an adept of the Sect, but an Elder of the Sect.

Mac smiled slyly. "My name is Mac Boros. A pleasant voice, a kindly tone, combined with a small smile on Mac's face could have fascinated any member of the Sect, but these words made the adherents who had been humiliating Mac a second ago twist their faces into strange grimaces and, with fear in their eyes, began to retreat before it was too late. But it was already too late.

Mac repeated, "Can I help these adepts?" An evil smile appeared on his face.

The adept swallowed down a lump of anger and said politely, "This adept does not need anything from you." And without waiting for Mac's reply, he began to walk away, and the other adepts did the same.

Trevor was still afraid to raise his head. And Mac was only smiling slyly at the retreating group of followers.

The smile disappeared from Mac's face, revealing a cold gaze that fell on Trevor, and Mac asked in a serious tone, "What happened here?" Trevor cautiously lifted his head and looked around.

He breathed a sigh of relief and told me how the followers had been staring at him all the time, how they had left and others had come to replace them and started to harass him, and then Mac came in.

Mac smiled cheerfully and asked, "Trevor, don't you like to be looked at?"

Trevor's confused eyes stopped for a moment and he said, "What does that have to do with anything? What does being noticed by others have to do with being predatory?"

Mac just laughed.

The adherents had already left the back garden of the library, and now there was no one in the garden but the two students.

"Hey Trevor?", Mac said when he finished laughing.

"Don't you know that only Winners or Losers get excessive attention?", the smile did not disappear from his face.

Not understanding the expression, Trevor asked, "And in what way are we Winners?"

"So you think we are Losers?", Mac looked at Trevor sceptically.

"No!", Trevor instantly replied.

"I think we are not Losers! And if we're not losers, then that means you and I are winners! And if we are Winners, we should behave like it. Do you understand?" Mac said confidently.

Trevor shrugged his shoulders and thought, "What a strange logic Mac has."

Smiling, Mac sat down on the bench next to Trevor and together they delved into the world of new information, but each read his own book. Hours passed and evening came.

The sun was setting and the bright moon was just beginning its walk across the night sky.