Chapter 2: Meeting The Employer

Atlas smirked, closing his eyes. " Have fun and relax...Ok, easy!"

The engine of the car roared as he stepped onto the petal. Altas blasted up the AC, as well as the engine at 180kmh, racing towards the highway. He switched on the the radio, which was playing one of his favorite song "Roses". Putting on his sunglasses and rolling down the windshield, he tapped his finger to the rhythm of the song on the door, his other hand on the steering wheel, looking as chic as possible.

Zipping pass the many cars along the road, his attention was caught by the italicised words on a sign straight ahead, saying " Welcome to Daxrim city" standing a few feet above the ground. Several kilometres away was a huge stunning city where breath-taking skyscrapers meeting the sky started to slowly emerge in his sight.

"What a change. What a change." Atlas praised.

He hasn't been abled to have a vacation in China for a pretty lengthy time. Every time he completed a mission in China, he had to rush for another different one in foreign countries.

As he reached closer to the destination with the help of the gps installed in his car, a high and spiked fence stood in his path, blocking the way to the other side, where a dense forest could be seen. Atlas got down the car to stretch, staring at the multiple "No Trespassing" warnings and "Private Property" signs on the fence. He gazed around.

[No one in sight.] Yawning, he somersaulted over the fence with ease.

Landing silently, he paused as weak waves of arua rippled out from his body, only to just vanish instantly. As if sensing something, he chuckled delightfully. "Looks like I've got some company!"

Atlas placed his hand behind his back and slowly sauntered along a clear pathway towards the center of the forest, enjoying the view on the way.

Meanwhile, in the huge vila located nearby the center of the forest. A middle-aged man dressed in an expensive ink black suit, stood by the window, holding up a pair of binoculars, examining Atlas closely.

"So, do you sense anything special about this boy?" The man turned around to another middle-aged man who was a bit older than him, questioning.

"He has skills I have to say. However, I could do that easily too. The only thing I find weird is that I cannot sense his rank. It is either because he is only a normal human with talented skills, or either because his rank is so high that I cannot sense anything."

With his hands crossed over one another, the man wearing a grey robe replied, frowning. "But I doubt that his rank is higher than me, that kid is too young. I have encountered many warriors like me and not many at his age can reach a higher rank than me."

The man in black nodded his head," Guess we'll just have to find out."

As his words ended, Atlas halted.

"That was a great walk."

Standing tall in the middle of an small empty field with lush trees surrounding it, the sunlight stretched out his shadow, carving out the clear outlines of his sculpted features.

"So... Are you all gonna come out to fight or what?"

" Swish—", several figures stepped out from the forest, snickering with misprize.

A tall, buff man wearing a tank top who seemed like their leader raised his hands up, signaling his companions to halt. While doing so, he glanced at Atlas with sympathy.

"Hey kid! You know what? Mr. Kane...no, my boss, has hired me to beat you up for trespassing into a private property. Sorry, I mean..." He froze mid-sentence, staggering to say the next word.

"What was the line again?" Mr buff guy turned back whispering to his companions.

"Sir, it's ..." A voice replied.

"Oh yeah! That's the one." Mr buff guy exclaimed. "You.."

Without any warning, a slipper smacked him right in the face.

"Who did that!?" Mr buff guy widened his eyes, glowering at Atlas, who was missing a slipper. "You!"

"Hey, hey! Calm down. I was just annoyed by your horrible acting." As if trying to emphasise his point, Atlas made a puking expression. "Your lucky I don't have tomatoes to throw at you right now."

"Anyway..." With a lazy smile still hanging from his face, Atlas's glare suddenly grew stern and sharp as a flash escaped from his eyes." Why don't we end this quickly?"

" Hahaha~" Laughter spread among them," You are arrogant, child. Now I'm gonna punch you in your handsome face and show you tha..."

"Bang!" Half ending his sentence, his back hunched like a shrimp before flying straight towards a tree, plunging onto it, dazed. The tree shook in pain, ordering dried leaves to bury the man.

Snickering, Atlas proudly declared. "Thanks for the compliment. But no one punches my handsome face."

"You're a warrior!" The misprize in his eyes vanished and has been replaced with shock and respect.

"You know?" Atlas nodded his head as his interest slowly grew. Jerking his head towards the direction of the mansion, his keen eyes stared deeply into a specific window. "Ahh, there you are, my employer."

Behind that window, the employer suddenly shuddered, staggering backwards as if he had seen a beast.

"What's the matter?" The man wearing the robe appeared beside him, supporting him while asking in concern.

"It's nothing."

He lied.

Sharp arrows piercing through his soul was the right term to describe. He no longer could wipe the shock off his mind.

Stone pathways led to a door, lined by well-trimmed bushes embellished with a variety of elegant flowers. By the left side of the door sits a white-marble fountain with dragons cravings wreathed around it. A huge remote gate could we seen on the right which led to an underground parking lot.

When Atlas was about to knock on the metallic door, someone opened it.

"Hello! You are mr. Atlas, if I'm correct? My master is waiting for you in the living room." A maid around thirty years old greeted as she led him to a living room on the second floor.

Right as the maid slid open the living room door, Atlas saw the man in black sitting comfortably on a leather chair. The man in grey rope stood beside him, his back up straight, like a soldier filled with momentum.

Raising his head, the man in black immediately turned slightly nervous just as his vision locked onto Atlas. For a successful businessman who has rarely felt inferiority, he has never tasted such pressure in a very long time.

An awkward sensation emerged as the room continued to remain in silence.

"Wow! This is so awkward." Atlas broke the silence. "I mean, are you guys pieces of wood or something? And why are you guys looking so arrogant and stuff? Your buddy over there has a pretty impressive rank, but he is only a tier 5 intermediate."

"What?! How did you know?" Kane slammed the table in front of him, his face filled with shock. The man in grey tensed as well, his expression filled with disbelief.

Kane was born in a very powerful warrior family in one of the most advanced cities in China. Although he was raised there, he never actually belonged there.

The reason why powerful, rich organizations or families exist for centuries and do not fall, is because they have strong warriors to ensure they don't get consumed or overthrown by other ambitious people.

They cultivate family members and rope in people with good talents or high ranks in order to strengthen themselves, ensuring that they continue surviving for the next generations.