Unlike other days, the Bar Common tables at Heaven Gate Hotel were bustling with people today, while the VVIP rooms remained dead silent.
Just then, a man who appeared to be a young guy wearing a black mask walked straight through the crowd toward the VVIP section. A waiter, who seemed to recognize his posture, quickly followed behind him.
"Boss—"
Hearing the call just before opening the VVIP room door, the man flinched slightly before replying with a calm demeanor. He then mentioned that he would be staying in this room, ordered his usual bartender, and warned the waiter that no one should enter unless called.
Once the waiter left, without turning on the room lights at all, he switched on his phone's flashlight. He cautiously stepped toward a motionless figure sitting on a chair with its head slumped down in the pitch-dark room.
"Leaving just like this would be boring, wouldn't it? Go on ahead... I'll send two companions to join you very soon."
Gloved hands gently stroked the face of the corpse as he spoke. Glancing around, he picked up an object he found on the table and slid it into his pocket.
"Oh... is this an item needed for the next game?"
Noticing a game helmet that closely resembled a motorcycle helmet, he grabbed it, mumbled to himself, placed it over his head, and switched off his phone light.
"Let's teach him a little lesson... He's always treating you with disrespect, isn't he? What an arrogant fool..."
As he finished speaking, a cold smile settled on his lips, and he sat down on the sofa. Grabbing a glass of liquor from the table in front of him, he took a sip and began counting down the time—awaiting the arrival of an expected visitor.
"Five... Four... Three... Two..."
"DAVID LEE...!! What the hell are you doing?!"
Right on cue with his countdown, the expected guest barged in with furious words. The man responded with nothing more than a slight curl of his lips. Due to his own rage and the darkened room, the guest couldn't see him clearly and continued shouting what he had come to say.
"How many times do I have to tell you that I don't agree?! The moment you open that server, prepare yourself to die!"
"Rowan... Given my situation... I have to open this server. I can't afford any more losses..."
That was the only line offered in response. The voice was altered through the game helmet, yet his hot-tempered guest didn't seem to notice.
"Then go die!"
Having vented his anger, the furious guest stormed out of the room, brushing past the bartender who had just been summoned. Seeing this unfold, the masked man smiled once more.
A perfectly timed set of circumstances creates the perfect crime...
Holding a ice pick tightly, he thought to himself—and plunged it straight into the corpse's abdomen.
~*~
"AHHH!"
Htoo Lwin Sann sat up abruptly, dripping with cold sweat from the nightmare.
What a terrible dream... The surroundings were still pitch black, prompting him to let out a series of heavy sighs.
However, noticing the dim glow of an LED light, he scanned the room. He was a hundred percent certain this wasn't his own bedroom. He assumed it must be one of his juniors' places. All he could recall from yesterday was drinking with the team from his new transfer posting.
