"Ah, well if it isn't the esteemed Mr. Spearen, once again." The familiar silky smooth voice comes from the other end of the cell phone.

"Mr. Long." Sayan coldly acknowledges.

"I'd love to chat some more, however, time is not unlimited. To put it crudely, what is it this time?"

"What do you know about Ella Rose?"

"...ah, the delightful Ms. Rose is it?"

"You're the one who introduced me to her. Who the hell is she and what does she want with my brother?"

"...ah, once again about the younger Mr. Spearen is it?"

"Answer my question."

"Well, well, well...a lady's matters are not something a simple daoist like I could divulge-"

"Cut the crap. Where has she taken my brother? She practically kidnapped him from the company!"

"..." There's a moment of silence. Then, Mr. Long's voice sounds again, and for the first time, the almost completely emotionless voice has a slight tinge of irritation. 

"Mr. Spearen, if you're so concerned about your brother not going where you want, why don't you go to him."

"...What?"

"Think on it. Now I, this esteemed monk, have some matters to attend to." Click. The line is cut off. However, Sayan seemingly doesn't notice, his head down, gaze shadowed. Why don't you go to him...The words spin in his mind again and again. Several moments later, he picks up the cellphone and makes another call.

"Hello, Ella?"

"What is it Sayan?" Ella Rose's voice is as sweet as ever, yet there's a palpable tinge of irritation in her words.

"I'd like to give you an offer."

"Oh?"

"As an investor."

"In what exactly? Our previous project is already going-"

"In whatever you've gotten my brother doing. I can give you any amount, a blank cheque even. All I ask is that you involve me in whatever you're having Arek do."

"I am not short of money Sayan-"

"I know. But I have connections. I know you do as well, but you know how valuable some of my contacts are: the Spearen family is an old one." He continues before Ella can speak. "You know I can help you, you know I can. Besides, I can't lose Arek, not again."

There's a moment of silence on the other end. Then, "fine."

Meanwhile, in another location, Arek is being besieged by sharks in large frilly tutus carrying machine guns.

"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?" He roars, dodging and leaping, his eight tentacles furiously working on tossing sharks to and fro.

"Well, it's the simulation I came up with for you!" Maya's voice chirps from all corners of the room."

"Why sharks?!"

"Because according to my sources, they're the octopus's worst predator-"

"But that's in the sea! I'm on land. Not to mention I'm not an octopus!!!"

"Well, octoman counts~" Maya says.

"I'm not an octoman! Jeez, but most of all, why the heck are they in tutus!"

"I thought it'd be fun." She says, pouting. Arek doesn't respond, too busy bashing shark heads in. Seeing this, Maya sighs. "Ah men, all they care about is violence...that's why I have my Jang Jiang!"

Meanwhile, in another location, Xue Jiang discusses the specifics of a mission with Orfo.

"Should we cut off their limbs or directly explode them?"

"Ahaha, maybe we should do something a little less..." Orfo says.

"Fine,  beat them up it is."

"Ahaha, sure..."

Back to Arek, after several hours of beating up sharks, monkeys ("You should go out of your comfort zone!" -Maya), octopuses, and all manner of creatures, Maya releases Arek back out of the simulation space. As he blinks and slowly regains his bearings, Arek notices that the whole gang is there: Ella, Orfo, and Xue Jiang.

"So? What are his results?" Ella asks.

"Excellent! His physical stats are off the charts! And intelligence and strategizing too!" Maya's chipper voice rings through the room. "If there is one area he loses a point in, it'd have to be patience. He's rather rash had rushes into things."

"Because I know I can handle it." Arek interjects.

"Well, what about that time with the other octopus-"

"Shut up."

"What happened?" Orfo asks curiosity glimmering in his gaze.

"He ran into another octopus, then he tried to brute force his way through, and their tentacles-"

"Shut up!" Arek gowls.

"I'm very interested in this story," Orfo replies. Xue Jiang, silent as ever, looks equally as interested.

"Here, here, here, I have a video!" Maya squeals.

"No!" Arek says, however his complaint is ignored. The whole gang crowds around to watch the video of Arek getting entangled with another octopus.

Ella watches it all with a smile. "My, how lively. Well then. I suppose since everyone's having so much fun, I'll tell them about our new investor later."

Late afternoon Arek returns to the company however, to Arek's surprise, Sayan doesn't say much. During the car ride back, Sayan speaks.

"So, what were you doing today."

"Nothing much." Arek shrugs.

"Mn." Sayan responds. The car ride lapses into silence, each brother with his own thoughts occupying his mind. Sayan is preoccupied with his new investment and Arek is thinking about the day's events. As much as I hate to admit it, I honestly feel much more refreshed after battling it out in that simulation. Since I was summoned back here, I haven't gotten to fight like that. Arek sighs, his mind going back to Orfo's offer.

"We'd love for you to join our team."

"...Team?"

"Yup, it's us four and another person right now." Arek didn't respond and Orfo, seeing his hesitation, immediately followed up with, "take your time; there's no hurry to decide now."

There really isn't much else I'm good at besides bashing heads...unless scheming counts. But my brother...Arek sighs and turns to look at Sayan, with his habitually expressionless face. He won't like it will he? And, if I'm just going back to doing this, what did I even come back to this world for?