"...Yeah, I guess so." Donovan forced a smile.
"Oh, it'll be very fun, indeed," added Dean. He finished his bubble tea.
He continued, "That is, if something goes wrong."
"Well, I hope nothing goes wrong." Sasha sipped on her bubble tea.
Yeah, I hope nothing goes wrong too… Donovan sipped on his own bubble tea which Vincent had ordered for him.
Donovan decided to make small talk, "What are your class-types?"
"Oh, I'm a Healer!" Sasha answered.
Vincent offered a smile and said, "I'm a Ranger-type."
"Fighter," Clara went third.
Then, they all looked at the man with blonde hair and red eyes, Dean, waiting for him to go next.
Dean groaned. "Assassin."
Sasha giggled, and decided to ask a question, "What Rank and Category are you, Mr. Dean?"
He scratched his head, and said exasperatedly, "So many questions! I'm not telling you people my Rank and Category number!"
She's just trying to be friendly, dude… Donovan sighed inwardly. He decided to continue the conversation, "I'm Category 4, Shower Rank."
"I see… Well, I'm Category 1, Shower Rank! Hehe…" Sasha chuckled awkwardly, embarrassed of her low Category number.
Vincent sipped on his bubble tea. "I'm also the same as Donovan. Shower Rank, Category 4."
They looked at Clara, waiting for her turn.
"Storm Rank, Category 1," she said with a straight face, her tone of voice indifferent.
"Wow!" Sasha gasped genuinely, clapping her hands.
Vincent hummed. "That's… unexpected."
Donovan nodded. Sipping his bubble tea, he got lost in his thoughts. That was unexpected, indeed… I had a feeling she might be the strongest one here, not Dean… I think I might be right.
That reminds me, I wonder what Miss Sylvia's Rank and Category number are… Wait, why am I thinking about her?
He quickened his sipping of his bubble tea, then checked his watch.
A few more minutes left…
And with that, the inside of the restaurant was filled with the chatter, laughter, and giggles of the ten Visitors.
Donovan tried hard to continue the conversations with his non-existent socializing skills, and Dean was mostly quiet unless asked a question.
They talked about their past missions, encounters, and achievements that earned them ridiculous amounts of Canopy.
As for the other table, Donovan had a feeling that the five Visitors sitting there were one big friend group. He couldn't make out what they were talking about.
And so, thirty minutes have passed in the blink of an eye.
Tiero entered the restaurant, and cleared his throat loudly.
The ten Visitors all stood up, facing the intimidating man before them.
"Everyone, this is the messenger that all ten of you will be protecting and escorting. His name is Johnny White. Protect him at all costs, and make sure he fulfills his duty as a messenger of Umbrellas."
Upon hearing Tiero's words, they all nodded and said, "Yes, sir!"
Tiero stepped to the side, letting the ten Visitors meet the messenger, Johnny White.
He was wearing a black coat, a trapper hat, a pair of black gloves, and a gray scarf. His most obvious feature was his thick eyebrows. He also had a gray, stubble beard.
Overall, he looked like he was preparing for winter.
Upon seeing the messenger, confusion hit the ten Visitors all at once.
As for Donovan and Clara, they had a faint feeling that they were going on a cold planet full of snow.
A Visitor raised a hand, and asked, "Mr. Tiero, are we going on a planet full of snow?"
Tiero nodded. "That's right. I'm sorry, I forgot to tell you all. I'll give you people a bit more time in dressing up in something heavier."
Donovan sighed. I seem to recall that there are clothes for the winter in my wardrobe…
Tiero continued, "Thirty minutes. Go home, get changed, and return here."
With that, the ten Visitors headed for the exit of the restaurant.
As they exited, some of the Visitors flew away using their umbrellas, some walked, and some of the women walked together, chatting and laughing.
As for Donovan, he activated his Flight spell and flew away.
A while later, he was facing his tall mirror inside his apartment.
He was wearing a thick, black coat and a pair of black gloves. He was also wearing a pair of boots, a white beanie, and a white scarf.
Why'd it have to be a snow planet…?
Donovan sighed, and exited his apartment.
He arrived back at the restaurant a little after nine minutes.
Unfortunately, only Dean was there.
Huh, guess everyone's still busy…
Donovan took a seat at a table far away from the table Dean was sitting. He didn't want to deal with someone like him right now.
Taking out his phone, Donovan started scrolling.
Not even a minute has passed when Dean suddenly said, "Hey. Donovan, right?"
Donovan tensed up, and answered truthfully, "Yes."
Before Donovan could even raise his head to look at Dean, he suddenly saw him taking a seat from across him at the table.
"Mr. Tiero's been talking about you, saying you're the 'ideal' Visitor," he said, sipping on his second bubble tea. "Is he telling the truth?"
Dude, how am I supposed to answer that? And Mr. Tiero's saying that about me…? Huh. "I… don't think I can answer that." Donovan put down his phone.
Dean continued sipping on his bubble tea. Then, with a brief laugh, he said, "Dean Aldridge."
Oh, great. Now he's telling me his last name, which he refused to tell anyone earlier…
"...Donovan Volgard."
"I know, you already introduced yourself earlier, dumbass."
"..."
Dean cleared his throat. "I have a feeling you and I will get along quite nicely, Donovan."
Suddenly, he reached out his right hand, wanting to shake hands.
Oh, man…
In truth, Donovan didn't want anything to do with the guy in front of him. In his previous life as Leon Valentin, he had a hard time getting along with arrogant people.
But he didn't want to be rude by not shaking his hand.
Reluctantly, he shook Dean's hand.
"You know, Mages and Assassins actually work well together," Dean said with a… "smile," sipping his bubble tea.
Yeah, sure…
They stopped shaking hands. As soon as Dean finished his bubble tea, the doors to the restaurant suddenly opened.
Four Visitors entered. Donovan recognized one of them as Sasha, but the others, he didn't know their identities.
The other three were most likely from the other table that he couldn't socialize with.
As Sasha saw Dean and Donovan sitting together, she smiled brightly and said joyfully, "Guys, this is Donovan and Mr. Dean. Mr. Dean, Donovan, this is Joseph, Nick, and Juliana."
Sasha briefly introduced them to each other.
Joseph, who had thin, short black hair and was dressed in winter clothes, said, "Nice to meet you two."
Nick had long, brown hair that reached up to his neck. Dressed in heavy clothes, he also greeted the two of them.
Juliana, the tallest among them, was wearing a beanie, and a tan trench coat. Underneath the coat was a black suit, a vest, and a green necktie. Her height slightly surprised Dean and Donovan.
With a slightly mature and soft voice, she said, "Nice to meet you."
Her black hair styled in a wolfcut made Dean stare.
Sasha giggled, and sat beside Donovan. "Come on, you three! Let's get along."
With that, they sat around the table.
Suddenly, Juliana said, "I'll go order. What do you guys want?"
Everyone, including Donovan, said what they wanted. As for Dean, he wanted another bubble tea.
Dude, that's your third bubble tea… Donovan sighed inwardly.
As Juliana walked towards the counter, Dean grabbed his empty bubble tea and threw it at the trash can. It landed perfectly inside.
The five, or rather, four of them got to talking.
As for Dean, his eyes were fixed to Juliana standing at the counter.
She was freakishly tall, and he reckoned that if he were to stand beside her, he'd probably look like her little brother.
He felt a thump in his chest.
And this didn't go unnoticed by Donovan.
Wow… I never thought love at first sight actually existed…
He suppressed the urge to chuckle.
"Nick and Joseph are both Fighter-types. As for Juliana, she's a Tank," said Sasha. "Mr. Donovan is a Mage, and Dean is an Assassin."
And upon hearing this, Dean snapped out of it. He asked, out of character, "She's a Tank-type?"
"Mhm!" Sasha hummed.
Dean hummed as well, and tried hard not to make it obvious that he's staring at her.
As for Donovan, his thoughts went to the two remaining Visitors who he still has not met yet.
Earlier, Miss Sasha said there's… three Fighters, one Tank, one Assassin, two Rangers, and two Healers…
The three Fighters are Nick, Joseph, and Miss Clara. The Tank is Miss Juliana, and the Assassin is Dean. Miss Sasha's a Healer-type, and Vincent is a Ranger.
The one I haven't met yet is a Ranger, as well as a Healer…
Including me, the Mage, which makes ten Visitors…
Suddenly, the opening of the doors of the restaurant made both Dean and Donovan snap out of their thoughts.