The Guide is Actually a Body-Switching Esper [BL]-Chapter 178: Put On Hold

Things remained awkward after that. They both pretended that everything was just FINE, perfectly normal... But they both knew deep down. Nothing was actually ’fine’. freeweɓnøvel.com

However, Lane didn’t admit anything, and Damien didn’t press, so they just moved on with their busy lives.

And a few days later - the next week, to be precise. Things took a bit longer than Lane expected, so he wasn’t able to stick to his original plan - Lane arrived at the Awakened Association Headquarters for a job interview.

It was only a formality, really. ’Oscar’ was already a licensed Esper with extensive training, and a good few months of intense experience in the field. And an A-ranker, at that! In other words, someone whom the perpetually understaffed Association couldn’t afford to reject. All that he needed to do, was to answer a few questions, go through the contract details, sign it, and there he was! A new member of the Awakened Association!

...Of the General Staff, of course. Since that was always the default assignment for new recruits.

Leaving the building, Lane quickly texted Damien, so that he would be on the lookout for Lane’s application to become a Field Agent, so that he could snatch him to his team without any obstacles! Despite his rank, Lane didn’t have much of a say in his assignment, at least not initially, so it was entirely up to Damien to secure it.

As long as nobody got in his way, of course.

The first day, there was nothing - Lane’s application was still being processed.

The second day, Damien called, to let him know that he had accepted his application.

And the third day...

[Your application has been put on hold.]

"Damn it!" Lane swore out loud, barely holding himself back from throwing his phone.

[Was it Section Leader?] he texted back.

[I’m not sure. I can only see that your application is inactive.]

So Damien said, but it was all too obvious what happened. Who else had the authority - and the motive - to get in Damien’s way? Sure, there were all the higher-ups above the Section Leaders who could easily do so, but why would they? Damien might have been an S-ranker, but in the Association, his position was still too far below them for them to see him as a ’threat’. And even if they did, they had plenty of more effective methods than something as petty as messing with the applications of the Awakened Damien showed interest in.

Lane clicked his tongue, tossing his phone aside. He should have dealt with that fucking Section Leader the moment he realized he had something against Damien... Although, to be fair, back then Lane probably didn’t care that much. Which explained why that man had been able to hold his position until now!

Of course, he had some dirt on the man. It’s been several months since the current Section Leader, Frank Bowen, took office, so Lane’s team did some background checks, without him even having to request it. Surely, there must have been something Lane could use. Just figure out how to reveal it best, and Frank Bowen would be knocked off from his position...

The problem was what came next. If one Section Leader were gone, someone would have to be promoted... And there were high chances that someone would be Damien. The board of directors was likely to push for him to take a higher position, since he was an S-ranker and all, they had even already sent him to represent the whole Association on the international summit...

And maybe Damien would be happy about it, who knows. Lane had never asked him about it, so he didn’t know if the man had such ambitions. Although, if he were to take a guess, he’d say that probably not. Regardless of whether Damien wanted it or not though...

It was simply not the best time for it. The Capital and its area were a mess, with all the dungeon breaks and reactivated Gates, and it was only about to get messier. How could Lane possibly allow for all those problems to be dumped on Damien’s head? The man was already busy enough as it was!

Lane let out a long sigh, brushing back his hair, too short for his liking. It was difficult to get anything done, when he had so many things he needed to take into consideration...

Perhaps he should discuss it with Damien first. Make sure that he refuses the promotion, even if it’s offered to him. And then...

As if on clue, Lane’s phone pinged, as he received a new message from Damien. [I’m about to grab some dinner. Want to join me?]

Before he even finished reading the message, Lane was already up, pulling his comfy clothes off to switch them to something more flattering. [Sure! Old Plaza?] he texted back.

[We can. See you in fifteen minutes?]

[...Probably more like half an hour, but yeah!]

They didn’t get to see each other too often these days, with how busy Damien was, and Lane was feeling incredibly bored with his boyfriend’s absence! Back when they were on the same team, they at least saw each other at work, but now...

Lane had his own schedule, with shifts as a member of the General Staff. Even his - that is, Oscar’s - current apartment wasn’t near the Association, but rather located close to the Headquarters of a certain despicable Guild, so dropping by to meet for lunch wasn’t easy either. Not to mention, they shouldn’t be seen together at the Association, or Section Leader might end up giving them even more problems with Lane’s assignment!

So, unless Damien had enough time to leave work and eat out, as he did now, they could only message and call each other.

Rather than dwell on it though, Lane quickly put on his shoes and jacket, and made his way through the city - on foot, to save time. Driving at such an hour would only lead to him getting stuck in the traffic, and then struggling to find a good parking spot! And he didn’t want to keep Damien waiting, not when their time together was already so limited.