"Hey, Ozbel! Is *this* what you call an academy mission!?"

Sharkai Bai stood inside the fitting room, clad in a black-and-white uniform, veins throbbing on his forehead and fists as he glared at Cecilia Ozbel and Fuxifa—who’d already changed. Working as a waiter in a nightclub? Was *this* an academy mission!? Shouldn’t missions be thrilling adventures!? Sharkai Bai wanted to punch Ozbel to express his fury.

"Hey now, Sharkai," Cecilia Ozbel said, admiring her new hairstyle in the mirror. "This job gives top credits!"

Fuxifa had already left the fitting room to start their task.

Stellar Era was a famous nightclub in the Western Sea. Their "mission" was to temporarily fill staffing gaps there.

"Come on, stop complaining," Ozbel said, heading backstage with a tray of food. "The sooner we finish, the sooner we leave."

"Hey, you! No slacking!" a chef barked.

Trapped, Sharkai Bai scowled and followed Ozbel’s lead.

The white-haired boy—stripped of his usual academy lethargy—now looked strikingly handsome in his uniform. Only his unfortunate height spoiled the effect.

His very first customer, a stunning woman, immediately hit on him as he served her food.

"You’re new here, aren’t you?" she purred, her eyes locked on him since he’d approached.

"Uh... y-yes," Sharkai Bai stammered, forcing a stiff smile as he bent slightly—the posture their manager had drilled into him. "Can I get you anything else?"

"Just your company. Money’s no object~" She stood, looping her arm through his and rubbing her chest against him.

(*Don’t treat me like a gigolo, damn it!!!!*)

He yanked his arm free, bowing stiffly. "S-sorry! Please enjoy your meal! I have other duties!" Before she could reply, he bolted backstage.

*Huff! Huff! Huff!*

"Scary... Are all the women here this desperate...?" He braced himself against the mirror, gasping.

"Hey, Sharkai!" Ozbel swaggered in, face and neck plastered with lipstick marks. "Room 362 on the third floor needs service—I’m hitting the restroom. Thanks~!" He vanished without waiting for an answer.

"This guy’s way too comfortable here..." Sharkai Bai muttered, slicking his hair back as he climbed the stairs. Ozbel clearly frequented places like this—and was wildly popular.

He pushed open the door to Room 362. "Good evening. What can I get you?" he asked politely, bowing.

"Just water. And you’re... Bai?" The voice sounded familiar.

Sharkai Bai snapped his head up. His pupils shrank.

Seated on the sofa was Cecilia Xuelian and Ozbel’s father—Cecilia Vox, head of the Cecilia Family. Worse still, directly across from him sat Sharkai Manwei, head of the Sharksea Clan... and Sharkai Bai’s grandfather.

The tray slipped from his hands. Rage ignited in his chest.

(*OZ-BEL!!!!! YOU BASTARD!!!!!*)