“Tea or coffee?” Elias asked as he poured a cup of water into a silver spirit kettle and lit the alcohol burner it had for ease of water boiling.

At that same moment he also took a spoonful of loose tea leaves from a container and poured them into a ceramic teapot. But this he did while looking over his shoulder at Elmer. Apparently he did not want to waste tea leaves if his offer was going to be rejected.

Elmer understood that, and since he was not quite interested in anything at this point in time, he simply declined the offer with a shake of his head. Elias had nodded at that and resumed his tea making process.

They were in the sales office, where Elias Moretti, who was the sales representative for the advertising department, worked. This office was located in a corridor within the curtained partition Liza, the clerk, had passed through a few minutes back. And it was the second of two doors opposite each other which existed in that small space. The other door had a brass signage engraved with the words: Copywriting office.

Even now, seated on a couch before a table within the walls of the sales office, Elmer could still subtly hear the rhythmic clacking of a few typewriter buttons being struck. When he focused a bit harder, he could even make out how many typewriters were being used. Three, they were.

Although, all these were obviously not due to natural causes.

He’d noticed that ever since he’d advanced into the Lower Echelon, his heightened hearing had become so strong that his normal hearing felt as though it had been enhanced. It was quite problematic, but since it only turned out that way when his mind was without thoughts or when he was at ease, he was able to bear with it. After all, ninety percent of the time he was always bothered; and also, the effects of using his heightened hearing did not affect him in this case.

His mind not being troubled didn’t last long as usual, seeing as he suddenly had a thought wander into his head when Elias began to pour the boiled water from the spirit kettle over the spoonful of tea leaves in the teapot.

Fate’s Mirage… Elmer sighed and rubbed his forehead as his mind went to his unique ability. I’ve not had the time to settle down and figure out how to bypass its effects… Well, I have nothing to do from tomorrow until Sunday, I guess I’ll go all out on figuring it out…

Three minutes elapsed. Elias had his tea ready at last. He poured it into a cup—using a tea strainer to catch its leaves—mixed it with milk, and met with Elmer at the table he was sitting before.

The sales representative took his own seat on the other side though, on a simple chair. He was also holding a piece of paper and a ball pen, both he had brought from his work desk.

“So,” Elias Moretti began as he crossed his leg and blew on his hot tea. “Novel excerpt. Back page. Am I right?” He took a sip as Elmer nodded. “You know you can take off your cap and relax, Mr. Floyd?” Elias offered with a smack of his lips, seemingly basking in the taste of his tea. Whether good or bad, Elmer could not say from the man’s expression.

What he could say though, and he did say, was, “I’m fine. I don’t intend to stay here for long; so just tell me what else I have to do for the advertisement so I can leave.”

Elias cleared his throat and put down his porcelain teacup. “Alright. Pardon me.”

“There’s no problem.”

“Kindly fill this.”

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Elias slid the paper and ball pen he’d brought toward Elmer, revealing to him the sections for name, type of advertisement, length of advertisement, placement of advertisement, and home address.

The last option made Elmer’s breath hitch. But he quickly reined in himself.

“Home address?” he asked as he picked the ball pen from the table and leaned forward to begin filling the documentation.

“That’s optional…” Elias answered, resuming with his tea. “It’s just in case we have any information to pass across, such as the advertisement tracker, which includes how many days are left and the like. Though if you already have a subscription with us then you don’t need to fill it, we’ll be able to find it in the records. Do you?” Elmer shook his head. Through Elias’ talk he had already filled all he felt necessary. The first sentence was all he’d needed to hear.

“Oh. I see… Well—”

“Here,” Elmer put a stop to Elias, pushing the paper and ball pen back to him.

He’d known what had been coming. An advertisement to convince him to subscribe to Ur’s Tribune. He was not interested.

The sales representative scrutinized the document and the blanks which had all been filled, but one.

“Alright then. Payment will be—”

“Thirty five mints,” Elmer completed the statement as he stood up, and Elias smiled with a nod. He then handed the sales representative thirty five mints and the excerpt of his novel. “When will it go up?”

Elias cleared his throat. “This sort of information is what I would have passed across through—”

“I understand,” Elmer said. “I’m not interested in anything coming to my home address currently. If you do not have any date in mind then I’ll just come back another day to confirm if it has gone live.”

That is if no job offers come my way…

Elias smiled. “At the latest, by Monday it should be up. If you have any doubts then you can come to check with me. My shifts are Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.”

“Thank you.” Elmer tipped his flat cap while Elias raised his cup of tea as they both exchanged pleasantries. But just when Elmer was about to walk out of the sales office a thought suddenly stormed his head, causing him to halt and ponder for five seconds. Then he turned around. “Might I have the chance to present a question?”

“You may,” Elias replied, legs crossed, teacup held elegantly in hand once again. It was almost like he was mimicking royalty.

“Take note that this question is purely hypothetical… At least for now.” Elias smiled. “I know you’re a sales representative for the advertisement department, but what if a person brings you news that would be quite groundbreaking for your newspaper company, what would you do?”

Elias seemed to ponder. “Well, the protocol is to direct them to the newsroom for them to seek a journalist…” He paused. “Unless, hypothetically, of course, this news is not something this person can deliver themselves, or something they don’t want traced back to them for more questioning, so they require the aid of someone to be in the middle of their transaction. I am not usually against helping for free, but in such a case, I would ask about what I stand to gain from such a deal.”

For the first time since he’d stepped into the sales office, Elmer smiled. “Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, you said?”

“Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, I said.” Elias played with his cup of tea.

“Well then…” Elmer turned around and pulled open the office’s door. “I’ll be seeing you around, Mr. Moretti.”

“Have a safe trip home.”

And with those words Elmer left the walls of the sales representative’s office, and that of Ur’s Tribune, before boarding a public carriage back to High street.

He could not go to the Black Market today to restock on his supernatural items because he’d not taken his postiche before leaving home earlier. But since the advertisement was not going up until Monday, he was not bothered. After all, any ingredients he was planning to buy would have no use until he’d finally gotten a job.

Maeve was not needed until then as well.

Currently, all he had to focus on was how to find out the location of the underground cartel. And also, finally bypass his unique ability’s effects, for he had a feeling that he was most likely going to be needing it a lot more than he’d figured.