Being his first time here, William had no familiarity with this place. Because of that, he considered himself "lost" after a mere two seconds.

The mustached man only said to meet Ms. Marry, but he never told William how he could find her in the first place.

Ofcourse, he could have asked the many people here, but after observing their fast hasty movements even while walking, William thought that they themselves might be facing a dire matter.

He thought:

'who would choose to help a lost child like himself over the importance of the world itself'. Ofcourse, calling himself a child was a mere statement of what the other people he met so far described him, even with him already being twenty one years old.

William, having lost his way within the place, had no choice but to search his way through the place and finding Ms. Marry himself.

Pat

Then, As he was about to move, he felt a slight Pat from his right shoulder. He could tell it was the hand of a man. Not because of the gentle Pat, nor was it because of the hand's anatomical structure, but because of the voice that came right after. A gentle voice, not too heavy nor too high and with slow paced words, it said:

"Pardon me, but might you be lost?"

Instinctively, William turned his body around to face the man who suddenly patted his shoulder.

The man had Curly orange hair, white skin, and wore a classic victorian suit and brown pants, completed with a round eged hat with goggles strapped around it. Ofcourse, he was also tall around five foot eleven to be exact.

The man still had his right hands on the spot William's shoulder was. His body had leaned forward and his eyes widened at the sudden haistily turn that William had instinctively did.

The shocked expression he had, turned into a kind and warming smile.

Then, he withdrew his right hand to douse his round eged hat and placed his hat carried hand to the left side of his chest while his left hand withdrew further to his back.

He then leaned his body, bowing towards William who was still on guard and shocked.

Then with his soft toned and slow paced voice, the man said:

"Pardon me for my sudden behaviour, my name is Henry Benedict"

It was after a few seconds later that William had finally gained the realization of the couttesed ettiquette the man infront of him was showing.

Instinctively, with ettiquette and manners in mind, he greeted with the same manner that the man infront of him had shown. And greeted:

"Greetings, my name is Claude Merrick" he replied in greeting. He did not forget to consider himself as his new identity due to the letter that had been sent to "Claude Merrick". Ofcourse, he had no problem in using that name, though, it didnt match his appearence of that off a child, well... Neither did his previous name did.

The man then leaned back, returning to his standing position while still holding his hat in his chest.

"Pardon me, but might you be lost?"

William's eyes widened and he began sweating. It was embarrassing to admit, but he was really lost.

"Yes..." He replied with a slight hinge in his voice, revealing a slight vulnerability.

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Then, the man replied while still having his warm smile:

"Then might i offer you my assistance, in advance, i hope we could get closer"

From those words, what William had thought he meant was they could be considered "friends" or maybe "colleagues".

"Ok, deal" William instantly replied before lifting his right hand towards Henry with open Palms changing the setting from "etiquetted greeting" to "basic greeting of a handshake"

Although what he thought was true, that Henry did intend to befriend him, Henry's intentions were only slightly simillar to what he is trying to do.

Henry paused for a moment while looking at William's opened palmed hands before understanding. In this world, a proper etiquetted greeting for the opposite sex were often depicted as either an elegant bow or a classic "kiss in the back hand" for male to females and a classic "cutsy" from females to males, he had never Heard of someone greeting teh opposite sex with a simple handshake, especially between nobles.

And yet, infront of him was a female that offered a handshake to him, a male.

'is she a foreigner?' he guessed.

He then wore back his hat and shook his hand while feeling slightly reluctant.

He them guided William to the receptionist hall. And on the way, William was able to observe theplace itself, looking right and left while being guided by Henry.

Henry, who was guiding her, now not only guided but also observed her. He didn't do it from suspicion, but rather... From personal curiosity. Though, it did felt nostalgic for him after looking at William.

"If i may ask, Is this you're first time in the West District?" He asks as they walk.

William, who had been too focused in observing becamd stiff from the sudden question.

"T-the what?" he asks in reply stiffly.

Turning his head around, he looked at William.

"Judging by your reply, it really is your first time here"

"Yes..." He replied while scratching the back of his head.

"How did you know?" William asked.

"You remind me of myself when i first joined. I remember i would often be seperated from my operator because of my curiosity" he said

Then, his gentle smile paired with his joyful eyes suddenly lost it's energy. It was as if he regreted—no, missed something.

'a nostalgic moment?' William dilently guessed. Remembering a nostalgic moment can bring Joy from ones heart. Even if it was just little, it's not impossible to remember about it.

Finally, they reached the receptionist hall and again, William was Amazed.

There were atleast a hundred reception place next to eachother. With every single one having each of their own receptionist.

"Which receptionist are you looking for?" Henry asked.

"Ms Marry Young" William replied.

"Ah... Ms Marry"

Henry then pointed towards the reception place that was nearest to the entrance at the very left "she's over there"

He then looked at his watch

"My apologies, but i better get going" Henry spoke.

"N-no, go ahead"

As Henry rusted off, William too, began walking towards Ms Marry's reception desk.

Beside the reception table itself, was a beautiful young woman with light skin, ocean blue curly hair that even beat Henry's, small red lips, and saphire blue eyes.

Walking closer, he was able to see the receptionist's name tag

[Marry Young]

With this, he had confirmed that the receptionist was indeed Ms. Marry.

He then walked closer to Marry and eventually stood at the other side of the reception desk. Though William might be infront of her, they were seperated by the thick glass on the middle, only having a half circled hole on the middle of the table.

"How may i help you sir?" She said as she lays her hand on the table, putting her right hand on top of left.

Then, William placed the both the letter and the ring on the table.

She then opened the letter gently and observed it carefully with her monacles, just like the mustached man.

"Sir... Claude?" She asked.

"Yes"

Putting the letter and the ring back, she then grabbed a card from the desk's drawer. She the handed the card to William as she said:

"We have one operator left for this afternoon, Will you be interested?"

William suddenly remembered the story Henry had told him. He remember Henry having told him about always getting lost from his operator, but then again, he never explained what an operator is despite knowing it was his first time.

'i should have asked him!' William thought.

With already arriving here, and despite having minor information, he Made up his mind.

'let's just do it'

He took a leap of Faith and said:

"I'll take it"

Taking the card, he began searching for the place he Will meet his so called "operator".

Not long after, he finally arrived.

"Room 132, this is it"

William being nervous, touched the surface of the door know and slowly twisted teh nob.

Click

Slowly but surely, he opened the door.

On the other side, he could see a man with orange Curly hair with a round edged long hat holding his teacup, about to drink but suddenly stopped.

Both of them started at each other for a few seconds before finally realising.

"Eh?"

"Eh?"

They said simultaniously.