The looks of surprise on Tiffany and Ken's faces were incredibly apparent. And Max would have noticed them had Rose not immediately started...
Rose: Oh my gosh! Really?
Max: Uh huh
Rose: That's amazing, Max. I'm so happy for you.
Max: Thanks.
He reclined a bit more with the same big smile on his face.
Tiffany and Ken both remained silent. Thinking it was one thing, but seeing and believing it was another.
On the one hand, Max did not appear to be lying. On the other hand, how could that possibly be true?
Tiffany: (somewhat hesitantly) But.... how?
Max: Hmmm?
"There was no way, right?" she thought. The memories of that night still ran thick through her veins. There was no way she would forget that anger. No way.
Max: (slightly confusedly) Well... I just asked her.
Max then paused as though something was on his mind.
It wasn't like Max himself wasn't shocked as well. He just wasn't willing to talk about his family.
Max: But it's all good now, right? I can join the team, right?
The online roon became silent for a moment. Ken would say nothing, Max waited expectantly as did Rose and Tiffany tried to do mental calculus to understand as to what it was that she could say.
She gave him a condition. And he fulfilled it. So, why did she still feel so uneasy about it?
Tiffany: (exhaustedly) Fine.
Rose: Yippee!!
Max: Alright.
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
Ken simply smirked and thought, "Well, that was interesting."
Rose: Max, you did it. You're a part of the team!
Max: Yeah, I know, right?
Finally, he had people just like him by his side. And a pretty cool job at that.
Tiffany: On one final condition.
The celebration stopped cold. Rose and Ken immediately paused in shock.
Max: Huh?!
For the second time since the meeting had begun, the online room remained silent, albeit for only a second.
Max: But you said...!!!!
Tiffany: I know what I said. However, there is one question I have left.
Ken: (thinking: What kind of question?)
Max: Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm..
Rose looked back from side to side, questioning as to whose side she should take.
Rose: Ummmm.... uhhhhh....
Until very hesitantly....
Rose: I... It's ok, Max. I'm sure you can do it.
Max: Mmmmmmm. Fine. What is it?
Tiffanys eyes turned somewhat serious. More serious than they were before.
Tiffany: It's about what happened that night.
Max: Huh?
Tiffany: That time we battled Wolfram.
How could Max forget that fight? His life was on the line, and to top it all off, he never remembered as to what had happened after he'd blacked out. All he'd heard was that he overloaded. And he knew full well how that probably ended.
Max: Oh......
He paused for a moment. What could she want to know? After all, what was there to ask him about?
Tiffany: It's about your "overload"
Max: Overload? You mean....
Max still couldn't make heads or tails of what she wanted to ask him.
Tiffany: Ken?
Ken: Yes, my queen?
Tiffany: Bring up the video of Max in his overload state.
Ken: My pleasure. (thinking: So that's what it is, huh.)
On his computer screen, a video of Max facing off with Wolfram in his overload state played.
Max: You can take videos?
Ken: Yep. Just one of my many talents.
Max: That's awesome. Hey, maybe you could....
Tiffany: Max!
Max: Ok, ok.
The video continued to play. On the screen, as the fight approached its climax, Rose could be heard calling for Max, but he did not answer.
The real time Rose's eyes simmered as she saw that.
Tiffany: Pause.
Ken: Rightio, your eloquence.
The video paused, showing a scenic picture of Max's final clash against Wolfram.
Max: That was awesome!
Tiffany's eyes narrowed. For one thing, Max did not seem to be all that shocked about what had happened. That could only mean that the overload was something not too unfamiliar with him. So he had to know.
Tiffany: That's not the point.
Max: Huh?
Tiffany: The point is.... I want to know everything about your overload.
Max: Everything?
That, to Max, was one shocker of a question.
What was the big deal with his overload?
Rose: (thinking: Tiff....... )