Lowell had organized everything for the Hunter's Association. He got them to agree on deals and have Raven's allies handle the dungeons when necessary and when they're off the clock. They'll focus more on the protecting the teams handling the excavation and extracting materials out of the dungeons. Yet, despite Raven's absence. Lowell was amused to see Raven's predicament. It brought out a side of them they never saw. The tender side. A side of him that was caring but much more delicately. Maintaining his aggressive demeanor. However... The others saw what was going on now.

Raven who was working as a waiter had hot coffee splashed over his face by a customer. Becoming a statue as the customer continued to scream and shout.

"How dare you serve this crap to me!" Raven didn't even apologize.

"Where's your apology!?" Raven turned to the manager who kept quiet, unable to stand up against this person's words. The rich always had this power, throwing their money and power around. It's why Raven loathed them. Raven loathed Hunters in his world who were busy showing off their gear but useless. After all, he survived and slayed the world and they died like dogs. It seems like Raven would suffer from harsh treatment. If his debt was from a loan shark, he'd just go and kill them. But it was a government institution. He can't simply slaughter his way through this.

TECHNICALLY. RAVEN COULD DO THAT. BUT HE'S DONE IT TOO MANY TIMES. SO IT CAN BE FUCKING TEDIOUS. Abyss Gaze had it the worse since he had entire countries go after him. Which he did slaughter everyone and their leaders. Then left everyone to their own devices. Which ended up prospering more but he just lived that life in the shadows after his rampage. An angry customer spilling hot coffee wasn't a big deal. The barista made another cup, Raven just went over there putting a towel to his head as he served another one.

"Sorry, Raven." The manager spoke with a weak voice.

"It's fine. Customers can be weird. I've been through worse."

"How worse?"

"My tattoos are to cover up my scars from the fire. Mainly on my body. Luckily my face and my hands were safe. Can't say the same about the rest of my body though." Raven said as he got his pay from the manager. Though his hair smelled like coffee, it wasn't something Raven would care about. The rest of his pay had settled other issues. Whatever it was, Raven had already sorted the bullshit from that.

A nearby vending machine was good enough, when Raven buying a drink. He noticed an advertisement by the large LED Billboard that was blinding his eyes. Barely able to make it out. Whoever that designed that LED had only one purpose in life. TO IRRITATE. WHOEVER LOOKS AT IT. Glancing at the other billboards, there was an application to be a bodyguard for a famous idol. Reading the requirements had Raven wanting to pour bleach into his eyes.

'Be good looking.' Since when did being good looking be a condition? What kind of shady bodyguard operation is this? Does this person just want to be surrounded by good looking people? Raven was trying to wonder if this world was some sick twisted reality of one of those HAREM PLOTS written by one of those people who have an obsession with good looking characters?

> WELCOME TO THE BRAIN OF RAVEN ASHENWORTH. EPISODE 2.

>

> The other Ravens were now seated by a large table. Tension had arisen as Raven's blood was boiling from the insanity that is this world. Silence was in the air. For the next 5 minutes. It was pure silence. None of them had an idea of how to interpret this world anymore. Every department of Ravens stepped out. Passing notes as silence was all that could be heard.

>

>

> "Throw logic out the window." They chorused together as all notes on logic was sucked away.

Logic has been thrown out the window, Raven made a call for the job. No need for resumes, just required him to make his way to the location where people were being picked off left and right. Instant rejections set at a glance. The one shouting the rejections was a red haired woman who made plenty of applicants leave in distress. Faces soured by the reality that they were just not 'Good Looking' enough. Hearing whispers from the other men who talked about how attractive she was. Raven only stole glances at her because he was bored. When their eyes met, she slammed the table.

"PASS! Get everyone else out of here!" The rest were pushed out of the door, leaving Raven behind. Showing the contract.

"Pay is 10,000 a month with incentives. Contract for 3 months. You will be given a baton to protect the client. I recruit based on the client's choices. You'll be meeting your client tomorrow. Take this as a signing bonus. Get yourself 5 suits. 3 black suits, one indigo and one burgundy." A card that was filled with money along with the long black baton that had a unique grip. It's shape was more like a katana. Taking the signing bonus which was 15,000 dollars.

Heading over to a nearby store to buy the ready made suits, some thread and needles. Heading back to his house, preparing the suits to fit his body. Got some fingerless gloves, reading the contract that he signed. He was granted the right to use weapons when needed. There were shops that sold unique items for bodyguards. This may be the best job for him, the shops that sold unique items for unique patrons included guns and blades. The long baton they gave him, Raven noticed it had a trigger by the handle. Pulling it as the section slid off to reveal a white blade. A saber hidden inside a baton, how unique.

"So it's not just a random world after all. This is me training a new persona. A restriction system that's similar to Abyss Gaze. This one might be an S-Tier. I can't contact my allies but that doesn't mean they can't hear me. I'll be busy. Don't know when I'll come back. But normally how these things go is that if I do it right. I will earn a Persona. I can't rush this. I don't know how time passes. If one day is an hour and all that BS. Do what you can outside there. Causality that lets me see Personas that I missed out on. Oh Mirror of Possibility. You are such an asshole."

The next day came along as Raven wore a black three piece suit with the baton in hand, smoking a cigarette as he made his way to where he was supposed to meet the client. Dousing the cigarette, flicking it aside as he glanced at the 5 storey building. It was busier than a farm during harvest season, phones ringing out like birds singing. Only if they were singing lovely music together, all that Raven could hear was offkey noises that were more annoying when succubi tried to seduce him with their bodies.

His client was Heather Atkins. A renowned actress who starred in plenty of romances, from what Raven read. Her works had been considered to be the modern day renaissance because of her acting range. From villainess of old who were cruel to the heroine, the bad ass anti heroine who is all shoot first ask questions later and the pure lady who was heartbroken from a cheating partner. Or so they say. Looking around for Heather, he was supposed to find a blue haired beauty in a hoodie and a cap. No signs of her in the building, despite asking around.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

"Oh, Heather's not here today? She's got a script reading later.." With that answer, Raven headed out. Taking a cab to Heather's apartment, where he found the door unlocked. Not a forced entry, pairs of shoes by the floor. The cupboards had been opened, broken plates strewn about. Just inspecting the place had given Raven clues. It was made to look like a mugging gone wrong but no moron would not take any of the jewelry and expensive watches.

A clue left behind in the form of coordinates. It's the only clue he has to operate on, so might as well get to it. Finding an abandoned warehouse with a bunch of armed men. Sneaking in was easy because Raven just threw rocks around to mess with their attention. What he did find was Heather tied up, and a bunch of men waiting for something. Amateurs with guns, this was a terrible combination. Watching them wave the guns around, flagging one another as if they don't care for each other's life.

Logic is out of the window. Might as well get started. Raven pressed the trigger of his baton, swinging the outer layer that crushed the neck of a gunman. Bolting straight into them with a grin, slashing limbs. The guns took time to align their shots, but as stated earlier. Being amateurs meant they had struggled against a fast moving target. What's funnier is that they were standing in a row, giving Raven a much easier time to handle them. A singular swing that took three necks, using the bodies as a shield as his other hand grabbed the rifle. Replying to their shots with his own, quick bursts that forced them into cover. Seizing the chance to flank them, Raven would grab their firearms. Using it as a means to suppress them from their position, closing in and using the saber to cut the baton blade to cut them down.

Humming a tune as he was trying to stave off the boredom. Perhaps if he sung a song in the most offkey way would throw them off?

Why the fuck not? Logic out of the window. Raven started singing horribly as the gunmen got irritated, making more mistakes. When one attempted to get close to Heather, a shot to the head would be their reward. The weary gunmen tried to use the classic hostage trick but would it work against Raven? Clearly no. Not if they receive a good helping of a bullet to the brain stem. Or a nice bisecting from his saber.

Blood on his suit, the smell of gunpowder and his weapon glistened with the blood of his foes. Humming a calm tune as he went to grab the baton's outer layer. Picking Heather up, stealing a car from the gunmen and driving off. Driving to a hospital, calling Heather's manager. He just stood by her side the entire time, frozen like a statue. Waiting for Heather's manager and crew making their way in.

"Who are you?"

"A new bodyguard that received the job from a recruiter. It's my first day on the job." That revelation had them wondering what was their next steps, it was supposed to be an easy job. But this might cause some problems on his end.

"We'll have to hire an entire team. How much was your pay?"

"30 thousand. 10 thousand for each month."

"We'll triple it because you saved our actress from some heavy trouble. She may want to contact you later on. The recruiter will be compensated later on. Thanks." Raven's phone rang as he glanced at the account. Yep, 90 thousand in his account.Sending some of it off to pay the debt, he can find another job in the meantime. Then he received a message from someone. The name was garbled.

'It's Vinter. I finally got through but this is as much as I can do. The causality has opened up more Personas for you to use. The world you're in. From what I gather, the Causality brings you to other worlds. Your world's fine. So take your time with what you have to do over there. From what I see the Causalities that have emerged now are waiting for you. It can happen any time. The others are doing well. When you return. You'll have plenty of tickets and shards to collect.' With that, Raven's rush to head back to his world had faded.

As Raven was about to leave his house, he found Jane and Lizzie in front of his door.

"What brings you two here?"

"Oh. Erm. I.. I was offering you a new job as my bodyguard and driver!" Turning his head to Lizzie to figure out what answer would she gave to Raven in this scenario.

"I just wanted to hang out?" It was a simple answer.

"Let's go eat. I just got my paycheck." Taking a car, heading to a restaurant. People took notice of Lizzie and Jane, watching how Raven pulled chairs for both of them. Making sure they sat down first before taking his own seat.

"Isn't this place... A little pricey?" Lizzie glanced at the menu.

"Don't worry about it." The awkward atmosphere ensued as Lizzie and Jane were still trying to figure out what to say, Raven could feel the awkwardness loom over them. One's a highly driven career woman from a family of the rich and famous. The other is a famous internet musician. Raven needed to lighten the mood.

CHOOSE FROM THE TOPICS BELOW

SEX FILMS TRAVEL

NOT MAKING A SELECTION WILL DEFAULT TO SEX

"Which country you've traveled to left a strong impression on you?" Better that than the other two topics.

"Has to be Aureal. The Aurora Borealis in the night sky makes me just want to fly back there."

"When I did a concert in Julietta. The people were so welcoming, it was a foodie heaven!" Their faces lit up as they began to compare notes with each other as their meals arrived but they were too deep in their conversation to notice. During that time Raven opened Jane's lobster, cut the steak into pieces for Lizzie.

"Ladies. Food's here." The pair paused, turning to see their plates.

"Oh. I'm sorry we must've..."

"It's okay. That eases the tension a little right?" The ladies giggled with each other as they ate their meal. Glancing at Raven who seemed content with them, their favoribility was spiking upwards as the pair ate in silence. As Raven enjoyed his smoked duck pasta, the awkwardness looming over them was a little daunting for the pair. When they were done with their meals, Raven ordered for desert being chocolate lava cake with ice cream. It was like he's looking at two cats who were still timid with each other.

Timid cats trying to mark their territory. How would Raven deal with this? The TV screen by the side was showing the news and Raven was trying to process what he was seeing. It was his apartment building that was on fire. Seeing that had him sighing. There were so many things that can happen. But an apartment being set ablaze? Like seriously?

"My luck must be so cursed to see that my apartment is on fire. Again." Raven spoke out loud as Jane and Lizelle began to hatch their plans. Lizelle's mumbling about her house having space while Jane was glancing at homes that Raven could rent with his current situation.

This must be the whole stay with a girl plot point. Do these women not have an ounce of 'worry?' or 'common sense' to not let a man into their house? Just what insanity is this now? Raven had to process all of this as they ate their meal.

"Ladies, I need to go first. Hopefully the damage to the apartment isn't too bad." Raven paid it off, then making his way there on foot. Traffic routes were bad because of the sudden fires being started. Making his way through the sea of people. Where he watched the light for the sidewalk turn green, running through it. When a car hit him, in that moment Raven glanced inside. Seeing a gray haired woman in a business suit with her child in the passenger seat. Time slowed down as Raven was rolling in mid-air, he felt his ribs cracking.

Really? Time slows down to reveal another capture target bullshit? Like for fuck's sake, I just got run over. Just let me think about it later! LIKE. LATER. Why are you showing this to me right now? LIKE. WHO HAS THE TIME TO SEE THIS?! Cursing in his mind as he just thought about how absurd this situation becomes.