From her gaze, I could tell that Koori's threat wasn't a joke.
She was serious. Seriously aiming for my life if I "lie" once.
However, the inner voice that saved me countless times earlier remained silent. As if it was telling me that this doesn't even count as a "threat" at all.
As such, I was confused as to how to respond. Should I just answer truthfully, risking Koori thinking that my word's a lie? Or should I give her the answer she was looking for, even if it is a lie?
"I..."
Just as I was about to respond...
CLAP!
"Alright, Koori. That's enough from ye..."
A resounding clap, followed by a lighthearted voice, echoed.
Koori's shoulders twitched before she quickly "sheathed" the floating ice shards, returning them as moisture present within the room.
"Elder Monika..." Koori grumbled lightly, turning her head behind her, where a new figure stood. "I thought you said you'd leave interrogating him to me? Why interrupt?"
The person she called "elder" slowly walked forward. Hands crossed behind her back, like an old woman with back problems... but her back was as straight as a flagpole. No, not only that... She's way too young to be called "elder."
"Who's this little girl...?" I couldn't help but mutter.
"You idiot!" Only to be reprimanded by Koori the next moment. "She might look young, but she's the oldest among all of us here combined!"
"...Huh?"
I checked again, looking at the Elder from head to toe.
A small girl with piercing silver eyes. Verdant green hair so long it was dragging across the ground as she took small steps forward. She was barefoot, barely half my height, and roughly eight or nine years old, judging by looks.
She's actually older than me...?
"Ja. I'm roughly 300 years old right now."
And she could even read my mind?!
"Nein. I can't. Ye'r face just reflects ye'r thoughts like an open book."
"Elder..." Koori suddenly interrupted, expression looking exasperated. "Stop messing with him. And nobody can live as long as 300 years old. Ignoring your blessing, you're just physically 20 years old right now, right?"
"Hehe, if ye have the same curse as I do, then ye'd know why I like ta mess around... Life's boring if everyone lives by the rules."
Although her words might sound like something a delinquent would say, the way she phrased it made her sound convincing... and the sadness that crossed through her eyes for a moment, one I didn't miss.
"Anyway, the board already gave their decision. Regardless of his background, we'll take in Neil as the newest member of the Batch Zero."
Koori's eyes opened wide with shock, hearing this. "E-Elder?! Are you serious?!"
"... Neil?"
On the other hand, I was wondering who this "Neil" was... Is that my name?
"Ja. That's your new name, Mister Nameless." The Elder answered my monologue. "Thanks is unnecessary; I just saved ye from a five-hour name brainstorming ye'd really hate."
"...?"
As expected, her words are so cryptic I can't tell what she's telling me.
"Oh, I haven't introduced myself yet, have I?"
And as if picking up on my confusion, she continued. She placed a hand over her flat chest proudly, introducing herself.
"The name's Monika Weber. I'm the first seat of the NSC Council and the acting head of this branch of the Batch Zero Operatives." She carefully explained before continuing. "My curse's just one, a simple active precognition allowing me to see the entire future."
"...Huh? Isn't that overpowered?"
"Hehe, I wouldn't have pulled ye in if that's really the case... Mister who's lost his way through timelines."
"...?"
For some reason, I think this Loli-Elder knows more about me than I do... It's a bit unsettling.
"Anyway, I have to go. I still have activity damage filing and paperwork to handle." She added as she turned around, walking away slowly. "Koori, guide our newbie through the ropes. I'm leaving him to ye."
"Ugh... Y-Yes, Elder! And sorry for causing too much damage in today's operation!" Koori's face soured before she stood straight, saluting towards Elder Monika's fading back.
After she was gone from the room, and the auto doors closed behind her, Koori finally breathed out in relief. Then, she turned toward me, eyes filled with confusion and conflicting thoughts, before she parted her lips and said.
"Although I'm still unconvinced, the Elder gave the order. From now on, you'll be Neil. Think of a last name you'd like to add to that later. Your call ID is Number 323. Remember that."
"Neil..." I parroted the name, already feeling some sort of closeness to it. "I'm Neil... Then, can I use the last name Armstro—?"
"Fuck no! Think of a more proper last name!"
"Tch, cheapskate..."
"You..."
Of course, by then, neither Koori nor I knew how much chaos my presence would bring.
🔷🔷🔷
After leaving the "interrogation room," I was led to a changing room where I was forced to strip naked and change into the same style of suit as Koori was wearing.
Ah, of course, Koori was watching as I changed. As per protocols or whatever, she couldn't leave me alone, it seems. Being watched while changing by a beautiful woman felt weird... and exciting at the same time... But mostly weird.
Anyway, after I finished changing, wearing the same color scheme as she does, white with blue accents, I tottered behind the red-faced Koori as we headed somewhere else.
We walked down a hallway that might pass as a connecting hall between spaceships. I kept looking around, as everything I saw was quite a novelty. It feels as if I'm walking through a high-tech secret base of some secret organization or something.
But that wasn't the best of it.
"Stay close, or you'll get lost," Koori warned as we left the hallway and entered a large open space.
There, people were running here and there in a hurry. Some were even flying, while others were wearing military uniforms and patrolling down the aisle in formation. The change in activity from the passages to here was so big that I was lost for words.
"I... thought this base was nearly empty. Now I stand corrected."
"Did you not figure it out with just your number? We have 323 Batch Zero agents here, over a thousand researchers, about 5,000 maintenance personnel, and another thousand military operatives in this base."
"Talk about large scale, huh..."
"We ARE a branch of an international organization, so this much is a given." Koori sighed, her voice sounding low.
Following behind her, we weaved through the crowd of people, heading straight. Some greeted Koori lightly in passing, but she barely nodded in response. She seemed cold... but weirdly popular to everyone.
As expected of their "captain," I guess?
"We're here." She suddenly said, stopping before a large door.
Beside it was a panel for verification. And without hesitation, she placed her palm over it, causing the surface to glow as it scanned her palm.
PSHHH!
With the sound of pressurized air getting released, the doors began to slide to the sides, revealing the interior. Koori didn't wait for me and stepped forward before turning around, one hand against her waist, posing.
"Welcome to Batch Zero, Agent Three-Two-Three."