“Happy Birthday!”

Miss Barbara, Keen, Gary who just woke up a while ago, and I greeted the boss as he entered the office.

The boss looked dumbfounded as he gazed around the room. There were food on the table at the center of the room; a birthday cake, pasta, meat and some booze. There were also some letter shaped balloons on the walls forming the words “Happy Birthday!”.

“What are you guys doing here this late?” The boss asked.

“Are ya right in the head? We are throwin’ a birthday party!” Gary waved his arms on the air.

“A party? For who?” he furrowed his eyebrows.

“For you, dummy!” Miss Barbara said.

“For me?” He laughed.

“Isn’t it your birthday, chief?” Keen asked.

“Where did you learn that?” He said after he stopped laughing.

“But your social media profile said that it was today!” Miss Barbara got her phone from her bag in a nearby table and showed it to the boss. “See?”

“Oh that, it’s false information.”

“For reals?” Gary said with a smile then laughed.

“Look at the year. Do I look like I am more than 40 years already?” He chuckled.

“How can I miss that?” Miss Barbara exclaimed after she looked at her phone.

The event that was supposed to be of a celebration was filled with an awkward atmosphere due to the mistake. In fact, there was no longer a reason to celebrate.

“Why would you even put false information in your profile!?” Miss Barbara said as she put her hands on her hips then leaned forward, having their faces near to one another.

“I don’t like having private info be shown in public.” The Boss looked away.

“Then you could have just hidden the information!” the irritated Miss Barbara said.

“Hiding information will make me seem unfriendly.”

“Using false information will have you lose credibility though,” I interjected.

“That is only if they find out about it.” The Boss smiled.

“Then tell me, when is your true birthday?” Miss Barbara said in an aggressive tone.

“You are in a detective agency. You should know how to find and verify information on your own,” he monotonously replied.

“This is proof that I am still incompetent.” Keen seriously reflected. “Thank you for your guidance, chief!” he added with a loud voice as he bowed.

I knew that Boss was smart but I did not know that he was that cunning. I looked at Miss Barbara and her fists were clenched and shaking. I was unsure if it was due to anger or humiliation but she was still able to smile.

“The party might be a flop but since we already have everything prepared, shall we eat?” Miss Barbara clapped her hands.

As per her request, we ate and drank booze despite the grand failure. Someone would talk from time to time but it will be readily followed by silence. It was a very unsettling feeling for me just to be here, but I believe it was even more painful for Miss Barbara.

The awkward office dinner finally ended. Gary already went home while Keen, Miss Barbara and I were cleaning the place up.

“Cray, would you give this to Jo?” Miss Barbara called out to me while holding a small box wrapped with a ribbon.

“Is this supposed to be a birthday gift?” I asked.

“Yeah, I think it kind of feels off to give it to him myself.” Miss Barbara looked down with watery eyes.

“I kind of see why.”

“It is a waste if I won’t give it, so…”

”Leave it to me!” I enthusiastically said as I take the gift then left the room.

The boss said he was going for some fresh air in the balcony so that is where I went. As I entered, I saw him leaning on the fence with a glass of wine on hand and a cigarette on the other.



“Went here to cool off from the booze?” He asked after he noticed me.

“No way, the drinks Keen got were too weak! Even a newborn would be unaffected by those.”

“I forgot you are a hard drinker,” the boss chuckled.

“I’m glad you did not say alcoholic,” I jokingly replied.

“I know you are not that bad. Anyway, got business with me?”

“Yeah, Miss Barbara asked me to give this to you.” I went closer to him with the gift.

”She should have given it to me herself.” The boss then drank from his glass.

“Given the awkward situation a while ago, you should know why she could not.”

“Yeah, just put it on the table there.”

I nodded. After doing what he said, I came back then stood beside him. The moon was not big but the stars on the sky illuminated the surroundings alongside the lights coming from the streets and nearby buildings.

“Boss, can I ask you a question?”

“Fire away”

“Why did you lie about today not being your birthday?”

The Boss looked at me. After seeing that I was no joking around, he looked away then smiled.

“Nothing really goes past you. How did you know?”

“While we are waiting for you to come, I heard them say that they knew it was your birthday from your social media profile.”

“Then?”

“I thought it was not a reliable source of information so I went to check it with the file I gathered of you.”

“You dare investigate your boss?” His eyes widened but his lips were smiling.

“Well, you are literally a stranger a few weeks ago so I have to know if I can trust you or not. Anyways, I looked it up and today really was your birthday!”

“How sure are you that your information is correct?”

“I am quite sure. Only the year was wrong on your social media profile”

I was very confident with my information. In fact, I was able to obtain copies of his birth certificate and other records. I would of course not tell him where I got them and that I have multiple copies just to be safe.

“Resourceful, doubtful, and smart, you are born for this kind of thing.” The boss then blew smoke from his cigarette.

“Wow the boss complimented me! Does it mean I’ll have a pay increase soon?” I jokingly said.

“Dream on, you haven’t been here for even a month yet.” The Boss flicked my forehead which did not hurt.

“So back to my question, why did you lie? You do know that Miss Barbara worked hard for it, right?”

“It was exactly because she worked hard for it.”

“What do you mean?”

“I usually don’t talk about these things but since you saw through me, I’ll make an exception.”

“Alright!” I raised my arms up high as I cheered.

“I guess everyone knows she has feelings for me”

“Wow! You are able to say things like that with a straight face? You are quite the man, boss!” I poked him with my elbow.

“When you become an adult, you’ll get used to it and no longer get embarrassed.”

“So, yeah. I know all about it.”

“As much as possible, I want her to stop doing things out of those feelings.”

“So does that mean you dislike her?”

“Not necessarily but I can’t say that I have feelings for her either. Maybe I just don’t want to think about those things because of all the demon business.”

“Oh, right. I kind of know that feeling. Why not just say it to her directly?”

“It’s not easy to do, but I already did.”

“Eh? So what did she say?”

“She said that it was alright and just being able to help me out makes her happy.”

“It is already settled then! What is the problem then?”

“Every time she does things for me, I feel guilt. She’s giving it her all for me yet I can’t force myself to give what she truly wants.” He took another sip off his drink.

“So you want to make it seem that all her efforts to gain your affection were all in vain so she will eventually stop?”

“You really don’t need me to explain everything.”

“That is not a very ethical way to turn someone down though!” I pointed at the boss but I quickly put my hand down after a second. “But at the same time, I cannot say I do not understand how you feel.”

“I’m glad you feel that way.”

“I have another question.” I tilted my head since something did not make sense.

“Hm?” He raised his eyebrows.

“I thought Miss Barbara has the ability to tell if someone told a lie. Why was she not able to detect it earlier?”

“It was because I did not tell one”

I went silent to think while the Boss just stared at me, waiting for me to finish. I recalled the words he said. He did not say that it was not his birthday today. He only said that the information on his profile was wrong, which was indeed wrong!

But what made the information wrong was the year, and not the month and date! Since he pointed out that the information was incorrect, it made us think that he was saying that it was not today.

I cannot believe he had it all calculated.

“I see! You used facts to make us think what you want us to think without telling a lie!” I clapped.

“That’s about it.”

“You played on words to dodge Miss Barbara’s ability! You are such a schemer, boss!” I said with a laugh.

“Not as much as you. You did the same when we were interrogating you, remember?”

“What do you mean boss?” I feigned ignorance.

“You answer truthfully but in a very limited manner, not letting Keen question further while preventing yourself to make a mistake.”

“Ack!” I was surprised and took a step back.

He knew it all along yet he did not say anything? This man is scary!

“Since I made an effort to answer your questions truthfully, I believe you’ll do the same for me.” The Boss then gulped down his drink until it was empty.

So the reason why he answered all of my questions in his private life was so that I will have no choice but to answer his? I cannot believe that I was playing all along his palm from the beginning.

I should be more careful of my words and actions around him from now on.

“I guess it is a good time to get to know one another! You can ask me anything, there is nothing interesting about me though.” I faked a smile.

“Nothing interesting even when you are a bearer of a directional demon king?” He seriously glared.

“What are you saying? The demon I bear is Forcas, he is a major demon but I am sure he is not a king!” I replied with a laugh.

“Forcas, that is the demon of the one you killed in the forest. Since you can use its powers, I presume it is also inside of you now.”

“Huh? I do not quite follow…”

“Inside you is one of the four kings, the mysterious king of the north, Ziminar.” The Boss pointed at my chest as he stared at me with his stern eyes.

Sweat ran down my forehead and a shock ran through my spine. This guy is… frightening.

I cannot believe he had me figured out from the beginning. Was he just playing along while he had me under his wing so he can closely monitor me?

I do not know what his motive is but…

“I really am lost right now.” I replied.

“Transform into your demon form then.”

“Why should I? That is only for emergencies!”

“If you won’t…”

The boss dropped the wine glass and cigarette to the floor. As the sound of the shattering glass echoed, he removed the glove off his hand where his demon’s mark is located. He raised his hand in front of him then he started to transform.

“I’ll just have to force you to”