My system allows me to copy talents

582  The Representative

Ring! Ring!

Early in the morning, Hiro received a call. It was a call from an unknown number. "Who is this?" Hiro felt skeptical about the call. He had just come out of the shower after a vigorous training session. Water droplets fell, wetting the floor he passed.

Although skeptical, he received the call, "Hello."

"Hello, Am I talking to Hiro?" A rather mature and masculine voice sounded from the other side. The person communicated in English. Hiro revealed a complacent expression as he thought, 'A foreigner? But how did he find my number? Also, it appears that the person knows it's my number.' Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"Yeah...," he answered albeit sounding a bit skeptical. Immediately, the other party's tone softened, "Great, I'm glad I reached you."

"But who are you? Do I know you?" Hiro asked. The person had yet to reveal himself. Shouldn't he introduce himself before? So, he couldn't help but feel uneasy about the call. "Ahh..., I'm sorry. I should have introduced myself. I'm Hugo Castillo, the representative from Athletico Madrid."

The other party introduced. Upon hearing the identity of the person behind the call, Hiro felt at ease. Immediately, his stiffened expression eased up. "Do you have a moment today? I would like to discuss something about the contract."

"I do. But...,"

"Ahh don't worry. We won't be altering the content of the contract. We just want to talk a few things with you."

Without Eric's presence, Hiro didn't want to discuss the contract. So, he was a little hesitant to talk about the contract. After all, he had thought that the content of the contract had already been agreed upon. So, he couldn't help but feel uneasy talking about the contract. However as he heard him, he felt relieved. "Sure, you can pick the time and place."

Hiro let him decide the time and place of their meeting. He wasn't sure if the time and place he chose would be comfortable for the man. So, he let him decide the time and place to prevent any inconveniences. "Then how about 1 PM? We could meet at the Bamboo Restaurant," Hugo asked with utmost politeness. Hiro agreed and hung up the call, "Then I'll meet you in the Bamboo Restaurant." Later in the afternoon, he arrived at the place mentioned by Hugo at 12:45 PM sharp. Upon arriving at the meeting location, he looked for the man. The place was huge and the decoration was extravagant. Hiro searched around the place for a while. Unable to find the person, he called the person. "Hello, I'm already here. But I can't find you," Hiro said. Hugo said in surprise, "You've already arrived?" Then he apologized, "I'm sorry, I'm still on my way. I'll be there in a minute. So, would you mind waiting for a while?"

"You can wait in room number 7. I've reserved the place."

"You don't have to apologize sir. I just arrived early. You take your time, sir. I'll be waiting for you in the aforementioned room," Hiro said politely. "What a great guy," Hugo who was currently inside a taxi couldn't help but praise Hiro for his mannerism. Hiro sounded so humble and polite. At the same time, he couldn't help but commend the punctuality of the Japanese people. He had planned to reach the place about five minutes earlier. But he hadn't expected Hiro to reach the place 15 minutes earlier than the agreed time. Hugo was impressed by Hiro's attitude. Smiling, he asked the driver, "Sir, can you drive a little fast?"

The driver gave him a deep look and responded in English, "Sir, I can't break the rules. You should have left early if you were in a hurry."

Hugo felt a little offended by the response of the driver. But he couldn't bring himself to respond. After all, he was the one to blame. He hadn't researched thoroughly. After about five minutes, he arrived at the meeting place. He took a huge bill out of his pocket and handed it to the driver and rushed out in a hurry. "Sir, your change...,"

Before the driver could return the change, he dashed away from his sight. The driver looked at the dashing figure of Hugo and sighed, "Why are you making things difficult for me?"

Then he also headed out of the car to chase Hugo. His guilty concise didn't allow him to keep the spare changes. So, he rushed to catch up to him. Inside the private room, Hiro sat comfortably with his legs crossed. Blowing the hot steam from the cup of tea he was holding, he took a sip and stared outside the window, 'Are all foreigners like this?'

Just then, the door to the room slid open and a figure drenched in sweat, panting heavily emerged. Startled by the sudden change, Hiro turned to look at the door. There he noticed a person with tousled blond hair. He had a rather fair skin tone, and he had patches of blond beard. The man appeared exhausted. Panting heavily, he said, "Huff! Sorry..., I'm late."

Hiro looked at him dazedly. Then he said, "No, I'm sorry. I arrived earlier than the set time."

Hugo revealing his enamel-coated teeth let out a smile and said, "No, I misjudged the attitude of the Japanese folks."

"Sir, here's your spare change. Why did you rush away without taking your changes?" The driver caught up to him and handed him the money. Furrowing his brows, he shunned Hugo for running away. Hugo stared at him dazedly, perplexed by the man before him. Hastily, he refused the amount, "No, sir. I wanted you to keep the changes. I was tipping you."

Hugo tried to explain himself. Even so, the man before him didn't seem impressed by Hugo's generosity. The man refused the kindness bestowed upon him, "No, sir. I've already received my payment. You don't have to go to such lengths. You should keep your money to yourself."

Hugo felt perplexed by the refusal of the man. He was offering him extra money, yet the man was adamant about receiving it. He couldn't help but think, 'What's wrong with this man?'