"I'm a hard-working person. Please hire me."
A beautiful lady in her thirty eyed me from head to foot. It feels weird wearing a school uniform even if I never went to any schools before. I'm only self-thought by my parents as a tradition by Bia.
I'm in the recruitment hall of the Lamba Guild for staff, and I'm about to be killed by the woman's piercing gaze.
"Hmm, you're so stiff. Are you sure you can survive the Lamba?"
Pfft. Even the names sound like a sacrificial lamb.
Ven tries to hold back his laugher.
"A-Are you sure you're going to go there Nabi?" The president asked for the 20th times now. He feels sorry.
"Of course, he has. Who else is best suitable for this job but our apprentice Nabi?"
"So, the mission is simple. You're going to apply for a working student and do some errands for another guild fo now. We'll give you three days. Tell us how the guild works, the technologies they're using, how they sort out their accounts, and how they recruit employees. Check the salaries of their highest-paid members too."
"I'm so sorry. If I'm competent enough to know anything about running a guild, you'll never have to go through such hardship. I usually heard from my fellow gamblers on how nasty the place is. Since their lower rank members are too prideful to be part of a medium-scale guild, they usually bully staff even if all they did is drink on the pub of the company." The president apologized again.
"That what makes this mission quite perfect. After three days, you can just tell the boss that you'll be quitting because you can't tolerate the terrible working environment. It's a win-win situation for us. One more thing, since most of their new hires usually give up after a week of working, they rarely check your documents within that given timeframe." Ven explained further.
I collect my thoughts. There's no time to be intimidated. I'm already on the battlefield. I have tougher opponents waiting ahead.
"I- I was told that this place hires a hardworking student. It'll be my greatest honor to work with Lamba."
I bowed my head and acted naively just like what Ven thought me. According to him, Lamda prefers hiring desperate part-timers.
"Ok. Give it a try. We're not very picky now, especially since it's a hunting season."
"Hunting season?"
That genuinely caught my interest.
"You don't know that?"
Am I caught?
I smiled innocently.
"Hahahahaha. I just transferred with my parents. I'm a bumpkin so I'm not really familiar with it. Hehehe."
"You're in the countryside? So, do you love hunting?"
"Ah, I would love to learn but I only know how to plant." Of course, that was a lie.
"That's a shame. We're looking for staff that can assist members during the hunting season. It's going to be a huge event hosted by United Guilds Association. The prize money is something, but that's not what the participating guild is actually aiming for. Since it'll be attended by representatives from different elite groups, we're hoping to get their attention. You know, if you back up from an elite group, you're chances of unlocking difficult requests from public and private organizations will increase. We need their support to boost the popularity and profit of the guild."
I give her a puzzled look. There are a few things I need to take note of.
Hunting competition
Unlocking Difficult Tasks
Being a Skilled Hunter?
The lady or more like my new boss sighed.
"This year, there's a part of the competition that lets staff participate in the hunting. The details haven't been released yet so that's why we're preparing for any possibilities. I guess elites might be seeking for a guild that has both excellent members and staff."
Noted.
"Boy, you're name is Nabi, right? Call me Madam Catalyst. I'm very tired of interviewing new applicants every week so I hope you'll stay here long."
"Of course, I won't be going anywhere! I'm very glad to be in your care."
Madam Catalyst led me to a bigger hall to orient me of my job. On the left side, there's the front desk. A gigantic flat-screen computer is installed beside it. It's 288 inches wide and 152 inches tall. What I assume legitimate members of the guild are standing in front of it, watching the screen to change posts.
That is the EIC or Elite Information Center. That device is connected to the database that the elite groups use. This gives us access to many types of jobs, from class F to class SS. Since we're not officially supported by the elite, for now, we only receive class F to class C jobs. If I press the folder here for class B, you'll notice that I can't access it.
Madam Catalyst pressed the folder using her phone that's sync into the main computer. Indeed, she fails to access it. Every time she pressed the folder, an authorization requirement pops up.
"Is there anyone that can bypass that?"
"Good question. There are a few. You said you're living in the countryside right? For sure, you're aware that there are classes solely dedicated to students with blessings?"
I nod, pretending to know.
"I know that you're not very familiar with it since you don't have any blessing, but students under those classes are given ID numbers. Their ID numbers tell their level of abilities, and it is registered in the state's system. If you input them on in the pop-up and your ability still fits the job requirements, you can view and take it. We have a few people who can do that so make sure to treat them well since they're our VIPs. They can be quite stubborn, though due to their pride so you need to appraise them well."
"It's your job to sort out the data of new member applications." She continued. "Also, since the system we're using is own by the government and heavily encrypted, we can't take a digital record of the accepted jobs so you need to log them dire on the books and in our own system. This is basic knowledge for all guilds, especially if circumstances forbid us from accessing histories or opening the system."
I remember every word she said.
Before showing me to my table, Madam Catalyst introduced me to the other two employees working at the front desk. She explained they're assigned for assisting members. When I give my greetings, the staffs only give me a cold shoulder.
They pretended to return my greeting before completely pretending that I don't exist.
It doesn't bother me at all, but it's good to take note of this atmosphere. Whether it's in Bia or the outside world, forming meaningful working relationships is crucial for success.
I look around. My spot gives me the chance to observe every member present in the hall. The place is rowdy. It's still nine in the morning, but some older men are already opening booze. A group in a particular is making a ruckus in one of the set tables. They look so happy while eating their meals. This foreign occurrence makes me think guilds look more like a place for social gathering. There are foods and servers on the other side of the room too.
Perhaps, are they celebrating after completing a difficult mission?
That thought crossed my mind but then I remembered what Ven told me before.
"Listen Nabi, we don't know how to read so we survive in this cruel word by observing our surroundings. You're surrounded with clues so all you have to do is to notice them. You can easily see someone's personalities and achievements with their clothing, the way they speak, and how they move their eyes."
"So, it's like watching prey during a hunt?" I replied with utmost curiosity.
"Hahahaha. Even if you say that, we're still scam by our creditor."
I can still remember Ven's dejected face after that what he said is still very helpful.
Looking at those people, they might have lost the motivation to work. They might be too lazy or scared to go for a mission.
"Valued member, I highly recommend that you reconsider quitting the guild."
My fellow staff looks desperate, and I can guess why. The tall guy in front of her, maybe a few years older than me, might be a VIP member. He looks unconcerned. As expected of someone in demand. I watch him intently. He has a dark green long hair neatly tied on the back of his head. He's carrying a sword on his back. Strangely, as a hunter, I don't feel that his arms are suitable for wielding it. Does it have something to do with his power? Since we'll be forming a guild soon, I decided to try to remember every blessed people I'll meet, this person included.
"I'm not satisfied with my payment. Why do you need to reduct 15% off my salary, anyway?"
"Valued member, we really hope that there's something we can do about it but that is how we do business. In fact, after you complain about it the other day, the upper management agreed to give you special treatment. Instead of taking 30% of the share, we only took 15% of it. That's already a very good deal, and you won't find that anywhere in this city."
The unenthusiastic man cleans his ear, pretending to not hear it. If it was me, I would rather cast that man away with pleasure, unless of course, I have a very good reason.
"I can take SS class jobs, and I know that even 10% of my salary is nothing than the profits you made from all of the losers here. So, why don't you reduce it further?"
The rowdy hall is now quiet. I can feel the tension in the air. They must have heard him, and it's obvious he hurts their pride. Considering the gap of the power level, it's expected that none of those 'losers' stood up and go against the man. On the other hand, that man may sound very arrogant but he looks honest and serious.
"If- If you like, we'll bring it up to the top management again." The cold lady before is now sweating. She looks at the other worker, and then, me. She's sending an SOS like call Madam Catalyst immediately. As a reward for their rude greetings, I pretended to not understand. I'm secretly amused when the other staff finally ran to call for the madam. She must have hated it, and I can guess why. It's her job to manage this kind of people but she's now looking for the head. She'll surely receive a scolding.
"Lady, I don't think that you understand. I'll only stay if I get my full salary."
That's outrageous, and everyone in the room thinks the same. I can see that some of them are holding back to start a fight, even the drunkards in the corner.
Then a thought comes in my mind.
Well, if he's truly powerful just like he claimed, then, hiring him in Axum won't be a bad idea. I'm sure Ven will hate it but if I wanted to get the attention of the elite, then, I need his skills. I hope that this guild will fail the negotiation.
"You can leave. We don't need someone like you." The staff returned with Madam Catalyst. "I'm very reluctant to accept you from the very start if not for the other board members. Now, I finally have the reason to kick you out. I'm so happy it happens sooner than I expected."