Arriving at the association's building, Karen approached the reception desk. Noelle was right behind, looking a little nervous. Karen placed the email that was printed on the table.
"I need to talk to the head of the Jacksonville association about this." As soon as the receptionist looked at Karen's face and saw the email, she picked up the phone on the counter and then called someone.
"The secretary is already coming." The receptionist said with a smile. Karen smiled, satisfied and then walked away from the reception desk to wait for the secretary to arrive. Noelle approached her and tugged at the sleeve of her shirt.
"Karen, are you sure this is a good idea?"
"What?"
"Talk to the head of the city association about it. You know, you're here for something very trivial."
"Trivial? That's worth the happiness of my precious guild member."
"... Are you saying that because he looks like Jey?"
Or hearing what Noelle said, Karen was silent and then looked at her.
"Don't talk about him, please." Karen then looked away and continued in silence. Noelle realized that she had touched a wound that had not yet healed, so she felt pretty guilty.
She turned away and sat down in one of the chairs. Karen continued to stand near the reception desk.
Then, after a few minutes, a woman in a business suit appeared. She guided Karen to the building's elevator with a smile. Noelle clenched her fists as she watched her walk away.
"Please don't do anything stupid." She didn't think that was a good idea. The last time Karen had confronted the head of the association, things had gotten a little out of hand.
####
"May I ask the reason for your visit?" On the top floor of the building, Karen was facing the head of the Jacksonville association. Like the main head of the Hunter association of the United States who resided in New York, he had a large room.
He was sitting with his back to large, dark glass windows and in front of him was a large wood table. Karen was seated in a simpler armchair opposite him.
Behind Karen was the centre of the room with two sofas opposite each other and two armchairs. In the centre of the sofas was a small table that could use to place some sweets or cups of tea.
This was where meetings usually took place.
But Karen didn't sit there. The head of the association didn't think this meeting was important enough.
"I came here to talk about Lukas. Lukas Ortid."
"Ah, that boy. Did you get his mother's signature? Or maybe his father's? Aiden Ortid. That brings back memories... I worked together with him for a while." The man stroked his bald head and closed his black eyes, remembering the past.
"I couldn't get the signature. I came here personally to ask you to allow him to continue acting as a hunter." Karen looked at the head of the association. He then opened his eyes.
Their eyes met, and the man sighed.
"I can't do that. You know I can't just break an association rule."
"But aren't you the head of the association?"
"I am the head of only this city. I only control the guilds in the city and monitor the portals around here. I'm just a guy who serves to monitor all of you and then send the data to New York. I have said this to you a few times."
"Can't you contact the head of the association? Your boss."
"Are you crazy? That man may seem nice when he gives TV interviews, but he wouldn't accept a request like that."
"..."
"Listen, it's easier for you to convince his parents to sign the document than to get the association to make that exception and allow him to remain active as a hunter."
"I can't sign the document?"
"You just met that boy, Karen! Please! Don't act like an idiot again."
"Why are you so useless?
"You're asking me to break association rules. Do you want me to lose my job? Do you want to go without food?"
"I'm working. I can support our family."
"You know you can't. That's enough."
"Don't have any way to make the association change this?"
"Bring the signature of that boy's parents, and everything will be settled. And don't even think about doing the foolish thing of forging a signature again."
"Tsk."
"But since you are so intent on solving this, I can give you some information."
"What is it?"
"The request that we remove that boy from the guild and association was an order from one of my superiors."
"Is it serious?"
"Yes. I don't know who it was, but he didn't seem very much to favour this boy joining the association. Whoever did it seemed to be concerned for his safety."
"I see. Is there any chance that his father was involved in this? He was a hunter before, wasn't he?"
"His father quit that job a long time ago, and he has no position within the association. That's impossible."
"I see." Karen got up from her chair and walked toward the room's exit. As she opened the door, her father called out to her.
"Karen, don't do anything stupid again."
"Noelle tells me that all the time." Karen slammed the door and then headed toward the elevator. Her father's secretary offered to accompany her, but she refused. After a few minutes, she reached the reception again.
"Come on, Noelle."
"What did your father say?"
"That old man is useless. He can't do anything."
"Don't say that."
"But it's the truth. "
"What are we going to do now?"
"I will send an email to the association in New York ( The main association of the United States ) to find another way to resolve this. If that doesn't work, I will try to visit Lukas' family."
"Visit his family?"
"Yes."
"..." Noelle stopped walking and looked at Karen.
'She's acting strange. I'm sure it's because of Jey.' Noelle thought.
"Come on!" Then Karen shouted at her, and she followed. They then took the subway and went back to the guild.
After arriving at the guild, Karen wrote a very formal email to the association. They would have to wait up to 3 days for a reply.