"Bunt, Bruder. I want you two to be bouncers for this place on a regular basis. It will be a paid position as long as you do your job properly."
"'Yes, boss.'"
The two large-built men were more aware of their physiques than anyone else. Even if they weren't as strong as the executives of Wither, they still looked intimidating. And, at least in the beginning, that would be enough to prevent people from causing a ruckus at the entrance.
"A question, boss."
Bunt cautiously raised his hand and spoke.
"Yeah?"
Bunt held back a sigh of relief. Fortunately, Micah didn't mind. It actually seemed as if he was waiting for it.
"Will we be handling entrance fees, as well?"
Micah stroked his chin with an appreciative look on his face.
"Great question. Do you think you can handle it?"
Bunt and Bruder looked at each other, but they weren't that close and couldn't come to an agreement just by exchanging glances. Bunt spoke first.
"I would prefer to be responsible for only a single task."
After a few moments of reluctant silence, Bruder also spoke.
"I think it would be best to have someone else do it. If we're in charge of keeping things under control and collecting entrance fees, we'll likely get swamped. Or we will be too slow, and the queue will build up."
Micah hummed.
"So you give up the receptionist position?"
"'Yes, boss.'"
"Even if it means extra pay?"
That question made Bunt and Bruder reconsider their decision, but they quickly came to a decision.
"'Yes, boss.'"
"Alright. That's settled, then. Dennis. Emcee?"
"Yes, sir!"
"No need to be so stiff."
Since Dennis even saluted as he answered, Micah chuckled a little. After Dennis calmed down slightly, Micah looked at the three of them, as well as Rego.
"Okay, we have three more positions to fill, a receiver, a bookie, and a challenger. I am thinking of having the last person to complete the daily quota be the challenger, but I am open to suggestions. Shoot."
"'Yes, boss.'"
"Yes, sir."
The four men accepted Micah's orders with enthusiasm. But it took a little while until Bruder finally spoke up.
"I recommend Ernest, boss."
Micah looked at Bruder with a slightly suspicious gaze.
"Ernest was your buddy, right? Is that why you recommend him?"
Bruder got a little nervous under Micah's gaze, but after gulping down his nervousness, he answered Micah with an almost steady voice.
"Yes. But it's because we are friends that I know he is capable. He is good with words and numbers, so I think he would make a decent bookmaker."
"I see. Alright, let's give him a try tonight. Any other recommendations?"
No one answered him for quite a while, so Micah sighed.
"Alright, get back out there and make sure the guys stay in line."
"'Yes, boss!'"
Dennis noticed how out of place it was when he used 'sir,' so he also said 'boss' this time.
Micah looked at the three men walking out the door as he spoke to Rego.
"Let's put number one as the receiver and the last guy as the challenger. At least for today, and then we'll see how things progress."
"Yes, boss."
Although he was already mostly done with the interior of the Cube, Micah didn't leave. It felt like a waste to do that when he would just have to return later. So, while Rego posted himself outside the Cube to collect pol from all the underlings, Micah continued adding the finer details to the Cube. One such thing was a booth for him and the executives.
Now, there was an ordinary stand, a grandstand for those willing to pay more for a better view, and a booth exclusively for Micah and the ones he chose to come up with him. Establishing different privileges and the like was a great way to earn extra, after all.
Micah was admiring the view of the Cube's interior when the front doors burst open.
"Bossman, is it true?!"
Tineya entered the Cube with a shout. She looked around to find Micah. But since he was in the booth, she didn't see him at once. Instead, she saw the ring in the center of the Cube and the stands around it. Tineya's eyes and entire face lit up.
"Yes! Bossman, you're the best!"
Tineya saw Micah leave the booth and begin walking down the stairs to ground level again, and she rushed toward him with her arms outstretched.
But before she could hug Micah in her excitement, Micah grabbed her arm and threw her over the railing.
"Manners."
Tineya stood up and dusted off her pants without being upset or showing any signs of injury. If anything, being thrown from the stairs a couple of meters up in the air and onto the ground helped her calm down.
"Hey, did you get stronger?"
"Naturally."
"Tch. Do you have to grow stronger so quickly? How am I supposed to catch up and fight you?"
"Why wait? Didn't you want a rematch as soon as we took over town?"
"Um. About that…."
Micah leaned against the railing and smiled as he looked down at Tineya.
"Don't wanna?"
"Well… I don't think I will win as I am now."
"Huh. So you don't fight unless you think you can win?"
"When you put it like that… Wait. Isn't that pretty standard?"
"Yeah. For weaklings and cowards."
"Hey! I know you beat me, but that doesn't mean you can call me weak and cowardly."
"No?"
Micah began walking down the stairs.
"Prove it to me."
"What?"
"You aren't weak, right? Prove it to me."
Micah walked to the ring and jumped up after taking off his jacket.
"All right! Don't blame me if you get hurt!"
Tineya got herself fired up, and she met Micah in the ring, ready to fight.
"That's more like it."
Micah whistled to get Rego's attention. Rego popped his head inside the door after only a moment.
"Yes, boss?"
"Get in here and lock the door."
"Yes, boss."
"Wait."
Micah looked at Tineya.
"Where's Art?"
"Right here, sir."
Art showed his head from behind Rego, who stood in the doorway following Micah's command to wait.
"Great. Come in here, both of you, and watch closely."