Go to work! (4)
Lindel became noisy once more.
It felt rewarding seeing this kind of reaction. Perhaps the people had familiarized themselves with the current guild system. We now looked like a dream-like company that considered numerous welfare and convenient benefits for employees.
It was basically the same type of marketing that worked back on Earth.
Numerous professional managers in this land who studied business administration and knew entrepreneurship also knew which companies were attracting talent. However, there was a difference between simply knowing and practicing.
At least most of the companies I know don’t successfully apply what they know. Perhaps it was because their greed got in the way, or it may be because they internally abused their workers or caused internal problems within the company.
The point was, there was no enterprise, here or back on Earth, that cared about its employees to this degree. This was true, especially in Lindel, who was known for its dangerous areas.
For large guilds such as the Red Mercenaries and Black Swans, the circumstances are good, but it was a hellish experience for the rest of the small and medium-sized clans.
What I did in the first place was far from being innovative. Recruiting an intern wasn’t good at all, but I knew I would find someone desperate to work because of the reward we promised.
‘They can become full-time employees.’
That would serve as the honey for the bees. My insistence upon the term ‘innovation’ was only just a cover-up, after all. It was necessary for our long-lasting image, and soon, all of Lindel would link us to that word.
‘The most important thing is our image.’
It was no exaggeration to say that the public’s opinion of us could make or break our guild. As I leaned back and massaged my temples, I heard someone speak up.
“There are quite a few successful candidates.”
“It’ll take some time to sort them out.”
“Yes. The first test has already been taken, yet there are still so many. It’s nice to have more talented applicants than expected… After all, the Vice Guild Master is also exhausted.”
“No, no. I’ll see to them myself.”
It was better this way because I could check their status windows.
“I’m afraid you’re going a little too overboard.”
“Of course not. It is necessary for me to know who will be our future guild workers.”
“I know.”
“It won’t take too much time anyway.”
The way to pinpoint talent was simple. There was nothing more effective than an imposed test.
Those who applied for tests related to imperial law and tax management questions and applied to the Pension Planning Office decided that it was best to take an alchemy test, and it actually worked. They had heard the rumors and blocked the crowds in advance.
The unfortunate thing was that, although some talented people had been eliminated because of a momentary mistake, there was no time to embrace them.
People who could be used for additional power were the more important ones.
“Are all the interview applicants gathered?”
“Yeah.”
“Send them in one by one. I’ll be the one conducting the interview.”
“Will do.”
The first man who entered harbored a worried expression, seemingly too nervous to sit down. From my first impression, he was already a dud.
It seemed like he wasn’t aware that he’d be meeting me for the interview, and I was already known as quite the powerful figure in the city.
Laughing slightly, I checked his status window. His overall ability was low, and his propensity was…
‘Indolent egoist.
Ugh, he was the type of person Sun Hee-young absolutely hated. He would grow to become another thorn in Blue’s side. I found no reason to give birth to another Lee Seolho.
“Ah. Kim Chul-soo?”
“Yes. Hello.”
“Ah. You do not need to introduce yourself. It will be a little different from the existing interview. You supported the crisis response team…”
“Yes, that’s right. I don’t know if you’ve heard of it, but I was a team leader in the Guardian Tree guild for a while.”
“Yes, I’ve heard of that. That’s very impressive.”
That was a lie. I’ve never even heard of it. It was probably one of those guilds that eventually dissolved. Kim Chul-soo had an eager look in his eye, but his disposition did not lie.
“I’ll ask you a simple question.”
“Of course.”
“Please design an evacuation plan in the event of a disaster that would affect all of Lindel.”
“Y-You mean, now?”
“Yes. It’s okay if it’s not perfect. All of Lindel’s population must be evacuated. How would you evacuate them?”
“Ah… that… First of all, I think using magic will be the most efficient way…”
He had started rambling, far from my expected answer.
‘How stupid.
He hadn’t even wondered about what kind of disaster would take place. I had given him a chance to redeem himself, and he just blew it.
“Lindel’s gate number three…”
“Ah, that was a satisfactory answer. You may head out now.”
“Ah… Yes. Okay.”
“I will notify you if you managed to get in. The answer to your question was impressive. Thank you.”
“Ah! Thank you.”
If the right person didn’t show up, it might be fun to keep him as a pet for a year. The next person came in as soon as Kim Chul-soo headed out.
“Well…”
The woman who walked in looked very pretty. However, traces of suffering were evident all over her body.
‘She looks quite old, too.’
Her status window presented itself to me soon after.
‘Name: Kim Mi-young, 39 years old, and is a working lawyer.’
Her intelligence was better than expected, and even her magical ability reached thirty.
Her history looked pretty peculiar, as well. It seemed that she had worked for a middle-sized guild, retired at the age of 30, and opened up a small general store in the square after getting married.
Perhaps it wouldn’t be too bad to hear about her story.
“Miss Kim Mi-young.”
“Ah… Yes.”
“You applied for the Imperial Legal Affairs Team.”
“Yeah.”
“Your history is a little peculiar, but I would like you to tell me about it yourself. You’re also married… It seems that the rest period is a bit long. You took five years off as a result of it.”
“Ah… Yes.”
At this, her expression darkened. I was sure she felt overwhelmed at this point. Thus, I decided to help her out by asking her a question.
“Your husband…”
“He is dead.”
“I see. I’m sorry. Have you ever had children?”
“I have two. However, it will not interfere with my work.”
“You must have been treated unfairly by your previous guild.”
She fell silent
At that point, I could already deduce what happened. She probably met her husband in the guild, got married, and then got pregnant almost immediately after.
After leaving the guild, she started a business with the money she had saved, and when the business did not work, her husband must have gone hunting.
I didn’t know if he died from illness or a monster, but anyway, her dead husband likely gave way to financial problems. She hadn’t been able to apply for jobs right away because she first had to focus on parenting as well. She must have had a hard time trying to find a job afterward.
“During the break, I spent a lot of time trying to not only challenge myself but also to reflect inward. It was my intention to develop my skills through various activities.”
That was a lie.
“I see.”
However, I saw no reason to point out her fibbing. That was because this woman had the best talent I’d seen thus far.
‘Very good.
Having children may be seen as a fault, but in another perspective, it meant that if I did something on behalf of her kids, she would become a loyal worker for Blue.
Even her children might become future Blue guild members. Her only fault was that her rest period had been long. However, I knew she would exert the effort needed to adjust.
‘Because a mother will do her best for her children.’
More than I can even begin to imagine.
“Do you think you can work actively for us?”
“Yes, of course. I continued to study during my breaks, and I hold an Imperial Law Level 1 Certificate. Of course, it needs to be updated, but… It won’t be hard to do that.”
“I think you know what the situation of our guild is right now.”
“Yeah.”
“I would like to hear why you applied as the legal team of the Blue Guild.”
After a brief silence, she slowly opened her mouth to speak.
“I thought you would need people who are fluent in imperial law. With imperial law not allowing disputes with other Free Cities, considering the Blue Guild’s recent incidents, I thought you would formally protest against the Japanese side. Of course, assuming that Blue has evidence.”
“I see. What if we don’t have any evidence?”
“You might think of a way to put pressure on them that won’t go against the law. As there are loopholes in modern law, there are also obvious loopholes in the imperial law.”
“Is there a way?”
She nodded but did not expound any further. She probably believed that this would be one of her winning traits to get her the job.
I liked it.
“I see… Well, that’s interesting. No, more than that, this is great.”
“I think it’ll be nice to work with you.”
“R-Really?”
“I’m telling you I’m hiring you. As you may already know, you will have to work unpaid for a year. Of course, it doesn’t mean that you won’t receive anything. We will pay for your basic living expenses. Afterward, it would be better to negotiate a salary again. Ah! And, if only you’d be willing to, I would like to entrust the position of team leader of the legal team to you. Of course, it will only be possible if you can obtain achievements during your internship.”
“Oh?”
“You can leave your children at the Guild Facility while you work. Where do you live now?”
“U-Um… On the outskirts…”
That meant she lived in the slums. That was even better. She had nowhere else to go.
“It would be better if you live in the Guild House. We will arrange a room for you and your children.”
“Ah…”
I placed the contract on the table, and her eyes immediately focused on it. She would probably know more about this than I did. After all, she was more well-versed in this field than me.
“Read it and sign it.”
“Yes, of course.”
I watched as she flipped through the contact, her suspicious expression turning into joy.
“You will get busy. This means you probably won’t be able to see your kids for a few days. Of course, we will prepare everything you’ll need, from education to future career paths. If you manage to make a difference, I will also send you to study abroad in the empire’s capital. Of course, it is provided that your children will also join Blue. All of that is stated in the contract, Miss Kim Miyoung.”
“Ah… Yes, of course!”
“If you also want to learn the basics of being an adventurer, the guild also hosts simple swordsmanship classes and magic classes, so both you and your children can participate.”
“Thank you… Thank you so much.”
There was no reason for her not to sign, considering her children and their living conditions in the slums. It would be better to serve and stay in Blue than to live in daily fear in the slums. It didn’t take too long for her to sign the contract. At this point, I was already smiling,
“Then, I will go to work…”
“Starting now.”
“A-Ah, really?”
“Find a man named Park Deokgu in the lobby, and then you can come to the Guild House with your children. After organizing your luggage and going up to the office, you can rewrite the employment contract you are holding. I’m a little ignorant of the law. I made it by referring to what was in the past, but it looks strange to me.”
“Ah…”
“Please submit it to me after you’re finished with your work, Miss Kim Miyoung.”
Kim Mi-young stared at me, doubting if she had heard me wrong, but overall, she wore a pleasant expression.
“W-Will do!”
Ideally, you should never let your employees know that you’d be treating them as slaves. I couldn’t help but smile as I saw her joyful expression.
“If you show us acceptable results, we will convert you to a full-time employee even before the year is up. Do remember that it must be a convincing achievement.”
“Yes, I will do my best.”