Free Web NovelChapter 6: A Comma
Sandra adjusted the apron she was currently wearing over her night pajama gown and, without sparing Tony another look, went over to open the door.
After she opened the door and confirmed it was the people she expected that had come, she ushered them to a bench cushion that was beside the window, directly opposite Tony’s bed, before returning to the kitchen.
Tony, on the other hand, sat upright on the edge of his bed, taking in the presence of the two official August visitors he just had — a male and a female.
The male official was broad-shouldered and appeared composed. His dark hair was trimmed to the side, short, and especially gave him that quiet, intimidating presence of someone who possessed enough authority in his grasp.
Beside him was a good-looking female official who carried an elegant, sharp, and observant composure. Silver-rimmed spectacles rested lightly on her nose as her eyes moved with swift calculation, scanning her surroundings.
Tony could immediately tell that she was the subordinate of the broad-shouldered official, although he couldn’t quite fathom what position each of them held.
But most importantly, who were they? And why were they here? What connection did Sandra have with them?
His questions were immediately answered when he saw the emblem etched on the chest of the black, expensive, cologne-oozing suits worn by the officials.
The emblem was a golden crown, with a golden sword passing through its middle. Carved on the stem of the crown was an enlarged "M" with a cross passing through it in equal halves.
Tony’s eyes widened. His thoughts from earlier were playing before him, albeit ironically.
But then, what were they really here for?
"I’m Supervisor Narumi from the Monarchs," the male official distracted Tony’s thought.
The female official was about to join the ladder by introducing herself but was distracted by Narumi.
"And she’s my vice," he added to his unfinished introduction earlier, gesturing to the lady official. "Supervisor Maya."
Tony scanned them indifferently for a while, not saying anything even after they had introduced themselves.
They were from the Monarchs Guild, and not only that, the supervisors were the ones who had visited him. This only screamed one thing in his mind: they were here to recruit him.
’Are they fine with having a player who hasn’t awakened any class?’
From the latest memories Tony awakened, he already knew that the Monarchs never settled for less, even though they were ranked below the Vermillions in terms of achievement. That was why they had outplayed this highest-ranked guild the previous year to recruit Sandra.
That’s right. Sandra was the highest player awakener of her set, having awakened a rare-ranked Elementalist class.
Just like what was happening at the moment, the Vermillions had also ignored her a bit and focused on the players who had shouting classes before the Monarchs took advantage of the situation.
However, after she enrolled in the Monarchs and her real abilities were tested, it became clear what a trump card she can become for this guild. Not only had she awakened a rare-ranked class, but she was a trio elemental user.
’Interesting.’
On hearing this news, the two lovers had celebrated and ended their celebration with a blissful night together.
Tony’s face flushed as the scene briefly played in his mind before he shook it off.
But that scene had not taken place in this current apartment.
This cozy studio apartment was bought, not even rented, a few months after Sandra began to work for the Guild. Her pay was really substantial.
Tony shut his eyes and raised them up. After awakening his latest memories, he understood why Sandra was never leaving her boyfriend’s side. Their relationship had lasted for a very long time and had graduated from being friends to what they are now.
The problem was, ’Am I willing to accept her really as my girlfriend? I’m not the real Tony between.’
"Mister Tony, have you been listening to us?" Maya’s sweet voice drew Tony’s attention.
Tony looked down and turned his gaze to them.
"I’m sorry if it seemed like I wasn’t listening. I was just wondering, how important could I possibly be to the Monarchs to have them visiting me?"
Maya breathed a sigh of relief; now she knew she wouldn’t have to repeat herself again. But before she could speak once more, Supervisor Narumi spoke first.
"You’re right. I was also wondering what the Guild Master saw in you that made him want to recruit you."
Tony was right. They were here to recruit him.
"My first guess was that he was lastingly trying to secure our best recruit so far by honoring her request to make her boyfriend a member of the guild... but even the Guild Master isn’t foolish enough to neglect details all in the name of fulfilling a girl’s request."
Tony stared at the official as he spoke, a clear understanding of what was going on etching in his mind.
’Sandra also has a hand in this?’ he surmised.
"Not until I heard of what happened during the awakening ceremony. The Guild Master was never one to make mistakes with his selections." Narumi looked to the side at his vice and gave her a nodding signal.
While he continued speaking to Tony, Maya bent toward the briefcase they had come in with and retrieved two devices from inside it.
"The strange thing is that we didn’t find out your awakened class regardless of the mighty power source of your glow of grace. That is why this special detection device always comes in handy." He outstretched his hand and collected the smaller of the electronic devices from Maya.
Venturing closer on the bench cushion, he gestured for Tony to bring his right hand.
A flicker of a concerned expression flashed on Tony’s face.
Is it really possible that they can detect his class without having to need the pulpit of grace?
The words of the moderator when he asked about the ranks of the awakened classes flashed in his mind.
’If they can assess a player’s skill and the rarity of their class, then detecting the class itself shouldn’t be a problem. If so, what is now the use of the awakening ceremony?’
"Mister Tony, your hand please," Narumi said, assuming the latter didn’t understand his hand gesture.
Tony didn’t give his hand immediately.
"What if my class is still not detected? Will I still be recruited?" he asked.
Although he wished for them not to find out what class he had awakened, he also wished for him to be recruited at least since that was going to make his plans smoother. Even if he was going to end up as a solo player, he needed recognition.
[Don’t worry, Host, the situation is under control.]
The system resounded in his mind when he least expected it. That reminded him, once these officials are done, he would have to go through the system to truly understand how it works.
"Are you already afraid that you have really awakened no class?" Narumi questioned. "Don’t worry about it though; you will still be recruited. I’m sure the Guild Master will know what to do with you if your dread comes to pass."
Tony nodded, inwardly happy as he extended his hand.
Narumi placed the small circular device on the latter’s wrist and pressed the power button. The moment the device was activated, a subtle transformation took place.
It settled firmly on its own against Tony’s wrist and shuddered to life. Fine seams split along its edges, releasing slender metallic leather-watch hands that extended until they curled and wrapped around Tony’s wrist like a wristwatch.
ARGH*
The needle-like tips on the hands of the wristwatch pierced into Tony’s hand, causing a brief sting that was sharp but fleeting. Luckily, the needle-like tips seemed to have a sense of their own as they didn’t go further to pierce into his veins but rested on them.
Then, the screen on the device over his wrist shone a bright, purple light before releasing a final beep sound.
Tony looked over, hoping to see the results of the detection process carried out on him firsthand; however, he was disappointed on looking into the device’s screen.
This circular device was not what displayed the result of the process. It was the device that looked like an iPad, which Maya currently held in her hands.
Supervisor Narumi turned his gaze immediately to his side to stare into the information displayed on the screen.
And just like Tony noticed with Maya, an uncontrolled gasp left the supervisor’s mouth as his eyes widened in clear shock.
Tony’s brow furrowed as he tried to make sense of the situation.
’Could it be—’
"This is mad. Congratulations, Tony Starke."
Now, it was Tony’s turn to stiffen with widened eyes, only his weren’t out of shock. But out of disappointment.
’The system. Could it be that my class was—’
Once again, his thought was distracted as a familiar figure appeared just at that moment, dragging a stool table between the officials and Tony and off-loading the contents of the tray she carried on top of it.
"Narumi, what does his profile say?" Sandra asked after she was done and stood upright.
All this while, Maya still concentrated her gaze on the screen as she scrolled. Until she got to a point and paused.
"Yet, there’s still a comma in this feat," she said with a dejected tone.
