บท 11: Interview
"He's right through here, sir." Eina said as she led Ryo to a door upstairs. "Mr Rehmer will be able to help you with all you need."
"Perhaps I may have to thank you then." Ryo said in his cold voice. "You might not be so amateurish and incompetent after all."
"...Are you always so horrible sir?" Eina said as she refused to make contact with his eyes. "I merely made a mistake."
"And I got offended." He said. "It's enough of a slight to be confused with a lifeform as pathetic as Bell Cranel."
"D-Do you know him?" She asked.
"I don't believe that is any of your business." He said to her.
A moment's silence passed.
"You're right. It's none of my business." She said as she knocked on the door.
"Yes?" Came a tired voice from inside. "What is it?"
Eina opened the door to a moderate sized office filled with bookshelves and tables laid with scrolls and documents. At the main desk sat a clearly overworked, yet professional individual with animal ears, wearing spectacles and holding a black quill in his hand as he peered up at the people who had entered his office.
"Mr Rehmer." Eina said as she stepped into the room followed by Ryo.
As soon as the spirit entered, Rehmer took one look at the boy and felt all his hackles stand on end by instinct as he recognised that this particular guest of his was no ordinary person. Just the air around this man radiated a promise of consequence for wasted time. Rehmer, the Chienthrope Guild Section Leader immediately sat up straighter as he was put on guard by this arrival.
"Eina." Rehmer said as he did not take his eyes off of Ryo. "I am already quite stretched thin with the Loki Familia's annual expedition. This had better be important."
"It is well within your line of work sir." The half-elf said before gesturing to Ryo. "This gentleman here is interested in opening a new business here in Orario and is also interested in acquiring a property to do that. I still have to man the reception desk Mr Rehmer so can I leave him here with you?"
"Yes. Yes you may." Rehmer said with a measure of caution as Eina bowed slightly before moving behind Ryo to exit the room. She flinched as she felt his eyes on her. It was hard not to notice it as from even behind her head, she felt his eyes burning holes into the back of her head with a predatory, icy gaze.
Ryo watched her as she walked out of the room and close the door behind her before he fixated his gaze on the beastman in front of him. Rehmer held the eye contact for a moment before he breathed in deeply, put down his quill and gestured to a chair that was to a side in front of his desk.
"Please have a seat while we discuss. If I could have your name sir?"
"Ryo." The spirit said as he walked forward and sat down in the offered chair. Rehmer noticed that as the boy moved closer, the air suddenly became much cooler around him, but not the kind caused by actual temperature change. Rather it was a feeling, an illusion induced by a change of mood and atmosphere. The Chienthrope could not help but feel his fingers were at the moment resting on the edge of a hot blade.
"Ryo...anything? Any titles, surnames?" Rehmer said as he pulled out a new sheet of paper and began writing things down.
"No titles." Ryo folded his arms. "And I never had a real surname to begin with."
"Implying you did have some sort of name." Rehmer said. "A guardian perhaps?"
"Something like that." Ryo said. "But I did away with the name when he died."
"Oh." Rehmer blinked, already unsure what to do with this conversation. "I'm sorry for your loss."
"Don't even bother." Ryo huffed. "Good riddance is all I can say."
"...How callous." Rehmer muttered before he cleared his throat. "Very well Mr Ryo. What can I help you with?"
"I'll just put it simply." Ryo said. "I am aiming to open a restaurant in this city. A very large one, more than just some poncy old tavern or inn. This place will be dedicated to meticulous dining of exotic meals, and I am looking for help in that matter."
"Simple indeed." Rehmer commented. "Although not uncommon. Have you got your citizenship first?"
"No. I only just arrived."
"But you do have the temporary visa?"
"Yes."
"That's fine then." Rehmer said as he began writing it down. "Obviously you're going to need that before you do anything so just pick it up on your way out and pay the fee. You can ask Eina to do it since she's already somewhat familiar with you. In any case, I believe I can sort this restaurant plan out for you. Have you decided upon a name or anything, by any chance?"
"Is that necessary?"
"Not really but it does help me more when I'm trying to sort things like this out. It makes my life easier."
"...In that case, I'll decide on the name when I've finished building the establishment."
Rehmer looked up at Ryo, hoping to see some sort of expression of jest on his face. But the icy gaze coupled with the stony voice gave away no signs of mirth of any kind and Rehmer realized he was being serious. For some reason, the pessimistic side of the section leader told him that Ryo had refrained from giving him a name just so that his life would be made harder...just for the petty sake of doing it.
Little did he know, that was exactly why Ryo had done it. He was after all a very petty person...and if his powers were anything to go by, then he had plenty of role models to learn that pettiness from.
"As you wish." Rehmer said. "Do you plan on selling alcohol in your establishment?"
"Naturally."
"Well we have a policy on selling alcohol. It will be a quick read through but you will need a license for such transactions. The adventurers may be able to handle strong drink but the normal people will not be nearly as resilient. I'm sure you understand."
"Of course." Ryo said.
"And then we will also have to do routine inspections for health and safety and to ensure you're maintaining proper hygiene. There will also be a corporation tax you'll have to pay annually among a few other things. You'll be provided with the appropriate details and if you need an accountant to help you in this regard, the Guild can offer some assistance. What of employees? Do you have people on standby?"
"One so far, to act as my sous chef."
"You'll be the owner and the chef?"
"Yes." Ryo tilted his head. "I have some experience in the industry, and I am a qualified chef. I've cooked for people in high society before and it is a passion. Naturally I want to be hands on as well."
"...I don't doubt your words Mr Ryo. If you would like, we could publish a notice on your behalf calling out for young chefs looking for a job on the public board. Any particular kinds of cooks you're looking for?"
"Perhaps a couple to help out with prep work and the serving. But I will definitely need one that specializes in desserts and confectionary."
"Okay. That can be done. But coming back to our previous point, you said you had experience in the industry." Rehmer said. "But you look so young for that to be the case."
"What do you see in front of you when you look at me?" Ryo asked him.
"I'm sorry Mr Ryo, I'm not quite sure I understand your question." Rehmer furrowed his brows, puzzled.
"When you look at me, what do you think I am?" Ryo said, rolling his eyes at having to clarify. "Do I look like an elf to you?"
"Well of course not, you're clearly human looking." Rehmer said. "Though I fail to see how that relates to our current topic in any manner."
"Well I can tell you that your guess is wrong." Ryo said.
"My guess?" Rehmer tilted his head in confusion. "You are human aren't you?"
"...Am I?" Ryo said simply.
Rehmer furrowed his brows even more and took the time to actually study the boy in front of him. True, he'd not come across many humans with such stark white hair. He believed that it was a condition the humans called albinism.
But Ryo did look so much like a human that it was weird for the boy to suggest he was wrong. He did not have the long ears of an elf, nor had breeding between humans and beastmen species really ever been heard of. In fact, as a beastman himself, Rehmer believed it was impossible, even if elf and human hybrids like Eina did exist.
But neither did Ryo have the shortness or stockiness of a dwarf and he obviously wasn't a Pallum. Nor was he a god either because he lacked that distinct aura that gods had. Based off of appearance alone, every race known to mortal kind was crossed off...except one that is. One that was extremely rare, almost unheard of. And where they were heard of, they were highly coveted because of the extremely small amount of them that there were in the world.
At first Rehmer couldn't believe it, but as he studied Ryo more and actually had a proper feel for the other presence in his office, his suspicions were slowly but surely becoming more realised as he looked at the boy in front of him in a new light.
"Mr Ryo." Rehmer said cautiously. "You wouldn't be saying that you're...a Spirit now are you?"
"Indeed." Ryo smiled as he released a bit of his aura without the essence of cursed energy in it. "I'd been hoping it would take you longer to figure it out, but you're smarter than I gave you credit for."
Rehmer became more serious as he felt the boy's aura. It was not like that of a god but not so very far removed from it. It was certainly the essence of a higher form of life, weaker than a god's but so very far above a mortal. It was little wonder that in ancient times, spirits were collectively referred to as the 'Children of the Gods'.
"It-it certainly is an oddity." Rehmer said. "A spirit coming to Orario looking to make a restaurant. If it is good living you seek in the city, surely it would be better suited to your talents to join a Familia?"
"With all due respect, Mr Rehmer..." Ryo said, his tone a bit more stony than it was already. "...as an authority on my own person, I believe I am best fit to decide what my talents are best suited for and what they are not."
"Yes of course." Rehmer said hurriedly, realizing the type of person he was dealing with here. "Coming back to the topic, you say you have experience in the industry. If you don't mind me asking, how many years?"
"Twenty plus years."
"Right." Rehmer wrote that down. "Have you a place in mind you want to open up in or shall we seek out available options for yourself? If you wish to rent privately or from the guild, the rate is set depending on the type of place you choose and where it is located."
"I wish to buy it outright." Ryo said.
"Truly?" Rehmer said in bewilderment. It was after all very unusual a request.
"I doubt you'd be too keen on holding it." Ryo said as he procured a map from somewhere on rolled it out in front of the desk. He scanned it for a few moments before pointing at a certain spot. "There, that's the one."
"Are you sure?" Rehmer asked as he recognised the building Ryo was pointing to. "It would need a lot of work, a tremendous amount in my opinion, and it is also located in an area where eateries are few and far between. You won't get much traction."
"Then it is just the kind of place I am looking for." Ryo said.
"...Well, the previous owner just handed it to the Guild some many moons ago and I guess it was just left to rot. All the same, to take it off our hands would cost you a minimum of ten million Valis. We have instalment plans if you can't pay the full amount in one go and-"
A bulging bag of Valis hit the table in front of him, cutting the Chienthrope off as he stared at it.
"I'd like the deed right now if you please." Ryo said.
"...Very well." Rehmer said after a pause, still unable to comprehend why Ryo would want such a desolate place to open his restaurant. "It will take a day to get the paperwork sorted, so if you just drop by in the evening, you can take it from the receptionist desk."
"I do have another enquiry though." Ryo said.
"What might that be?"
"Is there any way into the dungeon besides joining a Familia?" Ryo asked.
"Has this anything to do with being a spirit Mr Ryo?" Rehmer asked. "Are you an offensive type spirit?"
"I am." Ryo said. "But I notice that you have answered my own question with another."
"Yes, and for very good reason." Rehmer said. "By law, it is a must more than a requirement that one be a part of a Familia and bear an approved Blessing before they enter the Dungeon. It is the standard."
"And you would have me believe that?" Ryo raised a brow. "I'm no stranger to this game, Section Leader. At its core, the Guild is nothing more than an organisation trying to profit off of the spoils of the Dungeon and money is the engine that makes its wheel turn. I'm no naïve and green prospective adventurer. I know how these things work." Ryo leaned forwards. "How do I enter the Dungeon without a Falna?"
Rehmer held Ryo's stare for a few moments before sighing.
"By law, it is mandatory for a person to bear a Falna in order to enter the Dungeon. Because it's simply too dangerous for a normal person to go down there. However, seeing as you are a spirit Mr Ryo I'm sure an exception could be made."
"So there is a way." Ryo smirked.
"Unorthodox...and heavily frowned upon by the Guildmaster." Rehmer said. "When he took over, he all but abolished the system since the amount of deaths involved due to brazen and overconfident people gave him and the Guild a poor repertoire. You have to have a certain level of clearance in order to even grant this particular status...which I do happen to have." Rehmer picked up his quill and twirled it a bit. "I can put you down as a freelancer if you wish, provided you give me a proper demonstration of your powers. With no god to supervise you, you'll have to be kept track of one way or another. I'm sure you understand why."
"Perfectly." Ryo said. 'I was right after all.'
"There's just one thing puzzling me though." Rehmer pointed the quill at him. "Why is a spirit looking to establish a restaurant interested in going into the Dungeon of all things?"
"To source out my ingredients." Ryo shrugged his shoulders. "What else?"
"Your...ingredients?" Rehmer did a double take and peered over the rim of his spectacles.
"Monsters to be precise." Ryo grinned. "I aim to hunt monsters in the Dungeon, and bring them up to the surface, where I will serve them up as special cuisines in my new restaurant. That also includes all the other vegetation and interesting things that one can find down there. A new and unique idea in the industry. What better way to get business booming? And with my culinary talents, I'm bound to make lots of money. That pretty much sums up the reason I came to Orario."
"You want to open a restaurant..." Rehmer started. "...and have me give you a freelancer's license...just so you can hunt monsters and serve them up on dinner plates to the citizens of this city?"
"Could I not have been any clearer...or did you just have trouble misunderstanding?"
"...I'm sorry." Rehmer said as he put down his quill. "That is the most dangerous and irresponsible thing I have ever heard in my life. Have you any concept of how dangerous monsters are? Above that, some of them are poisonous to mortal stomachs and you would have me let you feed such abominations to people? I'm sorry Mr Ryo. I cannot allow such a thing."
Ryo said nothing at first as he got up and looked down at the Chienthrope. A pregnant silence passed between the two as a sickening feeling began to pit in Rehmer's stomach as the air became chillier.
"I wasn't asking you Mr Rehmer." Ryo said in careful measure. "I'm not used to being denied the things I want...and I'm not about to start now." Ryo's eyes suddenly gained a bloodthirsty glint as the room was filled with murderous intent.
Sensing this, Rehmer got up and was about to yell out for security or something when quicker than he could even register, Ryo's hand was clamped over his mouth while his body was dangling from being held in the air over his desk. The beastman grappled at the hand over his mouth with his own, but soon began to lose air as he was restricted even from breathing. Ryo grinned up at him.
"You really think you're a position to deny me you lower form of life?" Ryo said. "You might not be a human...but it makes you no different to them. You're just another monkey with dog ears for a change. And I detest monkeys. The only thing they're good for is doing tricks and dancing to your tunes...say, you wanted a demonstration of my powers right?"
Ryo's grin became even crueller as his words sank in. More than that was the casual way he said it, as if it was just absolute fact instead of a personal belief. Rehmer certainly felt that way as the hand holding him suddenly became enveloped in cursed energy.
"Then be a good little monkey...and start doing as you're told." Ryo said as he channelled a CT. "{Mui Tenpen}."
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