[ Very well, Owner Lex. We will return to Earth. ]
[ However, if you are determined to operate the O.R.D. across two worlds, then attending university cannot remain your greatest ambition. ]
Lex's smile weakened.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
[ It is too much. ]
Lex let out a single, flat laugh.
"Too much?"
[ Yes. Too much. ]
[ Operating this store within two worlds while continuing your education would require a considerable amount of time and labour. You would work yourself to death. ]
Another line appeared.
[ As your workplace, I cannot permit my staff to be repeatedly absent due to overwork. ]
Lex stared at the screen.
"Well, tough."
[ Why are you being so persistent? It was only yesterday that you begrudgingly cleaned the store. ]
Lex tapped the side of his head.
"Because something's just clicked."
[ Explain. Again. ]
"You remember all that crap about Earth I just mouthed off?"
[ My memory is perfect. ]
"It came from the dead-end course you want me to abandon."
The terminal fell silent.
Lex tightened his grip around the employee card inside his pocket. The edge pressed against his palm, reminding him of everything it had promised.
"The course might be miserable, and I might spend half my lectures staring into space, but that doesn't mean I've learned nothing."
[ You have not demonstrated much enthusiasm for applying that knowledge until now. ]
"No," Lex admitted. "I haven't."
He looked down at his hand.
"But now I've got something worth applying it to."
A low hum passed through the room.
[ I understand. ]
[ If you can demonstrate the results of your education through your labour here over the coming week, I will cease arguing against your continued attendance. ]
Lex placed a hand against his chest and exhaled.
"Good."
[ Do not mistake this for approval. It is an evaluation period. ]
"Call it whatever you want."
He stretched his aching shoulders before looking towards the security door.
"I should probably tell Herman."
[ He is already awake. ]
Lex stopped.
[ We have been speaking for a considerable amount of time. Temporary Employee Herman Staul is currently wondering where you are. ]
"Right."
He approached the security door and slid the key into its lock.
The moment Lex entered the warehouse, he found Herman waiting for him with his arms crossed.
His grey hair stuck out in several directions, and the creases from the sleeping bag had been pressed into one side of his face. Despite looking as though he had only just crawled out of a bin, he had somehow made his expression accusing.
"So that's where you were," Herman said. "Sneaking away to talk to the robot."
Lex closed the security door behind him.
"Yeah. We had a lot to discuss."
Herman studied him for a moment before his expression settled into something more serious.
"Can we go home?"
Lex shrugged.
"Whenever we want."
Herman's shoulders loosened slightly.
"Good. What else?"
"And I've got something interesting for you."
Lex decided it would be better to keep parts of the conversation to himself.
Herman didn't need to know about the contract involving Lex's soul, or the store's promise to force him towards his fullest potential. Not yet, anyway.
Some of it was private.
The rest would take far too long to explain to a man whose understanding of the situation barely extended beyond magic shop in another world.
Herman noticed the hesitation but didn't push him. Instead, he extended one hand.
Lex sighed and reached into his pocket.
He pulled out the black employee card with silver lettering and held it towards him.
"With this, you are officially an employee of the Otherworld Retail Department."
Herman snatched the card from his hand.
He scrutinised the front, turned it over and brought it closer to his face. His gaze eventually settled upon the writing across the back.
Herman Staul — O.R.D. Colleague
His brow furrowed.
"Colleague?"
"The fuck is that supposed to mean?"
"It's your general position for now," Lex explained. "Your actual role is maintenance."
Herman's frown eased.
"Maintenance I can live with. Colleague still sounds like I'm some faceless ant in a colony."
"It means you're officially employed. That's the important part."
Herman flicked the edge of the card with his thumb.
"Anyway, why the hell do I need one of these?"
Lex raised two fingers.
"Two reasons."
He pointed towards the reader fitted beside the security door.
"First, you use it to clock in and out. The store records your shifts so your pay can be calculated once we actually start earning money."
Herman glanced at the reader.
"Will it count the work I've already done?"
"It should. We won't know what that work is worth until the store starts earning money."
Herman didn't look pleased by that answer, but he nodded.
Lex lowered one finger.
"Secondly, try pressing it against your forehead."
Herman stared at him.
"Why?"
"It'll show you your employee information. The store had me do the same thing."
Herman examined the card again, then reluctantly lifted it.
"If this shocks me, I'm hitting you."
"Fair."
The silver card touched his forehead.
A thin line of light travelled around its edge.
Herman recoiled.
"What the—"
A translucent silver panel unfolded in front of his eyes. It followed his gaze when he turned his head, remaining fixed within his vision no matter where he looked.
He waved one hand through the empty air in front of him. His fingers passed through it.
Lex opened his mouth to laugh.
Before he could, a second panel flashed into existence before his own eyes.
Golden text appeared across the top.
( CEO Privilege Recognised )
( Appraisal Activated )
The words vanished, replaced by Herman's information.
( Employee Information )
Name: Herman Staul
Level: 1 — 0/100 EXP
Position: Colleague
Role: Maintenance
Race: Human
HP: 60/60
MP: 25/25
Stats
STR: 7
VIT: 4
AGI: 4
INT: 7
PER: 9
CHR: 6
Abilities
Repair (E)
Improvisation (E)
Checkout (F)
( Close Panel )
Lex jerked backwards.
"Shit!"
Herman spun towards him, the silver card still pressed against his forehead.
"What?"
"I can see yours."
Lex's own card hadn't even left his pocket. Appraisal had activated the moment Herman accepted his employee card, presenting every number and ability without Lex consciously asking for them.
Herman narrowed his eyes.
"You can see what?"
"Your information. Stats, abilities, health—all of it."
Herman immediately pulled the card away from his forehead.
Both panels disappeared.
"You can see all of that whenever you want?"
"Apparently. It activated on its own."
Herman looked down at the card, his earlier excitement fading.
"I don't like that."
Lex couldn't blame him. The terminal had handed him access to Herman's health and abilities without asking either of them.
"Neither would I," Lex admitted. "I won't use it unless there's a reason."
Herman watched him for another moment, deciding whether he believed him. Eventually, his grip around the card loosened.
"What did it say?"
Lex hesitated.
"That you've got seven strength."
Herman's suspicion briefly gave way to satisfaction.
"Higher than yours?"
"Unfortunately."
"How much higher?"
"Two points."
A smug smile spread across Herman's face.
"Knew it."
Herman pressed the card to his forehead again.
The silver panel returned.
Lex's Appraisal activated alongside it.
This time, he was prepared.
Herman silently read down the list until his expression soured.
"Vitality: four?"
His smugness disappeared. He read the number again as though it might change.
"Strength and health aren't the same thing," Lex said.
"I know that."
Herman's voice was quieter than before. Years on the street, poor food and too much alcohol had evidently left their mark, whether he wanted to acknowledge it or not.
Herman continued reading.
"Repair and Improvisation are both E rank."
"Mine are all F."
Herman studied the two abilities. His thumb brushed across the silver lettering on the card.
"So it recognises what I already know how to do."
"Looks that way, turns them into a skill, wouldn't be surprised if you're magically better at those things too, although it remains untested."
His eyes reached the final ability.
"Checkout?"
"We both have it."
Herman glanced at him. "I'd rather stick to repairs."
"We'll discuss duties once we actually have customers."
Herman pulled the card away, causing both panels to fold out of sight.
He turned it over once more, his thumb running across the silver letters. Despite his complaints about the title, he handled it more carefully now.
The card didn't merely call him an employee.
It had recognised what he could already do.
Lex noticed the change in his expression but wisely chose not to mention it.
Instead, he pointed towards the card reader beside the security door.
"First official shift is over. Clock out."
Herman approached the reader and held the card against it.
A clear chime sounded through the warehouse.
[ Employee Herman Staul has ended his shift. ]
[ Shift duration: 24 hours, 41 minutes. ]
[ Wages accrued: Pending store revenue. ]
Herman stared at the final line.
He turned the card over, as though expecting his wages to be hidden on the back.
"So I'm still not getting paid."
Lex blanked him and started towards the security door.
"Anyway, we're set to go home. I've got university in a few hours."
Herman raised a brow.
"Are we not expecting the green men to come back today?"
Lex stopped in his tracks.
One foot remained suspended above the floor before he slowly lowered it.
"Oh, shit."
"You forgot," Herman said.
Lex scratched his cheek, avoiding the older man's gaze.
"I did."
Lex sighed and continued towards the terminal room.
"It'll have to wait. I need to go to university."
"Why even go back today?"
Lex looked back at him. "Not you too."
[ We are expecting visitors. However, their arrival can wait until Owner Lex has attended his place of education. ]
The terminal's voice entered Lex's head without warning.
[ Make sure to bring back a selection of sample products. ]
Lex jolted, his shoulders rising towards his ears.
"Still not used to that."
Herman rubbed one ear. "Feels like an earbud that's been shoved in too deep."
Lex glanced back through the warehouse.
The shelves they had spent hours repairing were still completely empty.
The terminal was right. They needed stock, and he had completely forgotten about Vargis. The goblins were supposed to return at some point today, yet Lex didn't have a single thing to sell them.
No food. No tools. Not even a packet of chewing gum.
He rubbed the back of his head.
"There's another issue..."
They needed products, but products cost money.
[ I have transferred a start-up fund into your bank account, Owner Lex. ]
Lex froze with his hand still behind his head.
"When did you do that?"
His eyes narrowed.
"Actually, how did you do that?"
[ Your grandfather, Leo Peckham, entrusted the funds to me when our contract was established. He also provided the necessary banking information. ]
Lex clicked his tongue and opened the security door.
"Left me money to start the store but nothing in his will," he mumbled.
For a moment, his hand remained wrapped around the door handle.
Even after his death, the old man was somehow still arranging Lex's life from beyond the grave.
Herman shuffled past him into the terminal room, still wearing his crumpled clothes from the previous day. He hadn't done anything to fix his bedhead, you had to wonder whether he even owned a brush or other clothes.
Lex followed and pulled the heavy door shut behind them.
The lock sealed with a dull metallic clunk.
[ Are you ready to return to Earth? ]
Herman planted his feet apart and beat one fist against his chest.
"Yes!"
Silence followed.
[ ... ]
Herman slowly lowered his fist.
He glanced towards Lex. "It only listens to you, then."
Lex placed one hand against the wall, remembering how violent their first journey had been.
"Yes. Take us home."
[ Confirmation received. ]
The lights inside the room dimmed.
A low vibration travelled through the floor and climbed into Lex's legs. Somewhere beyond the walls, ancient machinery groaned awake.
[ Dimensional transference initiated. ]
[ Please hold onto something secure. ]
Herman looked around the nearly empty room.
Then he grabbed Lex by both shoulders.
Lex turned his head and stared at him.
"Seriously?"
"It said something secure."
The vibration grew stronger.
Dust shook loose from the ceiling while the hum of the store deepened around them.
Herman's grip tightened around Lex's shoulders, grinning ear to ear.
"Wow." He laughed. "You know, the second time doing this is way more fun knowing I'm not going to be crushed alive in a cabinet."
Lex looked back with astonishment, shaking his head.