It soon became apparent that I had a lot to understand.
When I had learned about Clemency, I had assumed it would have been quite a difficult task deciding who to give it to. Turns out it was, just not for the reasons I expected.
"Maya doesn't want it sire... Maya can't be the reason sire fails."
I had just told them my suggestion. Maybe I should have consulted Maya first. She looked more determined in her objection than I had seen her since yesterday.
"I am not asking you to take over my tenure," I said, trying to ease her concerns. "The decisions will all be mine and so will the blames."
She still shook her head profusely.
"Maya is sorry sire... Maya can't accept."
Looking at Octava, I would have expected to see some satisfaction in those piercing eyes. I mean this had been exactly his wish. Instead, all I saw was something close to sympathy for Maya.
I turned toward the other three. Octava had made it clear he didn't want the position. My options were crumbling real fast. Madam Arizona simply couldn't; her role was already too busy and often restricted her in the kitchens.
Old Mahn Nejo... well, he too couldn't. Nejo was the head of emissaries, but that didn't mean he did anything requiring a lot of movement. He merely assigned missions and coordinated his teams from the headquarters, which was to say from here.
In fact, were it not for his vast experience, which was often a requirement in diplomatic matters, I might have considered replacing him with a more energetic alternative. Giving him such a stressful and demanding task as my assistant was begging my stability to dive to zero real quick.
Ramon... well, he was another busy one, as acquisition was another headache on its own, not to mention he didn't look slightly interested.
"Come on guys... it can't be that worse."
Maya wasn't even looking at me. None of them was, except Octava.
"I could suggest a few more names you could try sir..."
"I don't have time," I said impatiently. "I have a matter I need to attend to. You will have the position, Octava."
Octava almost left his seat in protest. "I told you, I don't want it," he began, but I waved his protest off.
"Yes, you have. But do you think I wanted this? You keep coming up with problems; this is a chance to be the solution."
And with that I activated the Clemency prompt. I wasn't giving him time to wiggle out.
[Alert]
Please confirm Octava Bilio is your choice for assistant caretaker.
Warning: Your assistant is automatically entitled to Clemency. Once it is granted, you cannot revoke it for the next six months.
{confirm}
{reject}
I confirmed it without much thought.
Before our eyes, the small rat body seemed to melt away as the figure of Bilio Octava transformed into his human form.
"I will be damned," Octava said, slapping my study table in frustration. "You should respect people's wishes, boy," he bellowed angrily while glaring at me.
"Tell that to Midstreet Hotel sir," I said with complete calm. Inside, however, I was beginning to question the wisdom of what I had done.
Octava was a thorough hulking man. In his human form, he appeared to be in his fiftees and completely bald. His scar still stretched across the left side of his face, giving him the air of a thug.
I couldn't help but wonder how a guy like him had landed himself a job as a caretaker in a magical inn. If you asked me, I would have said he had actually been a sea pirate. I mean 250 years ago that line of work was certainly quite popular among people like him
His ugly glare withered when he noticed no apparent sign of fear on my face.
"Well, don't expect me to guarantee you a long run kid," he said, getting up and staring at the small seat he had been perched on. Suddenly it looked too tiny to hold his human form.
His red robes had also disappeared, and instead he was wearing clothes similar to mine, except his were a dull gray while mine were a deep black. His gray coat also did not bear an infinity emblem like mine.
"You will also still be the head of security," I added as he slumped on the couch at the furthest end.
As far as the system went, an assistant caretaker received their own system. The difference was that it was just an extension of the caretaker's main interface.
This meant that even if I was not in Midstreet, I would still be able to see guests being allowed in. I could overturn the assistant's decision. Also, any reward and new abilities were only active on my system.
The assistant was just that. All the trust points being earned, as well as the soul points and reputations, would only end up in my profile.
I turned to the rest. "Guys, I am only beginning my tenure, but I have a plan to change things in here."
Even Nejo looked up at that. They were looking at me like I was now hallucinating.
"I know you think no one can do that, but I think I know a way. All I am asking you is to help me make this tenure as long as possible."
They stared at me as if I had suddenly begun blubbering in an alien language. Of course I knew none of them believed a thing I said, and I couldn't blame them.
I mean this place had been in existence longer than anyone cared to think, and all this time the zone had been the one changing things around here.
And then I show up, and having only served three brownies, who had in fact brought themselves to the hotel, I start thinking I could change this damn place.
Part of me was thinking I was pushing it. I hadn't even faced the real problem yet, which was level two. Maybe I shouldn't give them hopes until I actually had something tangible to show.
The thing was, right now all of them were treating things like it was my problem alone. I mean they were doing their jobs wholeheartedly, but that was about it. None of them would go the extra mile because what did they really have to lose?
If the tenure ended, there was no punishment for them. It would be only me turning into a rat and trapped here forever, something they were already used to.
"Alright... at the very least, no one should try to make it shorter,"
I gave up trying to get them to understand. So long as nobody became an active obstacle, they would soon see what I meant
"That is that." I got up, and so did my bewildered colleagues.
"I should be back before dinner if someone cares to explain how that gate opens."