^
Quest Complete!
Therapy is expensive:
You have suppressed your anger too long, it’s time to blow some steam.
Objective: Break at least $250 worth of property
Total value broken: $6572
Quest rewards:
-1 xp per $1 value broken
6572 xp
-1 silver per $100 value broken
65 silver
Congratulations, you are now level 2!
Congratulations, you are now level 3!
Congratulations, you are now level 4!
Ridley was tempted to take out her money and roll in it! For the first time in a while she put some of her math skills to use. She pulled out one silver and multiplied the amount she received. The total she earned from her little spree of destruction came to a whopping $1655.55
“I’m rich!” She shouted as she sat on the bus to the corporate airport terminals. Though she was just dying to go and blow her money right away, she also wanted that freaking ring from Alexander. The handful of passengers around her gave her odd looks and scooted farther away. Fortunately, she was getting quite good at ignoring the responses of other people to her outbursts. As she left the bus she turned to look at the people still seated and crouched down like she was ready to pounce on them. She lifted a hand shaking it like a crazed person and pointed a finger at them all—accusing them, “You all be wanting me pot o’gold, but ye’ll never find it!” Then she turned and scurried off the bus leaving her audience confounded.
When she arrived at the Congo building on the address she was amazed by how bland it was. It was a little daunting thinking about working in there. She went through the front doors and saw a set of weird bars in the form of a turnstile. She went and pushed on the bars and after a bit of a shove she was able to get through. As she walked to the security checkpoint she heard a door slam behind her.
“Excuse me ma’am! Excuse me!”
Wanting to annoy someone, she intentionally ignored them and continued walking.
“EXCUSE ME!” A husky young man said as he grabbed her shoulder.
“WHAT?” She said as she grabbed his hand off of her shoulder and twisted.
“AH! AH! Um, sorry! You need your badge!”
“Badge?” she asked releasing the pressure on his wrist.
“I am terribly sorry ma’am but…”
“Eric? What seems to be the problem?” A familiar voice said stalking towards them.
She turned to see Alexander in all his corporate glory. He walked briskly up to them and nodded to her, “Ms Ridley. A pleasure to see you nearly on time.”
She wasn’t sure if he was serious or not but took the compliment as her due for putting up with him.
“Eric, this is Ridley who is here for an interview. However employee or not you should never touch someone without permission. Even on the shoulder. I will go ahead and sign you up for the sexual harassment refresher course for your further knowledge and protection.”
If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
“Yessir.” Eric said defeatedly. “She needs a temporary badge, that was why I was trying to get her attention.”
“Well how was she able to get past the metal turnstiles…” Alexander paused and gave a slight glare at Ridley before making an excuse, “Maybe one of them has a broken axle. Look into it after you get her the temporary badge. This way if you please Ms. Ridley.” Alexander gestured to the security room next to the turnstiles.
After a boring sign-in process Alexander led Ridley into the building for a quick tour. She noticed he had a slight limp like he was favoring his right side. She almost asked him if he was injured but then got distracted by the tour. Ridley could say she was honestly shocked… at how cool this place was! So many boxes flying around at high speeds, robots moving them to different gates, and laser light shows as the machines scanned them on all sides.
Alexander made sure to point out the unsafe areas and then guided Ridley to the cafeteria. They sat down on some fold out chairs and Alexander proceeded to ask Ridley some odd questions while making notes in his notepad.
“First off can I get your full name?” Alexander started.
“Ridley Rose Lancaster.”
“Cell phone number?”
“I don’t have a cell phone, but my mom does. Is that a problem?”
“No, not at all. I consider it an asset.” He mumbled. “How did you hear about the job?”
“Some creepy middle aged man approached me in an alleyway and told me about it.”
Alexander sat up straighter, “I am going to write referred by a respectable established employee. How long could you see yourself working here at Congo?”
“I don’t know if I even really want to work here actually. Or get a job.”
“That is an interesting answer, thank you for your honesty. Could you tell me a bit about yourself?”
“I am a junior in high school. I have two super powers, super strength and a weird hand sonar…”
“Thank you Ms Ridley next question.” Alexander interrupted putting his notepad aside. “Where do you see yourself in five years?” He asked, obviously trying to steer the conversation away from super powers. Smart, he probably didn’t want his secret identity revealed.
“Hopefully, in my own apartment with a big tv and a boyfriend.”
“Ok, so no college.” Alexander seemed to think for a moment.
“How do you plan to pay for the apartment?”
Ridley stopped to think as well. She made some great money on that quest. She simply assumed she would get more just like it, but none had popped up after the last one. Alexander jumped in as she was thinking.
“Do you know how much a single bedroom apartment costs right now?”
“About $1000 a month I think.”
“Correct, but can I show you something else?”
Alexander flipped his notepad to a new page and started writing some numbers down.
“Apartment at $1000 correct? Utilities such as gas, water, electricity can easily be another $200. Do you want internet? $60. Food? If you don’t eat out you could probably keep it down to $500 a month. Need furniture, toiletries, dishes, your own cell phone, should you choose to get one, entertainment center, bus fare or gas, car payment and maintenance….” Alexander laid it all out for her. When he put the numbers before her it staggered her how much the cost to just live was. She assumed her mother got help somehow, either government or… she didn’t want to think about it. It was all just too much to think about.
Alexander gave a knowing sympathetic smile before giving her some advice, “College is great, I would actively encourage it, but it’s not for everyone. That is not something I would have told you when I was your age. Those that don’t go, can work hard and get ahead through either their experience in the field or unique skills. Most of those employers want to see someone working a job consistently for one or two years on their resume. A part-time job now while you are in high school can get your foot in the door and help you build up some savings for moving out.
“I think you have unique skills that people in the future may very well want. Even if you don’t then you will be able to afford all of this…” He circled his pencil over the list of items, “…by simply switching to full time here, and you will likely have a promotion if you work without any major incidents. Like throwing garbage disposals on teenage girls.”
Ridley had never heard any of this before. It seemed like something people should know, but they didn’t have Basic Life Skills 101 in high school. She was a little angry, but also grateful someone gave it to her straight.
“Here.” He said ripping the paper out and handing it to her. “Think about it, and you’re hired.”
“What? Really?”
“Sure, I will be here to help you anytime you need me. I am after all the Human Resources Manager… in training.”
“Well, thanks.”
“Onboarding begins tomorrow at nine am sharp.”
“Alrighty Alex.”
“It’s Alexander.”
“Sure it is.” she smiled. “Hey! Do I get my ring now?”
“You are not even a working employee yet, much less one deserving of a bonus.” Alexander waved his finger back and forth like she was a naughty child. “No worries, I’ll keep it safe for you until then.”
“Grumble, grumble.” Ridley said aloud for some reason.
Alexander shook her hand and left for his next appointment after escorting her out.
Ridley gaped a bit more at the numbers. She got a bit nervous just thinking about how much stuff she would have to break in order to earn that much money.
“I’ll just marry a rich guy! Use these lady-like charms.” She laughed mockingly swaying her hips a bit as she walked.
She turned the paper on its back and saw a list of descriptions of locations next to some weird random numbers. At the top of the column was the word ‘Quests’. Ridley felt a shiver of excitement as she felt a sneaking suspicion that Alexander had just accidentally handed her some profitable leads. She was really warming up to the weirdo, but not enough to miss the chance to nab some of his loot.
