There was a small hiccup with the hiring of Anna; mainly the fact that she couldn’t see my system screens. Meaning, that expining why I knew certain things was already proving to be difficult.

  We sat side by side at the office counter, with a bnk piece of paper between us—while I started expining.

  “So you run a Safezone inside a Dungeon?”

  “We… but yes: B-22.” While scribbling down the basic information I’d been given by the system.

  She continued to bombard me about Security and price-setting. Both of which I had given very little thought from the start.

  To be fair, she didn’t have her house invaded like me.

  I expined to her that I’ve mostly eye-balled the figures. Trying to procure funds to even unlock the ability to hire extra help.

  “On the matter of that topic, how did you even employ me?”

  Ooft, really peppering in those hard questions.

  She was going to be my 2nd, I’d have to tell her… tell somebody.

  Fuck it. Crazy mode!

  “Here’s the thing Anna.” Breathing in deep, for my upcoming mouth-marathon. No, not that kind.

  “I inherited this house and was rewarded with a door I can’t close, that breaks or threatens my life. I have an interface and voice alerts in my head, making me bleed from the eardrums. While simultaneously giving me cheek on the matter of finances and forcing me to adopt predatory practices.” No, not that kind, again.

  “And now I’m forced to rely on outside help or watch my home being taken over by an institution simir to that ‘fungus’ that turns bugs into zombies.”

  Ending with a sharp boured inhale.

  There was silence. With only Peek’s subtle whirring noises to my air-recovering pregnant breathing.

  She sat there, her glowing eyes blinking a few times, while my heart was pounding against my ribcage.

  “So, let me summarise.” Taking the pen from my hand and sliding the paper to her side.

  “We’re broke, you see crazy screens, the house is a money pit and the voice alert is an asshole. That about cover it?”

  I gave a dry chuckle.

  “Yeah, pretty much nailed it.”

  Anna was making a soft humming sound, while writing something down. Giving me a chance to browse through my Storefront.

  270 gold left… wiggle-room.

  “What are the current funds and our outgoings; including my pay.” Anna asked. Hovering the pen over her paper and looking at me.

  Mind reader?

  The box provided through the Handshake Bonus was still sitting next to me, still dispying the remaining amount.

  My coin pouch however, was mostly empty. Except for the silver and copper coins.

  Anna’s question of funding had raised a much needed alert for me. I needed money-security and its storage.

  “I have 270 gold coins and a good amount of spare change on the other 2.”

  “We haven’t really talked wages yet.” Her fingers folding the piece of paper, then unceremoniously handing it to me. “But let’s figure out the workload first, yea?”

  I took the piece and unfolded it, her head resting gently on the bck palm of her hand. Face tilted toward me, but void of facial expressions… besides her stare of-course.

  Which was intimidating.

  Shortcomings, information I had missed or hadn’t even thought of before. All id bare in a small section of the pristinely folded paper.

  “I take it you have some implementations in mind?”

  Her calm composure was evident by the smooth finger tapping against her mouth.

  If I could see it anyway.

  “I would need some authority. On the funds and a secure pce to manage them.” Her pointy nail tapping against the blueprint once more.

  “My ‘room’ would be sufficient.”

  This was going uncomfortably fast.

  “How about managing the Safezone for a day by yourself, and then we’ll adjust?” Pushing the piece of paper into my pocket and shooting her my most charming smile.

  “I’ve got business in the city tomorrow, so that’ll be a perfect trial day.”

  “Right…” Her posture, not even moving an inch.

  “I still need a pricing guide, a general rundown of the pce and jobs I’m meant to keep on top of.”

  Again, a very fair amount of points.

  This reverse performance review was thankfully interrupted by Peek. Who had just done another round of floor duty, followed closely by the feather-dusting thug. Who in all honesty looked a bit more— aware than before.

  I blinked, catching the Dungeon time in the corner of my eye.

  Shit… 5 hours up already?

  “Hey, so I’ve cleaned the webs around the pce.” Softly leaning the web-infused broom against my counter. Smelling faintly like off-cheese for some reason.

  “I’ll be on my way. Friend still out there and all.” Stretching his filthy and heavily bloodstained hand out at me.

  “Apologies for… ummm.”

  “The abduction of an innocent girl.” I finished, twirling my pen around like an orchestrator.

  “Yea, sorry about that. I do hope you find her.” Scratching the back of his greasy hair, before turning to leave for the door.

  Odd. Didn’t take him for the apologetic type.

  Just as the man left, with Peek riding at his heels until the door closed, Anna interjected.

  “Is that the type of clientele we are going to entertain?” Her voice soft, but with a hint of disgust.

  “Umm, we can’t really choose ‘who’ we host… just have to do the best we can.” With whoever comes barging through that door anyway.

  She did a soft “hm” and turned to point at the stairs. “My room is up there?”

  “I mean yes.” Pointing out the fact that my blueprint showcased a tiny detail she had missed.

  “It’s behind a fuck-tonne of drywall and insution wool.” And most likely some asbestos.

  “So it’s mostly a matter of tearing that wall down, in order to fit a door.”

  “Can’t you just.” And she made the motion of a sledgehammer.

  I countered her motion with one of my own. Dispying my weak arms and overall slender build to the shadow.

  “I tried… and—I lost.”

  Lest we forget the singur victim of world wall 3.