Ch 30 A New Day, I mean Building

  Talking to Oscar was a relief. He wanted to level people up to have dedicated people running the dungeon. But when I mentioned that Tokyo's dungeon had already leveled up and ours was about to, he grimaced. I could hear it in his voice. I told him to come by my new guild building. Since it was hard to miss now. Wands & Words wasn't quite a skyscraper yet, but it would be. I'd have to look into buying the surrounding properties. Oscar agreed and said he’d be there when he could. I'd take that for the win.

  It was getting to be midafternoon. So, I decided to have a look around my new guild. I keep poking my head into the offices, most had rounded tables with chairs all around. Which seemed sensible, when you wanted to talk to someone at their level. I took an elevator up a floor, and it was great. There were more private offices here. Each one had someone's name on it. Me included. I guess since we’re the ‘founders’ of the guild we each got one. I found the storage area which was keep clean and organized.

  I went up another level and found the community space. There were tables dotted about it. A few bookcases here and there. Even a couple of computers now and then. But what really got me was the system interface at the back wall. This was to be made into an eatery for those that didn't have a personal ai! I loved it. I seriously hadn't considered that.

  “Thank you, Raven, for remembering that.”

  “Attention. User has forgotten his privilege.”

  I shook my head, I really had. “Thanks again.” Now my guild members could come here and use the system interface to purchase anything, without having to go to a bus stop or the dungeon store.

  “Attention, User is the highest ranked member of system guild and therefore and can set up guild banking system and hierarchy. Also, guild store.”

  “I can what now?”

  “Confirmed. User has no other above him to set up guild banking system or payment system, or loaner or rental system. User must set up hierarchy for guild.”

  “I'm the highest cuz I own the guild, is that correct?”

  “Confirmed.”

  “And I'm the one that should be paying everyone, right?”

  “Confirmed.”

  “Yet I have no money.”

  “Confirmed.”

  “Well shit.”

  “Confirmed.”

  “Ok, hourly pay per dungeon commission?”

  “Attention, dungeon commission cannot be hourly pay as there is no way to track how many hours were spent in dungeon. Suggested dungeon commission be rated per person run at once.”

  “that's fair. Maggie gets hourly rate. Jamie too. Lucas gets hourly and commission, Katey gets hourly, Mikey gets hourly and commissions. Or should I make the consults part of the dungeons commission?”

  “Attention dungeon consults do not always results in dungeon running. Separate price suggested.”

  “Ok Maggie gets hourly rate as receptionist. Jame gets hourly rate as skills consult. Lucas gets consult rate and dungeon commission, and hourly if he does paperwork or gear stuff. Mikey gets consult rate and dungeon commission. Liv gets consult rate and dungeon commission. Transport is part of dungeon commission. Fair?”

  “Attention, please consult with Mr. Lucas as paperwork as such. And need personal for gear loaning staff.”

  “That could be Katey for now. Part of her hourly commission. Just get her an auto size wand. Make sure there is always equipment and keep tabs on it.”

  “Attention. please consult first.”

  “Yeah, I'll go do that.”

  With that Arthur heads back down. He finds Katey shuffling through the tables, rearranging them to a new pattern. He waves her over.

  “hey, I wanted a quick chat with you. I know you can't run the dungeon yet. But I had a thought. There is a job that needs doing and it would be between other things you do. Which I don't yet have a list for. Can you tell me what you have been doing?”

  Kaye blinked at him then grinned. “Oh sure. I've mostly been telling people what it's like in the dungeon, stories and such. Some funny ones, some scary ones. Get them to relax a bit. Ease their anxiety, then hand them off to Mikey or Liv so they can look through the books and see for themselves how bad it really is. Kinda like a warmup to the dungeon. Prep them for the unknown, you know?”

  That was a lot better than I thought. “Ok that's actually really great. I want you to continue doing that. Now I have a few questions. One, you share an apartment with Olivia?”

  “Yeah, it's super tiny for the both of us, but it's what we can afford. Why?”

  “When is your lease up, or can you afford to break it?”

  Katey blinked. “Seriously Arthur, why?”

  “This is now a system building. I can add and modify as I like. There are now 16 bedrooms with bathrooms attached. You wouldn't have a living room, but the bedroom is 14x14, so you should have enough space for your stuff. All that's in there is a bed and closet. With a full bathroom. It's yours as part of working here.”

  Katey just froze. “you're giving me an apartment?” Then she looked scared. “What do you want in return?”

  Arthur was confused for a moment then paled. “Nothing of the sort! Everyone who works here has one open for them! Olivia too, Maggie and Jamie! Lucas and Mikey! Everyone! Theres 16 bedrooms so far! I figure we’ll hire more at some point, but I didn't know if we would have enough for everyone's family. I wanted to off you and Olivia first pick, because I saw your apartment!”

  Arthur said a little frantically. Kately took a deep breath and let out a sigh. She smiled at him. “you're a good man Arthur Turner. And yes, I'd love to be able to live in the guild, but no kitchen? How would I cook?”

  Arthur started to continue on. “you’ll get an hourly wage and there's a system interface on the third floor. So, you can choose to never cook again. Next time I have the credits built up ill adda kitchen to the building. But for now, you can purchase meals and eat from the system, alright?”

  Katey smiled. “Sure, thing boss!”

  Arthur sighed. “Now back to what I was originally going to ask. We have a storage of equipment. Mostly armor. But also, wands. We need someone to keep track of the amor, and to hit the clients with auto size when they have the armor on, before their dungeon run. Think that could be you?”

  Katey thought for a moment. “Did you make an auto size wand finally?”

  He nodded. “Then yeah, it's just a bit of paperwork. I can log who is running with borrowed equipment and who is running who. Then when they leave hit them with auto size, right?”

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  I nodded, and a system contract appeared in front of my face. it said 10 credits a day, that was almost dungeon run per day. I hit agree. Katey hits agree.

  “Well, that was interesting, I have an actual list of job reqs, and I'll get paid enough to eat plenty. Plus, a place to live!”

  Arthur grinned. “Theres also company vehicles and underground parking if you ever need it. When I get more credits, ill update the building more too”

  Katey grinned. Then made of a show of going up stairs to start logging the armor.

  Arthur sighed and transferred his 3k into the guild bank and set katies pay. Her duties were listed. Then I added the wands that were left on Lucas's desk to the guild equipment vault. Then designated an auto size to Katie as her personal guild wand. And pristine. Just for fun I thought.

  Then I went to talk to Maggie about her job activities.

  She was much easier to find. at her desk, just sorting through some documents. I walked up to her, and she smiled her mid-west mom smile.

  “So how much of that did you hear?”

  “I only have Jamie, so I'd like two rooms, but I'd like to be able to enter his room too, if that's alright?”

  I nodded. “I can make that happen. Tell me your current list of duties.”

  So, she explained. She greeted everyone and explained what they did here, apparently there were a few walk-ins curious as to the sign. I shrugged. We get a lot more walk-ins now, I think. She organized the timetable for everyone and made sure there was no overlap. She made sure that the runs weren't too early or late so that the runners could have their personal runs at a decent time. I explained as they leveled up, they could run more often and explained the times. But it was up to them how often they wanted to run people.

  She explained that she took calls and assisted people navigating their site and discussing what they do in regard to runners. How the system contract worked and such. I explained we needed to add Jamie's skills dictionary to the site as a service, and yes, he would get paid too. As a commission. She would get paid by the day. With credits. Jamie too, which she could access to feed and clothe him. Yes, the system has clothes. How did Arthur know? Because he sold them.

  Maggia was a little startled by this. But let it go. They continued to discuss everything she did. Artur asked if she was ever overwhelmed. Maggie said she had taken skills to help being a receptionist when Lucas told her about the guild idea. And that she had actually leveled up from it. And so, she had taken two more skills. So, she had a better handle on things. Arthur told her if she ever wanted help, he would hire a second person or overnight worker.

  Maggie thought about that for a moment and said an overnight worker would be smart, since a lot of runners try to run twice a day right now. If they could pair them up in two in one day they would double their credits.

  Arthur thought for a moment and agreed. A system contract popped up. Maggie would receive 15 credits a day, as she was at a higher lvl. Arthur signed, and so did Maggie. Arhtur told her pick which floor for her and Jamie so they could share a floor together. Maggie went into the guild registry and picked the 6th floor rooms as hers and Jamie's. Arthur nodded and walked away. Then he turned right back around and said he likely needed to make Jamie's contract with her as well. Maggie laughed then they started talking. Jamies was giving consultations on skills that Maggie knew. Arthur told her that he paid for Jamie to have a skill dictionary and directory, so basically every skill that a person could have or use, and which was the best for them at that time. Or which they wanted to learn he could tell them how to learn it. So, it will be an expensive service from now on. And Arthur wanted Jamie to profit from it. Maggie stated that people were paying in cash still. Arthur said they need to raise the price then. To $500 each time. Maggie said that was too much Arthur said he paid 1000 credits for that skill for Jamie, he wouldn't let him get crowded over. Or they could charge 50 credits. Either or. And Jamie would be paid 20 credits each consult. All the cash was being funded into the guild as credits. As to pay the employees with credits. So, they can upgrade the building as well.

  Maggie sighed and said she understood. That she’ll have Jamie update the site. Arthur said that was another of Jamie's jobs, an ongoing job. 10 credits he improved the site. Sort of like a commission. But it was for the guild.

  Maggie agreed, a system window popped into view it had a space for Jamie to agree first. After a few moments. He signed. Then Maggie and Arthur signed. So, it was now official.

  Arthur asked raven if Mikey was in the building. Raven confirmed he was on the third floor. So that's where Arthur headed.

  Mikey was sitting despondently at a table drinking something. It smelled like alcohol, but Arthur didn't care much. He pulled out his coffee bottle and sat down with him.

  “didn't get the run?”

  “They wanted me to run three people at once, I refused. So, they decided they’ll just do it on their own. People are dumb.” Mikey sighed. I commiserated with him for a moment.

  Then I cheered him on. “So now is the time to pack your stuff from home.”

  He blinked at me. “Huh?”

  “I added bedrooms to the guild. With a full bath. 14x14 ft with a queen bed and closet. Basically, a studio. It's yours. Comes with employment. Which we also need to discuss. But I figure you'd want to be sober for that. And moved in as well.”

  Mikey blinked a few more times, then his eyes got bright. “Are you shitting me? A place here?”

  “Yep. I can take you up and show you it, only two specific rooms are claimed so far, so I can just show you any room and let you claim int. You want to go high?”

  Mikey nodded as fast as he could. I just laughed. And led the way to the elevator. Getting in and choosing the top floor. It took only a few moments, thanks to system fuckery. We stepped out into a hallway with a door on each side. I picked left. Then I opened it.

  It was just as I said, a basic studio apartment with a closet on one side, a bathroom on the other, a bed on the back wall. But also on the back wall was a full window, of the city of Dallas. Mikey was in awe.

  I saw the bed was bare, so I spent a few credits and purchased a decent set of sheets and blankets with pillows. That Raven then made the bed. I pulled out a pair of shorts and a sleeves shirt. I shoved Mikey towards the bathroom. “Go wash up. It'll still be here when you're done.” I set the clothes and a towel on the bed and left the room. Hed get the hint.

  This was a new beginning for him. I'll talk to him tomorrow about the contract for now, let him sleep it off.

  Now to see if Olivia is back.

  I went to check if all the vehicles were there, and they were. So, I had the surprising thought to check her office. And there she was. I asked what she was doing, and she blushed. She said she was filling out an after-action report, because she felt that was the right thing to do. I blinked and agreed. Those would be helpful with repeat customers. And to keep track of trends.

  I talked to her about the studio if she wanted it. She instantly agreed. I asked if she wanted to be on the same floor as Kate. But she asked how high the building goes. I said 11 storied, so she wanted the highest I said left is taken right is free. And it was hers.

  “So, to start with. Pay, it will be done in credits. You get a commission based on how many you run through, please don't be reckless. You get a commission on the consult, when you discuss the dungeon run with someone, you get a commission when you sell a wand for us. And not as starter gear.” She looked serious at me.

  “Since you run the dungeon, these numbers might seem low, but Kate basically gets the amount of a single dungeon run a day. Maggie as well. Jamie is on consults. For a dungeon consult I'd say 5-10 credits. 5 credits if they do the run 10 credits if they don't. Basically, if they take the run the consult is a discount.”

  Olivia nodded to me, so I continued.

  “For a dungeon run. They need to rent our armor, then either force bolt or gravity. Only the first wand counts as starter. If they buy a second wand you get a commission of 5 credits. Yes, it's low. Because I made these wands and sell them through the system store, they're sold for 15 credits. But from the system store I only get 5 credits back. So, you only get five credits, when I technically supply them to the guild. We aren't making that much money off them. If they buy the gear off us for good, we aren't making any money so there is no commission there. Katey will have an auto size wand when they rent the gear. You'll be given a pristine wand to hit the clients with anytime you feel like it, if they request it and you feel like they deserve it. Or hit yourself with it in the dungeon. I know it gets grody in there.”

  I pause for breath for a moment. Then continue on.

  “Dungeon run per one person is 10 credits each additional person is 5 credits. But you also keep what you make in the dungeon. You can do as many runs as you wish. If you only want to run once a day that is fine. But at least once a day as we have clients is what I'd ask. If no clients, I won't ask you to do any professional runs and let you keep your personal runs.”

  I break for a moment. “I don't know if you have leveled up yet, but you can run more often. You can schedule your runs with Maggie. As to when and with whom. I'd like it if you ran the people that consulted with you, but I realize that is unrealistic. Any questions so far?”

  Olivia was quiet for a few moments. “You said studio, no kitchen?”

  “Yes, 14x14 with closet and bathroom. There is a system interface on the third floor. If you haven't gotten it already, I'd suggest getting the first clear reward. It's a personal ai that can interact with the system for you. Including the store.”

  Olivia blinked. “You mean you weren't just talking to air?”

  “Nope my personal ai named Raven. Who helped design and upgrade the building. And reminded me of a few things.”

  Olivia went huh. Then said OK. A system contract popped up between us. Olivia read over the fine print. I waited til she was done, then she signed. Then I signed. And it was done.

  “So, you can move in whenever you want. Pets allowed of course, but you might want to keep them in your room. Want to tell Kate which rom you took?” Olivia grinned, then shook her head.

  *