-it's true then, the rich do get richer-
Laura thought and sighed. She was about to finish the job change process but then the skeleton caught her eyes again. Because it was staring right into the hidden camera inside the room. A shudder ran down her spine when she looked into those pitch black eyes that looked like they were sucking in all nearby light. Fortunately for her Robert undid the summoning in the next moment and looked quizzically into the lens inside the machine, which he assumed was the only observation point in the room. This made Laura jolt up and she hurried to finish the procedure for real this time.
"Receptionist Laura Vale, temporarily acting as Administer, confirms that Robert Piast of the house Piast is a grave caller. Mr. Piast we can do an additional power rating for you if you wish for it. Otherwise, this would conclude your first job change."
Robert thanked her for her consideration but declined the offer. He waited until she added his new occupation to his ID card and then he left the room. Outside Laura guided him back towards the entrance and on their way they met other employees that finally showed up for work. Laura accompanied Robert until they reached the stairs and then she formally bade him farewell. Back at her desk she sighed and finally relaxed.
"Ooooooh~, who was that guy to make iron wall Laura so anxious, hmm~?"
To her right her good friend was looking at her. She was a bright young girl with brown hair and brown eyes and only in her second year at the guild. The thirst for some juicy gossip was written all over her face. A vein popped on Laura's head and she answered:
"Shouldn't you be running around doing fucking paperwork for a thousand students that will show up today instead of looking for some gossip first thing in the morning?"
But her friend did not give in so easily. She hugged Laura and looked at her with puppy eyes from below.
"C'mon Lauraaaa~, you know it ruins your cute looks when you curse and that guy looked kinda hot. This day will be hell and I'm just looking for something to get me through it. Pretty please with a cherry on top?"
Laura sighed annoyed at her younger co-workers' shenanigans, but she was right. Today will be hell and it was the first time her friend had to stand on the frontlines during it so she thought it wouldn't be too bad to spoil her a little bit.
"That, my dear little Anna, was Robert Piast of the house of Piast."
Anna's eyes began to sparkle. She asked quickly:
"The young and rising star that everybody was looking forward to seeing today!? Why was he here in all secrecy? He couldn't have possibly gotten a crappy job, could he?"
Laura was scoffing at Anna's sudden enthusiasm. If only she had the same drive for work.
"Nope. In fact he got an ultra-rare and awesome job."
Laura replied shortly and was already looking forward to the reaction such a short and undetailed answer would get her.
"Lauraa~, don't tease me please. What kind of awesome and ultra-rare job did he get!?"
Anna was clinging to Laura's guild uniform and she was shaking her impatiently waiting for more information. Laura waited for another moment taking in all the impatience of youth that she so much enjoyed and then she rewarded Anna for that wonderful sight with her so much desired answer.
"You should have seen him Anna. He immediately put his hands on the crystal like the world owed him an awesome job and he stood there all tall and cool and waited for everything to be over and when it was all done he just silently extended his hands and summoned a dark and sinister skeleton. I tell you I shuddered when I saw that thing but he just calmly declared that he was a grave caller. He didn't even want a power evaluation. He just grabbed his card and waved me good bye while walking down the stairs!"
Of course Robert wasn't like that at all and he also was very polite and cooperative, but Laura knew how to tuck at the heartstrings of a young maiden and why shouldn't she lighten up Anna's day with a little white lie?
"Kyaaaah~,Laura that sounds awesome! He's totally my type! Now I have to endure today just so I can see him again!"
Laura smiled at her younger friend and kept the fact, that he probably will never visit the guild hall ever again to herself. After all Jobs of the calling branch never changed. They only increased the power of their summons and someone of Robert's standing wasn't reliant on guild work. But Anna needed all the energy she could get for today so she had to endure that heartbreak at a later date. But Anna still wasn't done with the topic.
"But why did he try to hide his job change then? I bet tons of girls would have waited for him and cheered him on today?"
Laura remembered that she forgot to explain that part and answered promptly.
"You see we always ask about the part whether the Job changer wants to harm the machine empire, right? Well, we used to ask that question about the house of Piast or rather the kingdom of Piast back then, but ever since their decline we don't even use this question here, that's how far the Havesburg influence has reached these days. So members of the Piast family always come in secrecy because they perceive those questions as an insult."
Anna looked disappointed.
"So, the reason he came so early was because of boring old politics, that kinda kills his mysterious vibes and makes him look like a whimp~."
Laura bit her tongue. She manged to ruin her co-workers' mood before the day even started, she quickly tried to rekindle her flames.
"No, no, no. Think of it more like the black haired young prince seeking revenge in the darkness while enduring humiliation silently!"
The hook was pretty basic and way out of line but Anna took the bait gladly.
"You are right Laura, my prince in shining hoody is only enduring this for a moment and I have to stay faithful to him. Now that I think more about it he must have had an incredible upbringing with his background, right? That must have included some petty harsh physical training as well, right? I bet he's rocking some awesome pecks beneath that hoody of his, right Lauraaa~?"
That does it.
"Aaaah, don't hit me Anna, violence ruins your cute side~"
Anna shouted and tried to hide but Laura calmly retorted while still having her fist raised up.
"And being so thirsty ruins your innocent maiden charm and now get back to work if you have the time to think about the body composition of men!"
While the two receptionists were still bickering, Robert was making his way up a large hill just outside of down. He soon reached the top from which one could observe the whole city. He stretched his hand out and created a greenish-black mana puddle. Only this time he poured his all into it, so when he was finished he saw three skeletons and a bone beast surrounding him. He observed the dawn of a beautiful spring sunrise and finally exhaled and voiced out his thoughts that he kept hidden while inside the guild building.
"Fuck."