Realm Lord

The remainder of the interview proceeded rather smoothly, though Arthur found himself navigating a careful balance throughout the entire process. He was extremely cautious and deliberate when explaining his abilities to Ms. Augustine, making sure to withhold significant details about his true capabilities. There was far more to his powers than he was willing to reveal to the administration, and he had good reasons for keeping that information to himself.

When the interview shifted to discussing exactly what he had experienced and accomplished during his time in the Second Realm, there were several moments when Arthur genuinely thought Ms. Augustine might actually faint from shock. Her face grew progressively paler as he recounted selected portions of his adventures, and she had to pause multiple times to collect herself and process what she was hearing.

The truth was that Arthur had accomplished more during his first descent into the Second Realm than most veteran Chosen had managed to achieve throughout their entire careers. Breaking an ancient spell, surviving the ever-changing castle and the field of dead roses, witnessing the memories of a long-dead king, these were the kinds of achievements that typically took years of experience and careful preparation to even attempt, let alone successfully complete.

Ms. Augustine found herself well and thoroughly shocked by the scope of his accomplishments. She had conducted hundreds of these post-realm interviews over the years, but never had she encountered a first-time traveler who had experienced anything even remotely close to what Arthur was describing. Her professional composure was tested to its limits as she struggled to document everything he was telling her.

After the lengthy interview finally concluded, Arthur still had several additional bureaucratic hurdles to navigate. There were a couple of small but necessary medical examinations to ensure that his physical condition was stable after his extended time in the realm, as well as various forms to sign and administrative procedures to complete.

Finally, after many long and exhausting hours of paperwork, interviews, and medical checks, Arthur found himself back at the familiar front desk, standing face to face with the same administrative woman who had initially directed him to the interview rooms. She seemed much more relaxed now than she had been earlier, and her demeanor was friendly and helpful as she prepared to explain some important information about his new life as a Chosen.

"Now that all the official business is taken care of," she began with a professional smile, "let me explain how Chosen are compensated for their work and contributions to society."

She launched into a detailed explanation of the payment system that governed the lives of all Chosen individuals. According to her explanation, every Chosen received a base salary from the government that, while not exactly lavish or luxurious, was definitely sufficient to maintain a comfortable and livable standard of living. This base salary served as a safety net, ensuring that no Chosen would ever find themselves without basic necessities.

The system became more interesting as she explained the advancement structure. A Chosen’s salary increased incrementally every time they successfully ranked up, with each new rank bringing both prestige and improved financial compensation. However, she emphasized that most successful Chosen made the majority of their income through two primary sources: the substantial salaries they received from whatever guild they are from, and the lucrative promotional activities that came with being a public figure in the Chosen community.

After explaining all the financial details thoroughly, she paused and looked at Arthur with a curious expression. "And what about joining a guild? Have you decided on one to try for yet? With everything you just accomplished during your first realm expedition, I’d expect that virtually any guild would be more than happy to recruit you. I can easily set up meetings with guild administrators if you’d like me to arrange some interviews."

Arthur stood in thoughtful silence for several long moments, considering her question carefully. The truth was that he hadn’t put much serious thought into the question of guilds recently, but now that it was being presented as an immediate decision, he found himself examining his feelings on the matter.

At the end of the day, joining a guild would represent quite a significant contradiction given all the time he had spent harboring deep resentment and hatred toward them.