Chapter 10: Policy

A white ceiling, and a fan circling around.

The first sight Henry saw as his eyes slowly opened.

"Ughh... My head!" Henry sit himself up, feeling his head like it's cracking.

He found himself inside a large spacious infirmary, and he's not the only one there, there's a lot of other people, unconscious in their beds, Conquerors themselves.

(That Receptionist! Did she do all of this?!) The sight of a lot of Conquerors seemingly passed out due to her doings made him shocked and feel great anxiety.

The power she displayed was incomparable to his, he felt like ant being crushed, upon this incident, he realize how far weak he is.

(This is crazy! I didn't know Conquerors could be that strong! I should've really continued my training back then!) Looking back at his past, due to the hindrance of Mary, preventing him from becoming a fully realized Conqueror, he neglected his growth, focusing his life as a normal human being.

(If I had known the Queen would give me this opportunity again, I would've continue my training! Even my knowledge of how they conducting things and new polices are outdated!) Henry pondered over himself.

Not only did he neglected his training, his knowledge was outdated, where back then, Conquerors only need to form an application, but now is different.

(This is my first day and first step towards my new life, and I got beaten by a receptionist, what a hassle...) He thought.

Some minutes passed, the door to the infirmary opened, a group of nurses led by a doctor in a white coat, a blonde haired man who's in his early 30's entered.

He noticed Henry sitting up his bed, and calm greeted him, to assure the patient.

"Oh, you're finally awake." The doctor walk towards him, while the nurse behind him, treated the other patients.

"Henry Val, right? I'm the leading physician of the Pale Ghost guild, you can call me Al." The doctor said calmly offering a hand shake.

Henry accepted and addressed the doctor politely.

"You might be wondering what happened right, it's only been a four hours, so you didn't miss anything particular." Doctor Al then bowed to him, apologizing on Ain's behalf.

"As a high ranking member of the Pale Ghost guild, I apologize for one of our members rash action, please, stay as long as you like, we make sure you're treated properly by the Guild's expanse!" The Doctor said whole heartedly.

"No, no! Raise your head, you don't have to apologize, it should be her who should be apologizing, where is she anyway?" Henry raised his hands, embarrassed of the Doctor's generosity.

"She's currently being disciplined by the Head of the Guild for her misdeeds, so you can rest assured, we make sure to properly have her punished for her actions.

"Oh." Henry blurted out as soon as he heard the word punish, feeling a bit uneasy for some reason.

Minute of silence passed, unable to think of a proper follow up, the doctor then addresses another matter regarding Henry's incident.

"I noticed that you recently just got a license, the date says so, and it seems you choose our guild, but it appears you made a miscalculation regarding applying for a guild, I'm sorry, due to issues raised by the government, we have to comply with the new policy of only letting in people who managed to pass the monthly examination." Doctor Al said without a hitch to inform the newcomer with proper knowledge.

The new policy was created due to high expectations amongst newly awakened Conquerors and the high mortality amongst them.

People thought it be easy come and easy go, but was met with a disastrous expectations, so to ensure this never happened, the government made a policy to make people work harder by implementing a monthly examination that all the guild will hosts and scout people they see fit.

Despite the long history of towers, the policy was recently implemented, but it was often revoked and renewed, extremely prone to changes, spanning across history, it has some form of variations that the government where it was yearly, or only only the guilds of their own specifics can host an examination to scout newcomers, even the new policy might have a chance of being changed or revoked again.

This is due to the fact things are not ever so constant, situations changes, and people will have to adapt thoroughly.

Henry realize how badly he missed things regarding the world of Conquerors deeply regretted his neglect as a Conquerors, as such he facepalm himself as a form of punishment.

"Don't worry, if you're lost, you can just search on the internet about it, and i will be honest, I think it would be better if you trained yourself first, the examination is in two weeks time, buff yourself up and make sure you're prepared." The Doctor gave Henry some advice and the date of the examinations.

Henry upon hearing this was momentarily taken aback, realizing that there will be a lot of other examiners competing to get scouted, he realized he needed to seriously catch.

He was too naive at the moment.

But with that, he set an objective towards his goal, motivating himself.

(That pathetic display of mine earlier was so embarrassing, I didn't think things would go like this, but rather, I really need to catch up, and I'm far too weak at the moment!) Henry contemplated himself.

"Thank you, doctor!" Henry bowed in appreciation towards his caretaker.

—

Seeing that there's no long term damage on his side, and he's fine all over.

Not wanting to take advantage of the Guild's hospitality and wanted to immediately start his training, Henry picked himself up and his sword, and leave the infirmary, thanking the nurses and the doctor again.

Walking through a hallway, silently thinking to himself what he should do next.

(Crap, now it be too embarrassing to go back to my parents, I thought it would've been easy on this part, but a setback has been implemented, what should I do, can my leftover money even keep me up for this two weeks, but more on that, can I even pass the examination?!) Henry lost in a daze as he thought it out, embarass to go back to his parents after making such a declaration, anyone would be.

But his lacking strength was his biggest worry at the moment.

While walking along the hallway, as he move his gazes up, he notice a figure dress in a nice uniform, her bangs covering one of her eyes, and an almost bored like expression stemming from her complexion.

"Yo!"

"Grrrr... What do you want?" Taken aback upon setting his sights of the receptionist, his core was momentarily shook.

"Hey now, don't be so cold."

"What do you mean don't, you're the one who put me to sleep didn't you!" Extremely wary of the ghost in front of him, Henry still found himself able to throw some remarks regarding her existence, in spite of knowing what's she capable of.

"Don't worry, I won't be doing anything this time, I just come to apologize."

".... Eh?" Henry's eyes widened in surprise, in disbelief of what's he's hearing right now, as his mouth was left agape, no words came out of his mouth.

The upstanding woman earlier, with a very nasty attitude, who's unmoving unless you truly provoke her, suddenly appeared in front of him and apologized.

Though, her voice was still the same, as slow as usual, that still contains hints of arrogance, the tone she used seems to contain some hints of truth.

Which made Henry at the moment truly surprised by her current actions.

"Don't be mistaken, I'm apologizing sincerely right now, but in consideration towards the Guild's reputation and status, I've been suspended by the Head, and as a result, here I am under her order's." This was an order by the guild, yet despite that, she does seem to really care about the Guild's wellbeing as shown of her being sincere right now.

"Fi- fine, I accept your apology, and for calling you a hag, I don't know what came to me!" Henry also apologized due to him overstepping his boundaries.

But him blurring out the word Hag made Ain in front of him closed her eyes with fists clenched tightly to keep the frustration from seeping out.

"Then, I be going, miss receptionist..." Henry then says his farewell, and move past her.

But before he could put a distance where they can't hear each other anymore, Ain spoke first he could leave completely.

"Stop."

"!" Henry gulped, scared, and sweating down again, her presence really puts him on edge, like a slave becoming wary of their master's power to retaliate any moment.

(Crap, I said something bad, right? Oh no! I did say it again!) He unexpectedly uttered the word Hag which he immediately took note of earlier, remembering the face she can make really scares him.

He tried to turn around to address her properly, but.

"What is it?" As he turned with his body slumped, he wasn't met again with the terrifying imagery like earlier, he simply saw the figure of Ain standing in the middle of the hallway with her hands on her pockets, confidently.

"Do you still intend to be part of this guild? I'm pretty sure the Doctor told you the details you're in need of." Ain said but without her usual slowness this time.

Due to the commotion she caused earlier, making Henry very wary and putting fear in him, asking such a question would be inconceivable, but Ain simply didn't mind and went straight to the point, a very straight forward person per say.

(This is nerve racking, it's like she's putting me on a pedestal where I get beaten up no matter what choices I makes, should I say this or that, dammit, why is my first day so catastrophic, is this really the life of everyone where they are free to express themselves in some ways?) Henry pondered for a little while, until Ain got tired of waiting.

"Well, if you're really that scared of me, you're free to back out and hope another guild will scout you, if you pass the examination. But if you're a real man, come to us, and meet me head on, I quite like guys like you!" Ain unexpectedly smile at him.

Her words was a bit hard to comprehend.

(What is she even talking about? Is she belittling me as a man, of course I would've join this guild in the first place, that's why this is my first choice, even with such a violent woman! I only needed to stay far away from her sights, right? And what the heck does she mean by guys like me, I'm not even popular with women!) Henry tried to reason with himself, but was too late as she already said those words, but not wanting to back down still.

"Of course I would've still joined this one, I can't embarrass myself anymore than this! Why do you think this is the first guild I step my foot into!" Henry made a point to stand by his ideals.

"But why this guild? There's a lot just on the other side of the street or just right beside this one." Ain asked, expecting an answer as she locked gazes with him.

In truth, Henry simply made a random decision in the street and choose the Pale Ghost guild, not even expecting anything, but letting his actions determine the outcome, and now trying to come up with an excuse, he's unable to properly give an answer as such.

(What should I say, why is she Interviewing me so much, could the guild have taken an interest in me, perhaps, plausible, but still, what the heck is this situation, just let me be already?!) As a last minute decision, he simply said.

"Hhmm.... The banner I guess?"

Ain was momentarily surprised as her expression which use to resemble him back then, a very droopy one, lacking motivation, and bored out of herself now turned into that of her eyes widening, her head went back a little, and her eyebrows heightened.

"Anyway, just let me be okay, I need to prepare myself as I got some catching up to do, see ya!" Finally taking his leave over what seems like a pre interview, he made a dash as soon as he finally got out of her sight due to the uncomfortable presence she exudes towards him.

"Hehehe... What a crude answer." Ain said so.