Adventurer of Many Professions

The Becker Hotel stood eerily silent. In the past, at this time of morning, the restaurant would be bustling with guests enjoying their breakfast, the clatter of dishes mingling with friendly chatter. But today, the tables sat empty, the silverware untouched, and a tense silence filled the air.

A group of chefs, their uniforms wrinkled from a sleepless night, clustered around the front desk, faces set in anger and confusion. One of them, a stout man with graying hair, finally broke the silence.

"Will," he demanded, his voice thick with frustration, "what's going on? Why did you suddenly decide to fire us?"

Beside him, a younger woman with red cheeks and fists clenched added, "And you kicked out all the guests first thing this morning! What's your plan, Will? You owe us an explanation."

"Yes, Will," another chef chimed in, his voice cracking with barely contained anger. "We've been here for years, through thick and thin. If you're dismissing us, we expect proper compensation. This isn't right."

Will, the manager of the Becker Hotel, looked down, his fingers nervously drumming on the countertop. Beads of sweat dotted his brow as he stammered, "It's… it's not my decision. This was all Mrs. Becker's doing. If you have questions… you'll have to take them up with her."

As if on cue, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed from the staircase. Each step reverberated through the empty lobby until finally, Mrs. Becker herself appeared. Clad in a dark velvet robe, her face stern, she surveyed the employees with narrowed eyes.

Her voice, harsh and booming, cut through the room. "What's all this racket? Why are you all still here?"

The employees fell silent, startled by her sudden entrance, but their looks of frustration didn't waver.

One brave voice from the crowd spoke up, "Mrs. Becker, we deserve an explanation. Why are you shutting down the hotel without any notice? And what about our severance?"

Mrs. Becker placed her hands firmly on her hips, her large frame towering over the group. "Enough!" she barked. "This hotel is closing, and that's all you need to know. The matter is settled. You'll all receive compensation, according to the original terms. Now, stop making a fuss!"

Her words hung in the air, tense and final. The employees glanced at each other, unsure of how to respond. Mrs. Becker's imperious tone and unyielding posture left little room for argument. Reluctantly, they quieted down, though the frustration simmered in their eyes.

After a few moments, Mrs. Becker seemed to relax, as if confident she'd asserted control. But then, as though struck by a sudden thought, she leaned toward the front desk and shouted, "Well? If you want your compensation, step forward and sign the forms!"

Half an hour later, the former employees of the Ville Hotel shuffled out of the lobby, clutching small pouches of gold coins. They exchanged bewildered glances, muttering to each other in disbelief.

"Can you believe it?" whispered one, inspecting his payment. "She didn't skimp on a single coin."

"No deductions, no delays…" another chimed in, shaking her head. "Who'd have thought Mrs. Becker would be so… generous?"

They left, still dazed by the unexpected windfall, but Mrs. Becker had already moved on to more pressing concerns. She turned to Will, who lingered by the desk, his face still pale.

"Will, have you contacted the Housing Chamber of Commerce?" she demanded, her voice sharp and urgent.

Will nodded but looked uneasy. "Yes, I spoke with them, but… they said it would be difficult to find a buyer on such short notice. They're willing to buy it themselves, but…" He hesitated, then continued reluctantly, "They're only offering 250 gold coins."

Mrs. Becker's face turned an angry shade of red. "Two hundred and fifty gold coins?" she shrieked. "This hotel is four stories, with a fully equipped restaurant on the first floor! And they think they can offer a mere pittance?"

Will swallowed, trying to keep his voice steady. "They said the building's age is a factor. They'd need to make significant repairs, and the equipment in the kitchen would have to be replaced…"

"Enough!" Mrs. Becker cut him off, her hands shaking with fury as she pounded a fist on the desk. Her face, still flushed, seemed to soften for a moment as she looked around the empty hotel. She realized that, despite her anger, the offer might be her only way out.

With a resigned sigh, she muttered, "Fine, fine… when I bought this place, the town wasn't nearly as busy, and the costs weren't high. A sale now would give us enough to leave. We need to be gone before… well, before Raymond's release."

Her gaze hardened. "Why did he have to be the one? Why did 'Raymond' have to become an Awakener?"

Will glanced away, uneasy. He understood Mrs. Becker's desperation; becoming an "Awakener" was no small feat. In the Kingdom of Atlantis, magic affinity was rare, only one in a hundred could hope to wield it. But that single talent had thrown their entire plan into chaos.

"Well," Will murmured, "if we leave now, he won't catch us in time. We'll be halfway across the kingdom before he's even free."

Mrs. Becker nodded, her expression darkening. This was her last chance, and she knew it.

Mrs. Becker took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay calm. "Fine. Two hundred and fifty it is," she muttered, her voice steely. "But tell them they have to pay it today. No delays." She hesitated, glancing toward the door as if second-guessing herself. "Forget it. I'll go tell them myself."

Just as she turned, ready to march to the Housing Chamber of Commerce with a determined sway of her wide hips, two figures appeared in the doorway.

"We're closed today," she began sharply, her eyes still fixed on the floor. "No guests, no—" Her voice faltered, and she looked up. Her face paled, and her mouth hung open as she recognized the two people before her. "R-Raymond… Arya…"

Standing before her, clear-eyed and resolute, were Raymond and Arya. Mrs. Becker's throat went dry, and fear tightened her expression.

Raymond's eyes sparkled with a mix of amusement and something darker. "Mrs. Becker, going somewhere?"

Mrs. Becker stammered, her gaze darting anywhere but at Raymond's face. "Oh, just stepping out for a bit of air," she said with an awkward laugh, fanning herself theatrically. "It's… very warm in here, you know, ha ha…"

"Do you really need to fire every employee just to get some fresh air?" Raymond's smile dropped, his tone deadly calm.

Mrs. Becker's forced cheer faded as she caught the hard glint in his eye. She knew he'd heard the truth: that she'd dismissed the entire staff and handed over generous severance just this morning. Desperation clawed at her. "Well, yes, I may have let some people go. This is my hotel, after all!" she retorted, trying to sound indignant but only managing a feeble squeak. "Besides, you wanted compensation, didn't you? So here it is."

With trembling hands, she reached into her pocket, pulled out four gold coins, and tossed them onto the guest table in front of Raymond. She immediately took a few cautious steps back, her gaze flitting to the coins as if they'd seal her freedom.

"There. Each employee was given one gold coin and fifty silver coins as severance. Consider it a little bonus for… recent inconveniences," she explained with a tight smile, glancing nervously at Raymond. "Take it and go. I'd prefer not to see you again."

Raymond eyed the coins, a cold smile tugging at his lips. He picked them up slowly, weighing each one in his hand before slipping them into his pocket. Mrs. Becker seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, hoping this would end things smoothly.

Then Raymond spoke again, his voice clear and commanding. "Now that we've settled the severance," he said, "let's discuss the compensation for you slandering and framing an Awakener."

The color drained from Mrs. Becker's face. Her mind raced, her bravado slipping. She forced herself to meet Raymond's gaze, though her voice shook. "Raymond, don't think that just because you're an Awakener, I'll be intimidated. I've paid what I owe, and if you dare to harm me, the Knights will deal with you!" She tried to hold her head high, but her voice betrayed her trembling fear.

Behind her bold words was a deep-seated terror. She knew what happened to people who pushed young Awakeners too far. Stories circulated of newly empowered youths who turned on those who'd wronged them in moments of revenge. The more selfish she was, the more she feared that Raymond might sacrifice everything to make her pay.

Sensing her fear, Arya gently placed a hand on Raymond's arm, her face pleading. "Raymond… please don't do anything rash. This isn't worth it."

Raymond glanced at Arya and offered her a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, Arya. I won't do anything foolish."

He turned back to Mrs. Becker, letting a long silence hang between them before finally saying, "The four gold coins will do… for the severance."

Mrs. Becker relaxed, the tension in her shoulders loosening. She had been certain he would make a scene, but it seemed he was ready to let things go. Just as she exhaled, Raymond's voice pierced the quiet once more, his words freezing her in place.

"Now… about your compensation for the lies you spread and the false accusations you made against me," he said, his voice dangerously low.

Mrs. Becker's eyes widened, her mouth opening to argue, but no words came. Raymond's gaze held hers, and she knew, deep down, that there was no escaping this.