Chapter 36: A.E.G.I.S. Recruitment

October ██, ████.

A.E.G.I.S. Recruitment Day.

...

Harley walked into the testing building, holding a suitcase in one hand as he wore a neat suit and tie.

His hair was combed neatly, and he looked quite lively.

Quite a few people had gathered around him as well, chatting comfortably with one another while waiting for the recruitment process to begin.

The lobby was already packed with applicants, with people standing in small groups, sitting on the rows of waiting chairs, or walking around while checking their documents.

A large sign bearing the A.E.G.I.S. company logo stood behind the reception counter.

Beneath it were several smaller signs advertising the company’s services, including Private Collection and Asset Management, Environmental Remediation, and Specialized Property Recovery.

To anyone unfamiliar with the organization’s true purpose, A.E.G.I.S. appeared to be a well-established private company specializing in the acquisition, storage, and management of rare assets, as well as the cleanup of contaminated properties and the recovery of valuable items from hazardous locations.

It was a rather convincing cover, especially considering how many people and businesses required such services.

"Man, I’m a bit nervous... I don’t really have any experience in collecting, evaluating, or handling rare items, but I heard they’re accepting applicants as long as they meet the basic requirements, right?"

"That’s what the announcement said, I think. A.E.G.I.S. is a pretty big company, though. My uncle told me they even have teams specializing in environmental remediation. Apparently, they handle sites that other companies wouldn’t even dare touch."

"Seriously? I thought they just collected antiques and managed private collections for wealthy clients."

"They do that, too. I heard they also retrieve valuable items from abandoned properties and places that have been declared unsafe. You’d be surprised how much money there is in that business."

The two young men standing beside Harley continued their conversation while occasionally glancing toward the reception counter, where several employees were busy checking application documents and directing applicants to their designated waiting areas.

"Still, I find one of the requirements a little odd. Why do we have to bring an object we personally consider "strange" and "unusual"? I mean, wouldn’t a normal interview and some professional assessments be enough?"

"Maybe they want to see if we have an eye for valuable collectibles? You know, some antiques look like junk to ordinary people but are worth a fortune to the right buyer."

"I guess that makes sense...? I brought a hair comb that’s been passed down through my family for generations. My great-grandmother used to own it, so I figured it might be worth showing them. I’m just not sure whether they’d consider it valuable enough."

"Haha, that’s better than what I brought. I picked up an animal skull from somewhere near my hometown. I don’t even know what kind of animal it came from, dude."

"Pfft, you brought an actual skull?"

The two burst into laughter, drawing a few curious glances from the people nearby.

Harley listened to their conversation with a faint smile, occasionally looking around the crowded lobby.

Some applicants seemed confident, chatting casually as if they were attending an ordinary job interview, while others nervously rehearsed their answers or repeatedly checked the contents of their bags.

A few had brought old books, peculiar ornaments, and objects wrapped carefully in cloth.

One man was even holding a wooden box against his chest as though he were afraid someone might try to steal it.

Looking at the people around him, Harley simply smiled and greeted anyone who nodded in his direction.

"Applicants holding tickets numbered 041 through 050, please prepare yourselves! Your group will be next for the first interview!"

After checking his ticket, Harley realized that his turn had finally come.

He picked up his suitcase from the ground and made his way toward the personnel in charge, joining the small crowd of applicants heading in the same direction.

For some reason, he didn’t feel the slightest bit nervous.

Perhaps it was because of his trust in Lord Moon, along with the sense of obligation he felt toward him.

After all, he had already received so much graces from his lord. Surely something as simple as a recruitment test wouldn’t be enough to shake his resolve.

With that thought in mind, Harley followed the other applicants into a relatively small room.

Inside, several tables had been arranged in a row, with personnel seated behind them to inspect the items brought by each applicant.

A few employees stood nearby, recording the results and organizing the documents.

Once everyone had settled down, the personnel in charge stepped forward and began explaining the procedure.

"Welcome, everyone. This is the inspection team responsible for evaluating the items you’ve brought today. We’ll examine each object individually and determine whether it has any collectible, historical, or commercial value."

"If your item meets our standards, the company will offer you compensation in exchange for it, and you’ll automatically pass the first stage of recruitment."

He looked around briefly as though he was judging everyone’s faces.

"Please understand that simply bringing an old or expensive-looking object doesn’t guarantee acceptance. Our evaluators will make the final decision, so there’s no point arguing over their assessments."

"Now, let’s begin. First person on the list, please step forward."

One applicant after another approached the inspection counter, presenting their items to the evaluators.

Unfortunately, things didn’t go particularly well for most of them.

"What?! The antique shop owner told me this was a rare family heirloom! Are you seriously telling me it’s worthless?!"

The woman standing before the inspection team looked as though she could barely believe what she was hearing.

She clutched the object in her hands, her face reddening with anger.

"Ma’am, we’ve already completed our assessment. Your item doesn’t meet our requirements, and our decision won’t change simply because you disagree with it. Please leave the inspection room so we can proceed with the next applicant."

"What kind of ridiculous company is this?!"

"Ma’am, this is your final warning. Please leave voluntarily, or our security personnel will escort you out."

The woman stomped away, muttering complaints under her breath as she left the room.

Unfortunately, she was not the only one who ended up disappointed.

Aside from a few exceptions, almost every applicant had their item rejected.

Some had brought ordinary antiques with little market value, while others had presented objects that looked peculiar but turned out to be nothing more than worthless trinkets.

Still, two people managed to pass the inspection.

The first was a tall woman who had brought a white glove. The evaluators spent a considerably longer time examining it before finally approving the item.

The second was a relatively old man who had brought a jar of sewage water.

Yes, sewage water...

Harley had no idea what was so special about it, but the inspection team seemed satisfied with their assessment, and the old man was allowed to proceed to the next stage without any complaints.

"Next... Harley Mitchell."

Hearing his name, Harley calmly walked toward the inspection counter, carrying his suitcase with both hands.

"Is the object you’re presenting inside that suitcase?"

Harley nodded.

"Yes, it is."

He placed the suitcase on the table and unlocked it before carefully opening the lid.

Inside lay a clean male doll dressed in a dark blue suit.

Its hair was combed neatly, and its right eye bore a scar, with a distinctly white pupil staring back at the inspection team.