Both Yu Jin and Michael now standing at reception counter closing their conversation with greetings.
" How is study going on Characteristics and Traits? Did you start to differentiate them?" Michael question Yu Jin. "I am starting understand their differences little but still it had long way to go. Also I begin to making my own notes and summaries on them like you advised." Yu Jin spoke eagerly like trying showing off his achievements to his mentor.
Things Yu Jin and Michael are Characteristic and Traits which are related to Arcane gates. While both words are synonyms but their meaning completely different.
Characteristics define as a definitive or important clue related to Arcane anomaly or gate. Like Origin Code it's unique and specific to them. It can range from hint for clearing method to clue for location or form of Origin Code. On other hand Traits can describe as overall information regarding to all living, non-living things present in gate. It generally provides overview of monsters and environment hunters had to face.
While from their names Characteristics and Traits may sound detailed and accurate but most of time it was vague and may provide different conclusions.
Which makes deciphering and understanding are much difficult work because both characteristics and traits strictly present in latin or greek language with them usually can be a proverb, few sentences or complete paragraph.
Here's where historians and scholars came in picture with hunter's experience and practical knowledge while clearing attempts and their vast knowledge over language they decode and understand it over time. With overall how time consuming and sheer amount systematic elimination, sorting one had to do just deciphering them, make them vague with certain margin of error.
This also reason why Yu Jin taking extensive time for preparation. Being hunter is job requires both brain and brawn. One can't survive with only either them. You can always find trustworthy teammates to fill it but given how sparse are they in industry, you will be long dead before finding one.
"Good thing you working on it. Oh I almost forgot but you asked for interview right. My schedule is free at this weekend, visit me at afternoon." Michael now inform Yu Jin regarding his request for interviewing for assistant manager job in bookstore. Michael regularly take interview but most of candidates can't pass because of his personality and high requirement.
" Thank for accepting my request. I going to prepare thoroughly for it." Yu stated with confidence.
Now Michael's usual polite, gentle tone change to more serious and stoic." Is owner of gun dead or alive?" He question.
"He is dead." Yu replied short without any hesitation. "Is there witness seen you ?" He question again while mataining neutral expression.
"No, More over you don't need worry. I didn't kill him. He was taken out by his rival gang. I just remember location of his belongings, which I cleared up and shifted to current location." Yu Jin explain his situation to him while hiding some key details.
His expression finally returned to normal. While Michael lived his whole life in uptown but he also well aware conditions people had face daily for survival in slumps and downtown. His hunter days taught him alot.
"Good thing you cleanup through it. Doing it for survival was nothing you should ashame of. Now go to your work, your already late or you get scolding from Sir Stuart." Michael spoke to Yu Jin with hint of genuine care and worry in his eyes.
Now Yu Jin also leave the shop and praising himself over his decision to early visit to Michael ahead of his schedule plan to all three NPCs.
Yu Jin originally going to visit Michael after he used to this world and work on his mannerisms, learn some etiquettes. He just going work under Michael for few months to confirm his information regarding to characteristics and traits.
He wants to make sure their this no variation or errors from what he knows and second reason was to find any extra or hidden information through Michael.
Yu Jin want to absolute assurance before he officially became hunter and start clearing gate.
Even though Yu Jin didn't possess any golden finger or overpowered system like webnovels, manhuas and his edge over this world almost non-existent. But still person lived in 21st century and hardcore gamer. He knows to how to milked up every minute opportunities, information and connections.
But with current guidance Michael providing to him, he decided to increase preparation phase drastically. Yu Jin roughly outline about three year period.
It can consider as long period given Yu Jin's knowledge about future events about just one and half year. Most of them not even significant one because they were tutorial stages for players, getting overview and basic information of game's world.
If needed he was ready spend even decade for preparation because like most of webnovels hunters have long lifespan and maintain youthful appearance even when they're centuries old fossils.
Main reason for it was Mana Photons which not just strengthen their body but biologically reshape it. In theory hunter can be immortal if he continuous clear and closes the gates.
More than any of that while Yu Jin didn't get any golden finger of main character but he also didn't curse by early misfortune being one.
He doesn't wake up in severely ill or complete waste body when transmigrated or some crazy young master after his life moment he wake up. Yu Jin truly thankful to God for it.
While slightly impaired vision of his blue eye still concern him. Because it has chances of blindness according biometric data but it will take decades to reach it. By then his body already reshape and improved so didn't worry too much about it.
In those two months Yu Jin also check any hidden ailments through his memories and biometric data but he didn't find any. His main focus over this time remain on getting himself used to and integrate himself in world not just physically but also mentally and psychologically.
Days past and weekend came with Yu Jin's interview with Michael.
Yu Jin now walking over Henry Street while checking the time. He wore a dark blue suit with matching top hat. He didn't carry briefcase today but moving with elegant wooden cane.
This one of four suits and top hats Yu Jin purchased. He called it investment considering his guidance from Michael. It was important for making solid impression over Michael.
Like Stuart, Michael's personality is hard to deal with. While both of their habits and nature will give occasion headache to Yu Jin. But it's nothing compared to third NPC he needs to visit and which makes him official hunter.
That guy was half crazy, heavy drunkard cannibal. While in most extreme scenario both Stuart and Michael kicked him out and cut connection with him. But this guy will make three times meal out him over some light disagreement.
And most terrifying part of it was he was most powerful out of three. While Michael was former hunter and much stronger than current Yu Jin but he is pale comparing this monster.
Unlike Michael, he was seasoned veteran who spends over nine decades in gates. Yes, his age over almost two hundred years. He was most difficult target Yu Jin yet have deal not just mentally but psychologically also.
Even though his mind already deteriorates from his craziness and alcohol still he managed to survive over nine decades in gate. It's not something with just luck or anything can do.
Yu Jin strictly not interact or gets any close to him. He first want to mentally prepared also he was quite scared given now it's was reality now not his game screen with multiple checkpoints and revivals.
Now he calm his mind with burying those thoughts in his heart and shift his focus back to interview.
He entered the store and by familiar figure by reception desk. "Good afternoon, how was your day?" Yu Jin greets Michael and ask casually.
"Good afternoon, quite pleasant actually I completed twlveth volume of book. More than that I am honestly eager for result of today's interview." Michael replied graceful with enthusiasm on his face.
They quickly moved to third floor and seated in break room. Michael already prepared some tea for them. He offered to Yu Jin who now seated comfortably on sofa with brimming confidence over his face.
Michael start interview with different questions ranging his knowledge about historical books, his personal opinion on them to how he deal with customers and special guests at different scenarios.
Yu Jin who had his fair share of experience from different sales and marketing internships, part time jobs from previous life, gives more practical and decisive answers rather than trying impress him with his textbook knowledge.
"You give much better answers than I expected. I honestly expect to not just you but from every candidate to fumble upon one or two. But you handle it quite well and don't lost your flow."
Michael praise Yu Jin over successfully passing his interview. If he being honest himself, he would hire Yu Jin even if he didn't perform very well. Because comparing Yu Jin to those arrogant graduates and upper echelon brats who applied to him every now and then was thousands times better.
Those brats either too arrogant and overconfident over their knowledge, academics or just want to make some connections with him.
Over hour and half pass with that Yu Jin officially ended. It was quite long for any standard one but given Michael's nature he expected it.
"Now let discuss your work and salary. Your main job was maintaining books and dealing with regular customer. As for ocassional guests you just need to prepared as per my instructions. You don't need to worry of dealing with them most of time given they just come build some connections with me. Your shift from 8:00 am to 7:30 pm, you can weekends off but at every last weekend you need to check conditions of books and rearrange them. As for salary 35,000 Ethereum per month. Current staff consist of only you but don't worry my butler handle other minor chores and cleaned the store regularly. So your main focus on customers and books." Michael take time while explaining lots of details to Yu Jin.
"But boss isn't 35,000 thousands too much even considering it's uptown also other bookstores not even pay half of it. Given job basically dealing with customers and handling books which is most basic, lenient work." Yu question him curious gazes.
"Already addressing me as boss. Yes I am paying you above market prices and intended increase in future but first you had show me better performance for it. As for your work dealing those annoying things is enough for me. Reasoning behind it quite simple, even if you not feel not but when you start more advanced, professional training and more study material you needed. You honestly kinda feel like broke. Because all those not come cheap. I can provide you books and some guidance but you eventually need find some veteran's tutelage. That's why save this salary as future fund for it." Michael replied him with light chuckle.
Yu Jin genuinely surprise by how much Michael think about him and his ambition for hunter.
He continued his conversation and sign Yu Jin to note down." You now only practice gun right." He question Yu Jin. "Yes, I am thinking about other weapons but don't have time or money spend on them now." He replied.
There is quite increase in his original 500k funds over this time but with market prices for weapons, it will drain alot which not something he can afford in current phase of plan.
" Did it right to drop the plan because what you need is not more guns rather cold, primitive weapons like sword, blade, daggers. Think about it you are exploring the gate and came across monster horde. In every scenario you have to deal with them immediately but what will do if you run out of ammo,your gun became jam or worst it breaks apart and you are out of spare parts. While guns itself are good weapons but those variables and situation are extremely disadvantageous. There are solutions for it like learning technical skills and travelling in party with enough resources but you don't possess luxury or fortune for none of it in most cases. So learning and carrying cold weapons are best choice. Of course they also their own disadvantages but they are nothing compared to modern weapons. There also another reasons but I will explain them one's you start to learn them."
Michael continue his usual guidance to Yu Jin and he also listening it enthusiastically.
With it he secured his second NPC target while he was still reluctant to meet third one.