Waifu Catalog: Endless Journey

I take a small sip of the drink in my hand and look out the bar. It's been a while since I went and had some drinks. Sadly, I'm not just drinking. I'm waiting for someone.

I was a jobless man who took many side jobs to make due. I never get into a permanent job to make a steady income. The reason? I did not have a degree. The last place that accepts a high school graduate like me makes me work insane hours.

Fourteen hours a day, every day, and yes, even on Sunday, I still needed to go to work even though it was not full-time.

From Eight AM to Ten PM, I continue to work like that.

What made matters worse was that fourteen hours were not considered overtime, so I did not get any bonus for my monthly paycheck. I decided to quit the job when my body started to give up from that insane work time.

After a year and a few months, I decided to try another job that would give me a steady income and not put my body through that kind of torture again. So after searching for a few weeks, I got a job in some sort of export and import job.

The job requires me to be away from home for a long time. It looks like I will become a ship crew that goes to other countries via the sea. The ads for the job say that it would be challenging, but if I persevere for a few years, I will be set for life.

It was a little bit exaggerated, but I'm good as long as I can buy my own house from the paycheck. I don't mind working hard, as long as it is not too hard to the point my body is giving up.

Anyway, after being chosen by the manager, I was contacted to meet up in the bar near my house for an interview. It was rather weird to have an interview in a bar, but I decided to go because I was rather desperate.

I need money to buy food and pay the rent. My side job covers the rent and the food, but it does not cover my other needs like electricity bill and internet.

There is a chance that this is a scam, and that is why I need to listen and read any contract he gives me. I don't want to be trapped in a contract that I cannot get out of.

"Mister James?"

I look at the man coming to my table. He is a middle-aged man; I think he is in his mid-thirties or early forties.

"That's right. Mister Bellano?"

"That's me. Can I take a seat?"

"Of course."

He sat on the chair and looked me in the eyes.

"Let me be truthful to you, mister James. Our company requires you to stay away from your home for a long time."

"How long?"

"A long time. We don't know how long just yet, that depends on the mission of your voyage. Are you willing to leave your family and home for a long time?"

I think about it and nod my head. I don't have any more family in this world, or at least my name is no longer in their family tree. I have been kicked out of the family because I dropped out of college.

"I don't mind."

"Good. For your job, it will be hard. Sometimes you need to do something alone. However, we have a team of talented people you can ask to help you in your task. Are you willing to work really hard for it?"

"Yes, sir."

"Good. the next question. If you encounter something that breaks the law like for example corruption, what will you do?"

"Depends on the corruption. If it was something like paying the official to reduce the tax? I will ignore it. However, if it was corruption to cover a murder? Then, I will report it."

I encounter a lot of this. Many of my bosses from my side job pay the officer to ensure they do not pay an extra tax for any imported goods. As long as it did not involve murder, I'm good. Hell, even if there is a murder happening, I will close my eyes if it was a really influential person doing it.

I don't want to die.

"Great! Then let me show you the other!"

"What? Right now?!"

"Yup!"

The man in front of me snapped his finger, and suddenly we appeared in the middle of a room.

"Welcome to The Company, mister James."

"The company?"

"Aye. We are the company because we are the first company in the entire multiverse."

"What kind of company is this?"

"Well, why don't you see it for yourself?"

He gave me a tablet where I could see the 'goods' they were selling.

"You guys selling people?"

"And other things, mister James. We did not only sell people but we also sold power, powerful weapons, etc."

I look at the tablet once more and see a character I know from tv shows and games.

"You want me to be a slaver?"

"Well, that depends on you, mister James. When I interview you, I know your characteristics and how you behave."

"With just a few questions?"

"Well, let's just say that it was my race's specialty. We are the race that can know your characteristics and future behavior after talking to you for a few seconds."

"You are not a human?"

"Nope. Sadly, you cannot see my real form because you did not have any defense to madness just yet.

"Ah."

Does that mean I will go mad when I see his true form?

"Anyway, the reason why the company wants to recruit you is because of your never give up characteristic. You will not quit before the job is done and we need that kind of thing in this company."

"And why was it only me? There are a lot of people with that kind of characteristic."

"That is because of your second and third characteristics. The second one is that you have a True Neutral alignment. You can be told what to do as long as it does not oppose your interest and you are not really bothered by the law of the norm. Just like before, you accept that this company is a slavery company. However, instead of being eager to join or outright hating us, you decide to gather more information."

I look him right in the eyes and say.

"Is it really hard to get a True Neutral person?"

"On your earth? Yes, surprisingly. Too many of them are Chaotic Neutral, Lawful Neutral, or Chaotic Evil. We already have many of them as our capturing agents."

"Capturing agent? That means you want to recruit me as a different kind of agent?"

"Yes. You will be a troubleshooting agent instead of a capturing agent. However, we still equip you with the equipment the capturing agent has. We want you to capture more goods, but we will not force you to capture them."

I look at Bellano and think about it for a few seconds before saying.

"Can you tell me about what kind of work I will do?"

"Sure! As a troubleshooting agent, your job will be taking care of something that can make our trade not disturbed. The big boss or our patron is a powerful entity that rules over a few multiverses."

"All-powerful beings? Like what?"

"Well, we have three founders of the company. You might have known them actually. The first one is Shub-Niggurath, the All-Mother. The second one is Asmodeus, the Ruler of Nine Hells. The third one is Lathander, Lord of Rebirth and Dawn."

"Lathander? Where did I hear that name before… Ah! DnD!"

"That's right. That is his influence on your earth. While there is no one worshiping him in your universe, as long as some people know about his name, he has a certain influence in your universe."

"I see."

"Anyway, the Patron did not or rather cannot interfere with a single planet problem because of their power. Lathander can do it but he will not interfere in mortal problems unless it can cause a multiverse-level threat."

"What happens when they interfere?"

"The planet blew up. The planet cannot contain the presence of the Patron, especially the Outer Deity Patron."

"I see."

"Because of this, we need a troubleshooting agent to make sure the planet did not blow up or fix the problem the other agent does."

"I see. That kind of troubleshooting, huh."

"Yes. Even though you are a troubleshooting agent, you will still get the treatment of the capturing agent but you have a little bit of leeway in your duty. Capture agents have a minimal amount of points they need to get before the deadline and after they fulfill that, they can retire and do whatever they want."

"As for the troubleshooting agent?"

"Clear two missions given by the company and you are free to go with all the points, power and waifu you get from your mission."

"Can I still work for the company after that?"

"Of course! If you decide to continue to work for us, you can continue to use our service and can stop anywhere and anywhen you want. As long as it was after you finished a mission. You cannot quit during a mission."

"Of course."

"So, what do you think? Do you want to join?"

I look at him for a few seconds and sigh a little. Fuck it. I don't have anything to lose.

"I'm in."