Chapter 83- Compensation.

When Wilson and Lieutenant Ayo finally arrived at the same office hidden a maze of numerous corridors and doors, Wilson noticed that there was not just the captain from previously, but also sat behind the desk was a muscular middle-aged man in similar military uniform and an above average looking woman in a three piece suit.

"Sirs. Lieutenant Ayo reporting for duty, sirs." Lieutenant Ayo saluted, his voice booming.

'Sirs? Is he ignoring the woman?' Wilson asked in his mind but what ce out of his mouth was; "Morning, sirs!"

"At ease, Lieutenant!" Said the muscular middle-aged man. He had a balding head with little gray hair amidst the black. His haircut, like every other soldier he had met, was a crew cut.

'That must be the standard hairstyle that Jim talked about.' Wilson thought, once again, feeling grateful to Jim for the important lessons he gave. Without those lessons, he would have been excessively clueless.

'Wait a minute!' He suddenly thought. 'Does that mean Old Rogers is a soldier?'

"Retired."

"Oh, okay! That explains the hairstyle." Wilson said. Then, it occurred to him.

"I'm sorry, did I mention him out loud?" He asked.

"No, but your mind is an open book." The lady answered.

"You read minds?" Wilson was shocked.

"That's enough." The man said. He turned to lieutenant Ayo. "Excuse us."

Lieutenant Ayo saluted in response and immediately left the room, closing the door after him.

"Sit down, Wilson." The same man said. Wilson immediately took the only seat adjacent them, on the other side of the desk.

"Let me do the introduction. I am General Mark. This, by my right is Captain Fizz and the lady by my left is Jennifer. We will be asking some questions regarding the One-eyed beasts' attack. Know that if you lie, you will be caught and most likely executed." General Mark paused and glanced at Jennifer before speaking again.

"Can you say with all certainty that every single word you said to the Captain was the truth?"

"Yes, sir." was Wilson's answer.

"Did a wolf truly talk to you?"

"Yes."

"How?"

"It just opened its mouth and the words came out."

The general, Mark, glanced to his left again and Jennifer nodded, not once blinking nor did she take her eyes off of Wilson.

"What language did communicate in?"

"English."

"You sure?" Captain Fizz asked skeptically.

"Yes, sir." Wilson answered in confirmation.

Jennifer took in a deep breath and nodded again as General Mark looked at her.

"You said you were already there before the attack started, right?" General Mark asked Wilson.

"Yes, sir." Wilson was truly being polite and one could say that Jim had done a good job of teaching Wilson basic manners around certain kinds of people.

"In that case, do you know of these people?" General Mark asked and the captain showed Wilson some pictures from the tablet. These pictures were of the hunters Wilson had met back then, before the one-eyed beasts struck.

Wilson hesitated for a bit, thinking his answer through, before he answered.

"Yes sir."

"You sure?"

"Yes, sir."

"Do you know their names?"

"I remember Joel, John, Lee and Busty. The remaining names are a little blurry." Wilson answered.

"How did you know them?"

"They gave some advice that was helpful for escaping the beasts."

"What about that friend and the family of four that you said were with you? Do you think they survived?"

"I do hope so, sir."

"What are their names?"

"I only remember Jim, sir. I think Matthew as well. I can't be too sure. I wasn't paying attention during the introductions."

"Where are they now?" Captain Fizz asked.

"I cannot say. Maybe they have long arrived at this city, I don't know."

"So, do you intend to live in Tiger City from now henceforth?"

"Yes, I think so." Wilson said. 'After all, I have nowhere else to go.' He finished in his mind.

After Wilson's response, the general, captain Fizz and Miss Jennifer looked at one another, telepathically conversing for a few minutes before turning back to face Wilson.

"Okay Wilson Wilder. I would like to make certain things clear to you.

"One, this conversation we just had must never be leaked from your side. Two, you have been exempted from having to pay the gate toll. So, you can go in and out of the city as you please. Three, as extra compensation for your troubles, the city's government has decided to exempt you from all tax payments for the first six months of your stay here. And four, I, General Mark Tiger, would love for you to sign the form for the military recruitment process."

"You want me to become a soldier?" Wilson asked.

"Yes." Captain Fizz answered.

"Why?" Wilson asked

"Why not?" Captain Fizz asked in return.

"....." Wilson did not really have an answer for that.

"Young man, what do you wish to do in your time here? Hunt?" Jennifer asked.

"I'm not sure. My impressions of hunters and law enforcers are not too good."

"So you are not sure of what you want to do?"

"No."

"What did you have in mind when you first decided to leave home?" She asked a third question.

"Wrestle. I wanted to become a wrestler." Wilson answered, his eyes clouded in thoughts as he remembered his village and mother.

"Not anymore?"

" I don't know."

"Well, take your time to think things through. I really wish you would seriously consider my offer. I want you to know that in Tiger City, one can be sure to find a job they would like. Just don't do anything illegal. If you do, we would come for you." General Mark said.

Wilson nodded and General Mark smiled briefly before his face was back to that serious expression of his.

"With all that said, you are free to leave the tent and enter the city. The lieutenant outside the door will get you registered in the system so that you will have no problems from any government and military officials for at least six months, provided you do not commit any crimes. Is that clear?" Miss Jennifer said.

"Yes!"

"You are dismissed." General Mark said and promptly disappeared. And so did Miss Jennifer. Only Captain Fizz remained and noticed Wilson's shocked face. He felt compelled to explain.

"Those were just real life projections of the General and Miss Jennifer. They are too busy to come all the way here. You can leave now!"

Wilson stood up and met with Lieutenant Ayo outside the door.

Lieutenant Ayo had already been briefed of what he should do. He gave some paper Tigs to Wilson alongside a small manual guide for newcomers and a paper map of the city.

"Your hunter garb and gauntlets are with Old Rogers. Make sure to collect them before you leave." Lieutenant Ayo said to Wilson after registering him in tablet outside the building, near the tent entrance.