glacus

Is it okay I have a lollipop, then?

...By all means.

My next question is, as all our research and development here is team-based, what do you think of group R&D?

You mean everyone here works as a team? That sounds pretty good to me.

When I worked at Rhodes Island, I often worked as a group, so I suppose I do have experience in that area.

When you worked with others before, did your team members say anything about your performance?

Oh, yes, they did. I think some of them said... uh...

That I should work on my own.

I have no more questions. Do you have any questions for me?

If not, then we'll...

(Hold on. Closure went over this. At the very end, when it's my turn to ask questions, I should ask the interviewer what they thought about me. That'll give me a good idea of whether I'll pass or not.)

So... what do you think about me?

(Deep breath)

You have proven your talent in engineering as a professional equipment designer.

Your answers in your field of expertise during the interview and your performance during the test were both practically perfect, and your ideas in the applications of electromagnets are very imaginative.

However, I find that your work habits and the direction of your research are somewhat different from what we have in mind.

For example, you insist on spending much of your energy on tuning and personalizing equipment, and it's reflected in your designs.

You customize your modules to the user's needs. This introduces complexities to the design, but the issues they are intended to address may very well be ones that the user could have gotten used to over time.

To tell you the truth, I don't think that's a bad thing, but when you design based around that logic, the additional costs don't result in additional profits. Furthermore, such designs cannot be produced on the assembly line.

In the end, Raythean Industries is a large corporation, and we aren't lacking in geniuses here.

Moreover, your work style is rather... unique. I'll have to think more about how well you'd perform in a team. That's more or less it.

Thank you.

Let's wrap it up here for today. All you need to do now is head home and wait for us to contact you. You may rest here for the time being. Someone from HR will escort you out later.

I have other things to attend to. Now if you'll excuse me.

Oh, okay.

Oh yes, and you may help yourself to the snacks in the basket.

(Sounds like this one's a bust. I guess I'll be helping Closure out for the foreseeable future.)

(Oh well. Heading back isn't so bad, but let me have something to eat first.)

Hm?

Excuse me. I'm here to take out the garbage.

You're...

It's you...

Oh, I get it.

They must've asked you to participate in my test this morning out of nowhere, right? Thank you for your work.

Your hands... Does it ever get in the way?

I can still hold the tools I need to.

Oh, right. Your weapon...

Shh, move.

You have paper shreds next to you.

Alright, my job here is done.

Thanks for your help this morning. My dream has come true. From here on out, pretend like you've never seen me before.

That's it. Goodbye.

Wait—

(That's strange... Wasn't he here this morning... to help evaluate me?)

Sorry for the wait. Let me walk you outside.

Oh, okay.

Right, we have a media day today. If you'd like, I could show you around our company's various departments.

This is our division's outdoor test site, and it's where we test out the capabilities of all the equipment and weapons we develop, and get the data for our designers to iterate upon.

The weapon you put together this morning was also tested here by our professionals. It was pretty well-received all around.

<i>The</i> weapon... Just one?

Yeah, that EMP field launcher. The idea of striking the enemy's tactical equipment was very creative. A couple of our senior designers in attendance were really inspired.

They all said that the last time they saw such an impressive design was when Professor Millais submitted his, right after he was reassigned here from HQ.

No way...

Can't imagine it, can you? Professor Millais is a genius, through and through. In just a few short years, he created multiple successful product lines for our division, and our profits saw a ten-fold growth.

No... That's not what I meant. What kind of tests do you normally give everyone who applies for the position?

Uh... I can't say.

Do they ever have to work with someone pretending to be a customer?

I can't recall anything like that happening...

Whoops, I may have, uh, presented myself as—

Oh, looks like the media tour's just made it here, too. And there's Professor Millais.

Let's wait here a little and let them head on over first.

Huh? Why is there still a janitor here? I thought they were going to have everything cleaned up before the media got here.

Mr. Gordon? That bag on his cart!

Stop that janitor!

What?

It's too late...

Mr. Gordon!

At the very front of the group of visitors, the inconspicuous janitor suddenly removes his disguise and unleashes his original strength.

With everyone completely defenseless, none of them are able to escape the veteran mercenary's assault.

In a flash, he already has Professor Millais in a chokehold.

Emergency defense system activated!

Don't move! If I see any of you move an inch, he's dead!

You hear him? Don't move!

...So fast to cave, huh?

Don't worry, Professor! You designed our defense system. It can shoot the hostage taker with no risk!

Shut up... Just do as he says!

*cough*... I had them stand down. They'll follow your orders. They do whatever I tell them anyway... So can you relax your grip a little? I can hardly breathe.

*cough*... You disguised yourself as a janitor and infiltrated us all this time, choosing this specific day to take me hostage... *cough*... instead of just killing me.

There's something you're after, isn't there?

You're clever, I'll give you that.

Is it money? Or something else? Whatever it is, we can satisfy your demands.

Good!

Listen up, all of you! I have two demands!

First, for Raythean Industries.

Transfer 20 million Victorian pounds to the bank account on this strip of paper. Now!

Assistant. Bring me my terminal. I'll pay him with my personal account.

Immediately!

Here, Professor.

...Here's the receipt.

Good. Efficient. That's a mega corp for you.

*cough*... I fulfilled your first demand. What's the other?

My second demand is for all the members of the media in attendance!

What...?

I want you all to report what I'm about to say, word for word.

He might very well damage our company's reputation! This could be a disaster!

Sorry, Professor! We have to activate the defense system. Trust us. It can handle threats of this level!

Wait! Don't do it!

Professor!

Dammit! That's a 'Raythean Navigator Mk. I' tactical crossbow! I'm the one who <i>designed</i> it!

It's controlled via multiple EMG sensors. It's 300 times faster than pulling the trigger by hand!