Melvin said to Tamako as he was getting ready to take the teleporter back to Bot Battle City. “For Sam and Jen’s sake, I will help you. Come to Bot Battle City with me, and stay at my place while I schedule everything for you.”

===

Melvin entered the audience room with the Merchant Guild Managers. There were only three guild managers in Bot City, and they’d kept it that way for over 20 years. Under the Guild bylaws, the three top-ranked merchants each year were allowed to petition for a manager’s position, but the merchants in Bot City all understood that the promotion hearing was a sham.

Melvin had never expected to be in the top 3, but with his new look, his gnome sales, and all the enchanted merchandise from Sam, his ranking skyrocketed. Melvin looked up into the audience making eye contact with Jacks. He simply nodded back at Melvin, happy that he wasn’t in the top three this year and was able to avoid the humiliating experience, while still making a small fortune. If Melvin refused to attend, he would be seen as “unmotivated” and would have his largest account reassigned, and Melvin wasn’t going to do anything that would cause him to lose his gnome account.

Tamako was pissed when she learned how Melvin would be treated by his Guild Managers. Each of the applicants were allowed to bring assistants to help them with clean up afterwards. Melvin had explained to her, “No one brings their family or friends to watch the promotion application. They always hire contract assistants to help them clean up. I wasn’t going to bring my wife or kids, and there is no need for you to go either.” Tamako refused, and had said, “That’s not acceptable. I’m going to be there for you.”

Tamako was holding cleaning supplies and clean clothes for Melvin, as she also looked up examining the shit-eating grins on the guild managers’ faces. She then looked up into the audience seeing a few jealous faces that looked happy at how the top merchants were being treated, but most looked sympathetic, and a few had poorly hidden looks of hatred towards the Managers. She turned back towards Melvin, and the other two applicants that were waiting for the ceremony to begin.

Melvin was used to being humiliated by others because of his former skin condition, this was nothing to him. However, he really didn’t want Tamako to be there. He was terrified that she might attack the managers, but he was in a hurry, and didn’t have enough time to convince her not to attend, as she followed him from the teleport pad straight to his meeting.

Manager Rio smashed the podium with a gavel from the top of the steps from where she and the other managers stood. The attendees immediately silenced all conversation, and Manager Rio said, “Merchant Spades, Merchant Melvin, and Merchant Greyhound, please step forward to the base of the steps of ascension please. Melvin, Spades, and Greyhoud gave each other a commiserating look. Spades and Greyhound were both very respected merchants among the guild members, but Melvin knew that would not cause the Managers to take it easy on them.

System Gambling Quest

Make it to the top of the stairs of ascension.

Reward: 2 merchant ability points and 2 euphoria

Penalty for failure: loss of 2 random ability points

Accept/Decline

Melvin started to mentally select “Decline”, but he thought about his recent growth in levels, and his complete lack of concern with being humiliated, and quickly whispered to Tamako, “Do you have any euphoria antidotes on you?”

Tamako looked confused at Melvin’s request, but whispered back, “Yes, I have several.” She didn’t actually have any on her, but she knew Jen had seven or eight, and she could get them from her using the Ear-loop. Tamako didn’t need Melvin to explain his request, and continued, “They are yours, if you need them.”

Melvin nodded slightly, but then changed his mind at the last second and “Declined” the quest, as he gave up on, and squashed his visions of success, and then started moving forward with Spades and Greyhound to the base of the steps.

System Gambling Quest

Party Quest

Party: Tamako and Melvin

Party Leader: Tamako

Party Member Melvin must make it to the top of the stairs of ascension.

Reward: 4 merchant ability points and 4 euphoria - distribution decided by Party Leader.

Penalty for failure: loss of 4 random ability points

Party Leader: Accept/Decline

Melvin was shocked by the party gambling quest, and tried to “Decline” it, but couldn't since he wasn't the party leader. He was half-way to the steps and couldn’t say anything to Tamako. He held his breath in anticipation of Tamako’s decision as he continued moving forward.

Tamako hadn’t seen a party quest like this one before, but guessed it had something to do with Melvin’s question. She didn’t like the idea of losing any ability points, much less being in a position where she could not influence the outcome, but thought Melvin must have known this would happen, and I promised he could use the euphoria antidotes. With a frown, she reluctantly “Accepted” the quest.

When he saw that Tamako accepted the quest, Melvin thought, Shit, shit, shit, shit! She must have thought this quest was the reason I asked for the antidote. She’ll kill me if I cause her to lose any ability points.

Melvin was distressed as he passively listened to the words of the managers as they went on about how their leadership was the reason for the guild's success, bla, bla, bla. Finally Manager Rio finished with, “The applicants have 10 minutes to make it to the top of the steps once the determination stone is activated. Any or all of the applicants that can make it to the top of the steps, within the time limit, are automatically promoted to Guild Manager.” Of course, the guild managers did not tell anyone, that many years ago, they paid a king’s ransom to upgrade the determination stone's pressure and nausea setting.

The Guild Managers all placed their palms on the determination stone, and in unison, said, “Begin!”

Spades and Greyhound had been through the promotion application before, and immediately laid down on the ground. They knew that trying to fight the determination stone, would only result in them collapsing and hurting themselves if they fell to the ground uncontrolled. Melvin wasn’t as experienced, and was surprised when he felt the pressure and nausea attack his body. He couldn’t move. He thought, this is kind of like Tamako’s Killing Intent skill, but instead of fear, I feel like shitting myself.

Tamako was surprised when she sensed the determination stone’s influence on Melvin. It didn’t affect her, but she started to panic as her Killing Intent activated. She sat down, closed her eyes, and dove into her meditation skill, trying to control the blood lust rising in her.

The merchants and Managers on the audience room floor, close to Tamako, were frozen in fear from her Killing Intent, but her skill primarily reacted to, and attacked the determination stone.

Jacks, noticing that Melvin hadn’t fallen to the ground cheered, “Melvin, you can do it! Melvin! Melvin!”

Another merchant in the stands said, “Why are the managers so silent? They always laugh at, and humiliate the applicants!”

A female merchant with long flowing blonde hair, said, “Maybe they are afraid that Melvin will make it to the top, and break their monopoly.”

Melvin had his own worries as he recognized Tamako’s Killing Intent, and felt the pressure from the determination stone decrease. He thought, I’ve got to hurry, or she might start killing people. Fuck! The Managers will probably try to have me killed if I make it to the top.

Melvin looked at Spades and Greyhound who were now frozen in fear from Tamako’s Killing Intent. He quickly moved and within just a few seconds had climbed to the top of the steps. When he reached the top, the determination stone automatically turned off, and Tamako’s Killing Intent turned off as the threat was neutralized.

The merchants were all cheering, and Spades and Greyhound were standing up in shock next to Melvin. They couldn’t believe that he had grabbed them by the collars of their shirts, and dragged them to the top of the steps with him. Melvin wanted to help them, but he also knew that he needed Spades and Greyhound to keep from being outvoted by the current Managers, and to spread out any evil intent they might have against the new Managers.

Manager Rio and the others started to claim the test was invalid, but then all the Merchant Guild members in Bot City received The System Message announcing its three new Guild Managers. The merchants rushed the audience hall floor to congratulate the three new Managers.

Melvin noticed that Tamako was still sitting unmoving in the meditation she used to help control her blood lust. He made his way over next to her, and a few minutes later, he finally let out a sigh of relief, when she opened her eyes, and gave him a congratulatory smile. He grinned back with nervous excitement. He'd never expected to be a Manager in the Bot City Merchant's Guild.