Levi took his time. Opting to continue walking since Anri's office was conviniently close to his former workplace.
He visited bakeries, food stalls, trying out things and really just taking his time to randomly explore. Of course he bought some for Anri and his coworkers. He soon arrived at her building. The head quarters of the Bloodstained Sakura being a hybrid of modern and traditional Japanese architecture.
Levi felt impressed. He had known guilds earn a lot of money through sponsorships and grants based on performance from the World VR League, but this was way beyond what he expected. They really went above and beyond in showcasing their wealth.
Even installing an indoor decorative pool for their semi outdoor lobby. Which Levi had to admit was asthethically very well thought of.
'As expected, Anri looks to be logged in right now.'
Levi mused. After waiting for a few minutes and having received no reply. He looked back at the long line of females whom he guessed were applicants, considering Bloodstained Sakura is an all women VR league guild... Before deciding to just directly enter past the lobby.
He was friends with the owner of the place after all. No way he'd line up and look like a total creep just to be told he need to get an appointment or whatever.
Besides he was holding he was holding a large box of chocolates. We'll... Mostly chocolates, there were also drinks and other snacks, as well as the random junk he'd owned in the office.
That had to be enough right?
Levi convinced himself as he continued strudding past the lobby.
...
... ...
Zia was going about her way, contemplating which class to pick, organizing her steps as it will be soon time for her to login.
Guilds are 'demanding' when it comes to vr allocation, every member of the guild have scheduled login times, and are often reserved for either research, training, or combat and questing and It essentially took all 4 hours of the daily VR allotment time.
Nevertheless the prestige and money that comes along with being a member of one of the Official Guilds sanctioned by the World VR Leauge made one of the most, if not the most wanted profession in the world.
Same as the usual 8 hour work - 1 hour break setup, the remaining 4 hours for guild members are mostly setup for research and physical training. Conditioning the body is conditioning the mind as what would any pro will say.
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
As such majority of the guild members specially those whom belong to the top often take significant amount of time and effort with regards to mind and body conditioning ensuring they have proper food intake of meals, sleep, and a clear and continously evolving list of activities to help keep their mind and body in proper shape.
As a guild manager however Zia didn't have Todo all those conditioning and such. Other than vr allocation, her other 4 hours is dedicated to administrative tasks and alike. Of course, being a former league player she still took the same routine as the others when she gets home.
Her friends would often say that she's a workaholic, but she would always win the topic after simply bringing up that ensuring your mind and body is in top shape isn't really 'work' per se.
That's just living healthy.
...
And so, with the guild master being in game, Zia had been dawdling around the web, looking at funny videos and meme posters as one would normally during idle time at work, when the front desk called and asking for assistance.
When she arrived to somewhere past the lobby security were already in position their disposition too tense as they stood on guard, their hands awfully close to their weapons while her concierge shakingly tried to talk to the culprit.
A tall and dangerously well built man that was holding a large box full of... Chocolates? No there were drinks and other stuff as well...
Wait how...
She didn't had enough time to contemplate how was the man holding everything with ease with one hand when she felt looked back at the man.
The man looked at her and smiled somehow knowing her name, but Zia didn't register any of this. As trembled at the eyes of the man. They were clear. Too clear for any human being. It made her want to run.
She felt exposed. Vulnerable. As if the person in front of him can easily snap her neck on a whim. Her and everyone around her.
Time slowed as she recalled the expressions of the securty team her training allowing her to quickly force herself to composure.
"Zia?"
The man seeing, promptly dropped the box, about to take a step towards the guild manager only to stop himself as he sensed the security team tense even further.
He paused before almost laughing to himself. It had been years since he last visited this place. Back then Bloodstained Sakura was simply an applicant hoping to get included with the World VR League.
He had taken of his glasses hoping to see if the receptionists that knew him back then would still recognize him only to realize that it has been years and the receptionists back then, only to remember they were probationary guild members back then. They would have either moved to another company or more probably had became fully fledged members by now.
Wearing his fake 'glasses' back Levi again smiled at the now calm woman in front of him.
"Sorry, I keep forgetting that I should wear these fake glasses that Anri gave to me. They seem to help people to calm down when they're around me."
Levi laughed before switching to a more formal tone his hand gesturing for a handshake.
"It is nice to finally meet you Guid Manager Zia, the guides have been sending these couple of years have been really helpful."
"Oh and is Anri... No, the guild master here? I actually bought some snacks looking to see if we could have lunch together."
It was as if time paused as everyone held their sigh of relief. Everyone just stood there looking at Zia hoping that she'd simply confirm and leave with the scary tall man.
"Levi?"
Zia finally snapping back to reality tilted her head.
Seeing him nod, color finally returned back to her. As she rushed to confirm and shake the tall man's hand.
The others exhaled in relief.
...
... ...
To be continued.