[Thanks, Nina, you're the best.] (Mizuki)
Hmm…so is this an 'I'm nervous and don't want to blow the interview' lie, or something worse? If he's just nervous, that's not great he lied, but it might not be an issue. If he lied because he already is planning to abuse his position as train operator…that's problematic.
How to tell between the two, though…
"That's good to hear Ferrin. Have you ever worked for a criminal group or organization, or willingly done business with them? Like I said, I'm direct about my questions." (Mizuki)
Ferrin looks genuinely confused.
"Uhm…no, never anything like that." (Ferrin)
[That is true.] (Nina)
I breathe a sigh of relief. So, that leaves him just lying out of nerves, or working for a non-criminal entity. I nod appreciatively to him again. I think I know the last question I need to make my assessment.
"Good, good. Okay, well you are probably aware that the train will begin operation tomorrow, so we'd like to hire people full-time as soon as possible. Do you have another job right now?" (Mizuki)
If he says 'no', and is lying, it's almost certain that he's been sent here to exploit that train in some way. If it's any other outcome, he could still be relatively innocuous.
Ferrin seems to relax at the less confrontational question. He smiles warmly…and shakes his head.
"No, I don't have another job right now. I can start as soon as tomorrow if you'd like." (Ferrin)
[I sense deceit.] (Nina)
Ferrin and I both gaze at each other with polite smiles, but…this is over. The only thing left to do now is find out as much as I can about who sent him. I clap my hands excitedly and give Ferrin a big smile.
"Wonderful, Ferrin! I don't think there's any doubt now…we were right about you." (Mizuki)
Ferrin gives a relieved smile, but before he can say anything, I continue.
"So, which noble are you working for, and what do they want with the train?" (Mizuki)
I don't know that it's a noble, but he's likely to at least answer the question if I phrase it that way, and then I'll know. If it's not a noble, it's probably a merchant.
Hearing my response, I see shock, fear, and then confusion flash across his face in quick succession. He maintains a genuinely puzzled look as he responds.
"Mizuki, I'm confused…I don't work for a noble. I wouldn't need this job if I did." (Ferrin)
[Lies.] (Nina)
"Ahh, thank you, Ferrin. I wasn't yet sure if it was a noble or a merchant that sent you, you see. So, it was a noble after all. That's surprising…" (Mizuki)
I pause for a moment to look at Ferrin, and his face is calm, but he's watching me carefully.
"Hmm…a few days wouldn't be enough time for news of the train to reach nobles in their territories and let them order this, so you'd have to be part of a local semi-independent information network. That eliminates Jorah; I hear his network is lacking. Cara and Darak likely told their local people not to antagonize my Lady or me. So, Helena or Tessa, huh? I can't rule Helena out, but this is more Tessa's style." (Mizuki)
I stare at Ferrin, and he's subtly nervous. I also see him glancing at Nina occasionally. He chooses to remain silent for several minutes. I sigh deeply.
"Fine. I'll see one of them again eventually, and I can just ask them then. So, I'll find out who sent you regardless. Now, naturally, you won't be getting this job, so you're free to go. Please make sure they send in the other candidate when you leave." (Mizuki)
Ferrin gives me a dumbfounded look for several moments, then rises and leaves towards the door. He seems skeptical, and he doesn't take his eyes off us.
Does he think we'd kill him or something? That screams of it being Tessa.
After he leaves, I groan out loud.
"Jeez…the very first candidate we get from Alara is a mole, huh? That doesn't bode well. Which noble do you think it was?" (Mizuki)
I direct the question and my gaze at Alto.
"I agree that Lady Tessa is the most likely noble to be involved, but Lady Helena is also plausible. I wouldn't act on the assumption that it's one over the other." (Alto)
Fair enough. Helena is just crafty and bold enough to try something like this purely for information gathering purposes. Besides, the nobles were never explicitly told to not meddle with the train by us. I nod at Alto approvingly for her assessment.
It's several minutes before the conference room door opens again. When it does, a frantic voice can be heard as they enter the room and hurriedly close the door behind them.
"I'm so very sorry that I'm late! I have a young son, and it was harder to find someone to watch him for me than I thought! Please forgive me!"
A late-20s looking elven woman with dark brown hair comes rushing over from the door and sits on the couch, combining it with an apologetic bow. When she raises her head to look at us, she looks confused for a moment, then her face goes pale. I think I know why.
"Kara!? What are you doing here?" (Mizuki)
Kara…the woman whose son I saved from being run over in the street, and then left with enough money to not work for several decades. What the hell is she doing here? Kara directs a surprised look at me.
"M-Me!? M-Mizuki, Great Dragon, what are you two doing here?" (Kara)
"I'm conducting interviews for the job. My Lady made the train, and it's very important to her that the people operating it are reliable." (Mizuki)
Before either of us can say more, Alto interjects.
"Mizuki, did you say Kara!? Is this the woman you told me about?" (Alto)
Alto is glancing between Kara and me frantically. Oh, right. I nod at her in acknowledgement. Alto's eyes snap back to Kara.
"Miss Kara, my name is Alto. Mizuki tells me that I may have known your husband. I…was one of the elves kidnapped from the wolf-kin village. I'm sorry to ask, but…do you mind telling me his name?" (Alto)
Kara's eyes go wide, and then her mood seems to dampen. She nods meekly. Uhm…Alto…I really don't think this is appropriate for an interview.
"His name was Vero…" (Kara)
Alto's eyes become troubled, and I see her fists clench on her knees. Great…now everyone is sad.
"Varo…I didn't know him well, but I did meet him. He was quiet, but he was extremely kind, and the most devoted to helping the wolf-kin children. He was tireless about it, right…until the end. I'm…very sorry for your loss, Miss Kara." (Alto)
At this point, I can see tears welling up in Kara's eyes, and they slowly start to roll down her cheeks and drip onto her dress. Damn it, Alto!
"Ehem…Alto, maybe this is not something that Kara wished to discuss at a job interview. Kara, if you would like to take some time, or reschedule the interview entirely, we can accommodate that. I promise that it won't be held against you during hiring considerations." (Mizuki)
Alto goes pale at my words, and she looks at me guilt stricken.
[It's okay, Alto, it's done now. I know your heart was in the right place.] (Mizuki)
Alto falls silent. Kara quickly wipes the tears from her eyes and shakes her head at my offer. After a moment, she gives me a sad smile.
"No, that's okay, I'd like to do this now if possible. Thank you for your kindness, though, Mizuki. Miss Alto, I appreciate your kind words about my husband as well. Mizuki, you can start the interview now, please." (Kara)
I nod and try to take on a professional smile. Someone has to set appropriate boundaries here.
"Of course. Miss Kara, why do you want, and feel that you are qualified for, this job?" (Mizuki)
Kara becomes visibly flustered by the question.
"Well, I feel qualified because I can do at least 80 trips per month, and I have a magic power level that's a little over three. I wasn't aware of anything else being necessary. As for why I want it…it sounded like I could operate the train for only half a day if I needed to and make forty times what I did working a long day as a waitress. It sounds almost too good to be true – I'd get to spend time with Cera and save for his future." (Kara)
She's that powerful!? A quick magic sense tells me…yeah, she is, and she's elemental class. Why was she a waitress?
Kara seems embarrassed when describing why she wants the job. I…don't really think she desperately needs the money, but I can understand that it was far from a lifelong supply I gave her. Plus, she might have other reasons to save. That's reasonable…but…
"There's nothing wrong with wanting a job for practical benefits, Kara. I am concerned though…it's true that we'd be okay with you doing only one roundtrip in a day, which would probably take around five hours. However, your punctuality would be important, and Cera couldn't accompany you on the train alone while you're operating it. Would that be a problem? You were late to the interview, after all." (Mizuki)
Kara grimaces, and Alto is staring at me like I'm a monster. Those are fair questions, though.
"Yes…I imagined as much. Originally a neighbor was going to watch Cera today, but they cancelled, and I had to scramble and pay quite a bit of money to entice someone to watch him instead. Perhaps I should have done that from the start, but I'm still trying to save money long-term so he can get an education or start a business. If this job pays so well though, I could always afford such a person to watch him, and I'd be on time." (Kara)
[She is telling you the truth, Mizuki. She believes her words.] (Nina)
Nina approves, huh? In that case, it really does sound like bad luck. I'm not entirely sure about babysitting reliability, though.
Elves almost never have their partners die while they still have young kids – it's a peaceful and healthy country. Also, one or both elven parents almost always take time off work to raise the kid. In other words, professional babysitters are probably nonexistent.
"Kara, it seems that your reliability is very dependent on always having someone available to watch Cera. Even if money is not a limiter, are you sure that you can guarantee that? I don't know how many people in Avalon have that as a full-time job, but I assume that it's virtually none. If you moved to Eden, we could ensure such accommodations given the job's importance, but Cera told me you just bought a house here. I'm sorry, but we can't ensure such help in Avalon." (Mizuki)
Kara looks bitter, but then surprised.
"Mizuki, you would make it someone's entire job just to watch Cera while I worked? Truly?" (Kara)
"Uhm…yes, but not in Avalon. As I said, we can only promise that in Eden, so it's not really of much help." (Mizuki)
Kara seems thoughtful.
"Mizuki…do you think that I could afford a place for Cera and I to live in Eden? Also, how long would it take for us to have a house built? I don't mind having us stay at an inn for a little while – I heard there will be one already." (Kara)
I'm…confused.