[ Herman will have to make do for now, as that is his current position within the store. ]
Lex shrugged.
"You tell him that. I know he's going to throw a hissy fit once he sees he's been branded a colleague."
The terminal released another weary sigh.
[ I believe he will calm down once he understands the usefulness of his employee card. ]
"And what are the benefits, exactly?"
[ They are life-changing—and completely unprecedented within this world. ]
Lex glanced down at the two cards still in his hands: his own in gold, and Herman's in silver.
"That's a bold claim."
[ It is an accurate one. ]
[ When people within this world wish to develop their abilities, the path ahead is often vague. Certain artefacts can analyse a person's level, attributes and abilities. Guild cards, most commonly produced within the human territories, are one example. ]
[ However, those methods are neither as precise nor as comprehensive as the employee cards provided by the O.R.D. ]
Lex held Herman's card beneath his own and turned the golden card between his fingers.
"So mine tells me more?"
[ Considerably more. It will update alongside your development, identify newly acquired abilities and provide information other methods would fail to recognise. ]
[ More importantly, employee cards allow their owners to generate experience by completing tasks associated with their position. ]
Lex paused.
"Meaning?"
[ Meaning you are not required to kill in order to grow. ]
His fingers stopped against the card.
[ That is what makes them unprecedented. Employees may gain levels, develop attributes and acquire abilities by fulfilling their responsibilities within the company. The abilities offered will differ depending upon their position and role. ]
"So Herman's card will be different from mine?"
[ Correct. His development will relate more closely to maintenance, construction and general handiwork. He will also receive the Checkout ability, as serving customers falls within the responsibilities of every store employee. ]
[ Once he accepts the card, your privileges as CEO will allow you to inspect his employee status using Appraisal. ]
Lex nodded slowly.
"This... sounds really good."
Only a few minutes ago, the numbers on his card had felt insulting. Now, the small black rectangle felt considerably heavier in his hand.
"Wouldn't everyone in this world want one?"
[ Correct again. Employee cards are among the most valuable incentives we can offer to employees and prospective applicants. Others must risk injury and death to gain experience. Those employed by the O.R.D. need not do so. ]
Lex's expression tightened.
"Wouldn't that put a target on our backs if anyone found out?"
[ Initially, no. ]
"Initially?"
[ If you told someone that stocking shelves and serving customers could grant them power, they would most likely assume you were either lying or stupid. ]
Lex considered it.
"I suppose it does sound ridiculous."
[ Because that is not how this world operates. Once the cards' capabilities are proven, however, certain individuals may attempt to gain access to them. ]
"By stealing them?"
[ The cards are bound to their assigned employees. To anyone else, they are useless pieces of material. ]
"That's reassuring."
[ It should not be. ]
Lex's eyes narrowed.
[ If someone cannot steal an employee card, they may instead attempt to influence the person capable of issuing them. ]
Lex looked down at the words stamped across his own card.
O.R.D. CEO
"Oh."
[ Precisely. ]
He stacked the golden card atop Herman's silver one and slipped both into his pocket.
"So, let me understand this. The rest of this world has to fight for their lives to become stronger, but the people working here can do it by serving customers and stacking shelves?"
[ In simplified terms, yes. ]
"And we can do that because...?"
[ The O.R.D. is not governed entirely by the laws of the world in which it operates. The store is, in several respects, a world unto itself. ]
Lex raised a brow.
"What are you, some type of god?"
[ Not quite. ]
"Something similar to a god?"
[ ... ]
No answer came.
Lex waited several seconds before sighing.
"Right. Mysterious silence. That's never concerning."
The terminal offered no further explanation.
"Anyway, this is all great. Fantastic, even. But there's a bigger question that Herman and I have."
[ And that is? ]
The humour faded from Lex's face.
"When can we go home?"
[ ... ]
The terminal remained silent.
Lex's hand closed around the shape of the employee card through his pocket.
"Well?"
[ I have just presented you with an unprecedented opportunity to develop beyond the natural limitations of your species, and your first concern is returning to your—borrowing one of your expressions—shitty life? ]
Lex stared at the screen.
"Did you just swear?"
[ Answer the question. ]
"Shitty life or not, it's home."
His voice came out firmer than before.
"I have university. I have people who'll notice I'm missing, and I've got no idea how long we've been away."
He took a step towards the terminal.
"So I'll ask again. When can we go home?"
[ Truthfully, you may return home at any point now. ]
[ I had hoped you would remain here for at least another day after learning about the employee cards. Are you not even slightly interested? ]
Lex let out a chuckle.
"Of course I'm interested."
He reached into his pocket and drew the golden card out again. It promised him something he hadn't felt capable of becoming in years: strength, skills and a clear path forward, all neatly measured and displayed in front of him.
For once, he could see proof that he was growing.
His smile turned remorseful.
"But..."
Lex turned the card between his fingers.
"My grandfather said something in his last letter. Told me not to get carried away and to remember where I came from."
His expression softened.
"I'm not from this world, and neither is Herman."
[ Does that matter? ]
[ You do not have much waiting for you on Earth. Here, things could be different. ]
The bluntness of the response made Lex's face flatten.
"You really don't have a good sense of people."
[ I have already acknowledged that possibility. ]
Lex returned the golden card to his pocket beside Herman's.
"Besides, won't the store still exist on Earth? Actually, now that you mention it, what happened when we came here? Did the entire building disappear?"
[ No. During dimensional transference, the physical structure upon Earth remains where it is. The two versions of the store are linked, but only one is active at any given time. ]
[ When the store is active within this world, the terminal room becomes inaccessible from Earth. When we return, the same will occur here. ]
Lex tried to picture it.
"So it's like copying and pasting the store between worlds?"
[ A crude description, but a functional one. ]
"And whatever work we do here?"
[ Any physical alterations made to the active store will be transferred to its inactive counterpart during dimensional transference. ]
"So when we return, everything we cleaned and repaired will appear in the Earth store?"
[ Correct. ]
At least their entire day hadn't been spent repairing a shop they could only access in another world.
"And time? Does it pass at the same rate?"
[ Time is considerably more complicated. However, for the purposes of your question, it currently passes more quickly within this world than it does upon Earth. ]
[ Approximately twenty-four hours have passed here. Only twelve have passed on Earth. It should therefore be early morning in both worlds. ]
Lex's shoulders dropped.
"Shit."
[ What is wrong? ]
"I've only got a few hours before I need to go to class."
[ Seriously? ]
The terminal's green letters appeared unusually quickly.
[ You have been granted ownership of an interdimensional retail company. You possess an employee card capable of allowing you to develop without the violence normally required by this world. I have personally vowed to bring you to your fullest potential. ]
[ And you are concerned about attending a university lecture? ]
Lex gave the terminal a stern look.
"I am."
[ You do not have to return. ]
"I do."
[ Why? ]
The question remained upon the screen.
Lex opened his mouth, but his answer didn't come immediately.
Dirt remained beneath his fingernails from yesterday's work. His arms and back still ached from clearing the shop, and every movement pulled at muscles that had gone unused for far too long.
Normally, he would have hated that feeling.
Now, it left him strangely satisfied.
"The last twenty-four hours have... sparked something in me."
He struggled to find the proper words.
"I've not felt life like this in a long time. I actually did something yesterday. Something real. And when I woke up this morning, even though my entire body hurt, I felt better than I have in months."
The terminal remained silent.
"But if I abandon everything on Earth just to stay here, how is that any different from running away?"
[ You would be running towards a greater opportunity. ]
"And away from every problem I already have."
Lex shook his head.
"My life might be shit, but it's still mine. University, my flat, the debt—even that heap of scrap I call a car. I can't claim this place is helping me grow if I use it to hide from everything waiting at home."
[ ...I will never understand humans. ]
Lex smirked.
"Well then, let me speak your language."
[ Hm? ]
He stepped closer to the terminal.
"Are your ambitions really as small as this world?"
A low hum passed through the room.
[ Explain. ]
"You keep talking about Earth as though there's nothing there. As though the moment you found a world with magic, the other one stopped mattering."
[ This world possesses resources and opportunities that Earth does not. ]
"And Earth possesses things this world doesn't."
[ Such as? ]
"Eight billion potential customers, for a start."
The terminal fell silent.
Lex's smirk widened.
"I thought your goal was to grow until there was nowhere left to grow. Is Earth not another path? Another market?"
He spread his arms, gesturing towards the metal room around them.
"Why settle for one world when we can capitalise on both?"
[ The O.R.D. was created to operate between worlds. Expansion into multiple markets is already within my purpose. ]
"Then why are you trying to convince me to abandon one of them?"
[ ... ]
Lex folded his arms.
"Exactly."
The terminal's humming grew louder.
"If I'm not wrong, then like any store, the main thing you care about is profit."
[ Correct. Profit allows for expansion, restoration and continued operation. ]
"How much do you know about Earth?"
[ My knowledge is limited. I entered a dormant state shortly after arriving there to preserve what remained of my lifespan. I did not have sufficient power to study the world in detail. ]
"Then you don't know what you're dismissing."
Lex began pacing in front of the terminal, his tiredness briefly forgotten.
"Capitalism rules Earth. Modern society has practically been trained into consumerism. People don't only buy what they need. They buy what they want, what they desire and what they've been convinced they're missing."
[ That does not sound particularly admirable. ]
"It isn't."
Lex stopped.
"But it is profitable."
The green light flickered across his face.
"Companies dominate entire industries. Some have more influence than governments. Money decides where people live, what they eat and how much of their lives they surrender just to survive."
His expression hardened.
"On Earth, money is king."
[ And you believe the O.R.D. could succeed within such an environment? ]
"I think a store that can move products between worlds, teach its employees skills and rebuild itself through some magical system has a decent chance."
[ We are not yet capable of rebuilding ourselves. ]
"Then we'll make enough money until we are."
Another silence followed.
This one felt different.
The terminal wasn't dismissing him.
It was considering him.
[ You intend to develop the store within both worlds simultaneously. ]
"I intend to try."
[ While continuing your education? ]
Lex grimaced.
"Unfortunately."
[ And while maintaining the life you have repeatedly described as miserable? ]
"For now."
[ This approach would create significantly more work. It would divide our attention between two markets governed by entirely different laws, currencies and customer expectations. It may also expose us to dangers that do not yet exist. ]
Lex shrugged.
"You're the one who said you'd push me into uncomfortable and dangerous situations."
The terminal went quiet again.
Lex pointed towards the screen.
"Don't start complaining now that I've volunteered."
For several seconds, only the soft mechanical hum filled the room.
Then new words appeared.
[ Your proposal possesses merit. ]
Lex smiled. "Was that painful to admit?"
[ Extremely. ]
His smile widened.
[ Very well, Owner Lex. We will return to Earth. ]