18 The Gatekeeper Offices (2/2)
\”Report! What is going on?\”
The Ferret creature rubbed it's two paws together and had it's head bowed as it answered, \”So you see Sir, due to the new Gatekeeper being announced we had a sudden influx of people applying to come to the realm obviously to welcome the new Gatekeeper. And well because of a rumour spreading about that our new Gatekeeper is very promising, the influx of people wanting to come into the realm became rather large. And before we knew it we were backed up and buried in work. Since this morning it's been chaotic.\”
Mr.Baker sighed and scratched his bald head, \”Okay get back to work, I hope this is much calmer by the afternoon.\”
\”Yes Sir, we'll have it all sorted.\” The station manager promised and then turned to the still bowing office. It clapped it's paws. \”Come on everyone back to work!!!\” and soon enough the chaos resumed.
\”What is this place exactly? What are they doing here?\” Mao Lu asked Mr. Baker as they began walking down the centre of all this chaos.
\”This is the Gatekeeper Office section 1, the Reception. This is where people from outside your realm or inside of it message if they want a Gatekeepers Pass. Our Reception number is 145 000 111858. It works on any device used for messaging.
A Gatekeepers pass is a type of Visa and passport. The type of pass determines how long the individual is staying and how quickly they can be allowed into this realm. Those working in the reception deal with the requests of those wanting to go in or out of the realm and figure out what type of pass to give them. Of course we don't give out passes easily. For those coming into the realm we expect sufficient payment and they must also fit the criteria to be allowed into our realm. Such as being law abiding, having no significant atrocities attached to them. Those in the Reception do a full background check. For practitioners that aren't natives of this realm that are trying to get in., it could take them up to 10 years to get a pass.\”
Ten years, to Mao Lu that was a long amount of time to be waiting for a pass, but then again considering the lifespan of practitioners it probably wasn't all that long.
\”Of course that all depends on the status of the individual and what realm they're from. Since our realm is ranked last among all of the 400 realms, we are a laughing stock. As a result many of the other powers think they can bully us and try to get passes faster while giving lower payment.
Truly the only reason another realm hasn't invaded our own is because we have no resources worth their invasion and as a mortal realm our essence is naturally low in amount and quality. Do you know what the nickname for realm 145 is? It's the trash realm the Offal realm.
That's one of the reasons we need a strong Gatekeeper, so that our realm no longer gets bullied by the other realms and so that our ranking can increase. It would make the natives of your realm not only regain their pride but also allow those in the Reception to have an easier job. But it's been hard. Each Gatekeeper this realm has had are often incompetent, or powerless, or cowardly. I've only served two others and I can already say this. If you could break this realms chain of suffering and bring us out of last place, truly it would be a miracle.\” Mr. Baker rambled as they weaved their way between the desks.
\”That's why I told you it is important that you train. Mao Lu your strength is this Realms strength. It's ranking is dependent on the Gatekeepers ranking amongst the other Gatekeepers. If you aren't strong enough and you lose to other Gatekeepers during the upcoming meeting, then this realm will remain in last place\” Gates reminded Mao Lu.
\”Upcoming? I thought you said there was only a Gatekeepers meeting every century. And you said nothing about me having to defeat other Gatekeepers.\” Mao Lu hissed in his head.
\”Didn't I? During the meeting between the Gatekeepers that is held every 100 years you must show them your strength and defeat those that challenge you, without killing them, so that you can rise in rank. You inherited last place amongst the rankings, the hope and the pride of this realm rests on your shoulders. You can't disappoint them. Oh and didn't I tell you that the end of the century for the next meeting will be in ten years.\”
\”Ten years. I only have ten years to train and deul these other monsters that have been Gatekeepers for ages. Are you kidding me!!!! You didn't bloody mention this.\” Mao Lu mentally snarled.
\” I didn't? You obviously just wasn't listening closely enough\” Gates harrumphed.
Mao Lu felt a large urge to punch the book but he held back.
He'd been aware that this role had a lot of responsibility and that he represented the realm but he didn't think he'd have to fight so soon. Ten years of training was nothing in the eyes of these practitioners that had lived for thousands of years. What was he going to do?
As Mao Lu worried about this, the endless rows of desks and working people warped suddenly and then they were in a strange room with a gigantic crystal ball in the centre. In the crystal ball Mao Lu could see the eel-like time essences floating inside. The crystal seemed to be filled with clear water that every so often it rippled. As he stared at into it he felt a strange sense of familiarity.
\”This is?\”
\”This is section 2 of the Gatekeeper offices , we call it Permission. This orb is one that is directly connected to the Gatekeepers consciousness or rather your mind. A Gatekeeper is the one in charge of the realm, to make passes we need your permission. When we can't get your permission personally we use this interconnection ball. It allows us to use 5% of your ability to create passes that allow people in and out of the realm.
Of course we only get to this stage after various checks in the reception. So the passes made are all verified ones. We only use the orb to to make low grade passes for casual visitors who would only be visiting or leaving for a short duration. For passes for more powerful people who want to leave or stay for longer we need you to personally verify and create these types of passes.\” Mr. Baker explained.
Mao Lu blinked and walked closer towards the glowing crystal ball. \”So this is a doorway to my consciousness.\”
\”Only a partial reflection not a doorway.
During the time when Wang Cao died and we didn't have a Gatekeeper and the orb didn't work. We were temporarily unable to allow anyone in or out of the realm, but the moment you decided to become a Gatekeeper it started up again.\” Mr. Baker elaborated.
\”Of course\” Gates gentle voice spread across the room, \”Whenever the orb is used you will be fully aware of it. The reason you did not feel it is because they have not made any passes recently.\”
Mr. Baker nodded in agreement. \”For those coming into the realm we take ten to twenty years to verify and process their information before making such passes. Usually this realm doesn't get many non-natives booking to come visit so there are no passes to create. But well you did see earlier that due to your succession as Gatekeeper the office has become a lot more busier. So in ten years we'll probably be using Permission more to make passes.\”
\”I see.\” he couldn't help but think this entire place was very peculiar as he walked onwards with Mr.Baker and left the room with the large crystal ball.
The moment they left, Mao Lu felt the scenery warp around him and soon they were standing in a gigantic spherical room that had realistic projections of the stars across it.
The room was so huge and the projections so life-like that Moa Lu momentarily thought he'd been dragged into space by Gates again.
In the centre of the room Mao Lu saw a desk. With all the projections it looked like the desk was suspended in space, floating in nothingness. It was made out of a sleek glass material, on the top of it sat a plaque that read Gatekeeper of Realm 145.
\”This is the 3rd section, your office.\” Mr.Baker gestured to the gigantic spherical room with his large hands, \”This is where you can deal with your business.\”
\”This is mine?\” Mao Lu glanced around, this room seemed the largest and most endless of them all. It really felt like he was in the middle of space. For this to be called an office, it was far more impressive than any office he'd seen before.
\”They wouldn't be called the Gatekeeper Offices if the Gatekeeper himself didn't have an office, you fool.\” Gates rudely whispered into Mao Lu's ears.
\”He's shown you your Offices, so now dismiss him so we can commence with your training.\” Gates was rather impatient.
Mao Lu turned to Mr.Baker and thanked him for the tour before dismissing him.
\”Ah before I leave Sir, I'd like to inform you that as Gatekeeper you have also automatically become an Executive of B&B law firm.\” Mr.Baker handed Mao Lu a B&B law firm employee card as well as platinum VIP card.
Mr.Baker then bowed again and disappeared like the wind. Leaving Mao Lu staring at the ID and VIP card.
He had just become an Executive of a major law firm just like that.