The Ultimate System - Chapter 3

Chapter 3

With a mix of eagerness and scrutiny, the Emperor examined the battlefield. His immediate observation was the impeccably smooth, vibrant green grass that outshone even the finest manicured lawns. As he gazed around and skyward, he realized that he and his soldiers had emerged from the caverns into a lush valley, completely enveloped by rugged, grass-covered mountains. The sharp peaks jutted from the otherwise gentle slopes, resembling pyramids stretching skyward over the valley below.

There was an opening in the mountain range, revealing a smaller valley where hundreds, possibly thousands of soldiers in uniform stood poised for action. Atop the tallest tower, their leader could be seen—a dark figure silhouetted against the bright sun, with a sash around his waist whipping in the wind towards the Emperor’s right.

From the tower, the leader's voice rang out, a rallying cry meant to alert the Emperor that he had seen his troops emerge from the caverns; \"LANDSTROM!!!\"

The leader's soldiers became even more vigilant, readying their weapons and awaiting orders that would never be given. Their purpose was to defend and strengthen their ranks by absorbing the soldiers of their numerous foes. They were not an offensive force and never planned on initiating an attack. Enemies stormed towards them in large numbers, aiming to destroy their Kingdom, but they would never succeed, as the Army of the Kingdom was far too formidable. The thousands of soldiers present were merely a small sample of the Kingdom's overall strength.

Nevertheless, countless foes approached without invitation or provocation, driven by their own desires to dismantle the powerful Kingdom. The best that any of these adversaries had ever achieved was briefly capturing a few of the Kingdom’s soldiers, and even that was usually short-lived; no enemy had ever truly threatened the Kingdom's stability, nor would they in the future.

Despite his rounded figure and significant size, the Emperor emanated a sense of heroism, his crimson cloak billowing in the wind, revealing his impressive breastplate, while the rear view left little to the imagination.

The Emperor organized his forces by uniform color; the Generals donned black with a white diagonal stripe crossing their right breast and extending to the left torso. Other soldiers shared this design, with Captains in green and Corporals in red, while the privates wore pure white.

\"I command you to send a scouting party consisting of one-tenth of the Privates,\" the Emperor ordered. \"I want a comprehensive assessment of their defenses.\"

\"As you wish, my liege,\" acknowledged one of the Generals as he took note of the command.

The scouting party set off but soon met disaster, barely making it halfway between the Emperor’s base and the enemy tower when two glowing red cubes of light descended—each producing stunning bursts of white explosions as they hit the ground. Flames consumed the Privates almost instantly, prompting the Emperor to issue new commands. \"We will simulate a direct assault to prepare for a pincer maneuver. The leftmost position will serve as the secondary base, while the rightmost will be the twelfth. The feigned assault will approach the seventh position; meanwhile, pincers will target the second, third, eleventh, and twelfth positions. Execute at once!\"

\"As you command, my liege,\" came the response from the three Generals in charge of those groups.

Two Corporals spearheaded the charge through the center, while Privates were again deployed for the pincer maneuver. Astonishingly, the mighty Kingdom was ready for this tactic. They unleashed two flare bombs in unison; the first obliterated the left-side Privates, while the second claimed the right-side Privates. The central attackers, unsure of their next move, continued onward. They managed to evade the next three pairs of flare bombs through swift maneuvers but were ultimately decimated by the fourth.

The Emperor scanned the battlefield, surveying the remnants of his forces, counting four Generals, eight Captains, and a few Corporals and Privates.

\"Advance...CHARGE,\" the Emperor commanded.

Two of the Generals exchanged glances, questioning his sanity, one finally voicing, \"Your Majesty, this is madness.\"

The Emperor didn’t have the luxury for a lengthy speech about bravery and honor when his men needed immediate action. He cut straight to the point, repeating, \"Advance...CHARGE!\"

\"As you decree, my liege,\" replied one of the Generals as orders were transmitted. \"Prepare a full-frontal assault, six wide units targeted at the fourth through sixth and eighth through tenth positions. Move now!\"

The six columns of soldiers formed as instructed, gallantly yet desperately charging into the mouth of peril. Upon reaching the midway point, two flare bombs erupted, the leftmost one creating a three-diagonal pattern of white flares, while the rightmost exploded with a square formation of four ivory flares.

The men succumbed to the flames.

Observing the chaos, the Emperor saw the reflection of a thousand deadly fires in his spectacles, resolute in his determination to claim at least one soldier from the opposing Kingdom.

The Emperor unbuckled the clasp at his upper breast; his cloak fell to the ground. Drawing his rapier, he sprinted toward the enemy lines, only to notice two flare bombs plummeting directly towards him.

The flare bombs detonated on either side, the immense heat was daunting, but what truly assaulted him was the sharp, piercing sound. The cacophony and the intense heat enveloped him, and it was all he could comprehend until he collapsed.
For a moment, he felt dazed and disoriented, when everything faded, only to return seconds later.

The heat, the sound, the heat, the sound.

THE SOUND.

---

In a reflex too swift to process, especially given his bulk, David bolted upright in bed, drenched in sweat, his White T-Shirt clinging to him. He swung his palm down at the source of the racket—an old-fashioned alarm clock with bells adorning the top. He missed, striking the nightstand with such force that pain shot through his hand.

\"Ugh,\" he groaned as the alarm astonishingly tumbled off the nightstand and crashed onto the floor, its incessant ringing undeterred.

David readied for his next assault, swinging again at the alarm, but misjudging its location and striking it on the side, sending it ricocheting beneath his workstation, which was a repurposed entertainment center. Attempting to appear graceful, David rolled off the bed and landed on his knees. He crawled over to the workstation and reached beneath it to retrieve the surprisingly tenacious ringing alarm. However, he miscalculated again, smashing his head against the structure that served as his desk.

Now with a throbbing hand and a slight dizziness, David exclaimed, \"You little rascal!\" On his fourth attempt, he finally succeeded in shutting off the alarm without inflicting further injury.

\"I hate mornings,\" he muttered.

The time read 8:00 a.m. David needed to prepare for work. About a month prior, he had successfully secured a position as a deli clerk at a local grocery store, with a start time of 9:00 a.m. It was crucial for him to arrive on time, as doing so would qualify him for a $50 attendance bonus for maintaining perfect punctuality over the past thirty days.

He knew he couldn’t afford to lie back in bed for just five extra minutes, as it would likely turn into a couple of hours. Instead, he headed upstairs for a shower, reflecting on the events that led him to this job.

After losing a significant amount of money at the Golden Goose Casino and Hotel, David realized he needed to secure a steady job for himself. The following day, he teamed up with his closest friend, Evan Blake, to find suitable interview attire. With only $110 in his pocket, he decided to visit the Goodwill Thrift Store to pick up some new clothes that were more suited to him.

David submitted applications everywhere in town before finally landing an interview at A Penny Saved grocery store. His interviewer, who would eventually become his manager, was Nicholas Allison. A short, bespectacled blond guy of about twenty-three, he seemed destined to stay at the store forever. Nicholas got his position as Deli Manager thanks in part to his strict adherence to protocol, which would ultimately hinder any chance of advancement.

Nicholas sat across from David, fixating on him with intent. He had read that maintaining eye contact was crucial, and he took this lesson from the Manager's Handbook too literally; so much so that even an explosion nearby wouldn't break his gaze. He maintained an unnaturally forced posture as he continued the interview.

NICHOLAS: I find it quite fascinating, David, may I address you as David?

DAVID: Sure.

NICHOLAS: Alright, thank you, David. I find it quite intriguing that the work history section of your application amounted to three additional pages, in addition to what was included on the application itself. Could you explain why your work history appears so... diverse?

DAVID: Certainly. With all due respect, Nicholas, the application prompted me to list my work history over the past seven years. There were just three spaces for job history on the application, and I was explicitly instructed to include any extra relevant experience on additional pages. Given I've held seventeen positions in those seven years, I wanted it to be clear, so I distributed five jobs across the first two extra pages and four on the third.

NICHOLAS: I see your point. David, I don't want to offend you, but I think there might be a misunderstanding regarding my inquiry. To be more straightforward, could you explain why you've changed jobs so frequently over the past seven years?

DAVID: True enough. Nicholas, it’s important for you to know that I’m a diligent worker. I understand that sometimes there's a seasonal uptick or decline in demand, but I'm not suited for jobs that only offer me 15 to 20 hours weekly during lean times. No matter what my schedule is, I commit to providing quality work throughout my shifts, and I really expect my hours to remain stable. Unfortunately, that’s not been the case with previous employers. In fact, I remember this store not managing that well once, but I know you’re new in this role. You may have noticed that I’ve been employed here previously.

NICHOLAS: Yes, I did catch that detail, David. However, I'm currently unable to locate any records on your employment that would help clarify your re-hire eligibility. I checked payroll, and while I see you worked here for seventy-three days, I don’t have any further information.

DAVID: Sure, I was a cashier back then. That was the main issue; the management was poor in anticipating staffing needs for the high-demand seasons. Someone would leave in December, and though they would be replaced, the early months of the year are usually slow. However, I have confidence that with a capable and attentive manager like you, I can trust you to manage staff according to demand forecasts, which means I can keep my hours consistent.

NICHOLAS: Definitely, that’s something I prioritize, and I appreciate the compliment!

Regardless of the personnel records, David secured the position. This was fortunate because his last manager had placed a prominent note in red ink on his file stating, 'DO NOT RE-HIRE!'

David thought to himself that grocery stores are likely among the last places on the planet that will switch to digital personnel records rather than traditional paper files. He left Nicholas’s office with a wry smile.

---

It was just like any average day at the deli, working on slicing meats and cheeses, checking product tags to ensure nothing had exceeded the seven-day limit, and replacing tags as necessary; typical duties for someone in that role.

David's shift that day was from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM since it was Tuesday. Generally, he worked Monday and Tuesday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, was off on Wednesday and Thursday, and worked Friday through Sunday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. At a rate of $9.50 an hour, his earnings were decent, totaling between $525 and $550 every two weeks.

However, David was growing increasingly impatient as the end of his shift approached. He had prepared a Meat & Cheese tray for an irritable elderly woman who was supposed to pick it up at 3:15 PM, and he sensed she might arrive earlier. Checking the clock, which read 2:56, he began to wipe down the stainless steel surface where the slicer was positioned. Out of the corner of his eye, at 2:57, he caught sight of the Chipped Ham display looking less than full, which would certainly lead to complaints from his replacement, a rather annoying college student named Melissa. So, he retrieved the opened cube of chipped ham, took off the shrink wrap, and put it into the slicer.

DING!!!

David was becoming thoroughly fed up with the day; when he turned and saw the old lady peering at him from the other side of the display case, her irritation was palpable. Spit escaped as she barked at him, 'Don’t you see customers when they approach the counter?'

David replied, 'I’m sorry, but it seems you’re a bit early. Luckily, your tray is ready. Let me fetch it for you.'

He presented her with an exceptionally well-prepared Meat & Cheese tray, something he took great pride in despite his overall disdain for the work. The first thing the old woman noticed was the little plastic bag taped to the tray cover. 'What is that supposed to be?' she demanded.

David pointed out the contents of the tray, 'That’s your tray, Ma’am. It’s a Size #2 Serving for 20-25 people, featuring Cubed Virginia Ham, Oven-Roasted Turkey, Roast Beef—which is a personal favorite of mine—Cubed White Cheddar, Swiss, and Lorraine. I also included Honey Dijon in the center and there are 100 toothpicks.'

The elderly woman stared at him incredulously, as if he had just grown a second head. 'I meant the bag, you stupid dullard! What’s in that bag?'

David explained, 'Those are the condiments, Ma’am. You requested seven different options. Since there’s only space for one condiment on the tray, I had to give you a separate bag for the rest.'

'You absolute moron!' she screamed. 'Let me speak to your manager!'

Nicholas then stepped in and asked David, 'What seems to be the issue here?'

David began, \"Nick, the problem is-\"

Nicholas quickly interrupted him, 'Please use Mr. Allison when addressing customers, David.'

He really disliked being called Dave. 'Mr. Allison,' he muttered, 'the issue revolves around Ms. Wilhelm—'

'It’s Heim, you dimwit,' the old lady interjected. 'Wilhelm is my name.'

Nicholas interjected, 'I apologize, Ms. Wilheim. I'm sure David meant no offense and the mistake was completely unintentional.'

David was getting tired of two things: frequent interruptions and the necessity of appeasing difficult customers. While the latter couldn’t be avoided, he hoped the interruptions would cease. 'The issue is that Ms. Wilhelm's meat and cheese tray required seven condiments. As we both understand, Mr. Allison, the trays are designed with just one condiment slot. Ms. Wilhelm is unhappy that additional condiments are in a bag instead of included on the tray.'

Nicholas turned to the elderly woman, 'Ms. Wilheim, we’d be happy to discount your meat and cheese tray by ten dollars given this situation. We will also make a note for future orders ensuring that condiment containers are displayed on the tray, with the meat and cheese arranged around them. Would that suffice to resolve the issue?'

Ms. Wilheim examined Nicholas closely; for some strange reason, she seemed to approve of him. 'Yes, I’d be satisfied with that, but you need to instruct your employee to do it correctly next time.'

Nicholas faced David again. 'David, can we ensure that future orders are assembled as Ms. Wilheim requests?'

David knew that by doing that, the tray would look absolutely terrible. Nick was aware of this too, and David knew Nick knew it would result in an unsightly tray, but what option did he have? 'Yes, Mr. Allison. I can manage that. My apologies, Ms. Wilheim.'

Ms. Wilheim glared at David, silently acknowledging the intentional mispronunciation but choosing not to address it this time. Nicholas told David, 'Thank you, David. You can now go ahead and clock out.'

David didn’t appreciate the tone in Nicholas’s voice; it implied that clocking out was a punishment for having dealt with that old hag instead of a mere end to his shift, which was actually scheduled to finish three minutes earlier. 'Yes, Mr. Allison, thank you.'

---

He exited the store and hopped into his friend Evan Blake's car. Evan typically picked him up from work daily except for Fridays since he worked from 5:00 PM to midnight during the workweek. He had managed to control his nervous tic of tongue-clicking in interviews by literally biting his tongue. With his genuinely magnetic smile and striking blue eyes paired with spiky black hair that lent him a unique look despite carrying some extra weight, he had no trouble securing jobs.

Unable to find suitable clothes at Macy's, Evan took a trip to the Men's Big & Tall store. He picked up a suit, changed in the bathroom, returned his regular clothes to the car, and came back in to fill out an application for a management discussion. His work history was solid; before being laid off through no fault of his own, he had spent over a decade as a security guard in the same location. His responsibilities included selling clothing until the store’s closing time at 10:00 PM, and then spending the final two hours of his shift assisting with stocking deliveries. While floor salesmen usually didn’t stock items, Evan asked if he could help out since he needed more than five hours per shift, and they readily agreed.

'How’s business selling clothes for bigger people going?' David joked, completely oblivious to the fact that he himself fit that category and might have shopped at Evan's store had he not had to resort to second-hand options.', "'I don’t get why you keep asking that,' Evan replied, rolling his eyes. 'Some people are bigger than others—so what? It's good that we offer those options; otherwise, shoppers would end up visiting every clothing establishment in town just to find their size. With us, if you fall within the big or tall category, you can find what you need.'

'Is that your store's motto?' David chuckled. 'Good grief, do I despise my job, and that cranky old lady Ms. Wilhelm.'

'She’s just one customer,' Evan countered. 'How bad could she really be?'

'How bad? Let’s just say her one redeeming quality is her likely departure from this world before I do. I check the obituaries every day to ensure I don’t miss the chance to celebrate her passing,' David shot back.

'You need to lighten up; things are going well for us. I think we should consider getting an apartment soon,' Evan suggested brightly.

NICHOLAS: I see your point, David. I hope you don't take this the wrong way, but I think my question may not have been clear. To be straightforward, can you explain why you've changed jobs so frequently in the last seven years?

DAVID: Sure, Nicholas. It's important for you to know that I'm a dedicated worker. I get that business can fluctuate with the seasons, but I can't just settle for fifteen to twenty hours a week when things slow down. Regardless of my shift, you can count on me to put in a full day's work, and in return, I expect my hours to be somewhat stable. That's where I've had trouble with past employers. I remember this store let me down on that front once, but since you're new here, you might see that I've previously worked with you.
NICHOLAS: I did notice that, David. However, I can't seem to find any records on you to check if you're eligible for re-employment. I verified your social security number with payroll, and it indicates you worked here for seventy-three days, but I don't have any additional information.

DAVID: Yes, I was working as a cashier back then. The issue was that the management struggled to staff adequately at the front end during busy seasons. Someone would leave in December, they'd be replaced, but the first months of the year are typically quieter. However, I'm confident that with a capable and caring manager like you, I can rely on consistent hours in the future.

NICHOLAS: Absolutely, that's a priority for me, and I appreciate your kind words!

Regardless of the missing personnel records, David landed the position. This was fortunate because his previous manager had famously marked his file with a bold red note that read, 'DO NOT RE-HIRE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES!!!'

David mused that grocery stores are probably the last establishments still relying on physical files rather than computerized records. He chuckled to himself as he exited Nicholas's office.

Evan was incredulous; \"You lost $50!?\”

At the deli, it was just another day of slicing meats and cheeses, ensuring the labels were up-to-date, and replacing those that had expired, all part of the daily routine at the deli.

On Tuesdays, David's shift ran from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. His typical schedule was Monday through Tuesday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, Off on Wednesday and Thursday, and then Friday to Sunday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Earning $9.50 per hour, his bi-weekly take-home pay ranged from $525 to $550, which wasn't too shabby.

\"Yeah..\"

\"And, you could have left?\"

\"I guess, technically, I could have.\"

\"And, you did not leave.\"

\"No, I didn\"t.\"

As the day dragged on, David was anxious for his shift to end. He had prepared a Meat & Cheese platter for a grumpy old lady who was supposed to pick it up at 3:15, but David had a hunch she'd arrive early. Glancing at the clock showed 2:56 PM. He began cleaning the stainless steel counter where the slicer sat. At 2:57 PM, he noticed the Chipped Ham display was less than optimal and would surely annoy his replacement, an annoying college student named Melissa. He retrieved the opened chipped ham cube, took off the shrink wrap, and placed it in the slicer.

\"I don\"t know,\" David admitted.

Frustration grew as he noticed the old lady glaring at him from the front of the display case. Spittle sprayed as she exclaimed, 'Don’t you see customers when they walk up to you?’

David calmly replied, 'I apologize for the wait; it looks like you arrived a bit early, but I just finished preparing your tray. Let me grab it for you right away.'

When David presented the beautifully arranged Meat & Cheese tray, he felt proud despite loathing many aspects of his job. The first thing the old woman pointed out was the small plastic bag taped to the tray cover. 'What on Earth is that?'

David explained, 'That’s your tray, Ma'am. It includes a Size #2 Serving for 20-25 people with Cubed Virginia Ham, Oven-Roasted Turkey, Roast Beef—my personal favorite—Cubed White Cheddar, Swiss, and Lorraine Cheese, along with Honey Dijon in the center, plus 100 toothpicks.'

\"Lucy?\"

\"Had to use the restroom.\"

The old woman stared at him as though he had just grown another head. 'No, you silly idiot! What’s in the bag?'

\"Sure,\" David said. \"No problem.\"

David responded, 'The bag contains the condiments you requested; you wanted seven different kinds. Since the tray only accommodates one condiment, I had to provide the rest in a separate bag.'

'You complete moron!' she shouted. 'Let me speak to your manager!'

Nicholas stepped out and asked David, 'What seems to be the issue here?'

---

Nicholas interrupted him, 'Mr. Allison, please refrain from using customers' names.'

\"I guess this is it,\" he said.

David loathed being called 'Dave.' He grumbled, 'Mr. Allison, the problem is that Ms. Wilhelm—'

'It's Wilheim, you dunce!' the old woman interjected. 'Wilheim is my name.'

It had to be a sign.

Nicholas interjected, 'I apologize, Ms. Wilheim. I assure you, David was only mistaken, and it was an innocent error.'

David was tiring of two specific annoyances: constant interruptions and having to appease people. The latter was unavoidable, but perhaps the interruptions would cease. 'The issue is related to the request for seven different condiments. As you’re aware, Mr. Allison, there’s just one slot for condiments on the trays. Ms. Wilheim is upset that her condiments came in a bag instead of placed on the tray.'

Nicholas addressed the old woman, 'Ms. Wilheim, we’d like to offer you a ten-dollar discount on your meat and cheese tray for this inconvenience. We'll also make a note for future orders to ensure that all condiments are included on the tray, so the meat and cheese will be organized around them. Will that resolve the issue satisfactorily?'

Ms. Wilheim looked at Nicholas, inexplicably liking him. 'Yes, I would be satisfied, but please instruct your employee to do it correctly next time.'

Nicholas turned back to David. 'Can we ensure this is done the way Ms. Wilheim requested in the future?'

David understood that if he complied, it would make the tray look atrocious. Both he and Nick were fully aware of this, but what choice did he have? 'Yes, Mr. Allison. I can manage that. I apologize again, Ms. Wilhelm.'

---

Go back to chapter 2 .
To be continued in chapter 4 .

About the Author

Ms. Wilheim glared at David, clearly noting the mispronunciation but choosing to remain silent this time. Nicholas told David, 'Thank you, David. You may now go ahead and clock out.'

Written by: Brandon James