Air Hero

Recruiting teammate

“Max, how’s your internship at the Rising Star Agency?”

“You jest me, big sis. What internship? I just become a laborer for four days. Anyway, I learned a lot of things over there.”

“Naturally, you should learn it at the United Heroes school, but you didn’t attend it, so this is a good learning experience for you.”

“That’s right. Thank you for using your connection to make this possible.”

“Haha. What are you saying? Anyway, what’s your plan now?”

“I’ll continue doing mission and won’t neglect my training. I will have enough money in three months, and that’s when I will recruit my first team member, an overseer.”

“About the list, have you started to contact them?”

“Eh, I haven’t done that.”

“I guess you should start contacting them. It’s been three months since the last hero examination test. I’m afraid that most of them have been recruited by an agency or company by now. If you wait for another three months, I doubt there will be anyone left for you to recruit. Even if there’s someone to recruit, they might only be leftover.”

“Ah! I totally didn’t think of that!”

“The list I give you is the top students from this year batch. But, of course, they are also eyed by other people. So you need to make your move quick.”

“I guess I will shortlist them and try to reach out to them tomorrow.”

“Okay. As long as you didn’t forget it, it’s alright.”

At night, Max looked at the list that Kalina gave him and started to look at the names.

“Steve Linus, Information gathering D, Support D, Hacking C, Judgment C. He tried to be a hero at first, but his aptitude isn’t good. Switched to the overseer position without outside force and prove to be a genius. His hacking speed surpassed his peers, and the judgment shown from situational training resulted in the most optimal outcome.”

The world isn’t lacking in promising newcomer heroes, and that’s the same case for supports and backlines.

“Kaiser Reed, Information gathering D-, Support D-, Hacking D-, Judgment B+. Has an excellent overall sight of the situation and made a critical judgment that makes the best outcome. Although he is lacking in other aspects, this could be improved in the future since he is only 18 years old. The natural judgment, however, isn’t something that could be trained easily.”

Looking at the stats, Max realized that he also needs to decide his teammate based on his need. He didn’t think that he needed someone with a high appraisal on hacking or judgment as what he needed now is someone who excelled in support and gathering. If he could get someone with a high rank overall, it would be for the best, but he knows it won’t be easy.

“The best one for information gathering and support will be this person. Sarah Lee. Information gathering C, Support C, Hacking D-, Judgment D-. However, she has no further information about her since she comes from a humble background with no prior heroes from her family. Also, there’s a big chance that others have recruited her.”

Max looked for another person on the list to be a backup and find it in no time.

“Wow, look at this. Information gathering B+, Support D-, Hacking D-, Judgment D-. Marie Wozniak, except for showing high interest in information gathering, showed no other talent as she barely acquired the D- appraisal. She could, however, recall the name of a villain immediately once she saw them. Possesed eidetic memory that dubbed her as the walking hero encyclopedia.”

Max then jotted down their number and address and planned on visiting them in the future and finished looking over at the list for now. Other than those four, the rest on the list reached solid D-rank appraisal, and some have C- but their overall is still at the D-rank.

After that, Max did his daily training and the day comes to an end.

A few days later, Max successfully managed to contact the high-priority overseer on his shortlist, and today he will be meeting one of them. The meeting place is done at a nearby café, and without waiting for long, Max saw a young man that fits the picture on the portfolio.

“Hello, you must be Steve Linus. My hero's name is Air Hero, and I’m the one who contacted you before. I want to invite you to my team.”

“Oh, straight to the point. That’s good since I don’t have any time to waste either. I have been offered a job by Blue Fire company today, but I decided to listen to what you have to say first.”

Max knows that this is the time for him to do his sales pitch. If his offer is better than the Blue Fire company, he will be able to recruit him.

“Since I’m a new D-rank hero, I couldn’t offer you too much. $20,000 monthly salary and the computer for your workstation will be entirely new and meet the minimum standard for operation.”

That’s the best offer that Max could give, so he immediately tells that to Steve Linus. Steve thinks for a bit before rejecting Max’s offer.

“I’m sorry. I don’t think I can accept your terms. But, just so you know, the Blue Fire company offered $30,000, and the computer that I will use is one of the best.”

“Ah, it’s alright. After all, the terms from the Blue Fire company are better than what I could offer.”

“If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave. Goodbye.”

Max feel bitter inside his mouth as the first recruitment process didn’t end well. He knows that the terms he will be offering might be lower than those of an agency or company. However, he never thought that he would be rejected that straightforwardly.

“Well, I can’t do much about it. I better try to contact the next person.”

Max took out his phone and called for Kaiser Reed. It didn’t take long before the call is connected.

“Hello, is this Kaiser Reed.”

“That’s correct. My name is Air Hero, and I would like to arrange a meeting with you. Is it possible?”

“Wait a minute, are you from a company or agency?”

“No, I am from individual sponsorship.”

“What rank are you?”

“I’m a D-rank hero.”

“Sorry, not interested.”

*tuut tuut tuut*

Without even any other explanation, the call was cut. Max is even more speechless after that. It seemed that all overseers have the same trait in common. Overly rude, looking down on others, and think highly of themselves. Kaiser Reed has clearly shown this earlier. Steve Linus might be a bit better, but he still has that air of arrogance when talking to Max earlier.

Not to mention Rika. She is by far the overseer with the worst personality that Max has met. Her mouth is sharp, and nothing good ever comes out of it except for mission details and information.