Side Story 3 - Curriculum Vitae
As a general rule, Jonathan Johnes did not handle the reading of job applications. As Chairman and President of the Gin and Gold Company, his attention was typically taken up by matters of far greater import - such as maintaining the Company's good standing in court, attending the many social events hosted by his mercantile peers and generally steering the organization as a whole towards a prosperous future.
That said, every rule is ultimately defined by the exceptions and this was no different. Whilst the position of Official Liaison to the Galaxy Team was not officially high-ranking, it was nonetheless a critical and prestigious role. They would be the face of the Company to the Far East; success would bring in immense profits whilst failure could set back relations for decades, which was why Jonathan had to personally confront the thick stack of applications on his desk.
Granted, he could do a bit of culling before really digging deep into the candidates. For the first pass-through, Jonathan methodically removed every application from a Galarian and binned them - after all, the people of Hisui would never accept an unknown Westerner for such a role, so it simply had to be someone local. Next into the bin; a series of applications from the sons and daughters of the local nobility, all of them part of families with known interests in the region. Whilst ostensibly qualified both in terms of formal diplomatic training and informal connections, if any of them were picked all the other families would riot, and a civil war was categorically not good for business.
To Jonathan's mixed joy and dread, a mere two such rounds of purgation had gotten rid of over nine tenths of the stack, leaving only a handful of applications to go through. One application each from the Diamond and Pearl clans, quickly rejected as neither would accept the other's appointment. Several wandering Samurai boasted impeccable wartime credentials, but whose temperament ill-suited peacetime negotiations and thus too were rejected. The final application gave Jonathan pause; for it was not even an application in the conventional sense.
The typical application would contain a name, a location of fixed abode and a summary of accomplishments alongside a claim of worthiness, all penned by the individual of whom the application concerned. This, on the other hand was merely a short letter of recommendation, from the head of the delegation that had brokered the current breakthrough in relations in Hisui.
"Honored Chairman,
In the course of my duties far from the heart of this world, I have chanced upon an individual of acclaim. He whom stands of old lineage, and his sworn kin - a radiant example of the Togekiss line. Most fortuitous, for as all wise men would attest, such specimens are rare to the extreme, and invariably drawn solely to those of noble bearing and goode intentions.
His presence presages only glory and bounty in His Majesty's Name, and all whom walk in his wake. It is thereby my greatest honor and privilege to recommend my goode friend Volo Celestica to the post of liaison for all matters Far Eastern.
Your humble servant,
Diego"
This was remarkably little to go off of, for an appointment that might decide the fate of the Company. Indeed, Jonathan's first instinct was to arrange another round of recruitment, in the hopes of finding someone more qualified. He quashed this instinct; knowing that his men had tried their best and in all likelihood such a person simply did not exist. In any event, the longer they delayed the higher the chance that relations soured, with the people of Hisui seeing his hesitation for duplicity. Likewise, it would also open the door for rival organisations to steal a march on him, making all of his work thus far be for naught.
Swallowing his misgivings, Jonathan signed and stamped the letter with his Company's seal, before directing his secretary to arrange the required formalities to welcome a new hire. Oh, he'd likely never set foot in Galar personally, but that was no excuse to skimp on a good welcome, heavens no! The day Volo signed his contract of employment, he would immediately receive several matching sets of the local uniform, a membership card denoting his rank and offering discounted products to all affiliated stores, and a hefty cash advance equivalent to three months pay to cover his set-up costs.
Employees were most productive when they felt they were valued, after all, such was the creed of the Gin and Gold Company!
AN: My laptop broke, so am writing on my phone now. Have a few chapters being edited, after that we'll see what happens.