Accept the job.

A bit of relief washes over you, knowing that it wasn't some trick from a deranged psycho. 20 G.C was more than twice you were making, breaking your back at the mines. With the extra income, you could even start paying off some overdue bills and treat yourself and the Kid to a proper meal for once. The excitement makes your knees weak but you remain composed and cool.

"Well, when can I start?"

"Ahh, so you're interested in taking the job then?"

"It is just a desk job right?"

"More or less. It's mostly paperwork and documentation. A bit of going here to there. Some minor dealings with our detainees. You know, to just check up on them and such. See if their progress holds up and everything is operating smoothly."

Detainees? You scratch your head as you try asking tactfully.

"So what is it exactly you do here?"

"It's a bit complicated what I do. A lot of silly details that would bore you to tears I'm sure. But to make it crudely brief... the Auction House takes in people who sell themselves and we help auction them off."

Huh?

"Hmm... maybe I shouldn't have been brief at all. It does sound quite awful if I put it like that. You would think we were forcing people to do something against their will, haha. No, no actually what we do is offer eligible candidates a way to liberate themselves from otherwise insurmountable financial circumstances. Debts, medical bills, life sentencings, it all gets taken care of when you admit yourself to the Auction House. I mean, you should see some of the G.C people owe actually, it's quite astounding how much one person in the low districts can rake up. We're talking amounts these people can't pay within their lifetime."

"But I thought people just got jailed if they passed a certain quota. And what if they're violent criminals?"

"Well, yes, you see that's the magic of this place. The Federation has been looking into a more alternative solution than just, locking someone away for the rest of their lives. I mean, that's just a bit cruel if you want my honest take. So after some careful deliberation, they approved the Auction House where people can just admit themselves for a much shorter time of service."

"What kind of service?"

"Well, it can be an entire range of services depending on the person who buys them but of course, nothing cruel or inhumane. You know, the amendments and all that. Your role in all of this is to check in on the rehabilitation process, update the documentation on the detainees and eventually match them with their new owners. Oh and every now and then you'll check in on the new pair to see everything is going well. I hate to spoil the fun early but it is a lot of paperwork since this is a new program the Federation is implementing."

"So it is Federation sanctioned?"

"Most certainly. That's why there's that note about the veterans. The new Prime Leader is quite the patriot so he insisted on that extra caveat when hiring our new employees."

This just sounds like slavery with extra steps. But hell, it probably beats being behind bars for the rest of your life chipping away at cobblestones.

"Alright then, I'm in. So when do I start again?"

You watch as Crowley beams in excitement. He claps his hands together before dashing away and bringing back your official contract. You skim it over but find nothing else suspicious or anything beyond what Crowley had already described. It doesn't take long for you to then sign it, first name and last. As you mark the final date and hand it over to Crowley you feel a weird tingle journey to the base of your spine. But you shake the nerves off as you listen to Crowley explain in better detail what it'll be like on your first day working for the Auction House.