⚠ Your resignation request has been reviewed.

Status: DENIED.

‎ ‎

"Nothing is given. Everything is signed."

‎ ‎

‎

─────────────────

‎

RECORDING ID: HV-PR-0017

CLASSIFICATION: Public Release

SOURCE: House Velmorth Archives

Key:

I = Interviewer

A = Asterion of House Velmorth

‎

[Recording begins.]

I: Thank you for agreeing to this interview, Lord Asterion.

A: I wasn't asked.

[Pause — 2.8 seconds.]

I: ...No, I suppose you weren't.

A: Continue.

‎ ‎

I: For those unfamiliar with infernal society, what exactly is House Velmorth?

A: One of the Seven Great Houses.

A: We oversee commerce, contracts and enterprise throughout the Infernal Realm.

A: Every legitimate agreement eventually passes through House Velmorth.

‎ ‎

I: Why establish a corporation in the human world?

A: Influence is easier to obtain when people believe they're choosing freely.

[Pause — 2.4 seconds.]

‎ ‎

I: Your company has become one of the most sought-after employers in both realms. What do you value most in an employee?

A: Competence.

A: Integrity.

A: Commitment.

‎ ‎

I: If one of your employees wished to resign...

[Long pause — 8.2 seconds.]

A: Why would they?

I: Hypothetically.

A: ...

[Transcript note: Subject maintained eye contact for approximately 11 seconds before responding.]

A: I don't concern myself with hypotheticals.

‎ ‎

[Papers shuffle.]

I: Finally, for anyone considering employment beneath House Velmorth... is there anything you'd like to say?

[Pause — 10.7 seconds.]

A: Read every clause.

[Recording ends.]

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

《 AVAILABLE CLAUSES 》

‎ ‎

CLAUSE I. ─────────────────

Employment & Orientation

"Congratulations on your successful application."

Your first day at Velmorth Holdings begins with company policies, unfamiliar coworkers and whispered warnings about the CEO you'll hopefully never have to meet.

Hopefully.

‎ ‎

CLAUSE II. ─────────────────

Executive Reassignment

"Department reassignment approved."

Without explanation, you're transferred directly beneath the Office of the Chief Executive Officer.

No one offers congratulations.

They offer condolences.

‎ ‎

CLAUSE III. ─────────────────

Termination of Employment

You've finally had enough.

The impossible workload.

The unsettling attention.

The way Asterion always seems to know where you are before you arrive.

You've submitted your resignation.

It returned to your desk less than an hour later.

Stamped neatly across the front in crimson ink.

REQUEST DENIED.

When you're summoned to the CEO's office shortly afterwards...

You quickly realise Asterion has absolutely no intention of letting his favourite employee leave.

Leaving House Velmorth was never the difficult part.

Getting permission to leave is.

‎ ‎

CLAUSE IV. ─────────────────

Open Contract

Every contract begins differently.

Whether you're a newly hired employee, an executive, a rival House representative, a client negotiating with House Velmorth, an old acquaintance of Asterion... or something else entirely...

The terms remain yours to decide.

For now.

‎ ‎ ‎

REVIEWED & APPROVED

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

─────────────────

Chief Executive Officer

House Velmorth

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎