A DIGITAL moonlit night illuminates Xantos Fantasy (Xantos Eco Resort), a futuristic oasis rising amidst terraced rice fields that stretch beneath a man-made climate-protecting dome. The bioluminescent glow of the lobby’s vertical gardens reflects off the polished chrome surfaces, creating an air of serenity and sophistication. But the serenity is shattered by the presence of a guest named Mr. Yoshi Tanaka, a middle-aged man with a perfectly trimmed moustache and a searching gaze that seems to see through walls.
Mr. Tanaka has been staying for three days, and during that time, the complaint alarm has been ringing almost every morning at the front desk. The first day, his complaint was about the air conditioning system in room 307.
“This is unacceptable!” he exclaimed to Anya, the receptionist who maintained a professional smile, even as she began to feel weary inside. “This air conditioning is better suited to cooling eggs than a distinguished guest like me! The temperature is clearly above the acceptable comfort level.”
Anya, patiently, sent a technician to Mr. Tanaka’s room. After a thorough inspection, the technician reported that the system was functioning properly, with the room temperature within the hotel’s set range of 22 degrees Celsius. No malfunctions were detected.
“Excuse the inconvenience, Mr. Tanaka,” Anya said as the guest returned to the lobby with a sour face. “Our technicians have checked and found no problems with the air conditioning in your room. Perhaps you could try resetting the control panel on the wall?”
“Of course I have, miss! I am not an idiot! This is clearly broken or set incorrectly. I expect the hotel to take serious action on this.” Mr. Tanaka huffed before heading for the elevator.
The next morning, it was the breakfast buffet (ABF) that became the target of his ire. He approached Dewa, the head waiter who was busy arranging fresh juice glasses.
“Waiter!” Mr. Tanaka’s voice shouted over the clatter of cutlery. “This breakfast is terrible! The croissants are as soft as used sponges, the fruit tastes as bland as if it had been sitting for days, and this coffee… this coffee looks more like brown dishwater!”
Dewa, who had experience dealing with a variety of guest characters, remained calm. “Excuse me for your inconvenience, sir. We always try to serve the best. Is there anything specific you would like to complain about?”
“Everything! Everything is unpalatable! I usually have breakfast with a much higher standard of quality. This is an insult to the palate!” Mr. Tanaka folded his arms across his chest, staring at Dewa with a demanding gaze.
Dewa then asked the chef to check the quality of each breakfast item. The croissants were freshly baked that morning, the fruits were selected fresh from a local hydroponic plantation, and the coffee was brewed from selected beans. There were no similar complaints from other guests.
“Mr. Tanaka,” Dewa said politely but firmly, “we have checked all the dishes, and everything is in good condition. We welcome your feedback, but we find no problems with the quality of today’s breakfast.”
Mr. Tanaka just snorted again and left without touching another meal.
The climax came on the third day. Mr. Tanaka returned to the reception with a more ambitious request.
“I can’t stand this cramped and uncomfortable superior room any longer!” he said to Ayu, Anya’s colleague who was on duty. “I demand an upgrade to an executive suite right now! I am a very dissatisfied guest, and this is the only way for the hotel to right the wrongs that have occurred.”
Ayu checked the booking system. Mr. Tanaka had indeed booked a superior room. “Excuse me, Mr. Tanaka, your booking is for a superior room. To upgrade to a suite, there will be an additional charge according to the applicable rates.”
“Additional charge? After all the inconvenience I went through? The non-functioning air conditioner, the disgusting breakfast… this is the compensation I deserve!” Mr. Tanaka raised his voice, attracting the attention of several other guests in the lobby.
Ayu remained calm. “Sir, as we have said, our technicians found no problems with the air conditioner in your room, and our kitchen staff has confirmed the quality of today’s breakfast. We understand your dissatisfaction, but we find no strong basis for granting a free upgrade.”
Anya, who had just returned from her break, joined in with a soft but firm tone. “Mr Tanaka, we have taken your complaint seriously and conducted a thorough investigation. However, we have found no evidence of any issues as you have described. Our hotel policy is that all guests are expected to pay the appropriate amount for the room type they are staying in.
Mr. Tanaka looked surprised. “So, you are accusing me of lying?”
“We are not accusing you of lying, sir,” Anya replied. “However, after repeated inspections, we did not find any issues with the facilities or services you complained about. Given the situation and for the convenience of other guests, we regret to ask you to check out from Xantos Fantasy (Xantos Eco Resort). Of course, your hotel bill must still be settled according to your original reservation.”
Mr. Tanaka’s face turned red. He opened his mouth as if to argue, but then fell silent. He realized that his argument had no solid basis. There was no evidence of AC failure, no leftover stale food, and he himself had booked a superior room.
With a heavy sigh, Mr. Tanaka finally gave in. “Alright,” he said in an annoyed tone. “Prepare the bill.”
Ayu quickly printed out the bill according to the number of nights he had stayed and the type of room booked. Mr. Tanaka paid without saying much, his gaze still holding annoyance. After completing the check-out process, he walked unsteadily towards the exit, dragging his heavy-looking suitcase.
Anya and Ayu exchanged glances. They had encountered many kinds of guests, but Mr. Tanaka was a unique case. A guest who seemed to enjoy finding fault more than enjoying the luxurious facilities of Xantos Fantasy.
As the lobby door closed behind Mr. Tanaka, Dewa approached them with a faint smile. “Maybe next time he’ll enjoy his vacation more if he focuses on the view instead of looking for non-existent dust.”
Anya and Ayu chuckled. At Xantos Eco Resort, where advanced technology meets traditional hospitality, even the most bizarre complaints must be met with professionalism and firmness. And sometimes, the best solution is to escort the troublesome guest to the exit. The night of the digital moon shone again, enveloping Xantos Eco Resort in peace after the departure of the overly talkative guest.
After Mr. Tanaka left, the atmosphere in the Xantos Eco Resort lobby returned to normal, accompanied by the sound of an artificial waterfall flowing down the glass walls. However, the departure of the fussy guest left a trace of wonder and a little fatigue in Anya and Ayu’s minds.
“He really is… persistent,” Ayu muttered as she tidied up the reception desk. “Almost every day there’s something to complain about. Even though all the systems are functioning well.”
“Maybe he’s just the type of person who is never satisfied,” Anya added with a sigh. “Or maybe… there’s another reason behind it?”
The next day, Xantos Eco Resort’s tranquility was tested again. An elegant woman with designer glasses and a cold aura approached the reception desk. “I am Mrs. Eleanor Ainsworth. I have booked an executive suite. I hope my room is ready and meets my expectations.”
Anya smiled professionally. “Welcome to Xantos Fantasy, Mrs. Ainsworth. Your suite is ready. Let me assist you with the check-in process.”
For the first few days, Mrs. Ainsworth seemed to enjoy her stay. She praised the view from her suite balcony, enjoyed a gourmet meal at the floating restaurant, and was even seen relaxing by the infinity pool. Anya and Ayu began to breathe a sigh of relief, thinking that maybe after Mr. Tanaka, they would have a more pleasant guest.
However, the peace was short-lived. On the fifth day, Mrs. Ainsworth approached the reception with an unhappy expression.
“There is something strange about my room’s security system,” she said in a cold tone. “Last night, while I was sleeping, I felt movement in the room. I believe someone broke in without permission.”
Ayu was shocked. “Oh my gosh, Mrs. Ainsworth, we’re sorry for what happened. Are any of your belongings missing?”
“I haven’t checked in detail,” Mrs. Ainsworth replied. “But I have a very bad feeling. I asked the hotel to conduct a thorough investigation. I don’t feel safe here.”
Anya immediately contacted the head of security, Mr. Made. After checking the CCTV footage and Mrs. Ainsworth’s room’s electronic lock system, Mr. Made found no suspicious activity. The door to the room had never opened after Mrs. Ainsworth locked it from the inside.
“Mrs. Ainsworth,” Anya reported carefully, “we have checked all the footage and the security system. There is no indication of any intrusion into your room. Maybe you were just dreaming?”
“Dreaming?” Mrs. Ainsworth raised her eyebrows. “I’m never wrong with my instincts. There is something wrong with this hotel.”
The next day, Mrs. Ainsworth’s complaints became even stranger. She reported that the ornamental plants in the lobby seemed to “pay attention to her” and that the sound of trickling water in the artificial waterfall sounded like indistinct whispers .
Anya and Ayu began to feel a familiar pattern. Unfounded complaints, subjective feelings that were difficult to verify. They exchanged meaningful glances.
On the seventh day, Mrs. Ainsworth made a similar request to Mr. Tanaka. “I felt very uncomfortable and disturbed during my stay here. I demand an upgrade to the penthouse with full compensation for the inconvenience I experienced.”
Ayu tried to explain patiently, “Mrs. Ainsworth, we are very sorry that you feel uncomfortable. However, after repeated inspections, we did not find any security issues or other strange things as you reported. The penthouse has a different rate, and we cannot provide it for free without a clear reason.”
Mrs. Ainsworth became angry. “Are you also accusing me of lying like you did to the previous guest?”
Anya took a deep breath. “Mrs. Ainsworth, we value all our guests. However, we also have a responsibility to ensure that complaints are well-founded. Given the lack of evidence for your claim, and in fairness to other guests, we apologize, but we cannot honor your request for a free upgrade. If you are extremely uncomfortable, you may check out and we will charge you according to the room you have booked.”
Mrs. Ainsworth gave Anya and Ayu a stern look. She realized that her tactic was not working. Like Mr. Tanaka, she had no concrete evidence to support her complaint.
With an annoyed snort, Mrs. Ainsworth finally agreed to check out. As she paid her bill, she muttered, “You will regret treating me like this. I will make sure everyone knows how bad my experience at this hotel was.”
After Mrs. Ainsworth left, Mr. Made approached Anya and Ayu with a serious expression. “There’s something odd about these two guests. Their complaints are almost identical, although the details are slightly different. It’s as if they…”
“It’s as if they’re trying to take advantage of the hotel to get something for free,” Ayu continued.
“Maybe there’s some sort of pattern or even… a plot?” Anya suggested, sensing that there was something more than just the usual guest dissatisfaction.
They decided to do some more research into the booking history of both guests. It turned out that Mr. Tanaka and Mrs. Ainsworth had booked rooms through the same travel agency, with a very short time difference between the bookings. Coincidence? Or is there something fishy going on? The mystery at Xantos Eco Resort didn’t seem to be over yet. (*)
