Like the vast majority of Covenant States in the Star Alliance, Star Ring City used an "at-will employment system." If they really wanted to lay people off, they could tell you to get lost without paying a single cent in compensation. They would not care how many mouths you had to feed at home or how many loans you had to repay.
At times like this, Loren could only find some bitter amusement and console himself:
Luckily, this old man was still single;
Luckily, the Laboratory provided employee dormitories, so there was no need to buy a house;
Luckily, his alma mater was directly affiliated with Myriad Gods Hall, and its student loans were interest-free for ten years. He had finished paying his off the year before last;
Luckily, he was relatively frugal in his daily spending. Other than the occasional costly social gathering, he only had a single gambling-style Heavenly Human Loan hanging over him.
Given Loren's personality, he did not want that Heavenly Human Loan either. However, it had been one of the conditions for joining the Laboratory, an important piece of evidence proving whether or not one had "ambition."
Indeed, this type of loan, heavily promoted by Xi Corporation among "highly educated cultivators," had flourished across its technology companies, upscale Cultivation Halls, private schools, and Laboratories.
Fortunately, after Loren successfully advanced to Acolyte Priest, his interest had been reduced to some extent. Even if he were fired now, the loan company would not immediately come knocking...
There was certainly still pressure, but when Loren saw his colleagues beside him—also graduates of prestigious schools, yet under immense strain from all sorts of household expenses—pacing back and forth in agitation, he felt that he really was rather fortunate.
The "agitated colleague" had just transferred over from Da Xin Laboratory.