Recruitment Fair!

Xi Ye's timing this time was rather impeccable. He had returned just in time for the Federation's Unified Examination, which also happened to coincide with graduation season at all the major academies. Thinking of this, Xi Ye secretly felt rather pleased with himself. He really was the Chosen One. Not only had he obtained such excellent resources, even his timing for coming back was so perfect.

Xi Ye happily teleported to a virtual network venue under the service attendant's recommendation. A large-scale recruitment event was being held there, led by established Great Lords who had lived for several epochs. The traffic they attracted was immense, and many talented graduates from prestigious academies came because of their reputations.

Originally, Xi Ye had planned to recruit experienced veterans. Although graduates were cheaper, they lacked experience. He was mainly hiring instructors, after all, and naturally needed people with some teaching experience—excellent instructors who could lay a solid foundation for his precious subjects. Clearly, graduates could not meet Xi Ye's requirements.

But there was nothing he could do. High-end Wood Elves were in great demand on the market, even harder to recruit than Green Titans. Because Wood Elf Genes had low compatibility and tuition fees were so expensive, even graduate-level Wood Elves commanded high prices. Most lords refused to let them switch employers after recruiting them. Xi Ye glanced at the price list provided by the headhunter. A Level Seven or Eight Wood Elf demanded an annual salary of over ten million God Coins, and an expensive transfer fee had to be paid upfront!

What kind of joke was this? Ten million God Coins could hire ten thousand Black Goblins!

There was no helping it. The base had over a thousand Wood Elves, so it couldn't do without elf instructors. He could only come to the recruitment fair and see if there were any students he could easily fool, while also recruiting some assistants and the like.

The market had not opened yet, so the many lords began chatting idly. Xi Ye glanced around and saw that the venue was clearly divided into two areas. The booths in the Great Lords' section were all lavish, while his side looked much more shabby. Moreover, the Great Lords basically never came in person. They simply sent their subordinates to handle recruitment.

Xi Ye's side was practically a district filled entirely with poor lords. Since no applicants had arrived yet, they took the opportunity to chat and make small talk.

"Yo, buddy, are you new here?" The lord next to Xi Ye struck up a conversation while Xi Ye was setting up his booth.

Xi Ye's face tensed beneath his helmet. "How did you know?"

Did my helmet have four huge words written on it: I'm a beginner?

He had to ask for advice properly. Otherwise, if the applicants realized he was a novice, his recruitment prospects would suffer even more.

"It's obvious from how seriously you're taking this. You're dragging your feet just setting up a booth. And look at your recruitment prices—you're offering an assistant teacher three thousand a month. You clearly don't know the market..."

"Did I offer too much?" Xi Ye was stunned. "Aren't the people invited to this recruitment fair all from prestigious academies?"

"So what if they're from prestigious academies?" The man rolled his eyes. "Aren't they still just graduates? You're offering such a high salary right after graduation. How will you afford to raise it later? The lower the starting salary, the better. That's common sense. Which teacher taught you your human resources course?"

Xi Ye lowered his head somewhat sheepishly. "Senior, your instruction is correct."

Seeing Xi Ye's humility, the man nodded in satisfaction and continued, "Don't say your senior doesn't look after you. The market is about to open, so I'll give you a quick lesson. Fresh graduates are the easiest to fool. Talk to them about ideals, and you can push their salary down to the level of a dishwasher. Then give them a glimpse of the future, and they'll be too embarrassed to ask about benefits or bonuses. As for working hours? One sentence about a flexible work system explains everything. As long as you paint the pie big enough, what kind of affordable, high-quality student can't you recruit?"

"That makes sense!" Xi Ye nodded deeply.

The man smiled smugly and was just about to continue when an electric bell suddenly rang. The customer-service announcement followed immediately. "The venue will open to the public in three minutes. All lords, please prepare yourselves."

"All right, we'll chat later!" Seeing that the market was about to open, the man hurried back to his booth. He sat upright in the recruitment area with a solemn, proper expression. Coupled with the imposing aura unique to the Celestial Race, no one could tell that this was a scummy boss preparing to sell graduates a pipe dream.

After seeing the other man return, Xi Ye hurriedly began revising his recruitment prices.

Weapon Specialization Warrior Counselor: Applicants must have graduated from a top-tier interstellar Weapon Specialization academy. Applicants from the Ivy League Academy are required for comprehensive departments. Priority will be given to graduates specializing in Axes, Spears, or Broadswords. Battle aura must have reached at least Level Five. Applicants with recommendation letters from renowned instructors will be hired first. Internship salary: 4,000 per month. Internship period: three years. Upon becoming a full-time employee, Level Seven interstellar social insurance and a housing fund will be provided.

Berserker Specialization Warrior Counselor: Applicants must have graduated from a top-tier interstellar warrior specialization academy. If they are from the Hellroar Clan, Black Warrior Clan, Vastaya Bearmen, or Werewolf Clan, the requirement may be lowered to a second-tier academy. Berserk Bloodrage must have reached four stars. Applicants with recommendation letters from renowned instructors will be hired first. Internship salary: 4,000 per month. Internship period: three years. Upon becoming a full-time employee, Level Seven interstellar social insurance and a housing fund will be provided.

Five counselor positions each are available in the Federation's electromechanical, Mechanical, Chemistry, Biological, agricultural, applied chemistry, and medical engineering departments. Applicants must have graduated from a first-tier teachers' academy, possess a Level One teaching qualification certificate and a Level Four certificate in their major. Tuition-free normal university graduates will be given priority, as will applicants with recommendation letters from renowned instructors. Internship salary: 3,000 per month. Internship period: five years. Upon becoming a full-time employee, Level Eight social insurance and a housing fund will be provided. PS: Salaries will be doubled for graduates of the Hextech system or Rune Clan technology system, and Level Six social insurance and a housing fund will be provided after becoming full-time employees!

Mecha Operator Counselors and Arcane Counselors: Graduates of first-tier specialized academies will be hired first. Internship salary: 5,000 per month. Internship period: one year. Upon becoming a full-time employee, Level Six social insurance and a housing fund will be provided! PS: Mecha Operator certification holders will receive a starting monthly salary of 20,000. Arcane students with Arcane Master certification will receive a starting monthly salary of 15,000.

Wood Elf Guide: Those proficient in elven evolution techniques and capable of correctly guiding more than three evolutionary forms will receive a starting monthly salary of 10,000. Compensation is negotiable for those possessing any ancient Wood Elf specialization!

Looking at the recruitment terms he had drafted earlier, Xi Ye pondered how much he should cut them.

Originally, his Level Eight Planet was in rather difficult circumstances, so Xi Ye had been prepared to offer high salaries to recruit graduates from prestigious academies. After that senior's reminder, however, he felt that he really had offered too much. If he started with such a high salary, wouldn't it hurt even more when he had to increase it later?

Besides, what qualifications did graduates have to be so choosy?

How about cutting everything in half? No... I'm also providing finely furnished dormitories with bronze craftsmanship. Hmm... should I deduct another two hundred?

Would that be too ruthless?

Maybe I should take a look at the booth next door first?

Thinking this, he quietly walked out of his booth and peeked at the one next door. It read: Recruit Warrior Counselors. Applicants must be graduates of a prestigious first-tier warrior specialization academy. Familiarity with three Weapon Specializations preferred. Those with Battle Aura below Level Five need not apply. This position does not accept Centaur Clan, Earth Minotaur Clan, or Hydra Clan applicants. Preference will be given to the Black Gold Clan, Rising Sun Clan, and Starlight Clan. Bow specialization preferred, with priority given to the Night Elf Clan...

They're even practicing racial discrimination? Senior veterans really have the confidence to do whatever they want...

Xi Ye continued reading downward. Finally, beneath the long list of requirements, he found a compensation description in tiny print. The compensation itself was just as tiny as the font: internship salary, seven hundred per month!

What the hell!

It really was a dishwasher's salary. Did they have to be that exploitative? Could they actually recruit anyone with that?

Looks like this lord is still too kind...

Xi Ye was hesitating over whether to imitate him when an elegant bell rang. He then heard the automated customer-service announcement: "Applicants, please follow the instructions of the on-site staff and enter in queue order. Do not cut in line or crowd others. If anyone is found deliberately cutting in line, this venue will immediately expel them, and this misconduct will be added to your résumé. Therefore, all job seekers are requested to maintain order in the venue..."

Xi Ye's expression turned solemn. After taking a deep breath, he rehung the recruitment list, which he had not had time to change. It was his first time recruiting subordinates as a boss, and he felt rather excited. He then imitated the fellow next door, sitting up straight and radiating the majestic aura unique to the Celestial Race.

Fine, let me offer more. That way, we'll have greater competitiveness when we encounter promising talent...

That was what Xi Ye thought.

But before long, he would discover that he was still far too naive...