Promotion! A Brutal Slap in the Face

After announcing the promotion, Aolong warned him, "Now that you're in this position, you need to take responsibility for it."

"Mad Dog is dead, and those bandits stole his exoskeleton. You'll need to make up the loss."

Hearing that, Su Yi answered without hesitation, "Thank you for your trust and the promotion, boss."

"Don't worry, boss. I'll clean up the mess Mad Dog left behind."

Pleased by Su Yi's confidence, Aolong asked, "I'm curious. Where did you get so much money?"

Su Yi smiled. "I know a few friends. I smuggled some little things into the Rhodes Alliance."

After a pause, Su Yi added, "Rest assured, those little things won't affect the company's interests."

Aolong raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Come on. Tell me more back at the office."

The two returned to the office. Mad Dog's underlings had all rushed back after hearing the news.

These thugs, usually so vicious, now looked frightened and lost.

Others seemed eager to make their move.

Mad Dog was dead, which meant his position was vacant!

A group of thugs had gathered around a skinny, fierce-looking young man with upturned eyes.

It was Scissors, Mad Dog's favorite underling—the one who had slapped Su Yi's face before.

Judging by his smug expression, Scissors was already preparing to take Mad Dog's place.

The others around him grinned. "Congratulations, Scissors!"

Scissors said smugly, "Stick with me from now on, and I promise you'll live well."

Then he turned toward Alton and the two men standing apart from the group.

"Alton, I hear you used to be in the militia. That loser Constantine isn't worth following. Come work for me!"

Alton sneered. "You think you're worthy?"

Rijia said with disdain, "Even a pig would turn you down as its Star Slave!"

Scissors flew into a rage. "You're dead!"

He and his underlings moved to surround the three men.

Alton reached inside his coat, but just then, a tattooed thug keeping watch outside called out, "Scissors! The boss is back!"

The thugs hurriedly lined up.

Mota pressed his lips together and whispered, "I can barely keep from laughing."

Everyone watched Aolong and Su Yi walk in side by side.

"Constantine? What's he doing with the boss?"

Confusion flashed across Scissors's face.

Before the watching crowd, Aolong said, "Mad Dog is dead."

Scissors immediately declared with righteous anger, "Don't worry, boss! We'll avenge Mad Dog!"

"And don't worry about his work! I know it inside out. You won't have to lift a finger!"

Aolong's face turned cold. "Who told you to avenge him?"

Scissors froze.

Aolong continued, "Who told you to take over Mad Dog's work?"

"Who gave you permission to speak?!"

Aolong strode over and slapped Scissors across the face!

Smack!

The sharp slap stunned Scissors and left the other thugs dumbfounded.

What's going on? Wasn't Scissors supposed to take Mad Dog's place?

Then they heard Aolong speak.

"Mad Dog's dead, and good riddance to that idiot!"

Aolong wrapped an arm around Su Yi's shoulders. "Starting today, Su Yi is your superior!"

"You will follow every order he gives!"

"Anyone who refuses can get out!"

Scissors and the other thugs stood there, stunned.

Their eyes widened in disbelief and confusion.

Scissors, quicker on the uptake than most, immediately realized why Su Yi had returned with the boss.

That bastard bribed the boss!

Constantine! Damn you, Constantine! Scissors's eyes blazed with fury.

But he didn't dare say a word.

The boss was a full employee of the company, one of the upper-class people from Vine City!

There was a world of difference between Aolong and them!

Aolong even held their lives in his hands!

Su Yi smiled. "Thank you for your trust and recognition, boss."

"Don't worry! I won't let you down!"

Aolong nodded, clearly pleased. "Say a few words to everyone, then come see me upstairs."

Su Yi nodded. "Yes, boss."

After Aolong left, Su Yi stood tall and looked at Scissors's reddened left cheek, a mocking smile on his lips.

Everyone looked uneasy, their eyes full of fear.

They all remembered how they had jeered when Mad Dog took Su Yi's hundred coins.

Su Yi asked Scissors, "Where's today's collection?"

Scissors's face fell. He had rushed back as soon as he heard Mad Dog was dead, before he had finished collecting the debts.

Gritting his teeth, Scissors said, "Mad Dog died today, so I—"

Su Yi cut him off. "So you didn't collect it, right?"

"The usual rule: ten times what's missing. That's 150 Void Abyss Coins."

Scissors exploded. "Why don't you just rob me?!"

A gust of wind swept past.

Bang!

Alton rushed over and kicked Scissors off his feet.

"Is that any way to speak to our boss?!"

The blow came on top of Scissors's humiliation and rage. Worse, he had been beaten by an underling of Su Yi, whom he had always looked down on!

Scissors snapped.

He pulled out the crude handgun he had bought and was about to threaten Alton.

But a brand-new gun was already pressed against his forehead, its dark muzzle staring him in the face.

Scissors's eyes tightened at the sight of the new Mongoose Pistol.

That gun cost thirty-five Void Abyss Coins on the black market!

Rijia casually took the crude handgun from Scissors's hand and sneered. "You think you can scare anyone with this toy?"

Scissors wanted to lash out, but fear had taken hold of him.

Su Yi said, "Alton, it looks like these men don't accept me."

"I'm going to discuss our next steps with the boss. I'll leave them to you three."

"There's no need to keep anyone who won't obey. Plenty of people want to join the company."

Alton's eyes gleamed fiercely. "Understood, boss!"

After a pause, Su Yi looked at Scissors. "If I remember correctly, you slapped my face three times."

"Mota, Rijia, give him thirty in return."

Mota nodded. "Yes!"

Scissors went deathly pale. "You! You have no right to hit me! You—"

Before he could finish...

Smack!

Smack!

Sharp slaps rang out.

The other underlings watched in terrified silence, not daring to say a word.

After watching for a moment, Su Yi went to find the boss.

In the upstairs office, Aolong looked smug, as though he had just finished a call.

He had most likely called his colleagues to brag.

"I can tell you're well suited to this position," Aolong said with a smile.

"It's all thanks to your support, boss," Su Yi replied respectfully.

Aolong gestured for Su Yi to sit. "On the way back, you mentioned a plan. Tell me about it."

Su Yi got straight to the point. "Boss, we can't keep collecting debts."

"If we carry on like this, we're headed for ruin!"

Is anyone reading? Toss me a couple of votes, or just say something! It's scary being here all by myself.