Life as a Workhorse, and the Perks of Knowing Someone

Su Yi had a dream. He had become the governor of Rhode Star, married Ilis and a dozen other stunning beauties, and was going to have twenty-two children.

Just as he was about to get intimate with his wives, a shrill ringtone went off.

Su Yi forced his bloodshot eyes open. It was only four thirty in the morning!

Aolong was calling.

"What a miserable workhorse life. They're dragging me out of bed at four thirty in the morning."

He pulled himself together and answered. "Boss, what's wrong?"

Aolong sounded frantic. "Get everyone to the office right away... No, meet at Border Square!"

Su Yi rubbed his eyes. "Border Square? What's so urgent?"

"Miss Iris Barrett is here!!! She says she wants to do charity work at the border!"

That woke Su Yi right up. "Why didn't anyone tell us? We haven't prepared anything!"

"These big shots always do whatever pops into their heads," Aolong grumbled.

"Besides, preparing for something like this isn't our job. We're just going there to do the work."

The Patrol Police are handling the preparations.

Su Yi knew his crew of workhorses had been turned into free labor again.

But he had no choice. After quickly notifying Alton and the other two, who were still asleep, Su Yi washed his face, ate a handful of Nutrient Beans, and hurried out.

Border Square stood at the center of the border between the two sides.

It was the official crossing point.

Over the years, it had never exactly been indispensable, but it was better than nothing.

Now it had become a dedicated route for official smuggling on both sides.

Of course, besides smuggling, it also served as a stage for important people and officials to show off.

With its size and complete facilities, anyone who wanted to put on a show involving refugees or the border did it here.

Fifteen minutes later, Su Yi jogged through six blocks and arrived in an area utterly unlike the chaos of the border.

A broad, level plaza stretched before him, with tall electrified fences on both sides and a row of gray five-story office buildings beyond each fence.

It looked less like a square than a passage a hundred meters wide and five hundred meters long.

The Alliance and the company each had a checkpoint on their respective sides, separated by a three-hundred-meter neutral plaza.

Quite a few people had already arrived.

All seventeen debt collection companies in the area had sent people.

Under the direction of their company bosses, hulking men with vicious faces carried supplies toward the neutral plaza.

There were all sorts of things, including Nutrient Beans, synthetic meat, flags, loudspeakers, and electrical cables.

These thugs, who would threaten to wipe out entire families at the drop of a hat, now trudged along like pack mules, carrying supplies slowly and carefully under the patrol officers' watchful eyes.

Aolong had arrived ahead of them.

He stood talking with the bosses of three other debt collection companies.

Su Yi met up with Alton and the others, and the four of them ran over.

"Boss, we're here."

Aolong nodded. "Go to the Patrol Police over there to get your assignments. The higher-ups say all the supplies have to be in place by six."

A young man with a long face laughed. "Aolong, am I seeing this right? Only four people?"

"How are you running that company? I've got sixty!"

Knowing what Su Yi had told him, Aolong didn't care about the mockery. When your end comes, I hope you've got a hundred.

"Jack, my four are all top-notch!"

"What good are your sixty? My four still finish the job every day!"

The long-faced young man burst out laughing. "You must be paying their wages out of your own pocket to cover the shortfall! Do you think we're stupid?"

The others sneered too.

Aolong's face darkened. Just then, Su Yi stepped closer. "Boss, here's yesterday's commission."

He slipped Aolong 10 Void Abyss Coins.

Aolong was delighted. He looked at Su Yi, surprise and happiness welling up inside him.

Ten Void Abyss Coins. No more, no less.

It showed that Aolong was making a decent amount on the side without being so much that it would arouse suspicion.

After all, his fellow bosses knew how much could be skimmed from this work.

Aolong took the money. "Good! Now get going!"

When he turned back, the people who had mocked him looked embarrassed.

Aolong toyed with the money. "Don't compare your sorry lot to mine. All four of them are officially registered temporary workers now."

The other employees' expressions changed at once.

If Aolong was willing to vouch for all four of them, they had to be something special!

Seeing the discomfort on those men's faces, Aolong looked at Su Yi's retreating back. The foul mood he'd been in since being dragged out of bed to work vanished.

Alton and the other two saw how pleased their boss looked and gave Su Yi a thumbs-up.

Alton said, "Chief, you're incredible!"

Mota said, "You've got the boss wrapped around your finger."

Rijia said, "The way the boss looks at you, he'd become your star slave!"

Su Yi gave Rijia a swat. "Star slaves. That's all you ever think about!"

By then, the four had reached a small booth.

The Patrol Police officer inside looked impatient. "What took you so long? The work's almost done!"

"Which company?"

"Strongarm Company," Su Yi said with a smile.

The Patrol Police officer looked at Su Yi's empty hands and said coldly, "Never heard of it."

He shoved a stack of forms over. "Move these two tons of Nutrient Beans to Zone B5 within an hour!"

"Fail, and you'll be charged with theft!"

"Two tons!?" Alton flared up.

He knew the officer was taking out his frustration on them and fishing for a bribe.

Zone B5 was eight hundred meters away by the round trip!

Two tons in one hour, with only four people?

They hadn't worn their exoskeletons because they'd rushed out. They couldn't finish that job if they worked themselves to death!

Seeing Alton's anger, the Patrol Police officer pressed his baton against Alton's face. "What!? Got a problem!?"

"You're a pack of stray dogs, born to be beasts of burden! You should be honored I'm giving you work!"

Mota and Rijia clenched their fists, furious but afraid to act.

Su Yi narrowed his eyes. He knew the man wanted a bribe.

He had been prepared to pay, but not anymore.

Through his player vision, he saw that the man was Milai Hamps, level 3. The note described him as a useless distant relative of patrol bureau chief Weber Nigel.

Su Yi had meant to use a skill to scare him.

Then he remembered it was only a little past four. The energy he had used up yesterday wouldn't replenish until six.

As Su Yi wondered what to do, a voice rang out.

"That's enough, Hamps. The deputy captain wants you. I'll take over here!"

Su Yi turned and saw Colt, the former hero detective he had bought off.

Hamps was young, after all. Though he resented losing such a lucrative post, Colt's seniority gave him pause, and he left without arguing.

Colt sat down with a smile. "Hand it over."

Su Yi smiled and passed him the form, along with 10 Void Abyss Coins. "Thanks!"

Colt fingered the coins and laughed, then handed over a sheet of paper.

"There are twenty colored flags over there. Take them to Zone A2, then wait there to raise them."

Su Yi happily accepted the new assignment slip. "Thank you, officer."

"Hope everything goes smoothly for you today."