Should I Hire Someone?

[Product name: Bandage

Price: $50,000/roll

Effect: Clears all wounds on the body after use, including negative effects such as bleeding and corrosion.

Note: Aside from adhesive bandages, what else could rival it when it comes to healing?]

"I prepared this especially for you, Batman."

Batman had heard those words plenty of times, but usually from the supervillains.

Combined with the footage Zuo Ci had just played, they nearly made Batman throw a punch on reflex.

The impression Zuo Ci had made this time was simply far too memorable.

"Batman, as Gotham's Dark Knight, you must get injured pretty often.

"As it happens, this roll of bandages can heal any injury. Not just external wounds, either-even lingering injuries from years ago can be cured, with absolutely no side effects.

"It's easy to use, too. Just wrap it once around the injured area, and it'll take effect automatically. Pretty good stuff, right?

"Most importantly, it isn't just incredibly effective-the price is incredibly attractive, too. Only five hundred thousand dollars a roll. Quite a bargain, wouldn't you say?"

Although he couldn't see Zuo Ci's face clearly, Batman was certain the guy was grinning like a crook.

He was sure Zuo Ci's price was grossly inflated, and that he was being taken for a sucker.

But he didn't seem to have any reason to refuse.

Their previous transactions had already confirmed how extraordinary Zuo Ci's merchandise was, so Batman didn't doubt his claims.

And just as Zuo Ci had said, years of training and fighting crime had left his body riddled with injuries. He could certainly expect to acquire even more in the future.

He really did need this.

"How many do you have?"

"Oh-ho! One moment."

Knowing he had made the sale, Zuo Ci pulled out another two rolls of bandages, along with a coffee bean.

[Product name: Dave's Coffee Bean

Price: $10,000/bean

Effect: Eliminates all drowsiness and fatigue after use, greatly invigorating your mind.

Can be used once every 72 hours. Sunlight can reduce the cooldown.

Note: This stuff packs way more punch than an enhancement drug.]

"This is an upgraded version of the coffee bean I gave you before. There's no limit on how many times you can use it, but each use has a seventy-two-hour cooldown. Consider it a complimentary gift with your purchase."

After accepting the bandages and coffee bean, Batman tossed Zuo Ci a card as usual, then disappeared into the shadows.

"Couldn't even say thank you before leaving. And here I went to all the trouble of handpicking such great merchandise for you."

Despite charging ten times the cost without a shred of conscience, Zuo Ci still shamelessly wanted a thank-you.

Of course, he was only grumbling. After confirming that Batman had really left, he changed his clothes and strolled leisurely toward his little shop.

Before long, Zuo Ci returned to the block where his shop stood.

Located in a relatively safe neighborhood, the street was usually bustling with people. But last night's explosion had left the block in ruins, so naturally, there were hardly any pedestrians now.

Back in his deserted little shop, Zuo Ci opened a bottle of cola with practiced ease, then settled comfortably into his seat.

"Come to think of it, should I hire someone?"

As he drank his cola, Zuo Ci thought of something important.

Gotham wasn't a peaceful place. Even though he didn't want to get involved in anything, he would inevitably have to go out sometimes, and whenever he did, there would be nobody left in the shop.

Closing up wasn't just a matter of losing income. It also left the place vulnerable to thieves, and there was a considerable chance someone might deliberately target it for revenge.

Although he now had Falcone in his pocket and could count on a large sum of dollars coming in every month, he couldn't rely entirely on that. Who knew how long they would last?

His little shop had to stay open. Even if it didn't earn much, it provided a steady income that was unlikely to dry up, so keeping it running was still essential.

Under the circumstances, hiring an assistant was a must.

He wasted no time. After tossing his empty cola can into the trash, Zuo Ci made a hiring notice and stuck it to the shop's glass door.

"Americans might not be all that well educated, but surely they can manage a cashier's job."

Since working the register didn't require much technical skill, Zuo Ci's requirements weren't particularly high. Applicants just needed to be literate, know the four basic arithmetic operations, and perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division with numbers of up to four digits without a calculator.

The pay Zuo Ci offered wasn't bad, either. Gotham's local minimum wage was nine dollars an hour, while he offered twelve, with extra pay for overtime.

Although Zuo Ci didn't consider his greedy, lustful self a good person, he was still an overgrown baby raised with impeccable communist credentials. He didn't want to become one of those well-dressed beasts who deserved to be strung up from a lamppost.

"The notice is up. Hopefully someone will apply-the sooner, the better. Then I can start slacking off and taking it easy sooner, too."

After checking that everything was in order, Zuo Ci flipped the sign hanging on the door and officially opened for the day.

Before long, he lost his composure.

"Seriously, lady, you said you graduated from high school. What exactly did you learn there?"

Although Zuo Ci had prepared himself for applicants with poor math skills, he had never imagined they would be this poor.

These are fucking sixth-grade math problems! How did you calculate it six times and get seven answers, none of them the same?!

"Boss, I know I messed up. Won't you give me another chance~?"

Zuo Ci was on the verge of a breakdown, but the white woman opposite him seemed completely oblivious to her own stupidity. Instead, she folded her arms beneath her chest and wheedled at him as if nothing were wrong.

Hmm, you know, the light bulbs look especially white today.

What's that? The lights aren't on during the day? Never mind, then.

"I'd like to give you another chance, but with your skills, I really..."

"Boss~"

The woman might not understand math, but she clearly understood human nature. Seeing that Zuo Ci intended to turn her down, she immediately hugged his arm to her chest.

Oh~ So this is what being wrapped in marshmallows feels like~

"Go home and wait to hear from me. Just wait to hear from me."

After struggling to pull his arm free, Zuo Ci politely exchanged contact information with her, then sent her home.

In all fairness, although she had come up with seven answers to a single problem, at least she had been tackling sixth-grade math. That already made her the best applicant he had seen all day.

A full thirty percent of the applicants couldn't even read. They had only come because someone else had told them he was hiring. It was almost impossible to keep a straight face.

Of course, he absolutely hadn't kept her contact information because of her generous bust. Absolutely not.

"Come on, System. Can't you give me a discount?"

At noon, after temporarily putting up the closed sign, Zuo Ci turned to the system. He was truly at his wits' end with these zero-IQ geniuses produced by feel-good education.

Originally, Zuo Ci had intended to buy an intelligent robot from the system to do the work. Its competence would be guaranteed, and if he wanted to conduct any other business, he wouldn't have to worry about being found out.

But after opening the system, he discovered that even the cheapest robot meeting his requirements cost several hundred thousand dollars or more. That price was simply too much to bear.

That was why he had decided to hire someone instead. Now, though, it looked like he might have to spend the money after all.

[This system has no bargaining option. You may wait for the sale season.]

"So when exactly does your sale season start?"

[Unknown. Please wait patiently.]

I knew it.

Zuo Ci gave the system a contemptuous look. Although it did have a discount shop, all it sold were little things like Lucy's Stun Lipstick. Anything remotely useful had to be purchased at full price.

"Ugh. If all else fails, maybe I should consider undocumented workers."

Today, Zuo Ci had only considered Gotham locals with legal status, not migrants who had fled there from various regions. After all, hiring someone with legal status offered a little more peace of mind. Who knew what those migrants might do?

But after today's recruitment experience, Zuo Ci suddenly felt that migrants might not be such a bad option.

At least those from China and its neighboring countries were unlikely to be unable to recognize all twenty-six letters of the alphabet.

"Forget it. I'll just do it myself for the next couple of days."

They might be capable, but these migrants generally weren't much in the morals department. Hiring a "lecturer" would be fine, but hiring a "doughnut" would turn the whole thing into a joke.

Ugh. No rushing it. Just wait a while.

Putting his hiring plans aside for now, Zuo Ci stood up and grabbed a tub of instant noodles, four braised eggs, six ham sausages, and a five-liter bottle of iced black tea.

His mind had taken a brutal beating today. He needed to indulge himself properly.

Hehehe. My darling instant noodles, here I come~

"Ding-dong~"

"Seriously, why do you all love showing up right when I'm about to eat?"