[V3] - Chapter 50. Difficult Interview
---
However—
"Very good! You've passed our interview! Your start date will be next week. Does that work for you?"
"I… yes, it does!"
"What about salary and benefits? Any special requirements?"
"…None!"
"Then please go take a rest. Just make sure to report to the shipyard on time next week!"
"…"
Kaku walked out of the interview room, still looking dazed, as if he hadn't snapped out of it yet.
Was it difficult?
It didn't seem hard at all!
They just asked a few simple questions—like his future goals and his opinion of the Yuto Shipyard.
For a trained agent like him… that was child's play~
Why did Boss Lucci make it sound so serious and difficult?
But for him—
He just walked in and got the job?
He even got assigned as a Team Leader on the engineering team!
At that moment—
Kaku reached the waiting area, still not fully present, looking completely spaced out, not even noticing the group of worried teammates in front of him.
"Kaku! Kaku!"
It wasn't until someone called his name and tapped him on the shoulder that he snapped back. Looking up to see Boss Lucci frowning at him, he opened his mouth to say something—
"It seems the interview didn't go well! As expected, the Yuto Group really makes things tough!"
Five years of work experience!
Hand-built warships!
And mastery of all kinds of shipbuilding techniques!
And even then—
That's just for an intern!
Lucci sighed. Without his usual sternness, he patted Kaku on the shoulder like he was comforting him and said expressionlessly, "Don't be discouraged! Even if we fail here… we'll find other ways!"
And with that—
"…"
Difficult?
It didn't feel like it to me…
Kaku blinked, opened his mouth, and was just about to speak when he suddenly understood something in his heart.
[Boss is trying to scare us into taking the interview seriously!]
Ah, so that's what this is all about~
No wonder he said it was hard!
But as agents—once given an order—they'd complete the mission no matter what. There was no need for Boss to do this!
Still, since that's how the Boss wanted to play it, Kaku put on a frustrated expression, nodded, and sighed, "It's too hard! It looks like I'm done for!"
"As expected…" Hearing Kaku say that too, the remaining CP9 members who hadn't been interviewed yet frowned and started to feel anxious.
Even though there were other ways to complete the mission if they failed the interview… joining the Yuto Group from within was the most efficient and safest option!
Just as the group was growing more uneasy—
"Next! Fukurou!"
Soon after—
Fukurou also walked out, looking stunned. Then, seeing the group watching him nervously, he seemed to get it and sighed dramatically, "As expected of the Yuto Group! The interview was…" He struck a dramatic pose and raised his voice, "So difficult~~!!"
"Next! Kumadori!"
A short while later—
"I doubt I made it! But as Uchiha Yan once said—'The river flows east for thirty years, then west for thirty years—never underestimate the poor youth!'!"
"Next! Blueno!"
When Blueno came out after his interview, his face was completely expressionless. He let out a deep sigh and said nothing!
At this point—
Among the CP9 members, only Kalifa hadn't succeeded yet—aside from Jabra, who had already been eliminated.
But looking at the current situation…
It seemed like everyone else had failed?!
She felt nervous. After working alongside them for so long, she knew her teammates were all extremely capable.
Yet even Boss Lucci had supposedly failed his interview. And she was applying for a high-level position as a secretary… surely that would be even more difficult!
Still—
How could a secret agent give up so easily?
"Next! Kalifa!"
When she finally heard her name, Kalifa adjusted her glasses, took a deep breath, straightened her outfit, and gave a slight smirk. Under everyone's puzzled gazes, a glint of danger flashed in her eyes. She pushed her glasses up, bit her lip, and muttered to herself, "It looks like… I'll need to use some tricks!"
With that—
She tossed her head lightly, her tight pencil skirt swaying as she walked in confidently on high heels, hips sashaying gracefully.
A short while later—
When she entered the interview room, she didn't hesitate at all. She bent forward directly, the curve of her chest on full display in front of Yuto. With a sweet smile, she said, "Hello, interviewers! I'm Kalifa, and my greatest strengths are—"
However—
Before she could finish her sentence—
"Very good!" Yuto nodded with satisfaction and immediately said, "You're hired!"
"???" ×3
The three other interviewers were dumbfounded.
The interview just started and she's already accepted?!
"…"
This guy…
Robin narrowed her eyes, looking at the woman in the tight black uniform and heels, then turned to her boss. She seemed to realize what had just happened and said sweetly, with a sarcastic tone, "Boss! You already have a wife and children~"
With that—
"!!!"
Now both Hiyori and Kalifa seemed to understand, too. Their gazes turned strange as they looked at Yuto. Of course, Kalifa had already prepared for this outcome—she just didn't expect that the legendary boss who took down the Beasts Pirates would be won over by just one bend forward!
Too weak!
But for now…
It seemed the mission was a success.
She smirked slightly and brushed back her hair. [So it wasn't that hard after all~]
However—
"Sorry, I don't think she's suitable!" Robin suddenly said with a bright smile, completely reversing her tone. "One secretary is enough—me!" She bit her lip slightly and narrowed her eyes. "A woman like her… it's obvious she's not decent. There's no way she's joining! The Yuto Group is a proper, serious, legitimate enterprise! Someone like this would only bring bad influence!"
"?!"
Who is this woman?!
Why does it seem like she's targeting me?!
Kalifa, who had just been about to smile in delight, suddenly froze a bit. She hadn't yet realized this was the Devil Child. After a moment, she forced a sweet smile and said, "I believe I can do this job just as well! I've already worked at the Galley-La Company for over a year! I'm very familiar with the work processes, and I could even bring plenty of resources to the Yuto Group!"
"Heh~ You're just a secretary from a small company! How could you compare to our Yuto Group?"
"That's still better than someone who's petty and jealous!"
"Who are you calling petty?!"
"I'm talking about the petty woman!"
"…"
Yuto stared speechlessly at the two women suddenly quarreling for no reason.
You know—
He is the Boss!
Wasn't it up to him to decide who to hire?!
What were they fighting for?
Did they even have any respect left for him as the boss?!
He slammed the table hard. Seeing both of them finally quiet down, he sighed and said, "Miss Kalifa is very suitable!"
"Thank you, Boss!"
"Ugh, you vile boss! I have Hanabi-san's phone number, you know~"
"…Alright! Listen to me!" Yuto raised his hands in exasperation. Seeing Robin glaring at him with a smiling, yet clenched-teeth expression, he quickly said, "She's not going to be my secretary!"
Then he turned toward the confused Kalifa, smiling as he said, "Sorry! My current secretary is doing an excellent job. I'm not planning on replacing her for now. But… I think you'd be perfect for our new Sales Department! As soon as you join, we'll arrange for you to be the Head of the Sales Department—you'd immediately be part of upper management, with a Level 25 salary. What do you say?"
This woman…
She had connections in both the underworld and the legal world, and still held plenty of resources from her time at Galley-La. Not putting her in sales would be a waste, right?
Besides…
He was planning to sell smartphones to the Marine and even the Celestial Dragons!
Once he finished speaking—
Both women were momentarily stunned.
But for now, they didn't say anything else.
However—
She could have become the secretary and gotten close to Uchiha Yuto to gather information… but that damned woman blocked her!
Exactly.
Kalifa firmly believed that it was that woman's fault!
But for now…
The mission was complete.
[That wretched woman… just you wait!]
She silently screamed in her heart, but still forced a sweet smile and said, "Thank you, Boss! I will definitely work hard!"
"You can go now. Make sure you show up for work next week!"
"Alright, Boss!"
With that, she turned on her heel and walked out.
However—
Was I… the only one who passed this interview?
Kalifa reached the waiting room and looked around at the others—especially at Lucci, who stood with his arms folded and a stern look on his face. She hesitated for a moment, then sighed and said, "Sorry, it was really difficult…"
However—
Before she could finish—
"Alright! It looks like Kalifa passed too!" Kaku said with a faint smile. "No need to keep hiding it anymore. This was all just Boss's way of motivating us!"
"??? You passed too?"
"I passed too!"
"Holy crap, did everyone pass?!"
As those words fell—
Except for the dumbfounded Lucci, smiles began appearing on everyone's faces.
Some of them even patted Lucci on the shoulder and said, "Boss Lucci, quit pretending already! Let's head back. There's no need to keep up the act!"
"I'm not pretending!!"
Lucci's face darkened as he swept his eyes across everyone. That look—
For a moment—
It made the whole group fall silent, and some of them even started to feel suspicious.
Could it be… Boss Lucci actually failed the interview?!
But—
A moment later—
They all gave themselves a self-deprecating laugh.
No, no, no!
That's impossible!
Especially when even Kaku had passed—how could Boss Lucci, such an outstanding shipwright, have failed?!
However—
"Weren't we told to wait for a notification?" Lucci frowned. "How do you guys already know you've passed?"
"Wait for a notification? No way!"
Hearing Lucci's words, the group all stared at each other.
"They told me to report to work next week!"
"Same for me!"
"Me too!"
"Same here~!"
As they kept talking—
Everyone slowly turned their silent gazes toward Lucci. After hesitating, one of them asked, "Boss Lucci… are you… not starting work next week?"
"…"
No, I'm not.
Lucci's face instantly went black as he gave a stiff nod.
So it turned out…
"Please wait for notification" meant… getting rejected.
I'm the only one who failed?!
The clown…
…was me all along?!