"There's one more thing I'm very concerned about. I want to know, who was the person promoted to Emanator? Can you give me a hint?"
"He's my good brother."
Is that so?
"But he's not very calm. A while ago, he almost went to bomb the Market Development Department with a bomb in his arms."
Oh my, looks like I've gained another brother from another mother.
If you want to kill Schneider, then we are brothers from another mother.
"Oh? That sounds... quite interesting. He has a clear goal and is very proactive. I quite admire people with such drive."
Aventurine smiled.
"Do I have the honor of becoming friends with you? — This is my personal request."
"Actually, rather than friend, I would prefer you use another title."
"What?"
"Comrade."
..."This conversation far exceeded expectations. The mess has been cleaned up."
Aventurine tidied his clothes, which were stained with dust and sand.
"But there are no records of this whatsoever."
"If anyone has an objection to my methods, they can come and speak with the [Emperor] himself. This [Emperor] is certainly no useless drunkard who doesn't live up to his name." Aventurine's smile faded slightly as he answered toward the screen.
"Oh? You're actually giving this person such high praise..."
"Of course, Madame Jade, I vouch for him... He is a selfless person."
"'Selfless'? In the business world of the universe, that's a rare word. Are you sure you haven't used it incorrectly?"
"I'm sure. He is doing in Talia what we'should have done' but never did—truly 'building' a star system at the lowest cost, rather than merely 'exploiting' it. The support of the locals for him is heartfelt. Madame, if we continue to use the Market Development Department's 'purge' strategy, the cost will far exceed expectations, and... it will likely be in vain."
"He rejected the Market Development Department's acquisition, publicly humiliated the fleet they sent, and now you're telling me he's a'selfless' 'builder' who also has an Emanator-level ally." Jade in the image raised her eyes and looked at Aventurine. "Tell me, Aventurine, how much should the Strategic Investment Department bet on him?"
"Rationally speaking, it should be a cautious investment."
Aventurine smiled.
The implication was that he was going all-in.
"Then, we'll see your results first."
"Of course, this is the Strategic Investment Department's investment in him. Perhaps I should go win a few rounds, but... I don't really feel like gambling today."
He didn't really feel like gambling with anyone today.
How easy it is to destroy a prosperous civilization. And how much effort does it take to build one? Destruction is always much easier than creation. That guy is out of place in this cold and utilitarian world.
Therefore, Aventurine didn't mind giving Caelus an investment.
"In that case, how is the Epsilon stock market?"
"Oh? That's perfect. This time we can invite Topaz along. According to the intel from my informant, the stock is very likely to soar."
—The next day, Epsilon's stock plummeted below 28 million points, a historical low—
...Caelus happily made his way toward the Herta Space Station.
It's been a long time since I've been to the Herta Space Station, I've missed it quite a bit. I heard from Herta that her real body is coming to the station this time.
"It's time to go ask Herta how the research on that gun is going, and if we can replicate a similar one."
For the beautiful and kind Herta, it should be a breeze.
Meanwhile, Herta was in her office holding that gun.
She more or less understood the function of this gun. As long as it's fired, it intercepts the DNA of both parties to quickly create an offspring, ignoring all rules... even for inorganic life and robots.
Herta had already tried letting two of her puppets fire a shot, creating a new puppet.
"Oh? You're here?"
Herta turned around.
This was the first time she had met this supplier who could always produce various broken Curios.
"You look quite ordinary, and you even smell like junk."
"What's wrong with smelling like junk?"
"No, I just want to know where you dug up so much magical junk. Take me along to dig next time."
"Trade secret."
"Secret? Do you know how many people beg to bring their 'collections' before me just for a single glance?"
"So?"
"You certainly have personality."
"So, have you researched anything from this gun?"
"Its principles are completely unknown." Herta spun the gun in her hand, making no effort to hide that she hadn't discovered anything useful. "It ignores the conservation of energy and even some basic rules, forcibly combining the genetic information of any two 'individuals'—if inorganic matter even has genetic information—to create an 'offspring' that fuses the characteristics of both."
She stared at Caelus: "Tell me, which trash can did you find this thing in? Are there any others?"
"Just that one, the only one of its kind." Caelus spread his hands. "Can it be replicated?"
"Replicate? I can't even achieve stable observation of its operation right now." Herta handed the gun, which had only about a hundred rounds left, to Caelus, pointing the muzzle downward. "Take it. I've invited another member of the Genius Society; she's better at this kind of research than I am."
The flaw of this gun was that there were very few firing charges left, because the ammo count for this gun was originally measured in the hundreds of millions.
At that very moment, just as Caelus touched the gun and the muzzle tilted slightly upward, he didn't pull the trigger, but the gun misfired on its own.
Soon, Herta and Caelus looked at the little girl in front of them and fell into silence.
"Ha Ha Ha ! Are you the ones who summoned me?"
Caelus:!
Oh no, how did we give birth to a chuunibyou?
"I am the Abyss's Eclipse, the Lord of All Things Returning to Silence! Those who call upon my name shall pay the price!" The little girl raised her chin, using Herta's face to deliver lines with embarrassment levels off the charts.
Herta facepalmed.
She truly hadn't expected that she would one day experience what it's like to have a child.
She had considered the possibility of the gun misfiring, which was why she handed it over pointing down, but she truly hadn't expected it to be such a coincidence that it would go off right as Caelus touched it. The little girl was essentially a mini Herta, slightly shorter than a standard Herta Puppet.
"Since we have a child, let's just raise her."
"Do you know how to raise a child?"
Caelus's words made Herta fall silent for a moment.
"No."
She was completely unapologetic.
"By the way, did you say chuunibyou lines when you were young?"
"...No, don't ask."
"I see she's very creative; it must be your genes."
"Impossible." Herta expressionlessly denied it. "There's definitely something wrong with the genes on your side."
"Then how about calling her Vita?"
"No, that doesn't sound... cough, I mean, that kind of name is too low-class!"
"Then... how about...
.
.
.
.
Kyuusyou?"
[The savior is here guyssss]
"Why are you shouting so loudly!"
"It's because you didn't give her a proper name! Vita, Iron Tower, Little Herta, Twin Towers—are you just obsessed with towers!"
Quarreling aside, the matter of naming still had to be decided properly.
Without anyone noticing, the little girl snatched the witch hat off Herta's desk and placed it on her own head.
Herta:!
The little girl ran ahead, with Herta chasing behind.
Truth be told, having inherited Caelus's genes, those two legs ran incredibly fast.
Whoosh—!
"What was that just now?"
"Was it Ms. Herta's... puppet?"
"No, that's not right. Do Ms. Herta's puppets have such pointy things on their heads? (referring to the hat)."
"I-I don't know."
The Space Station staff only felt a gust of wind pass by. Before they could see clearly, those two figures—one big and one small—had already disappeared around the corner of the corridor.
"Stop right there!"
The little girl wore the witch hat, which was several sizes too large for her head, its brim almost covering half her face. However, this didn't hinder her from nimbly weaving through various areas of the Space Station. As she ran, she let out "Kukuku" laughter, occasionally turning back to make a face at Herta.
"Caelus, hurry up and bring your daughter back!"
What kind of situation is it to be able to use space teleportation right after being born?
Herta decisively chose to let Caelus catch the child.
"Alright."
The little girl looked left and right warily, and just as she was about to reveal a victorious smile, she was scooped up from behind.
Caelus carried the little girl back, and Herta put her witch hat back on.
"If you want to wear this, wait until you're grown up."
Looking at the little girl, Herta reached out and took the beret off the head of a nearby puppet of hers and placed it on the girl's head.
"For now, just wear this."
The little girl touched the beret on her head, then looked up at Herta's now-calm face. Suddenly, she grinned, revealing two sharp little canine teeth.
"In that case, I shall permit you all to temporarily occupy the positions of this one's guardians!"
Herta frowned upon hearing this and looked at Caelus: "What does she mean? Translate."
"Didn't you also go through a phase like this in your life?"
"I never had such a phase. Hurry up and translate." Herta rolled her eyes.
"Roughly speaking, she's acknowledging us as her parents."
"Only genetically... Fine, I'll be the one to look after this brat."
"Why you? Can you even raise a child properly?"
"Would being with me be a disservice to her?"
Caelus looked at the little girl.
"Come here, daughter. Tell us, do you want to live with me or with her?"
The little girl, wearing her beret askew, had eyes that inherited Herta's cleverness mixed with Caelus's restless genes. They darted back and forth between the two. She put her hands on her hips, striking what she thought was an incredibly majestic pose: "I—"
Herta interrupted her expressionlessly: "Speak human."
The little girl wilted slightly and pouted: "Can't we just live together?"
"Forget it. Monday through Friday she's with me, and on Saturday and Sunday she's with you."
"How come your time is longer?"
"I have a school there."
"You say that as if Terra has no schools!"
"You two, why are you arguing so intensely?"
Herta and Caelus were startled and turned around.
Oh dear... Asta, standing beside Ruan Mei, twitched the corner of her mouth.
When did Ms. Herta... have a daughter?
And with... Caelus?
Herta massaged her forehead and took a deep breath: "...A bit of an accident."
Ruan Mei's gaze fell on the oddly shaped gun in Caelus's hand, then swept over the little girl. A flicker of realization and deep research interest flashed in her eyes.
However, these words sounded different in Asta's ears. She even subconsciously covered her mouth to prevent herself from crying out in surprise.
Accident?
Does she mean Ms. Herta and Caelus didn't use protection???
But this seems to be Ms. Herta's private matter... "What's her name?"
"Her formal name hasn't been decided yet. For now, her nickname is Kyuusyou."
"Oh? Is there any special meaning to it?"
"No, it's simply because she didn't want to be called Vita, Little Herta, Tiny Herta, or Twin Towers."
The corner of Ruan Mei's mouth curved almost imperceptibly.
The little girl was eating the pastries Ruan Mei had made.
Herta's daughter actually made up for Ruan Mei's regret of not being able to see Herta as a child.
Soon, Ruan Mei's research reached an initial conclusion.
"I cannot observe the operation of this gun. Its function and principles... may not be in a field we are proficient in."
"That's quite unfortunate."
"May I use this gun for research?"
"The bugs of Propagation? You might end up creating an Emanator."
If a real Emanator of Propagation were created, it wouldn't be easy to clean up the mess.
A strange look flashed in Ruan Mei's eyes.
How did he know she was researching Propagation?
"It seems Mr. Caelus knows quite a lot. But please rest assured, I am not interested in causing trouble; it's purely curiosity."
"A certain genius said the same thing, but now they've made a huge mess."
Lord Zandar used his self-control to stop himself from destroying the universe. My goodness, Lord Zandar.
So what's going on now?
Naturally, it was because Zandar couldn't resist his curiosity and created Nous.
"I'm leaving. Kyuusyou, be a good girl and listen to your mother. I'll come pick you up to play on the weekend."
Caelus patted Kyuusyou's little head.
Kyuusyou blinked her eyes, appearing as if she wanted to say something, but in the end, she just pursed her lips.
After Caelus left, only Herta and this freshly minted "daughter" remained in the lab. For a moment, the air felt a bit stagnant. Herta stood with her arms crossed, looking down at the little tot who only reached her waist. Kyuusyou also tilted her head up, looking back without a hint of shyness. In those eyes so similar to Herta's, there was curiosity and a confidence that Herta was all too familiar with.
"Do you want to become a [Genius]?"
"Become a genius... like you?" Kyuusyou's voice had a characteristic clarity, yet held a judgment beyond her years. "Spending all day in front of boring machines? Kukuku... sounds a bit dull."
"Then you want to rely on that amateur teleportation of yours to do interesting things?" Herta raised an eyebrow. "I have even more powerful [Magic]."
Magic!
Those two words instantly captured Kyuusyou's heart.
"You really know magic?"
"Of course."
Any sufficiently advanced science is indistinguishable from magic.
"Want to learn?" Herta lowered her arms, looking at her daughter's completely awestruck expression. A very faint smile flickered in the depths of her eyes.
"Yes!" Kyuusyou nodded vigorously. Her previous chuunibyou aura vanished completely, leaving only pure longing.
"Then first, put away your 'Kukuku' and those strange lines." Herta crossed her arms. "Magic requires rigor, focus, and a vast amount of knowledge. It's not something you can master just by striking poses and reciting lines."
Kyuusyou's little face fell for a moment, but she quickly perked up again, trying her best to put on a serious expression: "I... I understand!"
"Very good." Herta turned toward the console and pulled up an introductory tutorial on basic physics. "Lesson one: understanding the basic principles involved in the'space teleportation' you just used. Until you figure out energy conservation, spatial curvature, and coordinate positioning, you are not allowed to use that ability at will."
Kyuusyou looked at the screen filled with dense formulas and charts. She blinked, but didn't show any sign of being intimidated by the difficulty.
"Fine then, let me... let me see these trials!"
On a fringe planet in the Talia Star System, the Interstellar Peace Corporation and the Cosmic Junk Company reached an agreement.
"Fair competition."
Noon, break time.
The employees of the Cosmic Junk Company, as usual, flooded from their posts toward the shaded rest area at the company entrance, chatting and laughing.
This was their lunch break after work, about half a system hour.
The air was immediately filled with the tempting aroma of food—today was Barbecue Day. Steaks sizzled on the iron plates, paired with unlimited fresh vegetables and thick soup from the Terra Agricultural Base.
The employees greeted each other, carrying trays and sitting casually on benches, their faces filled with pure satisfaction and relaxation.
Just across the street was the Interstellar Peace Corporation's rest area.
Brand new tables and chairs reflected the cold, hard starlight, neatly arranged, with even a few expensive ornamental plants dotting the area. Before them sat "healthy food" in standardized packaging.
Of course, this healthy food had to be purchased by the employees at their own expense.
The message from above was that the Interstellar Peace Corporation's image had to be improved—at least, it couldn't be worse than the Cosmic Junk Company's.
However, as for where the funds went... "Of course you're buying it yourselves. It'll be deducted from your monthly salary. At the employee price, naturally."
The higher-ups wouldn't even approve the funding.
It wasn't actually that they didn't approve the funding, but rather that after it was approved—
In short, the Interstellar Peace Corporation employees were eating very delicious but quite expensive food, but the portions were truly meager. If they really wanted to get full, they had to spend their own money at the cafeteria.
The employees chewed silently on those exquisite yet pitifully small "healthy meals," which tasted like wax. The aroma of food wafted over in waves from across the street like an invisible little hand, scratching at their stomachs.
"Damn, that barbecue of theirs looks really good..." a young employee couldn't help but mutter under his breath, swallowing hard.
"Shut Up." The veteran employee beside him scolded in a low voice, though his eyes also involuntarily drifted across the street.
Of course, for the sake of... "fair competition" and "friendly mutual assistance," the two companies shared entertainment venues after work.
Well, it was the Scrap Metal Park built jointly by both.
After work, the employees who had finished dinner and the workers from Caelus's side were exercising and walking in the park.
"You Interstellar Peace Corporation folks are really wealthy," a young man said to the employee beside him. "Heh, we don't often get to eat such high-end food. That packaging and everything looks so premium. I didn't expect your company to be so good to its employees."
Good?
"Ah, haha, yeah..."
"But why do you look so miserable while eating? Did your team leader buy you some especially expensive high-end food? Do you feel like he's spending too much on you?"
"What, high-end food?"
"Oh, I mean our team leader spent quite a bit of money to treat our team to high-end imported steaks. The meat quality is indeed different from our local steaks. Man, it's really tender."
Sss.
No wonder it smelled so good... "I-is that so..." he responded dryly, his eyes wandering. "Our... our company is also... also quite good..."
"Exactly! I saw your lunch; the packaging was so exquisite. It looked high-end at a glance!" The young man clearly didn't catch the strain in the other's tone and remained enthusiastic. "Unlike us, we just use big iron trays. It's very substantial, just a bit... uh, not very elegant to eat, haha!"
Substantial... He looked down at his clean but restrictive uniform, then at the workers across from him wearing wear-resistant work clothes, their faces glowing with satisfaction. They might be covered in oil and their manners might not be "elegant," but they could eat hot, fragrant, filling barbecue, laugh without burden during breaks, and truly relax in this park made of scrap metal and recycled materials after work.
Wearing decent uniforms, eating "high-end" food, sitting in a "tidy" rest area... An evening breeze blew, bringing the scent of the Cosmic Junk Company's cafeteria again.
"That... your cafeteria," he couldn't help but ask in a low voice, with a hint of undetectable longing, "what do you usually... eat? Besides barbecue?"
"Oh, plenty!" The young man's interest was piqued, and he listed them off. "Mondays are usually stews, large portions and filling; Tuesdays are noodles or rice, with any side dishes you want; Wednesdays are Fried Food Day—fried fish fillets, fried meat patties, very fragrant; Thursdays are..."
Hearing those simple yet homely dish names, the Interstellar Peace Corporation employee felt his mouth watering more and more.
How do you guys eat so well!
"You have to pay for your meals at your company, right?"
Please tell me you pay for your own food!
"How's that possible? Our boss made a rule: room and board must be included. How could they not provide food and housing?"
"How are your dorms? Oh, I'm not asking as an inspector."
"How are they? Uh, at first, because they weren't finished, three people shared a room. But it's lively living together. Now that the dormitory building is finished, they're all single rooms with their own bathrooms... but we still like living in twos or threes, haha."
Silence... On their side... it was group dorms... "Oh, why are you heading back so soon?"
"Nothing, I just have some work I haven't finished."
"Oh~ then finish up quickly. It's not good to drag it out too long."
Of course, they were going back to work overtime... How could they be like the people from Cosmic Junk Company and get off work in the afternoon?
A good idea sprouted in his mind... The next day, he didn't wear his Interstellar Peace Corporation uniform and sneakily went to the cafeteria across the street.
"One standard meal, please. Thank you."
"Huh? You're from the company across the street, aren't you?"
Being recognized, the employee nodded awkwardly.
"Can you get used to our food? We're having laobing today. Do you want four or five?"
"Uh, two or three is enough. How many credit points?"
"It's fine. The leftovers are just sitting there anyway; they'll be used to feed the burrowing beasts later. If you want to eat, eat as much as you like."
The cafeteria lady waved her hand.
"Come back for more if you're not full!"
The employees of the Cosmic Junk Company sat in small groups, eating and chatting. No one cast strange or rejecting looks at him, the "outsider," as if he belonged there.
Wait!
He narrowed his eyes.
Familiar faces.
"You guys came here to eat too?"
"Ah, haha, yeah, yeah..."
"Um, we're... just eating in a different place, right?"
"Right, right, right..."
Initially, it was just a few bold individuals, then it grew into small groups, and later... during lunch hours at the Interstellar Peace Corporation's Talia Branch, a peculiar sight emerged: their own glamorous lounge was deserted, while the cafeteria across the street was bustling with people.
Management quickly noticed something was wrong.
"What's going on?! We invested resources to improve employee benefits, and they're all running off to that trash heap of a cafeteria across the street?!" The Project Manager looked at the surveillance footage, veins popping on his forehead from anger. "What does this look like! What about our image?!"
"Supervisor... it's mainly because... over there... it's free, and the portions are generous..."
"..."
Tsk!
After all, by the time the improvement funds reached his hands, there was very little left. If he didn't take it, wouldn't the employees below suspect he had taken the funds?
So he took the remaining funds and made the employees pay for their own meals. Because he took it, he didn't take it.
Employee satisfaction surveys plummeted, and there were even small-scale work slowdowns. What annoyed him even more were rumors that some executives were questioning the management capabilities of this branch.
This wouldn't do!
If this continued, how could he keep skimming off the top!
"Anyone who dares to fill out the employee satisfaction survey randomly can get out! Also, starting tomorrow, strengthen the management of the rest area! Any dining in non-designated areas will be treated as a disciplinary violation! I want to see who still dares to run across the street!"
The order was carried out. The next day at noon, two security guards rarely appeared at the entrance of the Interstellar Peace Corporation's rest area, staring like hawks at every employee carrying a tray and preparing to slip away. Several employees who tried to "cross the line" were rudely stopped and given warnings.
For a time, the street leading to the Cosmic Junk Company cafeteria seemed to become an invisible chasm.
"I feel like my stomach can't handle this high-end food anymore."
An employee complained.
"Shh, keep it down."
The vegetables in here were clearly dried vegetables rehydrated to fool them!
Of course, dissatisfaction with superiors would not disappear because of a single order; it just moved into the shadows.
"Bring me two items that don't smell too strong..."
"Sure, same old place?"
"Yeah, the vent behind the tool room. Be careful not to be seen; we'll eat quietly tonight."
As for the employees of Cosmic Junk Company, they were also happy to help these "starving" employees from the neighboring company. They would dish out extra food, wrap it in oil paper, and during breaks or after work, for a few credit points or even just a sincere thank you, they could provide a solid, filling meal.
This was much more economical than eating at the company's overpriced cafeteria.
Even though they now ostensibly had a fairly generous base salary of 5,000 credit points, along with a 4-system-hour workday and weekends off.
However, the 5,000 salary did not include food or housing. All supplies provided by the company had to be purchased by themselves. They called it the employee price, but in reality, it was unsellable stock from the warehouse sold to them at double the price.
This led to a situation where, even though they earned 5,000, being able to keep just over 2,000 a month was considered being frugal.
Thus, the first one to jump ship appeared.
Of course, they told HR it was a resignation.
Within two days, that employee was eating in the Cosmic Junk Company cafeteria.
The work here was quite easy, and... the atmosphere among colleagues was great, though they still had to attend cultural interest classes on their days off. They called them cultural interest classes, but most of them were actually for popularizing basic knowledge.
On payday, he nervously... received 5,000 credit points, not a cent more, not a cent less.
A real income of 5,000!
No wonder everyone here looks so healthy and glowing!
Why didn't I come to this company sooner?
"Something came up at home, so... I have to go back."
The HR Supervisor just glanced at him, offered a few routine words of retention, and approved the application in the system—at the Interstellar Peace Corporation, the turnover of grassroots employees was normal, and no one paid too much attention.
The second, the third... resignation reports began to increase at a subtle pace.
"An elderly person at home is sick and needs care."
"I want to return to my hometown for development."
"Personal reasons."
Humph!
Each and every one of them is like a lazy donkey making excuses to avoid work!
The HR Supervisor didn't care at all; after all, it was just a few low-level employee transfers, it didn't matter.
And the people who went over from the Interstellar Peace Corporation naturally kept their mouths shut. They couldn't just talk about it; if they were enjoying themselves, they'd keep it to themselves. If some ill-intentioned snitch leaked the news, it wouldn't be so easy to come here and enjoy the good treatment. New regulations would surely be made to prevent jumping ship, so how would those who came later escape their misery?
As for retaliating against them, that would be even harder.
The Interstellar Peace Corporation currently claimed to have a friendly attitude towards Cosmic Junk Company. If a minor branch Supervisor dared to have a direct conflict with Cosmic Junk Company, that would be an incident.
They now not only had insurance bought for them by Cosmic Junk Company but also personal safety guarantees.
Unlike the former boss... if something happened, the beneficiaries were always the Supervisors.
It was clear who would be the one to 'commit suicide' by being shot in the back.
And the Supervisor also sensed something was wrong at this time.
The employee turnover rate was higher than usual. Although it was still within a 'reasonable range,' those resignation reasons seemed perfunctory no matter how you looked at them. What annoyed him even more was that project progress seemed to have slowed down. Although employees still clocked in and out on time, their efficiency had decreased.
"What's going on?!" He called several group leaders into his office and slammed the table. "The recent efficiency reports look terrible! The failure rate of those mining machines has also increased, and maintenance applications are piling up! How are you managing things?"
The group leaders lowered their heads, their eyes flickering. One of them braced himself to explain: "Supervisor, it might be that everyone... hasn't been resting well lately. The smell from the cafeteria across the street is a bit strong, and it wafts over at night, affecting sleep..."
"Bullshit!" The Supervisor was so angry he almost knocked over the decorative plant on his desk. "Is that an excuse? I think you've just become lax! Keep a close eye on them! Anyone who slacks off again will have their entire performance bonus for this month docked!"
The group leaders withdrew submissively. They looked at each other with expressionless faces, but they knew exactly what was going on in their hearts.
"What should we do?" the youngest one asked in a whisper.
The most senior group leader slowly took out a cigarette but didn't light it, just sniffed it under his nose. "What can we do? Just do as he said, 'keep a close eye on them.'"
This boss is a useless glutton... sigh, he got the job through connections.
When everyone runs away, it will be this guy's problem. Even if something happens to the boss, they will still be group leaders; there's no need to jump ship.
The [Emperor] is coming for an inspection!
This was what was posted on the bulletin board.
To be honest, the employees who had jumped ship to work here were quite nervous about it.
An inspection by a high-ranking boss... one even called the [Emperor]... would they have to perform a kowtow?
Tension and unease spread during lunch, making even the roast meat on their plates seem less appetizing. The veteran employees watched them, winking at each other and stifling their laughter.
On the day of the inspection, the atmosphere was exceptionally solemn.
However, in reality, it was all in their heads.
The veteran employees just went about their business as usual.
During the whole time, they didn't see the Emperor come for an inspection at all. There was only a worker pushing a cart to deliver snacks and drinks to everyone. After work, they all thought the inspection hadn't happened.
"What are you guys talking about? He came a long time ago. The one who handed you the iced black tea was him."
"?"
The one who handed out the iced black tea?
"Brother, you're joking, right? I saw him getting off a robot earlier."
"Exactly. He's the boss, which means he's our Emperor."
The new employees stood there with their mouths agape for a long time. That man in grease-stained overalls, wiping sweat with his sleeve and cheerfully handing them drinks and snacks... was the [Emperor]?
The [Emperor] who founded the Cosmic Junk Company, brought prosperity to this abandoned star system, and even drew the gaze of the Amber Lord?
The gap between this and the majestic, noble, and disdainful image of an "Emperor" they had imagined was simply too vast!
"He... he doesn't speak? And he didn't bring any attendants?"
"He did speak. Didn't he ask you, 'Is the work going smoothly?', 'Is the food to your liking?', or 'Are you getting used to the dorms?'" The veteran employee counted them off on his fingers.
"No, I thought he was just some minor administrator..."
Aren't those the kind of questions logistics people usually ask?
The new employees looked at each other, their minds still unable to process it. That man with no ego, who blended into the crowd of workers so well he was almost unrecognizable, was actually the legendary [Emperor]... "Then he... the title 'Emperor'..."
"Oh, that's just what outsiders call him. And those natives are so grateful to him that they insist on calling him that." Another veteran employee leaned in, taking a bite of an apple. "The boss himself finds the title annoying; he frowns every time he hears it. You can call him Boss, or just 'Chief' or 'Big Bro'."
"So, stop being so nervous." The veteran employee accurately tossed the remaining apple core into the mouth of a nearby Recycling Robot. "The boss has already visited and didn't say anything, which means he's quite satisfied with us! Just eat, drink, and do your job well!"
The new employees looked at each other and simultaneously let out a sigh of relief, their faces breaking into smiles of liberation.
A few days later, something big happened at the neighboring Interstellar Peace Corporation branch.
"I really didn't embezzle that much! I only took a little bit, just a little bit!"
As the Supervisor was being escorted away, he seemed to want to say that someone else was involved too, but the person escorting him was quick to gag him.
"Truly spineless."
Caelus snorted coldly as he walked out of the rival company.
"Everyone out! Every Team Leader, bring your employees and gather here!"
This situation was quite a novelty for the Cosmic Junk Company employees who were still eating across the way; they all squatted down with their lunch boxes and metal trays to watch while they ate.
"Before your new Supervisor arrives, I received a communication from your Director! For the time being, I will be taking temporary charge of your branch!"
A low commotion broke out among the crowd.
"I know what you're thinking!" Caelus seemed to see right through them. "Think I can't manage? Think my methods won't work?" He grinned, revealing a row of white teeth. "Don't worry, I'm only taking care of a few things. Once I'm done, you can do whatever you want until the new Supervisor comes to take over!"
He held up three fingers: "First, the food! Starting this afternoon, the cafeteria is free! I've looked at your setup; you didn't even have a cafeteria. That high-end food you eat is just compressed, shipped-in junk—it's unhealthy. Go eat at my company's cafeteria across the street for a few days while I find someone to help you build your own so you can have proper food! Eating synthetic pre-made meals every day—what kind of life is that!"
An irrepressible murmur immediately rose from the crowd.
"Second, housing!" Caelus held up a second finger. "Those in collective dorms who want to convert them into single rooms, go register with our Engineering Team. We'll provide the materials and labor as a gesture of friendship! If you don't want to move, that's up to you!"
Now, even the eyes of the employees who had been taking a wait-and-see approach lit up.
"Third!" Caelus stopped smiling, and his voice deepened. "You all know how much that bastard embezzled and how he did it, and I have a pretty good idea too. Now, I'm giving you a chance—report the money that was docked or that you shouldn't have paid. If the evidence is solid, I'll take responsibility for getting it back for you! Of course, if anyone tries to fish in troubled waters..." He shook the megaphone in his hand. "I'm used to rummaging through trash cans. I'm best at digging useful things out of garbage heaps, including certain little ledgers that some people don't want to see the light of day."
For the most part, they remained silent.
"What's wrong? I'm not forbidding you from speaking. Say what's on your mind; there's no need to be so repressed while I'm in charge!"
The crowd was silent for a few seconds before erupting into an unbelievable uproar.
"Is... is it true?" a bold employee asked with a trembling voice, his face full of hope and doubt.
"I'm a man of my word!" Caelus patted his chest. "Now, if you want to eat, go straight to the cafeteria across the street! If you want to register for dorm renovations, find the Engineering Team in yellow hats over there! If you feel you've been cheated out of money, go to the temporary desk over there to register, and bring your evidence!"
Before he could finish, the crowd surged. Most people rushed toward the Cosmic Junk Company cafeteria with more enthusiasm than they showed when getting off work. A few hesitated but then quickly walked toward the Engineering Team or the registration desk. The once-lifeless entrance of the IPC branch was instantly filled with a long-lost vitality.
A few of the original Team Leaders stood there, at a loss. Caelus glanced at them. "Don't just stand there; go do what you need to do. If you're willing to work, you're welcome; if you want to play tricks, think carefully."
He said it casually, but it made those few Team Leaders shiver. They hurriedly blended into the crowd, either helping to maintain Order or running toward the cafeteria.
You see, although these Team Leaders ate slightly better, it was still synthetic food.
That previous useless Supervisor really wasn't human.
Although they were in their "rival's" cafeteria, they were initially a bit reserved. However, the veteran employees of the Cosmic Junk Company warmly made room for them and introduced the dishes, and that bit of unease soon dissolved in the aroma of the food and the harmonious atmosphere.
And so, that subtle atmosphere quickly turned into... Emperor, this way, let us lead the way for you.