Chapter 537: Pinokangni Side Quest: Checkout (2)

Is something wrong with seeking a rendezvous in the dungeon?

"How can Xing be so in demand and popular everywhere? She comes in at P35 right away?? Hey hey… That's already a level that many people never reach in a lifetime, right? Could it be a bit… uh, giving too many perks?"

Wei Erfu couldn't quite grasp it… After all, although Xing excels at exploration, she might not be fit to be a project manager, right? He wasn't clear on what a project manager actually does, but he understood the saying that switching fields is like crossing a mountain.

If those company employees learned that Bi Er Bo Yin Te, a place they might never get to in their whole lives, is merely the starting point of Xing's office‑worker life, they'd probably weep.

"Wei Erfu, you're simply jealous of Miss Xing's popularity, aren't you?" Lili Luka covered her mouth with a light smile, "If you had a star core inside you and were glanced at by the three great star gods—Destruction, Preservation, and Harmony—I think you could be P35 without any problem."

"I… I think I'll pass."

Wei Erfu felt that being an honest blacksmith was quite fine; compared to a universe‑galaxy that hinges on life‑or‑death randomness, a simple, steady life among his clan was the truth.

"As a force that follows the Amber King, recruiting a fate‑walker who has been glanced at by the Amber King at the P35 rank is obviously profitable for the company, right? Moreover, this fate‑walker has had an extraordinary experience… Even if it's just serving Xing, I think that's fine; after all, the company is huge and isn't afraid of being unable to support people."

——

"Tuopa led the charge, saying, 'Why do you have so few subordinates? I shouldn't need to point out the reason. Instead of questioning others' management ability, you should spend time reflecting on your own work habits.'"

"Shajin, unwilling to be outdone, retorted, 'Hmph… work habits, are they that important? Don't forget that one of the Strategic Investment Department's cultural tenets is "Result First"—even a tiny puck couldn't be handled, so Director Tuopa's emphasis on work habits is probably just an excuse for project failures, right?'"

Seeing the two opposite each other, Xing tried to interject in vain, but it was of no use… She could only helplessly watch the war unfold before her eyes.

"'Trying to provoke with your usual tricks, huh? If I recall correctly, even if you put the entire Pinokangni case on your shoulders, your success rate would still be a few percentage points lower than mine, right?'"

"'Oh dear~ judging only by quantity, not quality. I didn't expect our beautiful‑hearted Director Tuopa to have learned to shift concepts. Honestly, I can say the difficulty of every project I take on, and you know it better than anyone.'"

"'Then I must praise you properly.' Tuopa crossed her arms, looking displeased, 'Do you remember that Ai Pu Se Long stock report you sent me? 【The Ai Zheng Index is expected to rebound strongly after a bottoming phase; investors are advised to seize the opportunity and increase positions immediately】—'"

"'What happened? The next day at opening, the big Ai plunged below 28 million points… 28 million, that's a historic low, a historic low!!'"

Shajin wore a 'are you kidding me, you can blame me for this?' expression, spread her hands: 'Is this already digging up old accounts? I was just being kind, hoping everyone could make money… How can such a minuscule‑probability accident be blamed on me? Moreover, hadn't we already reviewed that incident? The informant who gave me the news was that old friend of yours at the Ai Pu Se Long Interstellar Securities Exchange; who would have thought a half‑life stock trader could be a dead weight?'"

"'Hmph, now you don't mention your hundred‑battles‑won luck? The standards are quite flexible, Director Shajin~'"

——

DC Universe.

"Looks like, Ke La Ke, that stock loss isn't my problem; even the Earth Mother Goddess can't control the market, so my small loss is quite normal, right?"

Ke La Ke frowned; when they saw the two senior executives in the sky‑dome also losing money in interstellar stocks, they instantly perked up, as if they had found a scapegoat, spouting reason after reason.

Ke La Ke looked up from an article about Pinokangni, adjusted their black‑framed glasses, and said gently, 'Lu Yi Si, I've long said the stock market is too risky, especially such wildly volatile tech stocks. You shouldn't have poured so much savings into it—if even Shajin loses money there, don't mention us.'"

Although they are a superman who can alter Earth's destiny, they cannot change the market's direction. In the bottomless stock market, they're no different from ordinary people.

Especially when they learned their girlfriend had invested nearly half a year's salary into the market, Ke La Ke felt a sudden pang.

Soon after, the tech stock Lu Yi Si favored was hit as if by kryptonite, turning green and making their heart race… Honestly, they've saved the Earth countless times, but this intense helplessness was a first.

Lu Yi Si immediately turned like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, fire of defiance flashing in their eyes: 'Shouldn't have invested? Ke La Ke, this is investment! It's strategic! The Financial Times and three analysts all see its long‑term potential! It's just a temporary, phased technical adjustment!'

"Wait, I think I just heard that from Shajin a moment ago… Who knows if those three stock analysts are dead weights?" Ke La Ke subconsciously began quoting 'famous sayings.'

"I…"

Lu Yi Si was momentarily at a loss for words, which softened their momentum a bit, but they still wouldn't concede: 'That's a different matter, Ke La Ke.' They lifted their coffee cup, took a sip, masking their wavering conviction: 'My investment judgment wasn't wrong; the timing was just off. Next time… next time I'll be more careful.'

——

It was best that Ms. Jade arrived on the scene; only then did the two's conflict finally subside, Xing quickly processed their checkout, and saw off the three departing executives who still bickered as they left.

After a half‑day of hustle, Xing was about to take a break, but without even a moment of relief for seeing off the two heavyweight guests, the next to rush to the front desk was… Qing Que!

Looking at the prodigy mahjong girl, Xing wondered, '…Qing Que? Why is she coming to Pinokangni?'

Qing Que froze, '…Eh? … Hey? Xing, is that you?!'

'Is this the place you should be at?'

Qing Que instantly broke into a cold sweat, 'Oh no, oh no, I was hoping not to run into acquaintances on this trip… and it already fell apart before I even checked in! So, um, please, I beg you, sister! My coming to Pinokangni, you must never tell anyone! Especially not Lord Tai Bu!'

Xing gave a knowing smile, 'If you want to seal my mouth, the price isn't cheap…'