"Otherwise?"
The system's cold, mechanical voice rang out again — expressionless as always, but somehow carrying the subtle undertone of: Host, have you finally gone insane?
"All Employees recruited by this system work for the Host. The Host must naturally be responsible for their salaries."
Lin Feng's throat twitched.
A whole mouthful of blood and grievances surged up his chest, nearly giving him an instant myocardial infarction.
"I work so hard acting! I risk my life harvesting leek! Every point I earn is soaked in my sweat and Oscar-level acting!"
He howled in his heart, almost collapsing.
"And now you want me to use those life-risking, hard-earned points… to pay other people's wages?!"
"Correction," the system said coolly.
"Not 'others.'
Employee."
Lin Feng fell silent.
He couldn't refute that cursed logic — which only infuriated him even more.
A few seconds later, his nature as a professional cheapskate resurfaced. He began bargaining instantly.
"Then… can the salary be lowered?"
"Or, is there a way to pay fewer points?"
"Of course," the system replied immediately.
"Employee remuneration is calculated from their overall evaluation — strength, rarity, appearance, temperament, and so on."
"If the Host wishes to reduce costs, this dog system can help recruit some weaker, ordinary shop assistants."
Lin Feng's eyes lit up instantly.
There was a way!
But something still felt off.
With how the dog system usually behaved… its "original target" definitely wasn't something as down-to-earth as "ordinary shop assistants."
"…Then what were your original candidates?" Lin Feng asked casually, just out of curiosity.
He regretted it the moment the system answered.
"It's very simple," the system said blandly — as if discussing vegetables.
"Goddess of Life, God of Kindness, and the like."
Lin Feng's mind froze.
His soul drifted out of his body, floating above himself, staring at his petrified face.
Goddess of Life?
God of Kindness?
The peak God Kings of the God Realm — the ones people didn't even dare mention casually?!
You call those 'and the like'?
You want God Kings to come to my shabby little restaurant…
to serve dishes?!
Why don't you invite the God of Creation to scrub my toilet while you're at it?!
And then —
A far more terrifying thought struck him—
Salary.
"Ding."
The system delivered the death sentence calmly:
"Based on this dog system's preliminary assessment, if the Goddess of Life is hired as the chief waitress, the monthly salary will be—
999,999 points, or equivalent items."
A million points.
Per month.
Lin Feng's breathing stopped.
Yesterday — he cooked, acted, coaxed, and nearly worked himself to death.
All that blood and sweat earned him… 14,935 points.
Every point was the crystallization of his supreme acting skill!
And now this dog system wanted to burn a million per month…
just to have the Goddess of Life carry plates?!
This wasn't hiring an employee.
This was inviting a cosmic money-eating ancestor!
Lin Feng felt his vision blur.
He could see his year-long leek field — just when it was ready for harvest — being uprooted from the soil and thrown into the sun.
"No…"
A darker bolt of dread split through his mind.
He trembled violently.
He whispered, voice cracking:
"T-this… is this… one person's salary?"
"The system's original intention seemed to be hiring several…"
Lin Feng didn't dare think further.
If he did, he'd die on the spot — and become the first Host in history to be scared to death by a payroll.
"No!!!"
A soul-tearing roar exploded in his heart.
"Dog system! I'm warning you! I don't care if you wanted the Goddess of Life or the God of Kindness!"
"From this moment — immediately — right now — this plan is canceled!!"
"Otherwise I'll burn down the shop on the spot! You go your way, I go mine, we both die!"
"Tsk."
The system clicked its tongue.
"Understood."
That perfunctory tone caused Lin Feng's blood pressure to spike again.
"I mean it!" Lin Feng shrieked mentally like a groundhog.
"You can recruit people — but you must suppress the salary to death!!"
Just as he was still yelling at the system, the Titled Douluo group had finished their meal.
They exchanged glances — silent but unanimous.
They all turned to the coldest, deepest figure among them.
Ghost Douluo.
The first one who comprehended the Senior's divine will.
Under all their gazes, he set down his chopsticks slowly.
As the acknowledged leader, he stepped forward first —
To receive the Senior's… blessing.
"Senior, this junior is ready."
Ghost Douluo's hoarse voice pulled Lin Feng back from his salary war.
"Consumption: 38,000 gold coins."
"Evaluation: This leek is excellent — a model worker among leek. This dog system is very satisfied and can grant him a relatively high reward."
"Random Reward: Spirit Tracing — Return to Truth."
"Host Reward: 3,800 Food Points."
Lin Feng lazily cracked an eyelid.
Return to Truth.
Sounded nice.
He waved his hand casually.
A deep, mysterious speck of light — containing the meaning of reincarnation's end — drifted into Ghost Douluo's forehead.
Ghost Douluo's whole body trembled violently!
The ghostly black patterns on his skin retreated at visible speed.
In their place appeared skin smooth as jade.
His dry, claw-like hands filled with vitality — pale skin regaining warmth.
The eerie ghost aura around him evaporated like frost under the morning sun.
Within moments—
The gloomy, half-human, half-ghost Elder vanished.
Standing there now was a handsome man in a black robe, eyes deep as starlight — elegant yet shadowy.
The original Gui Mei Douluo.
"Old… Old Gui Mei?"
Chrysanthemum Douluo's orchid fingers froze.
For the first time, his charming face displayed an emotion called—
losing composure.
His voice trembled uncontrollably.
_____________________
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