173: What's wrong with flexible working hours?

“Are you alright?”

After Cheng Zhen and Huangfu Dong returned to the base, they saw others helping to treat Dashan.

“That guy’s skill is indeed quite poisonous, but don’t worry, I won’t die.”

Dashan looked fine at the moment, it was unclear whether he used a skill or an item.

“Which enemy Raiders did you encounter? Do you need help with treatment?” Xiao Tong asked Cheng Zhen and Huangfu Dong.

“No problem, no injuries.”

Cheng Zhen waved his hand, and seeing that Huangfu Dong next to him had reverted to his ‘silent A Dong state’, he took it upon himself to propose the next course of action.

“They are already fighting a faction war, and with them dividing and conquering, we don’t have an advantage.”

Putting aside the fact that they targeted the wrong people, the strength of those three was still not to be underestimated. They had crowd control, damage output, debuffs, and a 'sixth man' who could ambush; ordinary Raiders would probably be doomed against them.

If they followed the opponent’s rhythm, it would eventually turn into a two-on-five situation for them.

Therefore, they had to use other methods to regain control of the rhythm.

“Let’s go find the NPCs.”

Cheng Zhen directly walked towards the warehouse, “We saved so many of their NPCs, they should at least show some gratitude, right?”

The Twitch were very sensible, especially those who were rescued. They were practically ready to prostrate themselves and offer their lives (crossed out) or work like oxen and horses.

“Hmm, all these potions are useful for curing diseases, take them all!”

Cheng Zhen unceremoniously cleared out the warehouse and then had the Twitch continue to use alchemy to produce more mental power recovery potions.

Mana potions, as consumables, were always welcome; encountering NPCs who could produce such potions and not exploiting them would be a huge loss.

The Twitch naturally agreed without hesitation, watching the heroes perform their traditional skill of emptying the potion shelves, and simultaneously making blue potions with the remaining materials.

While the Green Tuqi were making potions, Cheng Zhen found Purple Tuqi again and asked him another question: “What is their attitude towards the plague patients?”

The Rat Twitch wanted the patients to live, even if it meant turning into monsters.

What about the other group?

If both sides inherited the will of Twitch, then the other group should also want to save the patients!

However, Cheng Zhen only saw that group thinking about killing rats, completely disregarding the lives of the weak patients.

In fact, that group even developed specialized rat-exterminating potions, leading the story to this situation ↓

Patients get infected → spray potion to relieve symptoms → prolonged spraying turns them into rats → exterminated by rat-exterminating potion.

If those patients didn't accept the treatment from the Rat Twitch, they would die from the plague; if they accepted the treatment, they would later be eliminated by the enemy's rat-extermination team.

They even secretly planted moles who mixed rat-exterminating potion into the rat-transformation potion.

What kind of outcome would such an action lead to?

The poor patients, no matter what they chose, were doomed to die.

Therefore, Cheng Zhen did not believe that group was inheriting any will of Twitch; they simply looked like they wanted to ‘destroy this garbage world.’

Purple Tuqi hesitated and sighed, his tone filled with helplessness: “Honored guest, I have told you everything I know, without any concealment, and I truly do not know their purpose.”

“But…”

“I vaguely feel that the memories Twitch-sama gave us seem to be missing something, perhaps they would know. But they are never willing to communicate with us, only constantly trying to stop us and eliminate us.”

Sure enough, there was a hidden storyline!

Cheng Zhen immediately understood, and then heard Purple Tuqi say: “Your current forms should still be human, honored guests, right? If you could, like them, quietly infiltrate their ranks, perhaps you could investigate something.”

If this were some RPG game, a prompt box would appear now, asking Cheng Zhen if he accepted the ‘Hidden Quest: Infiltration’.

Cheng Zhen declined.

Solving a puzzle? Solving a hammer of a puzzle.

The way I made you honestly confess is the way I’ll make them honestly confess!

…

The dirty city was still shrouded in an lingering gloom, like the grime that covered the ground, casting a shadow over everyone’s hearts.

After all, for ordinary people living in the city, no one knew if they would be the next person to be infected, so they could only live each day in anxiety and fear, eventually becoming numb under prolonged high pressure.

Healthy people feared infection and did not want to turn into rats. Infected people only wanted to end their suffering, either through permanent release or by transforming into monsters.

Screech—

Outside, the sound of rats spraying potions echoed again. The residents were long used to it, simply staying indoors with their doors closed, going about their business.

But this time, it seemed different.

There were also some ‘ding-dong, ding-dong’ clear clanging sounds coming from outside.

“Hiring, hiring.”

Cheng Zhen tossed gold coins, shouting like an HR: “The Rat Squad is expanding its workforce! Flexible working hours, meal allowances, housing allowances, five insurances and one housing fund! Limited positions, first come, first served!”

Someone curiously poked their head out, only to be blinded by a flash of golden light.

If he wasn't mistaken…

That was gold!

Cheng Zhen and his group had a small cart behind them, loaded with stacks of gold coins, so captivating that people couldn't tear their eyes away.

Everyone immediately rushed out, blocking the road completely.

“The Rat Squad is hiring?”

“My lord, what kind of people are you looking for?”

“What does ‘flexible working hours’ mean?”

Several shabbily dressed, sallow-faced people gathered around Cheng Zhen and the Twitch, looking at them with both fear and longing.

“It’s very simple, join us and do as we ask.”

Cheng Zhen patiently explained, “Flexible working hours means that working hours are not fixed, but you must complete tasks according to instructions at all times. Although overtime may occur, there will be no overtime pay. You must respect your superiors, not refuse when asked to work, and maintain a high sense of responsibility to follow orders.”

Everyone suddenly realized: Understood, they’re recruiting slaves!

They immediately felt a bit hesitant, not wanting to sell themselves into slavery.

But a few who were greedy for money still leaned in and asked, “What are meal and housing allowances then? What are the five insurances and one housing fund?”

“We will provide your meals, and we will help repair your damaged houses.”

Cheng Zhen’s answer immediately made everyone’s eyes light up.

After all, in the current state of the city, people lived hand-to-mouth; what great philanthropist would provide food like this?

“As for the five insurances and one housing fund…”

Cheng Zhen calmly took a mask, placed it on an NPC’s head, covering his face, and then put a gold coin in his hand.

“This is your task.”

“Cover face, one gold.”

Everyone: !!!

Such a good deal for just wearing a mask?!

They were so excited, as if experiencing a final burst of energy, stretching their necks, eager to join the Rat Squad.

Looking at the surging crowd, Cheng Zhen gazed in the other direction, a slight smile playing on his lips.

You may not care about their lives.

But can you not care about your opponent's expansion and strengthening?