"You did not recruit any new employees today. Please continue to work hard and expand your enterprise."
"Your employee, Thalia, killed 847 dungeon monsters yesterday, gaining 51,123 experience points."
"Your employee, Thalia, leveled up to Rank 0 Level 3 yesterday, gaining 30 fixed attribute points and 30 free attribute points."
The panel continued to scroll, detailing the enterprise's success: 3 new dungeon speedrun records were achieved under the name 'Paradise,' bringing considerable fame.
One 0-tier normal instance, rewarding 5×2 enterprise reputation.One 0-tier difficult instance, rewarding 10×2 enterprise reputation.One 0-tier Hell Instance, rewarding 20×2 enterprise reputation.
"Total enterprise reputation gained: 70."
"Profit evaluation: C."
"Settlement rewards have been distributed."
Vincent's eyes were bright with triumph. The system confirmed the perfect 1:1 sharing of all core progression:
"You gained 30 fixed attribute points and 30 free attribute points."
"Experience points + 54,123." (The 51,123 from Thalia plus his daily 3,000 bonus.)
"You have leveled up!"
Today's rewards were exponentially more generous than yesterday's. He felt the rush of power as the XP was absorbed. His rank instantly jumped two full levels, surging from Level 3 to Rank 0 Level 5. He let out a soft breath, his only disappointment being the small reminder that gold coins, equipment, and materials were not shared. A little greed was natural, but the raw power gain was intoxicating.
He was about to open his primary status panel when a new, shimmering line of text seized his attention:
You have advanced to Level Five and gained a Second Class Skill!
Level Five... Class skill?Vincent was stunned, his mind racing to reconcile this with established knowledge. New skills were only awakened upon advancing a full Tier, or by consuming a rare Skill Orb. How had he gained one merely by hitting Level 5? He quickly concluded: this had to be another unique function of the Boss class, a power completely unfettered by the rules that governed ordinary Professionals.
He focused on the skill. After reading the description, his confusion turned to absolute, open-mouthed shock.
Class Skill: Interview Invitation Letter.
Interview Invitation Letter: You can consume a certain amount of enterprise reputation to create an 'Interview Invitation Letter.' When a potential employee touches the 'Interview Invitation Letter,' it will be considered as accepting the interview invitation. They will appear at your designated interview location within your specified time. If the interview is successful, an employment contract can be signed on the spot.
Interview Location: An unselectable place existing in nothingness; it is your private space...
Whoosh!
Vincent practically leaped off the bed, his previous exhaustion forgotten. He stared dumbfounded at the final line of the skill description, the critical, world-breaking function: "When the interview time arrives, a forced summons will occur."
This was a divine skill of recruitment! He could create an invitation, slip it into the hands of a potential employee—like the Priestess Lyra he had failed to find—and the system would handle the impossible, violently pulling them out of reality and into his private, controlled space. It bypassed all surveillance, all danger, and all physical barriers.
His eyes widened instantly. He was speechless for a moment, simply overwhelmed. This power was beyond imagination. He quickly re-read the fine print: the signing of the contract was voluntary, preserving the appearance of choice, but the act of being forcibly summoned to an unselectable place would undoubtedly place him entirely in control of the interview's atmosphere. The logistical nightmare of finding and approaching new, powerful employees was over. He had gained the ultimate recruitment tool.
After suppressing the immense shock, Vincent's gaze settled on the newly enabled function: 'Interview Location.' His eyes gradually brightened with purpose. Without hesitation, he moved his mind and clicked to enter.
Swish!
In an instant, his figure vanished from his small apartment room, reappearing in a vast, desolate space. It was a swirling, gray void—a realm of pure chaos, utterly devoid of light or sound, perfectly embodying the legends of nothingness. He felt a moment of profound bewilderment before snapping his attention to the panel. The interface had changed, now displaying only core options:
'Exit''Decorate''Enterprise Reputation: 120'
He confirmed his total reputation: 120 points. Ignoring the Exit option, he focused on 'Decorate'. Lines of text instantly appeared, an overwhelming menu of choices:
Please select the background style for the interview location. Modern Office: Reputation required for exchange: 10. Round Table Meeting: Reputation required for exchange: 30. Western Papacy: Reputation required for exchange: 100. Eastern Palace: Reputation required for exchange: 200. Inverted Cloud Realm: Reputation required for exchange: 500. Hellish Style: Reputation required for exchange: 1,500.
Vincent scrolled through the list. Hundreds of interview scene styles were available, but the cost quickly became terrifying, spiraling into tens and even hundreds of thousands of reputation points. Was this merely for aesthetics? He clicked his tongue. 1,500 reputation for a Hellish Style? That seemed insane.
His frown deepened, but then he noticed a small 'Trial' button behind each option. Intrigued, he selected one of the most absurdly named options, 'Corpse Mountain Blood Sea,' and clicked 'Trial.'
In the blink of an eye, the surrounding gray mist was violently consumed. The scene changed with cataclysmic speed. The chaotic void was replaced by a crimson, terrifying reality. A blood-red moon hung still in the sky, and beneath his feet, a vast Blood Sea surged.
It was an ancient, mythical charnel ground. The water was thick and viscous. He saw the colossal, mountain-sized head of a Dragon, its ferocious features frozen in death, its dark blood dripping to create crimson ripples. He saw the glorious corpse of a Phoenix, its once-resplendent feathers half-submerged. Most terrifying of all were the impossibly vast human corpses, their scattered limbs and shattered bones forming islands in the sanguine tide. The sheer, overwhelming coldness of this mythical battlefield sought to drill into his very soul.
Vincent stood, momentarily paralyzed by the spectacle. He finally looked at the panel, which displayed the horrifying truth:
'Corpse Mountain Blood Sea' environment special effect: Employees signed in this scene have a 10% chance to awaken a legendary class and a 1% chance to awaken a divine class.
Upon successful contract signing, the employee's initial tier will be Tier 3. The class originates from the Corpse Mountain Blood Sea beneath their feet (perhaps they once truly existed?).
(Special effects do not take effect in trial mode and cannot be saved permanently. Can be used after exchange.)
Vincent let out a ragged gasp, the shocking realization hitting him like a physical blow. A 10% chance for a Legendary Class! A 1% chance for a Divine Class! And a Tier 3 starting rank guaranteed!
He finally understood. This was not about decoration; this was about the source code of power. This system bypassed the random, dangerous process of class awakening and professional growth entirely. The cost was astronomical because the value was strategically infinite. His one and only goal was now clear: accumulate Enterprise Reputation at any cost.