Vincent stood rooted to the spot, stunned into silence. It took him a long, drawn-out moment to recover from the sheer absurdity of the power he had just witnessed. With a final, lingering glance at the chaotic majesty of the Corpse Mountain Blood Sea scene, he mentally issued the command to exit the trial.
The mythical landscape dissolved, and the world returned to the familiar, hazy chaos of the void.
He looked at the reputation cost: a full fifty thousand points. The number was paralyzing. This single scene could guarantee employees who awakened at Tier 3, far surpassing their own Tier 0 rank! The strategic implication was staggering: using this scene meant a guaranteed Tier 3 Epic employee, a 10% chance for a Tier 3 Legendary employee, and the unthinkable 1% chance for a Tier 3 Divine employee.
His scalp tingled. A Tier 0 Epic, under auxiliary buffs, could already instantly kill high-rank Centaur Clan members. A Tier 3 Legendary or Divine employee would be a force he couldn't even imagine. They would essentially be Invincible upon awakening, capable of tackling high-tier threats immediately.
And yet, the Corpse Mountain Blood Sea was only a middle-ranked option. Below it, a vast, dark area of scenes scrolled down, marked only with cryptic question marks, unavailable even for trial. He couldn't fathom the terrifying power of the employees who could be signed in those lower, locked venues.
Was this truly the power of a Rank 0, Level 5 Professional Skill? The question settled in his mind, confirming that the Boss class operated entirely by its own set of divine rules. He remained dazed for a long time before scrolling back up, forcing himself back to reality.
He had to return to the cold reality of his finances. His current goal was to recruit his second employee, Lyra.
His current corporate reputation totaled 120 points.
Creating an Interview Invitation Letter requires 20 reputation points. Signing a contract required 50 reputation points. Total cost for one successful recruitment: 70 reputation.
He could theoretically afford the Western Papacy scene at 100 reputation, but that would leave him short of the 70 required for the actual recruitment process. He had to be pragmatic.
...Let's start with the basics.
He looked at the most affordable options: 'Modern Office' (10) and 'Round Table Conference' (30). He selected the 'Round Table Conference', aiming for a more dignified setting. He clicked 'Purchase'.
A pop-up window immediately shattered his plan:
[The current scene has not unlocked the purchase qualification. After purchasing the prerequisite scene 'Modern Office', this scene's purchase qualification will be unlocked.]
Vincent stared, speechless. Sequential unlocks? To reach the 50,000 Corpse Mountain Blood Sea scene, he would have to buy every prerequisite scene? The grind ahead suddenly felt far more daunting. He had no choice but to first spend 10 reputation points to purchase the 'Modern Office' scene, resigning himself to the system's bizarre rules.
The chaotic energy currents dispersed, and with a rush, Vincent appeared in a new, fully realized environment.
He was standing in a conference room of sharp, modern flair. The space was blindingly bright and clean, centered around a huge, polished conference table. Blue-tinted floor-to-ceiling windows dominated one wall, revealing a massive, bustling modern city beneath the afternoon sun. He could feel the actual warmth of the sunlight streaming in, a sensation he hadn't expected from a void space. The room was fully stocked with high-end office equipment—even several crystal water dispensers were nearby.
Vincent, sitting in the main seat, stared dumbfounded. The immersion was absolute. Then he realized his clothes had changed. He now wore a perfectly tailored black casual suit with a crisp white inner shirt. The reflection in the floor-to-ceiling window showed an elegant young master, the suit fitting him like a second skin.
He looked at the panel:
['Modern Office' scene unlocked, permanently saved. You can enter this scene at any time.]
['Modern Office' special effect: 5% chance to make the signed employee's initial rank 'Tier 1'.]
[In this interview venue, you can stay for 24 hours each time, with a cooldown of 30 minutes. Without your permission, interviewees cannot move freely.]
Vincent was momentarily bewildered. Even the cheapest scene, at 10 reputation, had a special effect! A 5% chance for a Tier 1 start was astonishing, though minor compared to the higher-end scenes.
But the next line made his breathing hitch: "In this interview venue, you can stay for 24 hours each time..."
He quickly checked the full details. It was an actual, physical entry into a private space located in the 'unselectable void'. This wasn't just a recruitment skill; it was a life-saving divine skill! If he ever encountered an irresistible enemy—like a Fifth-tier assassin sent by the alien race—he could instantly enter the interview scene and stay there for 24 hours, entirely unreachable.
His emergence would still be at the point he entered, but who in this world would possess the knowledge and patience to wait in one exact spot for 24 hours? The protection offered by the Interview Location was absolute. Vincent kept gasping, his head buzzing with the realization that his Tier 5 skill had provided him with an unparalleled defensive mechanism. It was terrifyingly powerful.
The shell-shocked Vincent took a long time to regain his composure. He continued to explore the interview space, finding an option to customize his attire. He browsed through several available outfits and, curiously, opened the 'face accessory' menu.
Inside, he found various masks: half-masks, exaggerated ghost masks, and simple, elegant options. His eyes lit up. He selected a pure white, subtly smiling mask.
Immediately, the reflection in the floor-to-ceiling window showed the transformation. Paired with his sleek black suit, the pure white mask lent him an elegant, yet profoundly mysterious and eerie aura—the perfect brand for the invisible CEO of Paradise. He saved the image instantly. 10 reputation points? This entire system was a gift from the gods.
When Vincent mentally issued the command to exit, he opened his eyes and found himself back in his small, cramped room. The contrast between the bright, bustling modern city of the interview space and the pitch-black night outside his window left him disoriented.
Finally, he let out a long, deliberate breath. He had an employee to find.
With a hint of anticipation, he thought: "Create an 'Interview Invitation Letter'!"
An editing box immediately appeared. Vincent typed swiftly:
Invitation Target: Lyra.
Invitation Letter Content…
A moment later, he confirmed the request. 20 corporate reputation points were deducted from his panel, a deduction that brought a small pang of pain. A faint white light appeared in his hand, coalescing into an exquisitely crafted, formal invitation letter.
He gently opened it, reading the meticulously generated content, and nodded with satisfaction. "I just hope my second employee... didn't run into any more trouble tonight." He thought to himself, looking out into the silent, dark city, a fresh wave of anticipation rising in his heart. The hunt for Lyra had just become a certainty.