C27 A Dangerous Job

After logging off from the Devil Domain, Zhang Ze was ready to call it a night. He had spent a considerable amount of time in that virtual realm, and it was already two in the morning outside.

"Thank goodness it's Saturday tomorrow. No school means no exhaustion," he mused with relief.

Once back in his bedroom, Zhang Ze quickly succumbed to sleep, his body grateful for the rest.

Entering the Devil Domain took a significant toll on the human body, akin to the stress experienced when leaving Earth for the vacuum of space. The drastic shift in environment could profoundly affect one's physical well-being.

On the Devil Domain's 22nd floor, a man clad in silver armor was locked in combat with a monster. His movements were swift and graceful. With a flash of his long sword, he reduced the creature to mere chunks of flesh.

"Any messages from Kiss of Death?"

After gathering his loot, the man noticed a new message in his information bar. He gave it a quick glance and then promptly deleted it.

"So, Rakshasa is the one who took down Kiss of Death? How intriguing," he commented, his face betraying no emotion. He then turned and strode toward a towering figure in the distance—the boss of the 22nd floor.

The following morning, Zhang Ze woke up refreshed and enjoyed a breakfast prepared by Zhang Feng. He then set out for the talent market, hoping to land a job.

Zhang Feng was diligently studying in her room. She consistently excelled in her academic courses and had modest expectations about awakening a high-level Innate Skill by the age of eighteen.

The likelihood of acquiring such a skill was slim, and Feng was well aware of her odds. She didn't count on luck; she knew success would come through hard work alone.

Zhang Ze wholeheartedly supported her. The Devil Domain was fraught with peril, and he wished for nothing more than his sister's safe passage through life. To him, her being an ordinary person was far preferable to risking her life in that treacherous domain.

After bidding farewell to Zhang Feng, Zhang Ze stepped out into the world.

On weekends, the Tianfeng City labor market opened its doors, offering job seekers the opportunity to find employment.

"Has that house really been rented?" Stepping outside, Zhang Ze was taken aback to see that the house next door, which had stood vacant for three years, had found a tenant. The sign that once read "This house is for rent" had been removed from the door.

"I'm really hoping for a dependable neighbor this time around, not like the last family," Zhang Ze mused as he descended the stairs.

It was a bit of a trek from Zhang Ze's place to the subway station. As he made his way there, his phone began to ring. Glancing at the caller ID, he saw it was Lu Panpan calling.

"Is this Brother Zhang Ze? It's me, Lu Panpan," her cheerful voice came through the phone. "Panpan, what's up? Do you need something?" Zhang Ze inquired.

"I was just talking to Zhang Feng. She mentioned you're heading to the labor market for a job. My brother is in need of an assistant, and he offers generous pay. Interested?"

"What does your brother do? I'm just a student and I don't really have much experience. Do you think I'm up for the job?" Zhang Ze questioned.

"You'll do just fine. Why don't you come over to my brother's place? I'm here right now, so I can introduce you to him," Lu Panpan said, giving Zhang Ze the address and urging him to hurry.

After the call, Zhang Ze made his way to the address Lu Panpan had given him, arriving at a warehouse on the outskirts of Tianfeng City. The warehouse's iron gate was speckled with rust and weeds overran the ground, signs of long abandonment.

Zhang Ze rapped on the warehouse door, which was opened by Lu Panpan herself. Her face lit up with joy upon seeing him. She quickly ushered him inside, glanced around outside, and shut the door.

Inside, the warehouse was surprisingly clean and spacious. Various tools were neatly arranged on shelves along the walls. Four people were huddled around an iron table, poring over a map under the glow of an incandescent bulb, engaged in discussion.

"Brother, this is Zhang Ze. I've mentioned him to you before," Lu Panpan introduced him to the group. She gestured to a robust middle-aged man, "This is my brother, Lu Kai."

Lu Kai stepped forward, offering his hand to Zhang Ze, and said, "I'm looking to bring on another assistant. Panpan tells me you're a fighter and have guts. How about it? Would you like to join our team?"

Zhang Ze shook hands with Lu Kai and said, "I'm definitely in the market for a job, but I'm clueless about what you guys actually do."

Lu Kai arched an eyebrow, shot a look at his sister, and replied, "Panpan didn't fill you in? Our line of work is high-risk, high-reward. It all comes down to how gutsy you are, though!"

"Could you give me more details?" Zhang Ze's interest was piqued.

"As you know, Devil Cave Monsters have been wreaking havoc recently. They've overrun many areas. The Fallen District isn't just infested with monsters; it's also a treasure trove of antiques, masterpieces, and the like. A lot of wealthy folks are dying to get their hands on these items."

Lu Kai offered a cigarette to Zhang Ze, who declined with a shake of his head, "I don't smoke."

"Basically, our job is to retrieve the items our clients desire from the Fallen District and deliver them back. That's how we earn our pay."

After lighting his cigarette, Lu Kai went on, "It's a perilous gig. We could run into monsters. Plus, since the National Security Bureau prohibits ordinary folks from entering the Fallen District, what we're doing is against the law."

"But when it's about the money, we tend to overlook the risks," Lu Kai said, clapping Zhang Ze on the shoulder. "Panpan mentioned you need cash for your sister's medical treatment, and you've got the chops for the job. This might just be the right fit for you. Give it some thought—whether you want to join our crew or not."

Zhang Ze mulled it over before asking, "What's the pay like?"

"For each mission, our team pulls in a minimum of 1.5 million yuan!" Lu Kai grinned. "Naturally, we split it evenly. Each member takes home 300,000 yuan."

"If someone has an unfortunate end on a mission, the survivors split the 1.5 million," interjected a long-haired man with black-rimmed glasses.

Next to him, a bald man honing his dagger added, "And if you're the sole survivor, all that cash is yours."

"Cut out the ominous talk," a man in a black jacket interjected with displeasure. "We're all going to make it back in one piece. No one's dying on my watch."

Lu Kai laughed softly and turned to Zhang Ze, "Let me introduce the crew. The guy with the glasses is Madman, the bald one is Old Eight, and the one in the jacket is Tieh Gaang. We go by nicknames around here, never real names—it keeps us off the radar and out of trouble."

Zhang Ze nodded, his resolve clear. "I get it now. I want to be part of your team!"