Chapter 5: Hesitating for a Second Is Disrespecting Your Salary

“Work five days a week, two days off. From 10 AM to 4 PM. Meals and lodging fully covered. No overtime. One-hour meeting every Monday.”

“…”

Li Chi stared in disbelief at the little loli before him, who stood only half his height.

Her words carried a strange magical power, each syllable whispering right into his ear.

“Really?”

“Why would I lie?”

“Then it’s true.”

Li Chi lowered his claws, which had been primed for the finishing blow. 

He felt he owed this little loli in front of him a bit more respect.

Just look! Everyone, just look! This is what a capitalist for the people looks like!

Behind the little loli, the tuxedo youth and Lina whispered to each other.

“What’s up with this guy?”

“Seems like he’s been swayed.”

“Did Vivian offer any conditions?”

The tuxedo youth propped his chin with one hand, carefully recalling what the little loli had said.

After a moment, he whispered.

“No? It seems Vivian just recited the basic employee work hours…”

Lina looked at the little loli protecting them in shock.

“I remember Vivian’s magic controls enemies through speech. Did she use her power?”

The tuxedo youth said with certainty.

“Otherwise? Do you think if you went out on the street and recited our work hours to a random passerby, they’d just follow you home obediently?”

“Hmm, true. I didn’t expect this kid’s magic to be so powerful, even controlling a guy like this.”

She was right; there was indeed some of the little loli’s magic at play. 

But it was just auxiliary, making Li Chi lose the urge to keep fighting.

Their whispers fell word for word into Li Chi’s ears, further convincing him that what the little loli said was true.

As they say, the average quality of people in this world is ridiculously high. 

No matter their identity, most are kind-hearted at heart.

Because the monsters had long since turned into the monsters.

How to put it? He really was a little tempted.

“What about the salary?”

Li Chi asked about what he cared most.

But the little loli looked a bit troubled as she pondered.

“Haha! I knew it! Everything before was a trap! The benefits look great, but your salary must be so low that…”

Before he could finish mocking, the little loli spoke up with a pitiful expression.

“I’m so sorry! Due to some reasons, our employees can only get a super-low fixed salary of 100,000 yuan per month!”

“…”

Li Chi, whose mockery had been interrupted, fell silent again…

Sorry, I spoke a bit too loudly just now.

The little loli continued.

“Although the salary is low now, please believe us, Mr. Monster Uncle! In the future, we’ll definitely make more money and give you a higher salary!”

Li Chi was sunk.

“Please don’t reject me! This is my first time recruiting someone into the company!”

“Please let me join your big family! Salary or no salary, it doesn’t matter! I just want to show those magical girls a thing or two! Who told them to kick me around all day!”

The two spoke almost simultaneously, even their speech speeds matching perfectly.

The little loli looked at Li Chi in surprise, her tender little face flushing red. It was clear she was very happy right now.

“Really!”

She looked at Li Chi’s compound eyes in disbelief, asking. 

She hadn’t expected her first recruitment to go so smoothly?

“Of course it’s real! Where’s the employment contract? Hurry and bring it! I want to get revenge on those magical girls as soon as possible!”

Li Chi said righteously, as if he had some deep grudge against the magical girls.

“Okay, okay—the employment contract is here! This is the signing pen!”

Li Chi picked up the pen, ready to sign.

You call this a dark villain organization? 

Nonsense. 

Whether it’s a villain or not, hesitating even a second when signing is disrespecting the salary!

When he was about to write the “Li” character, Li Chi suddenly paused.

“Wait, I’m still a high school student…”

“Gah?” ×3

The villain trio collectively froze.

After all, after Li Chi transformed, his voice and physique changed dramatically. 

In their eyes, Li Chi was a middle-aged uncle who had become a monster out of resentment toward society due to his unfulfilled life. 

How could he be a high school student?

“It’s fine. We can just put you on the roster or as a temp worker. We can’t make you drop out, right?”

The tuxedo youth reacted first and added timely.

“Besides, this kid is an elementary schooler, and she’s on our roster too, isn’t she?”

Just a student who looks like a middle-aged uncle. What’s so strange about that? 

I’ve seen weirder.

Li Chi looked at the little loli in surprise.

“You guys even hire child labor?”

The tuxedo youth shook his head.

“Normally, we definitely wouldn’t, but this kid is different.”

“What’s different?”

“She’s a connection.”

“…Is it really okay to be this direct?”

“What’s wrong with it? It’s just putting her on the roster anyway. Besides, we’re a villain organization. Who cares about that stuff.”

The little loli stared at Li Chi.

“Any other questions? If needed, we can reserve a workstation for you. You can come sit anytime.”

“Okay, no problem! Do you need my contact info?”

The big slacker Li Chi had been blinded by the salary, successfully falling into the money trap.

After a simple exchange, the villain trio patted their butts and headed back.

As for Li Chi, of course he followed them eagerly.

He even threw his original purpose to the back of his mind, feeling quite pleased with himself for landing a good job.

As for the only victim of this battle…

Newborn monster: Speak up for me!

By the way, after a monster is defeated, it drops a shiny crystal. 

That thing is called a Crystal Core, very important to magical girls.

As for what it’s used for, Li Chi didn’t know and wasn’t interested. 

He just knew it was important to magical girls, and that was enough.

***

“Shiny ✨! Crimson Star!”

“Shiny ✨! Azure Star!”

“I fight for a beautiful tomorrow!” ×2

“I sing for a brilliant future!” ×2

“Become the rainbow that ends the dark clouds!” ×2

After an extremely awkward declaration chant, the girls’ bodies were enveloped in dazzling light.

Their school uniforms gradually disintegrated, replaced by gorgeous Gothic-style dresses that shone like new stars admired by all.

The ends of the originally azure long hair slightly curled up, then turned into a deep blue.

Magical Girl Crimson!

Magical Girl Azure!

Making a shiny entrance!!!

“Uwaaaah! Can we please not say such super-embarrassing lines next time?!”

Magical Girl Crimson hugged her red pony, on the verge of tears.

It was clear she was the original Chi Zaozao, though her personality seemed a bit more shy now.

“Alright, alright. It’s not that big a deal. Besides, this is already the super-simplified version after six simplifications. Don’t make it hard on the little pony.”

Magical Girl Azure comforted her from the side.

The red pony suddenly broke free from her grasp. It rubbed its head, feeling like it had been hit by a steel plate—a bit painful.

“Exactly! If you used the original chant to transform, it’d take a full two minutes! We’ve worked really hard, okay!”

The little pony glared resentfully at Crimson. She really didn’t know how good she had it!

Crimson looked pitifully at the nonchalant Azure, blinking her big red eyes, and said in a pitiful voice.

“Wuuu wuuu! Even Xiao Guang doesn’t care about my feelings anymore? No love left T^T!”

“Ah ⊙_⊙?”

“Oh my, Crimson is so shy. Our Azure is much better, so straightforward.”

The panda plush toy, not minding stirring up trouble, teased from the side. 

Little did it know that its own magical girl’s brother had already run off to her arch-enemy’s side.