Chapter 66: Skillful and Clever

The recruitment only lasted ten minutes, but as the very first person to be hired on the spot, Awa immediately caused a stir and drew intense attention from the crowd.

The Tengu tribespeople waiting behind, who didn’t know what was going on, all looked on with envy.

“How nice! Awa is our tribe’s number one warrior, and he’s got an A-rank gold-type ability. I’m not surprised at all that he got hired.”

A scrawny Tengu tribesman, with barely any meat on his bones, pinched his skinny arm, his eyes practically overflowing with envy.

But a tribesman ahead of him suddenly turned around. “Brother, that’s not quite right. This is what Chief Yun said when she hired Awa.”

He put on a solemn, serious face and mimicked, “‘I think you really need this job to escape your suffering, so you’re hired.’ So I think Awa wasn’t hired because he’s the top warrior, but because he’s miserable.”

The tribesman spoke with utter conviction.

The scrawny tribesman stared at him, mouth agape. “How did you hear that? Oh, right, right, your ability is super hearing.”

“So, the real reason Awa got hired is because he’s miserable!” A burly tribesman waiting behind them slapped his thigh, drawing his conclusion.

Someone outside the line, who had already been eliminated, suddenly saw the light. “So I didn’t get hired because I’m not miserable enough!”

“Did you hear why Awa is so miserable? Is it because his stomach’s always growling from hunger? My stomach growls all the time too—if I say that, do you think Chief Yun would hire me?”

“No, no, I heard from the people up front it’s because of Mana. That’s why he’s so miserable.”

“Oh, Mana’s sick. Chief Yun herself said it’s some kind of split personality thing. That really is miserable. But my partner’s fine—will Chief Yun still hire me?”

“I don’t even have a partner. Without that excuse, will Chief Yun still hire me?”

“I have an elderly father to support. Do you think that’s miserable enough? If I mention that, will Chief Yun hire me?”

“I…”

The Tengu tribespeople all started talking at once, and what was supposed to be a serious, formal recruitment event had turned into a contest of who had the most tragic life.

Ge Miao, who was near the back of the line, had started out full of confidence, but now he was getting more and more anxious.

He was the young chief of the Tengu tribe—his father was the chief, his mother was still alive, he hadn’t married yet, and only had a slightly odd little aunt named Mana. Was that miserable enough? Would Chief Yun hire him?

With these uneasy thoughts, he followed the line forward, step by step. Thirty-six people had already been hired, with fourteen spots left—he still had a chance.

He pulled himself together, lifted his head, and walked up to the long table with his chest out.

Yun Qimu didn’t even look up, busily scribbling on the paper in front of her. Sensing someone approach, she asked the next question in the process, her tone flat.

“Name?”

Ge Miao nervously clenched his fists. His face, paler than most of his tribesmen, was now flushed red, sweat beading on his forehead as he stared at Chief Yun, a hint of shyness and awe in his eyes.

She really was a noble lady—so fair, so beautiful, far prettier than his little aunt, who was supposedly the most beautiful in the tribe.

“Name?” Seeing that he hadn’t answered for a while, Yun Qimu wondered if he was mute, frowned, and looked up to ask again.

Caught off guard, Ge Miao met her dazzling, starry black eyes and hurriedly looked away, flustered. “I—I’m Ge Miao, a B-rank water-type ability user, not married yet, and currently the young chief of the Tengu tribe.”

His voice stammered and trembled, but he managed to blurt out all his basic information.

As soon as he finished, he regretted it. Would Chief Yun decide not to hire him because he was the young chief and not miserable enough? No, please…

Ge Miao glanced at Yun Qimu, full of anxious hope, only to see her eyes light up instantly.

“You’re the young chief of the Tengu tribe?” That was great news for her! Her face broke into a warm, friendly smile as she said enthusiastically, “The young chief himself applying to work at our Earth Village is most welcome! I was just thinking of inviting the chief and young chief to visit Earth Village at my own expense.”

Ge Miao’s face turned bright red and he waved his hands in panic. “No, no, no, I’m here for the job, just the job! I couldn’t possibly trouble Chief Yun to pay for me. Even if I don’t get hired, I was planning to spend my own energy coins to join a tour group to visit Earth Village.”

He patted his chest, puffed himself up, and declared loudly, “I’m not short of those three energy coins!”

Standing with his hands behind his back, Masa, who was observing the line with an air of authority, was speechless: …

He stomped his foot and clutched his chest, his face scrunching up as if he’d just eaten an old sour plum.

This useless son! He really wanted to smack him right back into his mother’s womb.

What kind of brain is that? Passing up a free offer—he really didn’t inherit any of his father’s smarts.

But Yun Qimu actually appreciated this kind of honest, naïve attitude.

Her smile grew even more genuine. “Alright, thank you, young chief, for supporting Earth Village. Then I’ll hire you as an employee. But working here isn’t as easy and relaxing as joining a tour group—the work might be a bit tough.”

Ge Miao’s eyes lit up. “That’s fine, that’s fine! The men of the Tengu tribe are hardworking and capable—no job is too much for us. Chief Yun, just give the orders.”

“Great, congratulations, young chief, you’re hired.”

With both sides in agreement, the recruitment was settled on the spot.

Ge Miao walked out of the line with a spring in his step, beaming a silly smile at Masa, who was glaring at him with a fierce look, his beard bristling. “Father, I got hired! I’m going to work at Earth Village!”

Masa’s eyebrows shot up in anger as he tried to hold back his temper. “And you think you’re so great?”

Ge Miao tossed his head, proud. “Of course! I made it—I’m one of the fifty who got hired.”

Masa smacked him on the back of the head, roaring, “You idiot! Chief Yun offered to let you visit for free and you turned her down, insisting on getting hired instead. What were you thinking?”

Ge Miao clutched his head and yelped, then argued tearfully, “But as the young chief, how could I take advantage of someone? Chief Yun is just a young lady—it wouldn’t be right to make her pay for me. Mother always said to treat girls gently and never take advantage of them, or I’ll never find a wife.”

Masa gave him another smack, so angry he was practically spitting. “How is that the same? Chief Yun isn’t like the girls in our tribe! Three energy coins are nothing to her—couldn’t even buy the hem of her dress. But for us, that’s everything we own! Don’t you need to save up to get married someday? With you spending like this, what girl would ever want you…”"