"My lackeys, go search the very top of the statue carefully. My own Vision must be embedded there!"
Arataki Itto arrived before the statue with his Arataki Gang subordinates and declared with utmost confidence, pointing at it.
"As you command!"
The subordinates propped up a ladder and began climbing towards the statue's apex. After searching for a long time, they seemed to find no sign of their boss's Vision.
"Boss, it doesn't seem to be up here!"
One subordinate spread his hands and shouted to his boss, who was grooming himself in the distance.
"Huh? How is that possible! Search again, more carefully!"
Arataki Itto found this unbelievable. Clinging to a shred of hope, he urged his subordinate to search again with more diligence.
"No need to search anymore, boss. Your Vision is here..."
Kuki Shinobu walked to the side of the statue and pointed at the base.
"Huh? Aaaahhh! You, you, and you, did you just laugh?! This is outrageous! I, with my incredible strength, am the one who gave even the Raiden Shogun's most favored Tengu General a tough time! How could my Vision be embedded at the very bottom of the statue?"
Arataki Itto was furious. The Raiden Shogun was looking down on him too much, no, on Oni too much! As the first-generation leader of the Arataki Gang, his strength was immense. His Vision should at least be embedded in a position of supreme importance, second to none!
Like a bolt of lightning striking the back of Arataki Itto's head, it shattered all his pride. His face turned ashen, and he stood frozen, his expression vacant.
"Boss, think about it from another angle. Positions further down are actually more important, like the foundation of a house. If the foundation is unstable, the whole building will collapse. Your Vision has stabilized the entire statue..."
Kuki Shinobu, holding Arataki Itto's Vision, approached him and spoke with a perfectly straight face, weaving a web of nonsense solely to comfort her boss, who was on the verge of a mental breakdown.
"Hahahaha... Arin, you understand me best. My Vision is the cornerstone that stabilizes the statue. Without my Vision, the statue would have collapsed long ago, hahahaha..."
Hearing Kuki Shinobu's comfort, Arataki Itto was instantly revived. He excitedly patted Kuki Shinobu's shoulder, thinking how truly reliable his right-hand woman was.
"Alright, boss, now that the Vision is retrieved, we should head back."
Arataki Itto, bless his simple heart, never knew his own strength. Kuki Shinobu felt her shoulder was about to be dislocated by his enthusiastic thumps.
"My lackeys, my Vision is back! I'm in a good mood today, so I've decided we're having a Grilled Onigiri party tonight! We'll achieve Grilled Onigiri freedom!"
Arataki Itto cheered with his arms raised. It was tradition for the Arataki Gang to have lively parties from time to time. As for the reason for the party, it was always decided by Arataki Itto on the spot.
"Boss is wise!"
"Long live the boss!"
"..."
The subordinates of the Arataki Gang were accustomed to parties, but since every party meant more food, they were still very much looking forward to it. Arataki Itto and his group soon returned to the front of the bubble tea shop and found Feng Yi.
"Boss Feng Yi, a word in private. I have a very important matter I wish to discuss with you..."
Arataki Itto nervously glanced around, and seeing that no one was paying attention to him, he secretly pulled Feng Yi aside.
"Speak, what is it? Let me say this upfront, if you have any of *that* kind of need, go find your Kamisato Ayato. I swear I will not bend!"
Feng Yi instinctively took half a step back.
"What are you talking about? What does this have to do with Brother Ayato? I want to become a full-time employee of Pupu Bubble Tea! Everyone has witnessed my work capabilities. If you hire me, Boss Feng Yi, you certainly won't lose out!"
Arataki Itto felt that with his work ethic, Feng Yi should be overjoyed to have secured him so easily.
"So it's about work?"
Feng Yi breathed a sigh of relief. It was a good thing it wasn't *that*.
"Boss Feng Yi, what do you think?"
Arataki Itto looked at Feng Yi with hopeful eyes.
"Hiring you as a full-time employee is fine, but you must understand, once you become a full-time employee, you can't just come and go as you please like a temporary worker."
Given Arataki Itto's laid-back nature, his desire to become a full-time employee was truly unprecedented. Feng Yi didn't refuse. If the strength of Arataki Itto and the Arataki Gang were channeled into righteous endeavors, they would be quite formidable. However, certain rules needed to be clearly communicated to Arataki Itto in advance.
"Of course, I've decided to turn over a new leaf and start working diligently, so that all the brothers of the Arataki Gang can live a life of warmth and full bellies!"
Arataki Itto already had a plan for the rules Feng Yi mentioned. If he had to be absent for something, he would simply have the Arataki Gang subordinates fill in. But that was only as a last resort. Arataki Itto truly wanted to work hard and earn money, so that his gang brothers, and the Oni grandmother who raised him, could all live a comfortable life. His Oni grandmother was getting old and her health was deteriorating. Arataki Itto didn't want her to worry about him all day anymore.
The tree wishes to be still, but the wind does not cease; the son wishes to care for his parents, but they are no more. While she is still alive, Arataki Itto wanted his Oni grandmother to live out her final journey in comfort. This had nothing to do with being Oni or human; it was the basic responsibility of a man.
"I'm very glad you have this resolve. Then, starting today, you are a full-time employee of Pupu Bubble Tea. You will work on time every day, and your salary will be disbursed monthly..."
Feng Yi was happy to see Arataki Itto mature and take responsibility, evolving from a carefree street ruffian.
"Then, Boss Feng Yi, will the salary be a bit more?"
Arataki Itto asked the question that concerned him the most.
"Of course. As a full-time employee of the bubble tea shop, you will receive a base salary of 3,000 Mora per day. For each customer you bring in, you'll receive a 20 Mora commission. The more you work, the more you earn. Work hard, and the future is bright!"
By his calculations, Arataki Itto could earn around 5,000 Mora a day, almost as much as Lyney. In the early stages of the bubble tea shop's opening, the milk tea was sold at a discounted price for promotional purposes. Now that Pupu Bubble Tea was famous far and wide, it was time to return to the normal price of 500 Mora per cup.
"Really?"
"More real than pearls. As a law-abiding and honest Feng, would I lie to you, an Oni? And as an employee benefit, full-time employees receive a 30% discount on our bubble tea!"
"A 30% discount?! Then I definitely have to buy one for Arin to try!"
Arataki Itto declared that with a 30% discount, buying it would be like making a profit! He might consider adding bubble tea as a drink for tonight's Grilled Onigiri party!