vrcanaries Chapter 127 The act can't go on, let's get down to business!
Chapter 127 The act can't go on, let's get down to business!
Tadalia stood on a stone block, looking down at a group of eager new recruits below.
He raised his right fist above his head towards the sun, reciting his newly revised speech.
"...In the Liyue market, they will all become strong competitors to 'One-Eyed Treasure'..."
Listening to his brother's speech, Tok nodded repeatedly, praising him incessantly.
Tok was happy, but the Fools recruits below the stage were completely baffled.
Why is our CEO suddenly talking nonsense? Is he suffering from heatstroke? But it's not hot... Could he have gone mad from the cold?
Looking at the new recruits below, even though they were all wearing masks, D'Artagnan could almost see the disdain in their eyes beneath those masks.
"Uh... as the saying goes, the battlefield is like the marketplace; I was just using an analogy."
Upon hearing this explanation, the new recruits nodded in agreement. However... such a terrible analogy left them speechless.
"So... as your... uh... marketing officer in Liyue, I demand that you prioritize obeying my orders. Disobeying orders is tantamount to betrayal, and the price of betrayal is being expelled... uh... expelled from Liyue's 'Toy Research Institute.'"
Seeing his brother giving a serious speech, Tok's emotions were immediately stirred.
"Wow, that's strict... I'd be really sad if I got fired from the toy lab."
Ying covered her face, unable to bear watching the comical scene.
Huiyuan was almost laughing so hard she was about to... no... die laughing.
The new recruits of the Fools were once again baffled by the executor's analogy.
D'Artagnan was extremely embarrassed and sighed helplessly.
(It seems impossible to satisfy both sides... so it's better to...)
"Forget it, let's just have a 'real combat training' exercise instead."
"...real combat...training?"
Upon hearing these four words, the foolish recruits, whose minds were already bewildered, became even more confused.
Looking at the new recruits, Dadalia continued to stammer and make up reasons.
"After all... well... a strong physique is the guarantee of sales..."
The bewildered recruits are only now realizing what the phrase "combat training" means.
The recruits, having finally come to their senses, were so bewildered that they began to disregard discipline and whisper among themselves in front of the officers.
"Hey... just now... the Executor said he wanted to do combat training?"
"Could it be that the Executive Officer himself is going to spar with us? What an honor this is!"
"Unbelievable... Are recruits like us really qualified?"
Seeing the noisy recruits, Dadalia couldn't help but chuckle, but forced a serious expression and called out, "What, any objections?"
Upon hearing this, the new recruits, like children at summer camp, shouted out the two words in unison with great momentum.
"No!!!"
"Good! Very energetic—all of you, come at me together."
Tartaglia countered with a right jab and a left sidestep to create distance. Using only the strength of an ordinary person, he perfectly restrained the attacks of more than a dozen Fools recruits. Finally, with a magnificent over-the-shoulder throw and a grappling hook, he finished off the last man and returned to the speech stone.
Seeing that the recruits had reorganized their formation, Datalia straightened his clothes and began to speak again.
"Now, do you all understand what I wanted to say before?"
The new recruits responded in unison, "Understood!"
"Your skill level... has reached a point where I can finally stretch my muscles completely. In other words... as recruits, you are all very good."
The recruits responded in unison once again, even louder than before: "Thank you very much, Executor!"
Startled by the loud noise, D'Artagnan stepped down from the stone block and hurriedly gestured.
"Shh...shh..."
After the recruits covered their mouths, D'Artagnan nervously continued, "...Alright, may you all win glory, for Winter, for Her Majesty the Queen, and for yourselves. Dismissed!"
After the recruits saluted and left, Tok ran over.
"Brother! Brother is so amazing!"
Taking a deep breath, Datalia turned around quickly and said, "Oh? Tok, you're here too!"
After running up to Tok, D'Artagnan continued talking.
"I thought the travelers took you to Wangshu Inn!"
Hearing this hastily fabricated reason, Huiyuan couldn't help but mentally complain.
(How far is Wangshu Inn from here? Can't you come up with a better lie? If Tok weren't so inexperienced and didn't know what Wangshu Inn was, you'd be exposed very soon.)
After watching the battle with Tartaglia, Ying recalled the challenge Tartaglia had given her when they met at the Northern Bank and nodded.
"You have indeed become much stronger."
"Haha... I told you long ago, I wouldn't let go of any opportunity to become stronger. The person you see now is no longer the same person I used to be."
After witnessing Tartaglia's embarrassment in front of the new recruits, Ying had a pretty good grasp of his personality. Compared to her previous overly wary attitude, Ying was now much friendlier towards him.
"Where's that dark suit of armor?"
When Ying asked a question, D'Artagnan patiently explained.
"Haha, that's my 'Demon King's Armor.' It puts a huge strain on the body, and it's only worth risking using in crucial moments. The injuries from that time in the Golden House haven't fully healed yet. Besides, I'm not 'Lady' type; I can't bring myself to use my trump card on new recruits, hahaha..."
Ying nodded, completely letting down her guard against the young master.
(The young master is actually willing to share his weaknesses... He really seems to be a simple person who loves fighting. And he values his family so much that he's willing to lose face to keep it a secret from Tok. Sister Lingling said the young master is her friend, so it seems that wasn't just a way of trying to mediate, but a fact...)
Hearing his brother use a new word, Tok became curious.
"The 'Demon King's Armament'? Is it even stronger than 'One-Eyed Little Treasure'? Tok also wants to learn fighting skills, to be as majestic as you, brother!"
D'Artagnan knelt down and stroked Tok's head.
"Fighting isn't about showing off, Tok. Only by understanding the meaning of 'struggle' can you grow stronger. I can teach you, but you need to think carefully about what you're fighting for."
"I think..."