With the mindset of making extra profit, Qi Xu worked with exceptional diligence. From morning until noon when the Worker Monkey came to check, she hadn’t taken a single break—no water, no bathroom. Nearly a quarter of the warehouse had been cleared out. Though she hadn’t found anything valuable—just a morning full of kitchen waste—Qi Xu only grew more enthusiastic.
Especially after stumbling upon a box of nearly expired instant noodles, she became even more convinced of her hunch: she was going to strike it rich in this dungeon!
When the Worker Monkey came to inspect and planned to take her to lunch, it was stunned.
"Trash Collector... aren’t you tired?"
What the Worker Monkey didn’t say aloud was:
You only need to meet the workload quota to get paid and avoid penalties—there’s no extra reward. Why are you pushing so hard?
Qi Xu did feel exhausted, but compared to combat, this was much easier—at least the mental pressure was lower, and she didn’t have to stay constantly on edge.
And for some reason... it sounded a little strange, but Qi Xu felt inexplicably happy in a place full of garbage.
Even useless trash seemed adorable to her—cute and harmless. And oddly enough, she couldn’t even smell the stench!
Seeing the stunned Worker Monkey, Qi Xu waved her hand and answered with utmost sincerity, "Since I’ve been given this job, I must do it well and seriously. I love my work!"
The Worker Monkey wanted to say more but stopped itself. If she performed well, it would get a bonus too. So it just clicked its tongue and said,
"Come on, I’ll take you to eat."
Qi Xu followed for a few steps before suddenly remembering... "Uh, do you eat bananas?"
The standard employee meal was a boxed lunch—disgusting in taste, but at least filling.
If the monkey took her to eat bananas instead, Qi Xu would be at a loss. She’d rather stick to the boxed meal. After all, her physical stats had improved, and her appetite had grown. Eating just fruit wouldn’t sustain her.
"Oh, dear Trash Collector, do you like bananas too? Don’t worry, they’re included as dessert in the meal. I’m taking you to the premium employee cafeteria—you pay with credits. I’ll let you take two extra afterward."
Qi Xu understood. Once they left the underground area, she could access her backpack again. She quietly slipped three survival coins to the Worker Monkey.
"I can’t let you pay for my meal—that wouldn’t be right. Take these. I’m already grateful you’re bringing me to the premium cafeteria."
The Worker Monkey grinned even wider.
[In the dungeon "The Princess’ Banquet," Worker Monkey’s favorability toward you has increased by 10 points. Current favorability: 15.]
Qi Xu remembered this monkey mentioning that it set the prices for trash recycling. So... boosting its favorability was definitely the right move.
The cafeteria wasn’t far from the worksite—just a five-minute walk.
The outermost four halls were the standard dining areas, already packed with players. The lively chatter from the morning was gone; everyone had gotten their first taste of the dungeon’s cruelty.
Still, they rushed into the cafeteria with hope. Regardless of how much pay they’d get, at least they could eat their fill and recoup some losses!
Qi Xu followed the Worker Monkey further inside, where it was much quieter. The premium cafeteria was about the same size as the standard one, but the queues were filled with monster employees.
Many of them glanced curiously at the human player trailing behind the Worker Monkey.
Every serving window had a line, but the Worker Monkey led Qi Xu to the longest one.
Qi Xu had planned to follow without comment, but then she spotted Chinese Master Chef in a cook’s uniform at the far-end window.
Her eyes lit up. "Can I go to that window instead?"
The Worker Monkey frowned. "That’s a player chef. The food must be terrible."
It was about to refuse but remembered the three survival coins... Well, a gift accepted was a favor owed.
"Fine, let’s go."
Chinese Master Chef was overjoyed. Though he’d passed the advanced chef exam and been assigned to the premium cafeteria, he needed 100 positive reviews.
The problem? No monsters came to his window. Just as he was despairing, he saw his beloved Whirlwind Boss!
And she’d even brought another customer! As expected of Whirlwind Boss—she thrived everywhere!
At a glance, Qi Xu recognized all the dishes as Chinese Master Chef’s work. Familiar flavors brought her instant relief.
She still remembered the food from her last run in this dungeon—the taste was indescribable, etched into her memory even now.
The Worker Monkey swiped 50 credits and handed Qi Xu a tray, letting her pick her meal.
The standard was three dishes, a soup, and a staple. Extra portions cost extra credits.
Chinese Master Chef winked at Qi Xu, took the tray, and piled it high with food.
Under the rice, he hid two translucent white tangyuan.
The Worker Monkey stared, then turned to Qi Xu. "You know him?"
Qi Xu nodded and whispered, "One of ours."
The Worker Monkey immediately handed over its own tray. Chinese Master Chef loaded it up just as generously, adding two more tangyuan.
Instantly, the Worker Monkey warmed up to this plump player. Not all humans were annoying—this Trash Collector and this colorful chef seemed alright!
While the Worker Monkey stepped away with its food, Qi Xu hurriedly asked, "How are you holding up?"
"Managing. Just cooking."
"Boss, what about you? Our kitchen’s understaffed. If your job’s too rough, you can come work as my assistant. Advanced chefs get one helper."
Qi Xu shook her head. Even though she hadn’t found a single recyclable item all morning, she firmly believed that the Trash Collector was the most OP role in any scenario.
"Whirlwind Boss, make sure he gives me a good review!"
Chinese Master Chef subtly tilted his head toward the Worker Monkey. Qi Xu got it. "Got it. How many do you need?"
"A hundred. If I don’t hit it, I’ll be demoted to the standard cafeteria tomorrow. The workload’s way heavier there."
Qi Xu nodded. "I’ll figure something out."
Chinese Master Chef’s eyes welled up. "Whirlwind Boss... thank goodness you’re here!"
Naturally introverted, he struggled even with humans—let alone a crowd of monsters.
Trying to attract customers was nerve-wracking. He could barely hold a normal conversation, terrified some monster might snap and gobble him up. After all, his plump, fair-skinned appearance practically screamed "delicious"...
.........
