Ch. 6 – Work

Yves scratched his head, looked down, and slowly turned away, giving the impression that the price was still a concern.

Just as he was about to walk away, the seller, recognizing his hesitation, called out. "Mr.Crow, wait! How about we make it $800? It's our last price, and we'll even throw in an extra fertilizer package for you. It's the best deal you'll get in this market!"

In his head, Yves couldn't help but smile slyly, thinking. "Got her." He then spoke up and said, "Hmm, $800 and the fertilizer package is tempting, but I was really hoping for something closer to $750. What do you say? I'll make the purchase right now, and we can skip the fertilizer package."

"That fertilizer package is probably cheap anyway. Better to get a bit more discount than an extra bag of plant food." Yves thought.

The seller, realizing Yves was still negotiating hard, hesitated for a moment. After a brief pause, she responded. "Alright, Mr.Crow. Let's make it $750, and you've got a deal. No fertilizer package, just the Blueberry Blood Shrub."

Yves, deliberately showing a small, satisfied smile, extended his hand for a handshake and said. "Okay, we've got a deal. Appreciate it."

The seller returned the handshake with a firm grip, signaling the agreement. She quickly presented the QR code for the transaction. While Yves smoothly scanned it, the seller added. "Great doing business with you, Mr. Crow. This Blueberry Blood Shrub will be delivered to your address by tomorrow morning.

"Thank you." Yves acknowledged. "Looking forward to it. Have a good day."

As Yves took a step back, a thought crossed his mind. "Mind if I take one last look at this Blueberry Blood Shrub before it's all packed up? Just a few minutes to appreciate it a bit more before it heads my way." Yves asked.

The seller, understanding the sentiment, nodded. "Of course, Mr. Crow. Take your time. It's a good pet monster, and we want you to be fully satisfied with your purchase."

Yves returned in front of the Blueberry Blood Shrub, focusing his eyes on the vibrant plant monster. As he observed, the holographic screen of the Blueberry Blood Shrub popped up once again.

⊂ Blueberry Blood Shrub ⊃

Grade: Black Iron-order

Realm: ★★

Species: Vaccinium Sanguinium/Shrubus

Special Trait: Tasty Berry

Affinity: Plant

Abilities: Enchanted Harvest, Petal Shield

Evolution Route: Blueberry Thorn Sentinel

Without wasting any second, Yves immediately pressed the evolution route section and selected the Blueberry Thorn Sentinel.

–

Evolution Route:

⊂ Blueberry Thorn Sentinel ⊃

: A unique plant monster armed with sharp thorns that it uses both for protection and to guard its special berries. These berries, touched by the Sentinel's magic, not only taste amazing but also have healing properties.

Potential: White Platinum-order

Conditions:

Must be at Realm: ★★★★★

10 Drops of Standard Nectar of Vitality

1 Lesser Plant Crystal

1 Lesser Mana Crystal

5 Standard Thorny Bloodvine Strands

As the details unfolded, Yves couldn't contain a laugh at his own train of thought. It was as he expected – the materials required for this evolution were currently out of his reach. However, he confidently believed. "After evolving Taro and once I start hunting in the forest for some extra funds, gathering these materials will be a piece of cake."

Before he walked away from the stall, Yves took one last admiring glance at the Blueberry Blood Shrub. "You'll be worth the wait, buddy." he whispered to himself.

As he strolled away, a sense of accomplishment filled Yves. Negotiating a favorable deal for the Blueberry Blood Shrub was a small victory. "That was a good purchase. I managed to save some money in the process." he thought, a satisfied smile showing on his lips.

Feeling the pressing urgency, Yves hurriedly made his way to another stall, where he swiftly secured 5 packages of standard fertilizer and 20 liters of Black Iron-order Monster's Blood – all vital for ensuring the well-being of his Blueberry Blood Shrub.

The countdown timer in the upper right corner of the screen seemed to accelerate its ticking as Yves completed the transactions. With a sigh of relief, he managed to finalize the purchases just in the nick of time before his session in the VR pod would expire.

As the timer reached zero, his screen instantly plunged into darkness. Yves carefully removed the helmet, the reality of the virtual world fading away as the VR pod automatically opened. Stepping out, he left the immersive experience of the virtual cafe behind.

In the busy environment outside the cafe, Yves glanced at his smartphone and saw that his work shift was about to start. Recognizing the need for speed, he hastily traversed to the parking lot, quickly unlocking his road bike.

Yves hopped onto his road bike, pedaling hard towards his workplace, the convenience store.

Arriving at the convenience store, Yves parked his bike and headed inside. Spotting his workmate, he greeted with a friendly, "Hey there! How's it going?"

His colleague, busy arranging shelves, looked up and responded. "Hey, Yves! It's been good. You're just in time for your shift. The aisles could use some attention."

"Great, I'm ready for it." Yves said with a nod, heading towards the staff room.

Inside the staff room, Yves changed into his work uniform. As he emerged, he noticed his workmate preparing to leave.

"You're in charge now." his colleague said, passing on the responsibility. "Just a heads up, the inventory needs a check and a new shipment is coming in later."

"No problem, I've got it covered." Yves assured, stepping into his role for the shift.

The bustling aisles awaited his attention as Yves began his shift. He navigated through the neatly organized shelves, ensuring each product was in its designated place. Customers passed by, and Yves greeted them with a friendly smile, creating a welcoming atmosphere within the store.

Time passed, and soon Yves found himself immersed in the inventory check. As he diligently counted and verified each item, he made mental notes of products that needed restocking. The burden of maintaining a well-stocked and organized store rested on his shoulders.

"Alright, let's make sure everything's in its place. Neat and tidy."

As Yves worked, the day turned into night. The sun went down, and the moon came up. Outside, the streetlights lit up the dark road. But inside the store, Yves kept everything running smoothly. He was experienced and skilled, so no problems happened during his shift. Customers could find what they needed, and the store stayed neat and organized thanks to Yves.

With a brief glance at the shelves, Yves commented. "Seems like everything is set up nicely Now, let's head over to the checkout counter."

Yves moved to the counter after ensuring the shelves were in order, he began scanning customers' products and offering them receipts with a warm smile. The familiar beep of the scanner echoed, and Yves efficiently processed each purchase, making the checkout experience smooth for the customers.

In the middle of the continuous beeping, a notification came in, announcing the arrival of a new shipment. Yves completed the ongoing transaction, excusing himself with a courteous nod to the customer.

"Thank you for shopping with us. Have a great evening!" Yves bid farewell to the departing customer before turning his attention to the incoming shipment.

Heading towards the back of the store, Yves greeted the delivery team and began the process of unloading the fresh products. Boxes were opened, and items were checked against the shipment list. Yves, with his experienced eye, ensured that the new stock consistently integrated with the existing inventory.

The store, which had been occupied with the activity of customers, now saw a different kind of hustle as Yves actively managed the checkout counter and supervised the new shipment. His multitasking skills and attention to detail were evident as he effortlessly switched between roles.

After some time, the completion of the shipment was indicated by the lack of unopened boxes in the delivery area. Yves looked over the neatly organized shelves and the store, now fully stocked, with a feeling of satisfaction. The products were well-arranged, and the checkout counter ran smoothly.

Yves wasn't just doing his best at work for the fun of it. No, sir. He had his eyes set on a goal – becoming the Employee of the Month. Why, you ask? Well, there were some sweet incentives and extra money involved. And who doesn't like a bit of extra cash?

You see, Yves was the kind of guy who believed in the power of rewards. If there's a prize at the end, you bet he's giving it his all. That's why he didn't just focus on keeping the store spick and spa, he went the extra mile to chat with customers, make them happy, and ensure they left with a smile.

Because, in Yves' world, happy customers meant good feedback, and good feedback meant a better shot at that coveted Employee of the Month title. And what did that title bring? Recognition, a pat on the back, and, most importantly, a little extra moolah in the pocket.

In a world where benefits matter, Yves was the guy who knew the drill. He understood the value of hard work, not just for the sake of it, but for the sweet reward waiting at the finish line. So, with every product neatly placed and every customer interaction filled with warmth, Yves was on a mission – a mission to turn his efforts into a paycheck that had a few extra zeroes.