Doomsday Dealer

Chapter 1: The Mysterious Company

"Huff~~"

A thick puff of cigarette smoke drifted out, hitting the computer screen displaying job search results.

[Hello, your qualifications don't match our position requirements. We won't be considering your application at this time. Thank you!]

Marcus Sullivan's eyes showed a hint of irritation as he expressionlessly closed the popup window. Just as he was about to continue searching for another company, his phone vibrated on the desk. He turned and picked it up.

"Hello? Marcus?"

Hearing that slightly hoarse, familiar voice, Marcus's wooden expression gained a trace of mockery. "Richard? Missing me already? Can't run the business without me?"

"What's with that attitude?! I sent you to negotiate with a client, and you ended up punching him! Wasn't I right to fire you?!" Richard's voice carried suppressed anger. "Mr. Wang was just fooling around with Jessica. Jessica herself didn't think it was s****l harassment, and you still think you were playing the hero, don't you!"

"The company spent six months on this deal, and you ruined millions in profit!"

"Wasn't I the one who brought in this business? Wasn't I the one who negotiated it?"

"What do you mean you negotiated it? Without the company platform, what could you negotiate? The company has already taken enough heat for you. I've been running around like crazy because of your mess, haven't slept a wink, and threw up over a dozen times from all the drinking! You should be grateful I didn't have you thrown in jail. Who do you think I did all this for!"

After saying this, Richard took a deep breath over the phone.

"I finally managed to get Mr. Wang to meet tonight. He specifically wants you to apologize. As long as you apologize, everything can be worked out, and I can give you another chance. You know I've always appreciated you the most..."

Flicker!

The light bulb overhead suddenly flashed. Marcus squinted and looked up to check.

When he looked back down, a strange popup had appeared on his computer screen.

[System Recommendation: After screening, you qualify for our "Special Risk Management" position. Would you like to submit your detailed resume immediately? Yes/No]

Thinking it was spam, Marcus instinctively wanted to close the popup, but with Richard's nagging in his ear, he paused and let out a scoff.

"Richard, plenty of companies want to hire me. You think I need your job?" With that, he pressed the mouse and casually clicked confirm.

"I know you've got guts, but there's no need to be stubborn. You've had good income at the company for years. You know what the job market is like out there. The economy is so competitive, everyone's fighting for jobs, and fresh college graduates are cheaper than dirt. I think... you wouldn't want to lose this job, would you?"

Marcus puffed on his cigarette, silent for a moment before saying, "You're all together, aren't you? Let me talk to Jessica."

Soon, a timid, soft female voice came through the phone: "Marcus, it's me."

"That night you were crying and begging me to save you... and now you've made up with that Wang guy? How much did he pay you?"

"Marcus, you misunderstood. I was just panicked at the time. Who knew you'd be so quick to act..."

"f**k you, you really have the nerve to say that!" Marcus exploded in anger.

But then he let out a deflated sigh. "Ha, fine, I'll take the loss this time. Mr. Wang is with you guys, right? I can apologize, but let's be clear – if I swallow my pride and admit fault, you have to let me back in the company tomorrow with the same benefits."

"I'll call Mr. Wang over right now. As long as you satisfy him with your apology, I'll let you back in the company immediately. You'll need to apologize to him in person later too. Let bygones be bygones, and who knows, maybe this deal can still be assigned to you." Richard's eager voice came through along with the sound of footsteps.

From the sound, it was clearly on speakerphone.

After a while, another man's voice could be heard faintly through the phone.

"Hello...?"

"Hello my a*s! Wang, you think buying off that b***h gives you the right to mess with me? I've got video of you two lovebirds. Try to provoke me again and see if it doesn't go viral! Apologize my a*s, you pair of scumbags!!!"

After the tirade, Marcus hung up directly and viciously stubbed out his cigarette.

He sighed and sank into depression. Standing up for what's right, only to be bitten back, and losing his job in the end... dealing with this kind of s**t was truly disgusting.

But he didn't regret it.

After all, his female colleague's clothes had been torn that night, and she was screaming like a pig being slaughtered.

If he hadn't acted in that situation, he might as well have castrated himself and bought a plane ticket to Japan to apply for the position of "incompetent husband."

Too bad that old p*****t moved too fast that night. If he had been more careful and actually recorded video, he wouldn't have to bluff about retaliation like he was doing now.

Good deeds never go unpunished – what a f****d-up world.

After calming down for a bit, Marcus composed himself and sat up straight.

Just as he was about to get back to the computer, there was a knock at the door behind him.

Two knocks, then silence.

"Who is it!"

Marcus called out, got up with his cigarette still in his mouth, and walked toward the door.

Opening the door... his gaze slowly moved downward to the ground.

A package was already sitting on the floor.

Picking up the package, Marcus turned and went back inside, wondering to himself. He didn't remember ordering anything, and it was almost eight o'clock – what kind of delivery service was this?

Seeing the correct recipient address on the package, Marcus didn't think much of it, assuming it was probably some tissues he'd bought for a few cents with a coupon from some novel app.

He casually grabbed scissors to open the package. The first thing he saw was an A4 sheet covered in small text.

He tossed the paper aside, revealing an exquisite black briefcase and a transparent mask underneath.

"Huh?"

Marcus was completely puzzled.

Having worked for years, he'd seen plenty of briefcases, and this one was definitely expensive. The style was simple and elegant, with an indescribable sense of luxury that was truly appealing.

But who would send him such a briefcase? And what was with the mask?

Curious, Marcus took out the briefcase to examine it.

As soon as his hand touched the edge, he felt the cold touch of metal, like a handle.

When he saw the full shape of the object, Marcus raised an eyebrow.

A g*n?

A sleek silver pistol, elegant and luxurious.

It felt quite heavy in his hand.

Oh, buying a briefcase and getting a high-end lighter as a bonus?

Marcus didn't think much and directly pulled the trigger.

'Bang!'

A gunshot rang out, and a burst of flame erupted from the barrel.

The bullet shot out at an angle and drilled into the ceiling.

Smoke curled up from the g*n barrel...

"I... what!"

This sudden turn of events made Marcus duck his head instinctively, his mind going blank.

The gun... was real?!

Marcus mechanically turned his neck, staring fixedly at the silver g*n in his hand.

He gasped tremblingly a couple of times, and when he came to his senses, he quickly dove toward the bed, rapidly drew the curtains, and stuffed the g*n under the bedding.

He then backed away several steps, and only then did the trembling in his heart subside by half.

A strong sense of confusion and horror swept over him.

The mafia? Wrong delivery? Meant for the previous tenant?

No, the package had his name and phone number on it – it couldn't be a mistake.

He was brave enough, but in a peaceful society, guns carried extraordinary significance, and he might have accidentally gotten involved in some complex situation.

Just as Marcus's mind was racing, there was another knock at the door!

Startled, Marcus grabbed a beer bottle from the floor and rushed to the door in two quick steps, gripping the handle tightly.

Nervously, he peered through the peephole, and only relaxed when he saw who was outside.

It wasn't a stranger – it was Mrs. Davis from next door, who was also his landlord. She was usually quite helpful, though perhaps overly so, always eager to get involved whenever there was any commotion in the neighborhood.

She probably heard the gunshot.

With the situation unclear and possibly more developments ahead, he couldn't drag her into this.

Forcing himself to calm down, Marcus cleared his throat and spoke: "Who is it?"

"Marcus? It's Mrs. Davis... did something explode in your apartment?"

"Ah..." Marcus paused for a moment, then said in a low voice, "I was cooking and wasn't watching the stove. The pressure cooker exploded. It's nothing, I'll clean it up right away."

"Oh my! You young people... you should be more careful when cooking..."

Hearing Mrs. Davis's concerned voice gradually fade away until it disappeared completely, Marcus let out a long breath.

Turning back to look into the room, his eyes focused when they landed on the package on the table.

He quickly strode to the table and grabbed the sheet of paper he had mistaken for a promotional flyer.

His urgent, tense gaze scanned the paper, and when he saw the lines of text, he felt like electricity was coursing through his entire body!

[Congratulations, your submitted resume has been received and approved by our company. Basic office supplies have been distributed, and your internship assessment will begin shortly.]

[You will be transported to a dying world in two hours. Please immediately contact and protect the client's safe passage through the early apocalypse. Once the client has independent survival capabilities in the post-apocalyptic world, the mission will be complete, and the company will recall you.]

[During the mission, our company will provide necessary basic assistance, including but not limited to language translation, currency exchange, identity... Please do not reveal any company information to outsiders and do your best to demonstrate your potential.]

[Mission success: You will be officially hired and gain access to more company privileges.]

[Mission failure: You're on your own.]

At this point, a red line of fire appeared at the top of the notice, but there was no visible flame, no smoke, and no heat could be felt.

The notice burned in this eerie way from top to bottom, not even leaving a trace of ash.

When it was mostly burned, Marcus loosened his grip and let the notice flutter to the ground.

Under his trembling gaze, the line of fire finally consumed the last line at the bottom... Heavenly Dao Responsibility Unlimited Company.

.....