Chapter 164: Chapter 164: Diametrically Opposed Situations, the City Lord of the Slums

Meanwhile.

A cold wind blew, and the red mist on the street was as thick as blood.

"ACHOO!"

Han Sumei, dressed in work clothes and rubber gloves, sneezed. A shiver ran through her, and two streams of snot ran from her nose.

She could only turn her head to wipe it with her sleeve, her heart filled with humiliation and despair.

All because both of her gloves were covered in filth.

Behind her was a septic truck.

The manhole cover in front of her was open.

A damp, foul stench unique to sewers assaulted her nostrils, like the tentacles of a squid.

Han Sumei was cold and hungry!

She hadn’t eaten all day, but she had no appetite at all.

—She had been forced to clean out three sewers in a row.

This was her current job: sewer cleaner!

This was far worse than any of her previous work environments!

’Even a janitor doesn’t have to personally touch this kind of filth, right?’

’And now?’

’Not only do I have to climb into the sewer myself, but I also have to use my hands to clear the blockages.’

’What kind of damn official position is this?’

’I had to take a test for this?’

’This is the position I fought tooth and nail to test into?’

Han Sumei felt her mind going numb.

In the real world, she was an internet-famous model adored by thousands!

But after entering this strange matchmaking system, all she did was disgusting work!

She really wanted to just quit.

But a ghost would be coming to inspect later. If it wasn’t clean, it would be considered a dereliction of duty, and she would suffer severe punishment.

If she could, Han Sumei would have slapped her past self!

If there was a pill for regret, she would have taken a hundred!

’To think I gave up being a public restroom attendant!’

’I just had to become a sewer cleaner. Happy now?’

She saw a few ghosts happen to pass by.

They instinctively pinched their noses, gave her a disgusted look, and quickly hurried away.

Just then, a voice came from behind her.

"Hurry up and get to it! What are you daydreaming about?"

"Finish up so we can eat. I’m starving!"

Another middle-aged, sewer-cleaner ghost urged her on.

Utterly dejected, Han Sumei could only bite the bullet and lower herself into the sewer.

This kind of life.

She had to endure it for at least another month.

Not even Mario could go down pipes like her.

...

「Elsewhere.」

Several other participants were sweeping the streets.

Fortunately, the ghost city was relatively safe, so as long as they worked diligently, no one gave them a hard time.

Perhaps it was because of Yun Zhenyue.

The participants from every country had all managed to pass the written and oral exams by a stroke of luck.

However, their scores were very low.

The only positions left for them were the lowest-level ones.

Even though they were official positions, they came with no real power.

This was different from the real world, where you first pick a position and then take the test.

In the ghost city, it was the other way around.

Whoever had the highest composite score got the better job.

At this moment, a few of the participants who had just finished sweeping their assigned streets felt their backs ache with soreness.

They had just managed to shovel all the trash into a large dumpster.

But before they could even catch their breath...

"WOOF WOOF WOOF!!"

A dog appeared from nowhere, took a liking to the dumpster, and started dragging it away by its rim, spilling trash all over the road again!

These participants were already exhausted.

Seeing this, they completely lost it!

They...

Were being bullied by a dog?

The street-sweeping job didn’t provide meals. If they wanted to eat, they had to buy their own food. The problem was, they wouldn’t get paid until next month. They were all starving and had basically no energy to give chase.

All they could do was pant and power-walk after it.

Watching helplessly as the dog ran further and further away.

...

「Meanwhile.」

Yamada Aiko, aside from Yun Zhenyue, had arguably gotten the best position.

She had left a polite impression on the examiner during her interview.

And had secured the position of librarian.

It was at a place called the Eternal Life Library.

Yamada Aiko was responsible for assisting patrons and doing some simple book organization, which was quite easy.

A profession that was insignificant in the real world...

...was deeply respected by the ghosts in the ghost city.

Wherever Yamada Aiko went,

the ghosts who entered the library would look at her with envy or admiration.

All because she was a ghost city official who possessed an Iron Fish Talisman!

After placing a book back on the shelf,

Yamada Aiko’s feelings were complex.

"Sigh~"

As she sighed,

she couldn’t help but think of Yun Zhenyue.

’Just as a librarian, I’m feeling a level of respect I’ve never experienced before.’

’So what about Yun Zhenyue?’

’She’s the City Lord!’

’I have no idea how she managed to do all this.’

’Is she really smarter than everyone else?’

’Or could it be...’

’...that Gu Yuan arranged all of this?’

...

The live broadcast scenes were imprinted in the eyes of the global audience.

Compared to Yun Zhenyue, who was living a life of utter luxury,

the participants from other countries were having a miserable time!

They couldn’t get enough to eat or wear!

They were even getting bullied by dogs!

And what about Yun Zhenyue?

She lived in the City Lord’s manor, drove a ghost sports car, ate famous ghost delicacies, and could even tip a Crimson-robed Ghost dancer!

She was the spitting image of a boorish tycoon!

The sense of disconnect was just too strong!

It was as if they weren’t even from the same world!

What kind of garbage did their partners give them?

They couldn’t even compare to Gu Yuan!

He didn’t say a word!

And yet who knows what price he paid to get Yun Zhenyue into the City Lord’s position.

The audiences from various countries all had different thoughts.

[Miss Sumi, please stop cleaning... If you keep going, I’m really going to unfollow you.]

[Shibal, she’s just biding her time, what do you know!]

[Stupid damn dog, someone catch it, FUCK!]

[Why does the Dragon Country woman get to enjoy all this? I really don’t get it. Are those examiners all idiots?]

[I don’t get it either. Gu Yuan... is he really sealed? And can a mid-level Evil Star just appoint a City Lord whenever they want?]

...

"Xiaoying!"

As the ghost sports car was driving along,

Yun Zhenyue’s sharp eyes spotted Xiaoying walking on the side of the road.

She immediately called out, inviting her into the car to give her a ride home.

"..."

Xiaoying turned her head without a word.

She just looked at Yun Zhenyue and the sports car she was in with a complicated expression.

The price of this car...

...was probably enough to fund Embers’ activities for several years!

She had only known Yun Zhenyue for a day,

but her status had changed drastically.

She had originally wanted to recommend Yun Zhenyue to join Embers.

But now she was the City Lord?

It was obvious without even having to guess.

Yun Zhenyue’s background had to be terrifyingly powerful!

This ghost city might just be a temporary stopping point for her.

As for the title of City Lord,

Yun Zhenyue didn’t seem to take it that seriously.

They were from two different worlds!

"Xiaoying, come on, we can squeeze you in..."

In the end, unable to resist Yun Zhenyue’s enthusiastic invitation,

Xiaoying reluctantly got into the sports car.

Since the car only had two seats, she squeezed into the passenger seat with Yun Zhenyue.

Thankfully, they were both slim, so it wasn’t too much of a squeeze.

At this moment, Si Qin glanced at Xiaoying in surprise.

’I didn’t expect Yun Zhenyue to have friends in this ghost city.’

’I already investigated.’

’The City Lord only entered the ghost city today.’

’This little girl...’

’Did she approach the City Lord on purpose?’ 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"Let’s take Xiaoying home first."

Hearing Yun Zhenyue’s order,

Si pushed the stray thoughts from her mind and nodded, asking, "If I may ask, City Lord, where does your friend live?"

Xiaoying hesitated for a moment.

Finally, she bit her lip and named a place that surprised them both.

"The slums?"