[✓] No phone for 1 hour, take a cold shower, keep your room spotless.
| Reward: $10,000.
[✓] Dress with confidence.
| Reward: $10,000.
Augustus smiled brightly at the rewards and began walking toward Alexandra's car while checking his phone for any notifications, and to his surprise, there were already 3,000 people following his 'AugustusAura11' account.
With a small smile, he pocketed his phone and slid into Alexandra's car.
Thank God nothing happened to the car, he mused and slowly began driving toward the Crunch Studio's new office.
However, from the corner of his eye, he saw a small, cute puppy tied to a pole tightly above ground. "Wharf!" it barked toward his passing car.
Augustus immediately stopped the car, a deep frown etched onto his lips. He stepped out and walked toward the dog, anger flaring in his eyes.
"Unbelievable… but why am I not surprised?" he sneered in disgust.
"Wharf, wharf…" it barked again, its eyes shimmering with sadness.
"Poor animal. Someone left you just like that, huh?" he murmured softly and crouched down.
Then, giving it a few pats, he swiftly yet gently untied the thick rope that was harshly wrapped around its body.
He gave a quick scan, searching for any injuries, and fortunately, there were none.
Letting out a long sigh of relief, Augustus gently scooped the dog and steadily began walking toward the car. "Don't worry, you're safe now," he reassured with a light smile and got into the car.
"Wharf!" it barked as if to say thank you while sitting in the front seat. Augustus smiled, though discontent was easily evident in his eyes.
Shaking his head, he finally drove off to the Empire Building—to Crunch Studio.
***
A high-rise building stretched toward the sky. Its artistic, yet nature-friendly design was impressive and marvelous, to say the least.
Standing before the building, "Did we get the office here?" Augustus dazedly mumbled, and with an excited smile, stepped in through the automatic door.
The air… suddenly shifted with heaviness, as if he had stepped into a different world.
He breathed in, feeling as if someone had put extra weights on his body.
Sweeping his gaze, he saw many people in expensive suits walking past him with varied glances, carrying an air he was… not very familiar with. Most working here were upper-middle class.
"Wharf," the cute puppy barked, looking at his serious face.
"Yeah, little guy. I don't need to worry. If their world is different… so is mine," he mumbled softly, eyes gleaming with a mixture of confidence and determination.
As he confidently stated this with a steady gaze, a few weights on his body seemed to have receded quickly.
Smiling faintly, he steadily reached the elevator, stepped in, and pressed the 23rd floor.
"Here for the interview?" a man in checkered asked as the lift doors closed.
Augustus tilted his head. Well, if I'm the interviewer, then I'm here for the interview, right? he thought playfully.
"Yes," Augustus nodded innocently with a faint smile, chuckling inwardly.
"Haah," the young man sighed anxiously. "Why are there so many people applying?" he mumbled earnestly, standing beside Augustus.
"I've already failed my startup. Hope I get this job," he said nervously while fidgeting with his files.
"I heard the boss is someone young," a woman rasped from behind them, a sly smile playing at her lips.
"I'll one hundred percent get the job if I apply to be his secretary. You know how the young ones are…" she said with a hidden meaning.
Augustus turned around with a confused expression. "But there were no openings for secretary jobs?" he questioned.
"Haha, I'll create one…" she said with a knowing smirk.
"…"
Before they knew it, the elevator's door opened with a chime, and as Augustus set his foot into the office—
Ding…
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Task #017:
[×] – Hire 1/3 people for Crunch Studio.
| Penalty: After office hours, every device wallpaper changes to "Staff Wanted – Crunch Studio HR."
Leaders don't just work, they multiply. Build the team, build the dream.
| Reward: $300,000 + Respect.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
The system's translucent panel flared, and just behind it, "The Crunch Studio," Augustus read the big orange letters. With a delighted smile,
He walked through the corridor and saw many people pacing around with unease while holding work files, nervousness and tension easily evident on their faces.
Whoa, there are at least 100–150 people here. Augustus surmised, taking in the surroundings.
A satisfied smile played on his lips as he glanced at the 50 computers cleanly organized with enough breathing space.
He wanted to meet David and help him with the interviewing process, but he didn't know the room, so just as he was about to ask for directions to the interview room—
"Augustus!" a familiar voice called him from behind.
Turning around, he smiled and asked, "Hi, Max. How's it going? Also, can you please show me the interview room?"
Max nodded with a light smile. "All good, because of you," he stated.
Then his eyes zoomed in on the puppy Augustus was holding. "Hi, cute puppy," he greeted, patting it on its head happily, and glanced at Augustus.
"Please follow me," he mumbled with ease, not showing the same nervousness he had in the GadgetGrid.
They both walked toward the interview room and saw many people patiently waiting in formal attire—some excited, some nervous.
Should I just barge in? he thought, looking at the main door, but shook his head.
Seeing how the main door was packed with many people patiently waiting to enter, he decided not to create any drama.
While looking around, he saw a door just beside the interview room. Hoping it would be connected, he messaged David instead of calling.
| Is there any way I can enter the interview room without the main door?
He sent.
People were already looking at him with weird glances because of the dog—some whispered calling it unprofessional but did not dare call him out fearing opinioned responses that might put a mark on this interview, on the other hand, there were also people who happily came to pet the dog with fondness.
| Yes, there's a way, but it's locked from inside. Give me 30 sec, please.
Augustus read the message and waited in front of the door for a brief moment before it was unlocked, and he and Max stepped in.
They both saw David with a happy yet stressed smile. "Welcome, Augustus, to the new Crunch Studio," he exclaimed with a light smile, and added,
"I still can't believe that just a few days ago the same Crunch Studio was barely a 10x10 feet room," he mumbled, a mixture of hope and determination flashing in his eyes.
He briefly glanced at the small puppy, then at Max, but didn't say anything. "Anyways, follow me. I've left the candidate hanging there. She seems promising compared to all the average applications," David stated while walking.
Augustus nodded and followed behind. "David is the CEO," Augustus introduced, glancing at Max.
They passed through the attached door and finally entered the interview room. It was a bright room, with plenty of space—where Augustus could easily fit in his two-apartment room.
Sweeping his gaze, he saw a girl sitting on a comfortable chair. Their eyes met. She smiled. Augustus smiled back and moved toward the seats opposite her.