Ji Xue’s profession as a “Swordmaster” requires not only hard work and practice but also a certain “enlightenment” to progress.
This enlightenment is quite mystical and might be missed if not seized, so she must now focus on her retreat.
The kind-hearted Torina, along with Laxis, cleared out the human-faced insect nests in the underground passage (Laxis handled the output, Torina did the cheering), and had Naji cast a layer of concealment blessing on the secret passage entrance (Naji did the spellcasting, Torina did the cheering), leaving Ji Xue there and leading the team away.
It was then that she noticed what Milora had chosen.
“A… greatsword?”
“Yeah, it feels… really cool.”
“With your strength, it’s hard to wield it, right? Plus, the swordsmanship I taught you doesn’t really match with a greatsword.”
“Uh, but…”
“It’s okay, since you’ve chosen it, take good care of it.”
“Okay!” Seeing Torina’s approval, Milora hummed happily like a praised cat.
Meanwhile, Torina was pondering.
In the original story, the Protagonist’s main weapon later on was a greatsword, and many teammates were cut down with it… If possible, she hoped she would choose something else.
——————
And so, the Moon Shepherd Adventurer Group (excluding Ji Xue) finally left the Garden Town where they had stayed for two months, away from the fly and mosquito-infested, snake and leech-ridden Amana Forest.
They packed their luggage, took their spoils, and headed to the nearest big city from Garden Town—Zhiwei Town.
This is a city with thriving trade and a booming tourism industry.
Although still hot and humid, it’s at least more livable.
They easily found the best inn in town, and Torina used her wealth to book several of the best rooms. Milora and Anna-veil even argued over the room location, both wanting to be next to Torina’s room.
In the end, their rooms sandwiched Torina’s room in the middle.
After booking the rooms, Anna-veil, as usual, went to sell the extra materials and equipment, while Torina went to the Adventurer’s Guild to report that “Amana Forest has been conquered,” using the organs cut from the lord as proof.
This was no small matter, and it alarmed the branch president of the city guild, the temple priests, and the trade association managers.
Many reporters and intelligence merchants also came.
Torina knew the importance of keeping a low profile.
Although eager to make achievements, she was rational and would never rashly show off in public—
“That’s right, it was our Moon Shepherd Adventurer Group that got the first kill of the Amana Forest lord! All thanks to my powerful skills and wise leadership! Follow TorinaDeville meow! Follow the Moon Shepherd Adventurer Group meow! Please recognize the only official account ToriTori_official, thank you everyone!”
—Oops, old habits die hard.
Being a beautiful girl, a reincarnator, rich, with status, cheats, and able to get close to Feng Aotian, such strength and joy, even a Buddha couldn’t resist showing off.
Thus, Torina happily accepted the branch president’s commendation, gave interviews, and received the certificate and medal for the boss’s first kill.
“Thank you for your contribution to the Adventurer’s Guild! Please continue to work hard, expand and strengthen the team, and create more glory in the future!”
The only downside was that the branch president’s speech was just like the leaders from her past life, quite a mood killer.
But he was right.
Torina indeed needed to strengthen team building next, to put this initially casual adventurer group on the right track.
So she decided to introduce advanced management systems from her past life.
After all, she was at least a team leader managing a few newcomers in her previous life~
…………
That night, Torina called everyone to her room.
“Good evening, everyone.
Have you all finished handling your personal matters today?”
“Yes, while you were showing off and getting medals,” Anna-veil said with a hint of sarcasm.
“Ahem, that’s part of establishing the team’s image, an important part of team operations.”
“More importantly… what’s with your outfit? Some new fashion?”
Usually, Torina’s clothes were in a fitted dress style, but this time it was quite different.
She was now wearing clothes not found in this world, known in her past life as an “OL suit,” which she had custom-made.
The top was a white high-neck ribbed knit sweater, with a classic black women’s short blazer over it.
The bottom was a black pleated skirt just covering the thighs, with semi-sheer black glossy tights on her legs, looking both professional and (super) alluring.
…However, she was wearing a pair of thick-soled, soft-material flat shoes, roughly equivalent to sneakers on Earth, making the outfit look odd, as if it would make her feet smell.
“These shoes, don’t they… not match the outfit?”
Even Milora, who didn’t understand fashion, could see it.
“They’re for comfort.
After awakening that skill, wearing heels feels awkward… ahem, don’t mind it! Anyway! We need to expand and strengthen the team, can’t keep a casual mindset, so I’ve organized some rules and regulations to implement in the future.”
“What kind of rules? Just the usual guild stuff, right?” Anna-veil quipped.
“Heh, you don’t understand.”
Torina waved her sword, and chalk immediately wrote a few big words on the blackboard:
“First is the ‘Performance’ system.”
“‘Performance’?”
“A combination of achievements and effectiveness, used to measure employee output within a certain time, resources, and conditions.
I’ve decided to grade it from 0 to 5, with 3 subdivided into 3.25, 3.5-, 3.5, 3.5+, 3.75, and then there’s this… ‘Attendance’.”
“‘Attendance’?”
“Literally means checking attendance.
From now on, I’ll keep track of whether everyone is working, on leave, late, leaving early, or working overtime every day… and then there’s the salary system.
We’ll implement ‘Thirteen Salaries’.”
“‘Thirteen Salaries’?”
“In the last month of each year, besides the monthly salary, you can get an extra month’s salary.
The first year will be prorated based on the joining time, and from the second year, you can get the full thirteen salaries.
Besides that… there’s the ‘Year-end Bonus’.”
“‘Year-end Bonus’?”
“A monetary or other material reward given to employees at the end of the fiscal year, with no upper limit.
The amount of the bonus is linked to the team’s performance and performance rating for the year.
A normal level of 3.5 will get a bonus of three months’ salary, 3.75 will get more and have a chance for promotion next year, 3.5- means not doing well enough, and 3.25 means you might as well resign voluntarily… and then there’s the ‘Values Scoring’.”
“‘Values’?”
“I’ll establish a healthy and positive corporate culture and promote the values of our Moon Shepherd Adventurer Group.
Your daily conduct will also be included in the performance rating, divided into A, B, and C levels.
If rated C, it means your behavior doesn’t quite align with the corporate values… and from now on, each person’s work goals will be managed using ‘OKR’.”
“‘OKR’?”
“It’s a tree-structured management system based on objectives and key results.
I’ll break down the team goals and align them with each person’s specific work, and then—”
“What are you even talking about??”
“I’m introducing you country bumpkins to the advanced management systems from my hometown.”
“Totally incomprehensible!!”
