The next morning, Zach Evans swiftly activated his system panel, checking his current energy levels.
Positive Energy Value: [5000]
'One set of basic smart irrigation equipment costs 500 points. Each bottle of soil nutrient solution is 100 points, and each acre of land needs 10 bottles. For ten acres, that's 100 bottles—10,000 points. Plus the irrigation system's 5000 points... a total of 15,000 positive energy points. Gotta figure something out,' Zach thought, deep in calculation.
Just then, his phone rang, breaking the early morning silence and jolting him from his thoughts. Startled, Zach almost dropped his phone as it slipped out of his hand, soaring through the air before he caught it mid-flight. Nervously glancing at the screen, he saw the name "Master of Big Talk" flashing, which immediately eased his tension.
Taking a deep breath to calm his racing heart, Zach answered the call.
"You're still alive? I thought you might've kicked the bucket, considering how long you took to pick up the phone!" came Lily Quinn's loud, no-nonsense voice, blasting through the receiver. It rang so loud in his ear that Zach reflexively pulled the phone away.
'This girl could shatter glass with that voice,' Zach mused, feeling slightly exasperated. 'Such a shame, considering she's got such a pretty face…'
"What's up, Lily? Trying to kill me with that 'sonic boom' voice of yours?" Zach shot back, masking his slight embarrassment with humor.
"Quit your whining. You promised to brief the new recruits today. They're all here, and I don't have all day to babysit you!" Lily snapped, her tone making it clear she wasn't in the mood for games.
"Alright, alright. Give me ten minutes. I'll be there in a flash!" Zach jumped up from the couch, the urgency in her voice pushing him into action.
"Get here quick! We need to finalize employee benefits and salaries. You need to approve them so I can draft the contracts." With that, Lily hung up, leaving only the dead tone on the other end.
Zach hurried out the door and flagged down a taxi to the company headquarters. On the way, an idea suddenly hit him, making his eyes light up. He knew exactly how to handle the situation.
At the company's office on the first floor, the newly hired employees sat in chairs, some whispering to one another in low voices, others scrolling through their phones to distract from the nervous anticipation.
"Another startup promising big payoffs? Sounds familiar. How many companies like this pop up and vanish just as quickly?" one guy muttered, expressing what seemed to be the shared sentiment. The name of the company, Super Galactic Powerhouse of Positivity and Green Solutions, wasn't exactly inspiring confidence, nor was its focus on agricultural products.
"Well, we're here now. Might as well hear the guy out before making any decisions," another recruit chimed in. Everyone nodded in agreement.
Just then, a casually dressed young man walked through the entrance. He looked relaxed, with an easygoing smile and a steady gait. When he spotted Leo Donovan, the general manager, he quickly made his way over, throwing an arm around his shoulder, chatting and laughing as if they were old friends.
The employees exchanged glances, whispering amongst themselves. It seemed this young man was likely the boss.
Despite Zach's calm demeanor, a small wave of anxiety stirred within him. It was his first time standing before a group of employees as their leader, and his heartbeat picked up slightly. He took a deep breath, calming his nerves, and strode confidently to the front of the room, flashing a warm smile.
"Good morning, everyone! I'm Zach Evans, the founder and CEO of this company."
Zach stood before the group, scanning the faces of his new team members—individuals who would be instrumental in the company's future. Clearing his throat, he began.
"I know you may have doubts about this company, especially since we've only just started out. But I can assure you, I'm not some shady businessman. I created this company because I believe in producing real, healthy, green products that will benefit not only us but society as a whole."
He paused briefly, allowing his words to sink in, then added with a grin, "Yesterday, our general manager, Leo, and our vice president, Lily, might've mentioned that our salaries are 50% higher than the industry standard. Is that right?"
A murmur of excitement rippled through the crowd as they recalled the enticing promises from their interviews.
"Am I wrong?" Zach asked, raising an eyebrow.
"No!" the crowd responded in unison, excitement creeping into their voices.
"Great," Zach smiled. "So here's the deal. This company is new, and many management positions are still open. Other than the financial department, which Lily oversees, all higher-level roles are up for grabs. Perform well, and those positions are yours!"
The room buzzed with excitement, and Zach let the anticipation build before continuing.
"I know what you're really curious about—your salaries and benefits."
He paused for effect, watching as all eyes locked onto him. "Well, I'm happy to confirm that every single one of you will be earning 50% more than the industry standard—after taxes!"
The room erupted in excitement, with employees exchanging thrilled looks. For most of them, such a promise was more than they could've hoped for.
Inside Zach's head, the system was hard at work:
[+5 Positive Energy]
[+5 Positive Energy]
[+5 Positive Energy]
…
"Hold on, there's more," Zach grinned, raising his hand to quiet the room. "We're not just about salaries. We take employee well-being seriously here. That's why we're offering you an 8-hour workday, five days a week. No '996' nonsense. On top of that, you'll get all public holidays off—no unpaid overtime, no shady practices."
Cheers filled the room as the employees, many of whom had experienced grueling work environments, eagerly clapped for Zach's promises.
Zach continued. "In addition to that, we offer paid vacation time. If you've been with the company for less than a year, you'll get two weeks of paid leave. Between one and five years, you'll get a full month. And if you're with us for more than five years? Two months of paid vacation!"
By now, the clapping had grown even more enthusiastic. Paid vacation was a rare treat, and many employees had never enjoyed such generous leave.
"And for those of you worried about team-building events on weekends, fear not!" Zach winked. "We'll have fun team-building days during the week—on company time, not your precious weekends. If you don't feel like participating, just let your supervisor know in advance."
As the room buzzed with excitement, Zach's system kept chiming:
[+10 Positive Energy]
[+10 Positive Energy]
[+10 Positive Energy]
…
"Finally," Zach said, his tone becoming more serious. "Your health is our top priority. From the moment you join, we'll cover all your medical expenses, and we'll even provide quarterly health check-ups, all during work hours. Plus, we'll contribute to your 401(k) with the highest percentage possible, and cover all of your insurance premiums."
By now, the employees were practically bouncing in their seats with excitement, and Zach's system was having a field day:
[+15 Positive Energy]
[+15 Positive Energy]
[+15 Positive Energy]
…
"Lily," Zach turned to his vice president, "Draft up the contracts with all these benefits clearly outlined. Let's show everyone we mean business."
The room erupted into applause, the employees clapping so hard that some of them seemed to be at the point of bruising their hands. The energy was electric.
With a smile, Zach knew his plan was working. His team was motivated, and his company was poised for a bright future. Now, all he had to do was make good on every promise he had made.
And in the back of his mind, the system continued its steady hum of approval.