ADOTH: the exiled system.

“David, I-I want to talk to you about raising my salary." Eric Johnson said this when he stood nervously in the general manager's office.

David Westman, playing games on his computer, looked up.

He leaned back into his big chair, looking at Eric with a smirk. "Oh, Eric, why did you suddenly bring this up?"

Eric bit his lips and clenched his fists. "David, I've been with the company for almost eight years, starting as an intern right after I graduated. My peers have become part of the management team while I'm still stuck in a technical position. You know how it's like for my family, right? My mother just had surgery and requires chemotherapy. Every week—"

David interjected, "Eric, let's not bring in personal issues when discussing work here."

Eric lowered his head upon hearing David's words. His cheeks turned red.

He had been working diligently in this tech company for eight years. Within the industry, he was known for his excellent technical skills and knowledge.

However, with a monthly salary of 1,200 dollars, owning a car and a house in Salt City was impossible, let alone getting married. As such, he was forced to ask for a raise.

Moreover, his family was struggling financially because of his mother's hefty medical costs, and Eric's father, Blake Johnson, had to work three jobs just to make ends meet. After all, money makes the world go around.

Seeing Eric remaining silent, David smiled and tossed him a few documents.

"Eric, unfortunately, you're first in line in the layoff list for this month. Take a good look at the papers and sign them if there aren't any issues. The company will compensate you accordingly."

"W-What?" Eric was utterly shocked. He felt his world was about to collapse. "David, why me?"

David smiled and said, "Simply because somebody is willing to take your place for less than 1,000 dollars."

"T-That's impossible!" Eric looked up. "How is it possible to survive in Salt City with less than 1,000 dollars?"

Salt City might not be a metropolis like Great City or Magic City, but it was still a capital city. It was impossible for someone to lower their salary to that extent.

"I'm telling the truth." David was running out of patience. "Sign the papers and beat it, or take a 150 dollars pay cut and stay. The choice is yours."

Eric felt a hard stab in his heart as he stared intently at David.

"I-I'll take the pay cut…" said Eric.

David stood up with a big smile and patted Eric on the shoulder.

"Attaboy! Eric, please don't blame me. Times are tough for everyone. Your family needs money, and I'm already very understanding about letting you take a 150 dollars pay cut. Keep up the good work. The company will not mistreat any of its employees! So, it's decided. You're staying. You have my word." David smiled and tore the documents in half.

Eric heaved a sigh of relief, looking at the torn papers on the office floor. He had completely forgotten he was here to ask for a raise.

"Alright. Head to the Human Resources department and report that you are willing to take a pay cut."

David took out a pack of baby wipes before going to the restroom.

He suddenly remembered something and said, "Eric, you're a computer expert, aren't you? Please get rid of the viruses on my computer. I spent 75,000 dollars on this gaming computer, and it lagged while I was playing poker!"

With that, he departed, leaving Eric standing alone, lost in his thoughts. He fully regretted coming to ask for a raise.

Eric sat in front of David's desk, his expression empty as he stared at the expensive gaming computer.

It was worth half a house in Salt City, and David often boasted about it.

Alas, that idiot who knew nothing about computers often browsed questionable websites. As such, even a supercomputer would get infected with viruses.

'There are people like David who buy expensive things just to show off, while there are others like me who slave away at work just to make a living. This is the reality of our world,' Eric thought as he sighed heavily and scanned the computer for viruses. At the same time, he was thinking about how to deal with his girlfriend.

She would be dismayed to find out that he had been forced to take a pay cut instead of getting a raise.

They were classmates in college and had been in a relationship for a decade.

She had issued an ultimatum a few days ago. If he didn't marry her soon, it would be the end of their relationship.

The troubled Eric was not in the mood to scan the computer for viruses. He scrolled mindlessly through the computer and accidentally clicked on David's WhatsApp app.

The WhatsApp notification rang all of a sudden, and Eric was startled to see the profile picture of his girlfriend, Jasmine Pearce, pop up.

How did Jasmine get David's contact number?

Trembling, Eric clicked on it and a photo popped up.

Instantly, he felt like the sky was crumbling down on him. In the photo, Jasmine was posing seductively in a sexy dress.

Jasmine: [Babe, I've sent you the sexy photo you wanted. Promise me to buy me that bag tonight!]

Just then, David's reply popped up.

David: [I'm bored of this kind of photo.]

Shortly afterward, another photo and a voice message appeared.

Eric's blood boiled. He could not believe what he had just witnessed and heard.

How could his pure and lovely girlfriend stoop so low in front of David!?

The chatting continued.

David: [Hahaha! You look exactly just like your boyfriend, Eric. He came to see me earlier.]

Jasmine: [Babe! Why did you bring him up? I'm breaking up with that loser today so we can get together.]

David: [No way! It feels good to cheat with my employee's girlfriend and make him work his *ss off for me. Hahaha…]

Bang!

Eric slammed his fist into the computer screen.

He bit his lips hard as he could not believe the person his girlfriend had become.

And since when did David and Jasmine start hooking up?

His mind flashed back to the day when he brought Jasmine to the company's dinner half a year ago.

'So, David and Jasmine must have met that day!' he thought.

Eric wanted to stab the two of them to death so badly after discovering their six-month-long infidelity.

His eyes scanned the room, and he saw a sharp paper knife on the desk. David used it to open his envelopes, but now? All Eric saw was a perfect tool for murder.

Eric grabbed the paper knife and stomped out of the room, prepared to get his sweet revenge.

Suddenly, Eric's phone rang. It was his mother.

He immediately snapped back to his senses.

"Hey, Mom. What's up?"

"Eric!" Mrs. Johnson cried out in distress. "Your father was struck by a car while on his way to work! He was covered in blood, and the driver fled the scene..."

"What!?" Eric was shocked and nearly fainted on the spot.

"Eric, calm down. A good Samaritan sent your father to the hospital. The doctor said that his surgery costs 15,000 dollars. You need to come up with the money quickly or else…"

Eric's mind went blank at that moment.

He was dismal because he had no savings for this. The 450 dollars he sent home every month was all he had.

"Eric, you have to think of a solution. I tried asking for help from our relatives, but none of them are willing to fork out money anymore. I'm so useless… I'm just a burden to you and your father…"

Eric's heart wrenched.

"Mom, that's nonsense! I'll come up with the money. Just make sure Dad gets his surgery fast!"

Eric hung up the phone. The knife slipped off his hand and fell on the desk.

He covered his face in agony and questioned God about his predicament.

“Heavens! Eric, what did you do to my computer!?" David was furious when he returned to the room.

David grabbed Eric by his collar. "I spent a fortune on it, and you ruined it?"

Eric's gaze met David's, triggering an instinctual reaction to reach for the knife once more as it reminded him of the affair. However, with his father in need, he had no choice but to plead for David's assistance.

Thus, Eric lowered his head. "David… I'm sorry about it! I need 15,000 dollars urgently. Could you please lend me the money! Please!"

David was taken aback by Eric's sudden request to borrow money from him. He let out a scornful, mirthless laugh,

"Are you crazy? You just wrecked my computer and want to borrow money from me now? Do you know how much this computer costs? It's 75,000 dollars! That's worth half a house in Salt City!" David shook Eric vigorously. "You punk! I demand you to compensate me fully or rot in prison for the rest of your life!"

Eric gnashed his teeth and barked, "David Westman! I know you've been messing around with my girlfriend! I'll let things slide if you lend me the money. Otherwise…"

A hint of madness flashed through Eric's eyes.

David was shocked upon hearing Eric's words. He quickly looked at his computer screen and noticed that the WhatsApp conversation with Jasmine was visible.

David burst out into laughter and barked, "How dare you threaten me, you punk? Do you think I'm a pushover!?"

He grabbed Eric by the collar and punched him in the cheek.

Eric was caught off guard and fell backward. He instinctively stretched out his hand to grab something to steady himself and, unfortunately, touched the shattered computer screen.

His ears suddenly buzzed. A paralyzing sensation spread throughout his body. And then everything went dark.