Chapter 14: I Still Think the East District Is Safer

After a brief and rather odd five-minute interview, Ma Zhaodi officially became a member of the Red Dragon Restaurant staff.

“You need to arrive at the restaurant by 10 a.m. every day, change into your uniform, and start work on time. If you want to come earlier, that’s fine. You can have breakfast and lunch at the employee cafeteria. You get a two-hour break starting at 2 p.m. Your duties include greeting customers, taking orders, serving dishes, and wiping tables. Your shift ends at 10 p.m. The hourly wage is twenty-five dollars, and you work five days a week.”

“Sometimes the restaurant has unexpected incidents. You don’t need to do much—just stay calm and try to soothe the customers. Don’t let things escalate. Someone will come to handle the situation quickly.”

A supervisor strolled leisurely with Ma Zhaodi through the restaurant, familiarizing him with every nook and cranny. “Be sharp—there’s a lot to know here. If guests ask about the menu, you need to know the answers. Even if they request something off-menu, do your best to accommodate them.”

“Any request?”

“That depends on who the customer is. If a ‘Roman’ or other big shot comes in, even if they want you to lick their shoes, you’d better comply. But if it’s some arrogant nouveau riche wanting to make trouble, you can shoot him after he leaves—just make sure no blood splatters near the store.”

“That’s a bit extreme…”

The supervisor glanced at the new employee’s awkward smile. “The boss told me to stress a few things, so I’m telling you: practice your shooting skills. In Gotham, people without a savage streak don’t survive.”

He then pulled out a card and handed it to Ma Zhaodi. “Call this number—our staff get a fifty percent discount at this shooting range here. Of course, if you’re brave or well-connected, you can find cheaper options in the East District.”

Great. The basic employee perk at a high-end Gotham restaurant is a discount on target practice, Ma Zhaodi thought wryly as he took the card.

“Also, once you get your first paycheck, make sure to get yourself some transportation,” he continued. “The boss wants me to tell you: if you’re not working here yet, taking the big bus all day isn’t exactly dangerous. But now that you’re an employee, better switch to something else.”

Wonderful. The second basic employee perk is a kind of ironic aura—anyone wanting to attack the restaurant might get targeted themselves first.

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“Can I get an advance on one month’s salary?”

The supervisor frowned. “You haven’t lived here before, have you? We pay biweekly. The boss allows you to advance the basic pay for the first two pay periods—that’s four weeks—pre-tax five thousand dollars. You have your own bank account, right?”

“Yes.”

“After you finish the registration, the money will be transferred to you, after taxes—or if you prefer cash, that’s your choice.”

Excellent. Ma Zhaodi thought, his stereotype of Gotham was true: rough as it is, it’s not poor.

In reality, due to monopolies by the financial elite and gang oppression, Gotham’s wealth gap is enormous. The East District is truly dangerous, but the Diamond District’s opulence is undeniable. Overall, Gotham ranks among the top cities economically in the United States.

And the five thousand dollars before tax is not all he’ll earn. As a restaurant waiter, his income combines base salary plus tips from customers, with tips often comprising the bulk of earnings and paid in cash—thus untaxed.

Aside from being at the restaurant for twelve hours daily, working ten, and facing the risks of walking home late with cash tips, this job was almost perfect.

At least for now.

Ma Zhaodi also considered that after Drake left, he seemed to have nowhere to stay. So he asked the supervisor if he could hang around the restaurant at night.

The supervisor’s expression was intriguing. He gave a half-smile and said, “The restaurant does have a night shift, but you’re not qualified for it yet.”

Clearly, the night guests the restaurant served were not the kind Ma Zhaodi wanted to deal with, so he didn’t press further.

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Since his work started tomorrow, Drake took Ma Zhaodi away from the Red Dragon Restaurant. Their urgent task was to get a vehicle or find a nearby place to rent. Taking the big bus from the East District to the Red Dragon was no longer an option.

Drake was quite knowledgeable about rental options near Audisburg—this area was originally a joint site for Mr. Freeze and a pharmaceutical company. When he first came to Gotham, he lived here.

But balancing caring for his wife, searching for Dr. Victor, and maintaining daily life meant his job paid poorly. Without regular contact with Dr. Victor, the rent in Audisburg quickly became burdensome.

Though he thought Ma Zhaodi could easily rent a small place near the Red Dragon, ensuring safety and easy commute, Ma Zhaodi wasn’t interested.

They calculated living expenses. Most Americans were used to living on credit cards and loans, but he had no such habit. Renting here would consume nearly all his remaining four thousand dollars, leaving little for daily life without borrowing.

Money issues aside, the abandoned Ferris wheel and the pharmaceutical company that harmed Mr. Freeze unsettled him. He even asked about the chemical plant and confirmed there had been accidents where people fell into chemical barrels.

Plus, knowing there was a botanical garden nearby, he couldn’t help but be impressed—Joker, Mr. Freeze, Poison Ivy, and local gang bosses who might dine at the Red Dragon. Maybe Penguin or Falcone too. This place was no place to linger. Normally quiet, but when trouble struck, it exploded beyond control.

He had already checked the system’s marketplace: there were options to buy shooting skills and one-time save files. These might instantly neutralize psychotic killers in tight suits, but handling ordinary folks in the East District should be manageable.

“In short, after careful thought, I still prefer the East District’s addicts, thugs, prostitutes, gangs, and thieves—it suits my idea of a living environment,” Ma Zhaodi said with firm resolve, waving off Drake. “I’d rather die than live in Audisburg. Let’s go.”

Drake had no choice. Ma Zhaodi had made up his mind, and there was no point arguing. Seeing it was still early, they skipped the bus and went to pick out a ride for Ma Zhaodi.