"Welcome, boss!"

A light, cheerful voice rang in Gu Xinghe's ears.

If an ordinary person were to hear this sound here, the most likely reaction would be to want to vomit blood and collapse.

It's like playing through a dungeon, where players painstakingly defeat the final boss.

The BOSS suddenly uttered a flippant voice saying, "Welcome, Boss!"

This rollercoaster of emotions is enough to cause many people to have a mental breakdown, thinking, "That's it? That's it? What is this?!"

But Gu Xinghe is no ordinary person.

Although Gu Xinghe had listened to the voices of countless people, he had long since developed a calm expression that remained unchanged no matter what he heard.

At this moment, the expression on his face was starting to show signs of strain.

The boss is still quite inexperienced!

Therefore, I must seize this opportunity!

I need to ask my boss for a raise!

The mastermind behind the scenes spoke in a voice completely out of character and style.

Moreover, what he was thinking in his heart seemed to be very strange as well.

Gu Xinghe suppressed the barely suppressed expression on his face and looked up to examine the space he was in.

The room was empty except for a huge mirror.

It looks different from the mirrors he had previously broken.

The mirror in front of us reaches all the way to the ceiling.

The rectangular floor mirror with a black frame is decorated with mysterious and intricate patterns around its edges.

At this moment, all that could be seen in front of them was the large floor-length mirror.

The reflection wasn't of Gu Xinghe himself, but of a little boy.

And the one who just called Gu Xinghe "boss" was undoubtedly him.

Just like the little boy who stood by Gu Xinghe's bedside after he woke up from a dream.

The boy in the mirror looks exactly like Gu Xinghe when he was a child.

But it was different from the boy's terrifying appearance with empty eyes back then.

At this moment, the little boy in the mirror is vivid and spirited, looking no different from a real person.

"So can't you change your image?"

Without feeling fear, Gu Xinghe communicated directly with the person in the mirror.

He asked the little boy in the mirror a question in return.

At that moment, he did not ask the other party why they said "Welcome".

Instead, they continued the conversation in line with the other party's somewhat nonsensical way of speaking.

Although their conversation seemed completely out of character for someone in control behind the scenes.

At the same time, Gu Xinghe was also testing the relationship between the two.

The person who was suspected to be the tavern's behind-the-scenes owner actually called him "boss".

The way it is said is quite convoluted.

But at this moment, Gu Xinghe thought of Chris and Theresa, who also seemed to have been reborn.

Thinking of this, Gu Xinghe felt numb.

So, could this person be like Chris, someone who enjoys watching him mess around and get through levels?

At this moment, Gu Xinghe really wanted to shake awake his past self and send him the most affectionate greetings.

But the little boy in the mirror was also answering Gu Xinghe's question very seriously.

"No, after all, I am just a very weak mirror."

Therefore, what can be reflected in a mirror is naturally only the user's image.

From this perspective, the boy has no physical form; rather, his physical form is the mirror itself.

"So you were spying on the whole tavern through these mirrors?"

While mentally complaining, "You're weak my foot," Gu Xinghe bent his index finger and tapped the mirror.

They showed a high degree of cooperation with Gu Xinghe's actions.

At that moment, the boy in the mirror pretended to cover his forehead where he had been hit.

Upon hearing what Gu Xinghe said, he turned even redder with anger, his expression quite vivid.

"How can you call it spying? I was gathering intelligence!"

I'm clearly working hard for you, boss!

"So, are you also gathering information about me?"

"No! Absolutely not!"

The little boy in the mirror raised his hands to show his loyalty, but his eyes kept stealing glances at Gu Xinghe's expression.

[Hey! I was just really curious, that's why I wanted to see what Teresa and the boss were doing at the end.]

I didn't peek at any other time!

Is my boss trying to use this as an excuse to dock my pay?

I even estimated the time and thought it was almost over before I went in!

Indeed, apart from that night in the private room, Gu Xinghe did not feel any extra scrutiny or observation.

"So you're saying you're just gathering intelligence."

"Do you have any information about the Thorn Cult that you can give me?"

At this moment, what Gu Xinghe wanted to know most was information about the sect.

"Of course! But... you need a raise, boss!"

The boy in the mirror rubbed his fingers together quite skillfully, indicating that the service would cost extra.

[Give me a raise! Give me a raise!]

He seems quite insistent on getting a raise.

Why do you call me boss?

But Gu Xinghe subtly changed the subject.

"Huh? Aren't you my boss?"

If you don't call me "boss," do you expect me to call you "master"?

Upon hearing this, Gu Xinghe quickly interrupted the boy's whimsical thoughts.

"Well...theoretically speaking, I am indeed your boss..."

After all, the Tavern of Misfortune does belong to Rose Manor.

"So, in that case, I haven't settled the score with you for scaring me before?"

"Uh... I was there because I saw you, boss, gracing the tavern."

I was just thinking of reminding you not to forget to give your hardworking employees a raise.

Later, I saw you were frightened, so I didn't go back, did I?

At this point, the boy in the mirror looked a little aggrieved, like a truly innocent person.

"Although I accidentally scared you, boss, I got revenge for you later."

At this point, Gu Xinghe also realized what was going on.

The other party was clearly referring to Luo Zhiye and Sun Zhenbo, who had been taken away for "training".

"What did you do?"

Sun Zhenbo, who is suspected of being missing, and Luo Zhiye, who seems to be acting strangely everywhere.

Gu Xinghe really didn't believe that the other party hadn't done anything.

"A mirror is a reflection of one's inner self. I simply let them see their truest inner selves."

[Tsk, one was too polluted to be gone, so he can only become the producer of element zero in the tavern.]

The other one has successfully become my "eyes".

Upon hearing this, Gu Xinghe understood.

The addition of the zero element to the three-cup special in the pub is clearly a result of this.

The owner of the diary who stole the wine will likely meet a similar fate.

Greed, desire, and all emotions tinged with malice.

Mirrors reflect and reveal a person's inner desires.

Transformed into the most primal element zero, it becomes the most popular, intoxicating liquor in the tavern.

A mirror is a lake, glass, or even—a human eye!

Mirrors are everywhere.