Chapter 1: Oracle
"Ethan Carter, please go to Human Resources to collect your final paycheck. You won't need to come to work tomorrow."
A middle-aged man with thinning hair and a protruding belly sat comfortably in a large leather chair within the office, addressing the young man standing across from him.
"Why are you firing me?" Ethan demanded, his face flushed with anger.
Deep down, he probably knew what was really going on. It was just yesterday when he was working late and, halfway home, realized he'd forgotten his keys. He had to return to the office to retrieve them and accidentally stumbled upon his boss and the secretary engaging in a sexual encounter. It wasn't a big deal—so why the harsh reaction?
"As the boss, I can fire whoever I want." the middle-aged man replied smugly.
"This guy is probably afraid I'll report him to his wife." Ethan thought to himself. His wife often came to the office to oversee operations, making it easy for her to encounter her husband. By firing him, the boss wouldn't have to worry about any complaints.
Although he wanted to explain that he wasn't one to meddle, he decided it wasn't necessary. Keeping such a boss around could only mean more trouble down the line.
"You can terminate me if you want, but according to labor laws, the company must compensate employees with three months' salary for unilateral dismissal." Ethan stated firmly. If they were going to part ways, he intended to maximize his benefits.
"You must be thinking..." The middle-aged man began to retort dismissively, but then realized that making a big fuss would be detrimental to him. He could only suppress his anger and said, "Do I owe you that much money? Go to HR, collect your paycheck, and get lost."
Soon after, Ethan finished settling his final salary at Human Resources, packed his belongings, and left the company. As he looked out at the bustling streets, he felt lost. Two years since graduation with nothing to show for it, now he'd lost his job. In a city like San Francisco, you need money the moment you wake up. Without income, he wouldn't even dare to buy instant noodles without adding some meat.
"Forget it, I'll keep looking for a job." Ethan thought to himself.