Chapter 7: chapter 7
When I woke up, it was well past midday, but I still felt the lingering effects of yesterday's stunts. I wiped my face with my hands, changed out of whatever was left of my clothes, and quietly stepped out of the back of the van.
I walked towards the passenger side, got in, and found Joshua in the driver's seat, munching on a burger. Judging by the wrappers on the dashboard, I guessed it wasn't his first.
"Had a good sleep, boss. Coffee?" he pointed to the cup holders.
"So, where's the place you told me about?" I took a sip and looked around.
"Riwth twere," he answered with his mouth full, pointing at a laundromat right in front of us.
I gave him a questioning look, but he just looked back at me with confidence.
"Twast me just sway Joshuwa sent you," he said. I stared at the laundromat for a moment, then downed my coffee in one go, and got out of the van. There's no harm in checking it out.
"Tring" The doorbell rings as I open the door, and as I enter the shop, a very intimidating black guy is the first face I see. I look around, but not another soul is inside. The guy just stares at me.
"I have something to sell," I state. The guy doesn't react and continues to stare back.
"Joshua sent me," I add. Finally, the guy reacts. He brings up his hand from under the counter and points at a door at the side but still doesn't look away from me.
"Inside?" I question, but he still doesn't talk. I give up and walk to the door. When I open it, I see stairs leading down. I take one more look at the guy at the counter, who still hasn't taken his eyes off me, and enter.
I walk down and find a door at the end. A voice with a thick Russian accent asks me to enter.
"Come." I twist the knob and enter. A Russian man with a sharp beard and mustache is sitting behind a desk. He nods as I enter, and I respond in the same kind.
"I have been waiting for you, my friend. Come, sit. Do you want something to drink, eh?" he offers as he stands up.
"No thank you, but I'm okay," I said, bringing up the fanny pack from my pockets and placing it on the table.
"I'd like to get straight to the matter if you don't mind," I added, sliding the bag to him.
"No problem," he replied, catching the pack and emptying its contents. After inspecting the rings and stones for a while, he looked up.
"Are these all? Not to offend, my friend, but I was expecting more," he put down his loupe and asked.
"There were some problems."
"Aha, I completely understand. Our line of work is not always easy, eh?"
"So, how much can I get?" I wasn't an expert on trinkets, but even I knew rings were costly—or at least, I wished the ones I had were costly. Also, considering that, according to the classic engagement ring cost rule, you should spend three months' salary on an engagement ring, I had high hopes
"For this right here, I can give you 500k."
"Hmm," I breathed in relief. This wasn't going to last me my whole life, but it was still a lot of money. Considering this was more than anything I had seen in my previous life and this present one, I was struggling to just get by every day just a few months ago.
"As agreed, I take 10% for my troubles and the papers you requested," he takes out stacks of cash and piles them one by one on the table.
"Of course," I acknowledge as I reach for the money, but he stops me.
"But here's the problem, my friend. You see, Joshua owes me, so that's another 5%, but you won't mind, of course," he says with a smile.
I kept my mouth shut as he removed some notes from the stack. I had enough action yesterday, and there was no reason to sour our relationship over some notes, as I might still have use for him in the future.
"That leaves you with 440k." I did some calculations and nodded back to him. He put the money inside a bag along with some papers, which were my new identifications, and passed them to me. I took a card out and checked; it was a driver's license with the name Cain Ashden.
I put it back and turned to leave, but he started talking again.
"Word travels fast, my friend, and I am hearing some interesting things. So, if you are ever in need of work, please do remember me, eh?"
I nodded to him as I went out. I did the same to the guy at the counter, and to my surprise, he nodded back.
I went straight outside and entered the van.
"So," Joshua looked at me with an excited look.
I opened the bag and handed him two stacks, and he received it with a smile, but that quickly disappeared.
"Hey, this is only 20k. We agreed for more than this," he complained after counting.
"You're welcome to go inside and take back the 5% they took from me for your debt."
To this, he smiled again and said, "Haha, I was joking. It was just a joke, you know what they say, a bird in hand is worth two more in the bush."
"You may be smarter than I took you for," I smirked at him.
"You think too little of me, boss," he said with a cheerful smile.
"So, where to now, boss?" He started the van.
"I need some place to lay low for a while and sort some things out."
"As you wish," and he started driving.
Weekly Power Status
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Ranking 
-- Power
stone