Chapter 12
Ethan felt uncertain when he heard the explanation that Alex was a farmer. He now paid proper attention to the shop owner's appearance. Alex had a well-built body, standing at least more than one hundred and seventy centimeters tall, with broad shoulders and hidden muscles beneath his clothes, resembling a tiger's back. These features alone could easily lead people to make assumptions about him.
Moreover, the most striking aspect was the tattoos that adorned Alex's arm, extending up to his neck. Ethan could only imagine that the tattoos probably covered other parts of his body as well. Adding to the intrigue, Alex had only one hand, which further added to the enigmatic aura surrounding him.
Combining all these traits, it was no wonder that Ethan's mind jumped to stereotypes, associating this appearance with criminals, robbers, gangsters, or someone connected to the underworld. With these thoughts in mind, Ethan couldn't help but speculate about what Alex was truly selling.
"Could he not be selling vegetables? Perhaps he's involved in some illegal drug trade?" Ethan wondered, trying to make sense of the high prices being charged. He even considered the possibility that the process of buying and selling vegetables might be a code for something else.
Ethan's suspicion led him to examine each vegetable closely, searching for any signs of illegality. However, after thoroughly inspecting them, he found nothing suspicious at all. Feeling puzzled, he decided to ask Alex directly.
"Well, now that we're acquainted, we can consider ourselves friends. So, I won't beat around the bush and will ask directly," Ethan said honestly.
Alex chuckled warmly, "Hahahah, yes, of course, Sir Ethan. Feel free to ask anything."
With a friendly atmosphere established between them, Ethan was determined to find out the truth about Alex and his extraordinary vegetables.
"Okay, my friend Russell, initially I was very interested in your vegetables, but when I heard the price, I couldn't stand it and left. However, I couldn't stop thinking about missing out on such good vegetables if I didn't pay the right price, so I came back," Ethan explained.
Alex nodded as he listened to Ethan's words, showing that he was attentive to what was being said.
Seeing no immediate reaction from Alex, Ethan continued, "I thought you might lower the price due to bulk purchase, but I was surprised by your determination. I'm genuinely intrigued. If you don't mind, could you tell me the reason why these vegetables are so expensive?"
Anticipating this question, Alex fetched a machete and a fresh, ripe tomato with a vibrant red color. With great skill, Alex sliced the tomato and handed the slices to Ethan.
Ethan was puzzled about what Alex was trying to convey with this demonstration.
Alex encouraged him to try the tomato slices, saying, "Okay, Ethan, you'll understand why my vegetables cost so much after you taste them."
Curious, Ethan hesitantly put the tomato slices into his mouth with a hint of skepticism. He chewed on the tomato, feeling somewhat dismissive at first, thinking, "What kind of tomato is worth sixty dollars?"
However, as he chewed, his expression transformed from skepticism to shock. The burst of fresh, sweet, and tangy flavors was so exquisite that Ethan could hardly believe he was eating just a tomato.
The pleasure that began in his mouth soon spread to his brain, and Ethan's face showed a state of pure delight.
"Wow, this is delicious!" he exclaimed, genuinely surprised by the incredible taste.
But just a moment after Ethan savored the exquisite taste of the tomato, he suddenly remembered something and became alert. He looked at the tomatoes and Alex with a scanning gaze.
Sensing Ethan's discomfort, Alex frowned slightly and asked, "What's wrong, my friend? Is there something amiss with my tomatoes?"
Ethan hesitated before expressing his uncertainty, "Well, it's just highly suspicious that your tomatoes taste so unbelievably good..."
In a questioning tone, he continued, "Russel, are there drugs embedded in these vegetables, or are you using hormone injections, or perhaps some sort of enhancers to make them taste this way?"
Russel responded calmly, "Of course not. As you can see, it's clearly stated that they are 99% organic."
Despite the explanation, Ethan's disbelief was still evident. Alex then tried to clarify further, but the words he made up were unlikely to easily convince someone as experienced as Ethan.
"You see, Mr. Ethan, although these vegetables haven't been lab-tested, I assure you that I grow them without resorting to any dangerous practices. If you wish, you can have the vegetables tested at a relevant lab after purchasing them."
Ethan was displeased with the absurd suggestion of testing the vegetables himself. He couldn't risk buying them without certainty.
Yet, he couldn't deny that the taste of the vegetables was extraordinary, and using them in his restaurant could potentially elevate its status. However, he needed assurance that there were no problems with the product. If any issues arose, it could harm his restaurant's reputation and be a costly mistake.
With this, Ethan became increasingly worried and conflicted.
After much deliberation, he finally made a decision. "Alright, Mr. Russell, I will buy all your vegetables," Ethan said through clenched jaws.
Alex was delighted with the prospect of selling all his vegetables. While his booth always had a steady stream of customers, selling 3000 pounds of vegetables was not as easy as it might seem. He wanted to wrap up the sales quickly and get back home to continue with his plans. He smiled, ready to finalize the transaction, but before that could happen, a discordant scream interrupted the moment.
"Don't do it, boss Ethan! You might end up regretting it!" The voice came from a man in his 30s who had been eavesdropping on their conversation for some time.
Alex's face showed annoyance as he saw the man approach. The man's presence seemed to irk him as if he had encountered a sworn enemy.
Annoyed, Alex asked the man, "Excuse me, sir, can you explain what you meant by your earlier outburst?"
Unfazed by Alex's reaction, the man coldly snorted and then turned his attention to Ethan.
Ethan, feeling uncertain, asked the man, "Can you explain why you're preventing me from buying these vegetables?"
With a smug smile, the man mocked Alex, saying, "Don't be fooled by his sweet words; what she said is completely detached from reality..."
Confused, Ethan asked, "What do you mean, sir?"
"My point is, this shameless man is lying. His vegetables are not organic at all! I used to belong to the same village as this person, so I know his true character. He does have a vegetable farm in his house, but everyone knows that he still uses pesticides and chemical fertilizers. Moreover, for the taste that you experienced, it might be an additive because I've never heard that his plantation produces such a good taste!" the figure said with great confidence.
Upon hearing this, Alex began to recall from the memories of the body's original owner who this person was.
"Everyone in the village knows that this Russel is a retired soldier! But I found information that he had been dishonorably discharged, then out of desperation, he became a gangster rioting in many places and selling drugs!" Roger continued dramatically.
Alex finally recognized the man as Roger, one of the people who had caused trouble for the body's original owner. Roger had played a part in getting the owner kicked out of the army and forced into difficult circumstances. That's why he was well-informed about Alex's life history.
Despite knowing the truth of Roger's words, Alex smiled, suppressing any enmity he felt towards the man. His body, however, reacted with intense emotions, as if the hatred was ingrained in his very flesh and bones.
Seeing Alex's fierce reaction, Roger felt even more satisfied and excited. "My lord, it's better not to have anything to do with such a scumbag, otherwise, he will drag you down!" he warned Ethan, trying to dissuade him from buying Alex's vegetables.
Alex remained indifferent and didn't refute Roger's words. While everything Roger mentioned was indeed true, he no longer cared. After all, he had nothing to lose, but what Roger didn't know was that Alex possessed a static space within the ring that could protect him from any trouble.
Observing Alex's indifferent expression, Roger became even more unsatisfied and turned his attention to Ethan, who looked conflicted.
With this, he moved towards the young man, preparing to add fuel to the fire.
"Boss, you can be one hundred percent sure of what I'm saying. If you don't believe me, you can call his unit, or you can find out for yourself because he must have connections, right?" Roger said with a smug expression, hoping to further worsen the situation.
He continued, "I don't have much time to deal with this waste. I still have a lot of other things to do. I advise you to listen to what I have to say and not be fooled by this poor guy's sweet talk."
Roger's words left a sour atmosphere in the place as he drove away in his car. The people around were affected by the tension and suspicion created by his remarks.
Alex, who knew that his business was now in jeopardy, could only chuckle bitterly in his heart. He realized that this world wasn't as simple as the novels, even with the advantages he had.
Meanwhile, Roger rode away, feeling happy with his actions. He no longer complained like he did when he first set off. He even made a call to someone, stating, "Hello, the pawn is in place. You can continue with the plan."
After hanging up, Roger caught sight of Alex's reflection, and disdain was written all over his face. "Hehe, don't expect to live peacefully even though you've stepped out of the small pawn base circle!" he sneered.