Since Evelyn claimed she could make an arcade version of "Snake," Ethan received the material list she provided. Early the next morning, Ethan drove the Ford F-150 borrowed from Uncle Thomas Johnson, passing through the area around the majestic Golden Gate Bridge, ordered by Emperor Joshua Norton in 1869 but completed only in 1937, to reach the ideal location for purchasing electronic materials - San Francisco.
Coming down Doyle Drive and travelling south on Highway 101 for about three miles, Ethan spotted a series of cable tracks laid on the asphalt surface. Accelerating to catch up, he finally encountered a cable car moving slowly along the steep hilly road.
Ethan honked the car horn as the orange figure appeared. After the honk, the cable car driver immediately shook the bell at his side, making a jingling sound in response.
"Good morning!"
Ethan shouted loudly through the car window.
"Good morning, sir. Welcome to San Francisco."
The driver smiled and waved.
Ethan laughed heartily at the response, waved back, and then stepped on the gas, speeding away.
San Francisco's cable cars were widely known throughout the United States and had been providing convenient transportation for the city's residents since the 19th century. Although the 1906 earthquake damaged most of the cable car tracks and the development of automobiles reduced dependence on them, the cable car culture had a profound impact on the city. After careful consideration, San Francisco preserved several routes, fully restoring them in the 1980s.
Ethan had only heard of the cable cars in his previous life but had never seen them. Now, it was intriguing to witness them transporting tourists outside the vehicle, resembling the road transport system his younger brother once introduced.
Satisfying his curiosity, Ethan turned the car and arrived at Market Street in San Francisco. This vital axis of the city was lined with shops and office buildings. As Ethan browsed the door numbers, he found 1355, and a large sign appeared before him:
San Francisco Electronic Supply.
The conspicuous name prompted Ethan to walk in directly. Upon his arrival, a robust young Caucasian man greeted him warmly.
"Hello, sir! Welcome to San Francisco Electronic Supply. What can I help you with?"
"Of course, I'm here to buy some things."
Ethan pulled out a list and handed it to the man. After discovering some pranks in Evelyn's list, Ethan autonomously filtered and copied a new one.
As for the items he filtered out?
Well, he was still going to buy them; Evelyn's handwritten list was tucked in his pocket.
After taking Ethan's list, the young man glanced at it and smiled apologetically. "Alright, sir. Please wait a moment. I'll go find the materials for you."
With these words, the white man turned and left.
Ethan was pleased with the prompt action. Surveying the surroundings, he saw a variety of electronic components neatly arranged in the small storefront, even though he didn't recognize them, he could sense the professionalism here.
Just as Ethan thought his procurement would be smooth and enjoyable, the white man returned shortly.
Holding Ethan's list, he apologized, "Sorry, sir. I have a few questions."
"Go ahead." Ethan shifted his attention back.
"Sir, if I'm not mistaken, your list includes potassium chlorate and acetone, right?"
Ethan didn't understand the man's implication, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "It should be."
"I need your precise answer."
The white man appeared serious.
"Well... if it's written on there, then yes."
Ethan recalled Evelyn's list and nodded affirmatively.
His response put the white man on high alert. Placing his hand on his waist, he said seriously, "Sir, do you know what potassium chlorate and acetone are used for? Potassium chlorate is a highly dangerous chemical with toxicity, corrosiveness, and explosiveness! And although acetone is an organic solvent, it can be used not only as a solvent for smokeless powder but also in the synthesis and purification of methamphetamine!"
"So... if you don't explain clearly, I'll have to call 911."
'???'
When the white man looked at Ethan with a suspicious gaze and even reached for his back waist, the obvious hint made Ethan think - 'Land of the free, gunfights every day.'
To avoid a close encounter with a bullet and to preserve the hard-earned good life, Ethan quickly said, "Hey, hey, hey! Brother! Calm down! I don't understand what you mean! I'm buying these things just to make circuit boards!"
"Really?" The white man remained cautious. "Can you tell me the process of making circuit boards?"
'How would I know about that?' Ethan was puzzled.
"I do not know!"
However, his words were straightforward. Having lived in America for many years, he understood that this was no time for jokes.
"This list was given to me by someone else! I don't even know the materials listed on it! If I were really plotting to make explosives or drugs, would I drive alone to buy these things?"
Ethan waved his hand, pointing behind him.
"Fxxk! Buddy! I'm driving a Ford F-150! This car costs at least four thousand dollars! And the one I'm driving is the top model! Six thousand dollars! A normal person's yearly salary! Do you think any crazy person would drive such a car to buy dangerous goods? Isn't this providing the police with clues to chase me? Damn!!!"
Ethan's shout eased the white man's expression.
He raised both hands, turned his body slightly to show that he wasn't hiding any guns, and then extended his right hand, expressing apologies. "Sorry, brother, for startling you. Since the incidents of protests and demonstrations, those of us who sell chemicals have become extra cautious. We're afraid that some malicious individuals might buy dangerous items."
"After all, they might blow something up, and if we sell things to them, we'd be in trouble. The authorities won't let us off easily, and the City Hall here will find ways to make us pay some money."
Seeing that the man didn't have a gun, Ethan's suspended anxiety faded.
With an angry glare and a raised eyebrow, Ethan made it clear what he meant.
Understanding what Ethan referred to, the white man readily lifted his shirt, confirming once again.
When the scene showed nothing, Ethan angrily muttered, "Damn!" and then kicked the cash register hard.
His venting didn't attract any opposition, and after shaking his head resentfully, Ethan, who knew the man wasn't at fault, extended his right hand and gave him a firm handshake.
Then, panting heavily, he leaned on a nearby shelf and complained, "Brother! Do you know! You almost scared me to death!"
"No choice, this is San Francisco." The white man also sighed in relief, shrugged, and said, "After looking at your list, I was almost scared too!"
"I thought someone from some unknown faction had entered the store!"
Although Ethan had been startled by the young white man a moment ago, he had to admit that what the guy said was indeed true.
San Francisco in this era was indeed very chaotic.
Since the unwarranted intervention of America in the war in Annam, the anti-war sentiment in the country has been growing, and the city of San Francisco, the city of freedom, has become the focal point of gatherings.
In just the first five years of the 1970s, there were several protests, each with over a hundred thousand participants, and the largest one reached a staggering 150,000 people.
What's absurd is that when the people realized their demands were not met, the gatherings shifted from normal protests to causing disturbances, blocking traffic, occupying buildings, interfering with communication facilities through radio interference, and eventually even erupting into large-scale conflicts. If one were to describe it, it wasn't much different from Capitol Hill.
Not only that, Harvey Milk, the first in America to openly use magic and participate in elections as part of the LGBT community, was also a resident of San Francisco. Starting in '73, he positioned himself as a focal point in the public eye, making San Francisco in that era a paradise for LGBT individuals to engage in protests and demonstrations.
Under the overlay of various debuffs, individuals selling chemicals became cautious, which Ethan could understand, but...
Even if Ethan could understand, it didn't mean he had to accept it!
This time, he was lucky; the boss didn't have a gun around his waist.
But if he encountered someone hot-headed next time, wouldn't he end up shot in the back and die by suicide?
If that happened, it would be a real loss!
Thinking of this, Ethan felt a bit annoyed.
Looking at the guy who shared a similar experience, he said with a bad attitude, "Brother! With your level of vigilance, you shouldn't be running a store! You should join the FBI!"
"I believe! If the FBI had talents like you, Ted Bundy would have been caught long ago!"
Ethan's sarcasm made the white guy smile awkwardly and shrug, "Brother, I just got nervous recently. Now the media outside is all reporting that our people are preparing to withdraw from Asia. If it weren't for this, I wouldn't be so cautious. After all, the things you want can be transported by rail."
If the guy hadn't explained, Ethan would have been less irritated.
"F***********!"
He never expected that buying chemicals in North America would bring about a free iron fist from Asia.
What the hell is this?
It's like a world-famous painting!
"Forget it, forget it, just go and get the stuff for me."
Ethan, who was already irritated, couldn't be bothered anymore.
"Sure, sir."
The white guy nodded repeatedly and disappeared again.
In about fifteen minutes, he had prepared everything Ethan needed.
Because he had caused trouble for Ethan, he even gave him a discount and helped load the stuff into the car.
Before parting, he handed over a business card with a sincere apology.
"Brother, sorry, I was just too nervous."
"I'm Frank, this is my business card. Next time you need something, just give me a call, and I'll deliver it to you."
Ethan felt a bit more comfortable with the somewhat human-like apology.
Taking it, he forced a stiff smile, showing goodwill.
At the same time, he also threw one of his business cards over.
Then, he stepped on the gas and drove away~
There was no way; for him, this place was really unbearable for even a second!
Because of the anger in his heart, when Ethan rushed back home, he realized that he seemed to have forgotten to buy what Evelyn wanted.
This fact also caught Evelyn, who was waiting at home for the results, off guard.
At first, Evelyn was a bit angry.
But after Ethan explained the situation, this guy burst into laughter.
"Ethan, do they think you're buying these things to make explosives? Oh my God! You look so well-behaved! Not fierce at all! How could they think that?"
Evelyn covered her mouth, and her beautiful eyes turned into crescent moons as she laughed.
"Isn't it all because of you?"
Ethan was quite angry, loudly saying, "Evelyn, you should have told me clearly!"
However, Ethan's attempt to shift the blame made Evelyn laugh even more.
"Ethan, do you know what? My teacher in college once said, 'Knowledge is neutral, but becoming an angel or a demon depends on a person's thought.'"
"Do you think if I explained the various uses of these chemicals to you clearly, you could have avoided today's problem?"
"No."
"When others think you're a demon, no matter how you argue, it's useless."
Evelyn's words left Ethan stunned on the spot. The girl's meaningful words made his gaze flicker.
After a while, Ethan, who had lived two lives, also smiled.
"Okay, okay, you're right. The things are innocent; it's the people who are evil."
"But I'm curious, why would your teacher say such things to you?"
"Because all inventions and creations have dual natures."
Evelyn was pleased that her younger brother could understand her. She shrugged and said, "Take radium, for example. Madame Curie discovered it with the biggest goal of treating cancer, but in the end, it was made into a weapon. Or take alternating current; Tesla aimed to benefit the world, but to discredit him, Edison made the electric chair."
"No one knows if the next thing engineers create is good or bad. We can only pray that the world won't be biased."
"Cool~" Ethan laughed, understanding the meaning of it coming from the 21st century.
"Well, I admit, you guys have it tougher than me."
"Hehehe~"
Evelyn liked Ethan's attitude and laughed like a little fox, "Since the materials are here, shall we begin?"
"Okay." Ethan naturally wouldn't refuse.
TL Note:
Regarding the mentioned Harvey Milk in the text, Hollywood made a movie about him, with Sean Penn playing "Milk." If you're interested, you can take a look. While the film has a lot of emotional scenes, it also depicts how Milk used magic to become a senator in the 1970s San Francisco and vigorously promoted LGBT legal bills.
Ted Bundy: A notorious serial killer active in the '70s and '80s, one of the prototypes for "The Silence of the Lambs."