Earning over $10,000 daily was undoubtedly high income by any standard. Within a month, John had accumulated over $300,000.
He could finally repay the $20,000 to Butcher Shawn without any pressure.
That morning, John woke up, removed the brainwave control device, paused the gaming tasks, and left home with a dagger.
The street was quiet in the early morning, with few people around except those heading to work early. Perhaps this street, and the entire city, was only quiet during the early morning hours.
Standing at his doorstep, John observed his surroundings. To his left, about 20 meters away, he noticed some bloodstains he hadn't seen before. On the right wall, there was a new mark, possibly from a knife.
Satisfied that the area was safe, John headed to Aunt Wang's food stall.
"Aunt Wang! One large bowl of beef noodles, add two eggs and some meat!"
Seeing John, Aunt Wang's face lit up with a smile. "John! Have a seat, it'll be ready soon!"
Shortly, a large bowl of noodles was brought over. Aunt Wang asked, "John, what are you doing at home? We hardly see you come out."
John casually replied, "I'm doing some online work, just enough to get by."
He knew his reclusive lifestyle might attract attention from his neighbors, even if it didn't from more suspicious eyes. But a casual answer would suffice to prevent further inquiry. People were too busy with their own lives to care much about others.
Aunt Wang sighed enviously, "Young people like you are so smart. Unlike us, working hard all day just to make a little money, not even $200 a day, and still needing to support the family and pay for Lulu's schooling."
Mentioning Lulu brought a smile to Aunt Wang's face. John smiled back, "When Lulu graduates and finds a good job in the city, you'll be able to enjoy life."
Even Uncle Wang, usually silent and focused on his work, couldn't help but smile.
Lulu, currently studying at University of Cambridge, was the hope of their family.
As John ate his noodles, a sour smell wafted over. He looked up to see a middle-aged man with a weathered face carrying a suitcase. The man's clothes were worn and dirty, but he tried to maintain his dignity, standing as straight as he could.
"Boss, can I have a small bowl of plain noodles?" the man asked, swallowing hard as he glanced at John's meat and eggs.
"Coming right up, have a seat," Aunt Wang replied warmly. The man then added, almost pleading, "Could I also have a bowl of broth? Just broth is fine."
"Sure, just a moment."
Soon, a small bowl of plain noodles and a large bowl of broth were brought over. John noticed that the broth seemed to have a bit of oil in it and the small bowl of noodles had a bit more than usual.
"Aunt Wang is too kind-hearted," John thought with a sigh.
The man ate slowly and carefully, savoring each bite as if it were a delicacy.
For some reason, perhaps due to his improved diet recently, John felt less hungry. Leaving half of his noodles uneaten, he paid and headed towards Butcher Shawn's shop.
Glancing back, John saw the middle-aged man had moved to his table, finishing the leftover noodles.
John sighed again as he left.
"Hello!" Butcher Shawn greeted, busy cutting meat.
Seeing John approach, Butcher Shawn greeted him casually, his hands never stopping as he worked on today's pork.
"yeah. Now that I've got some extra money, I can pay you back."
Butcher Shawn paused for a moment before saying, "I'm not in a hurry for the money."
"No worries, I've got it now."
John took out his phone and transferred $20,000, then said, "Cut me two pounds of meat, and I'll take $30 worth of braised meat. I'll pick it up later."
Just as he was about to leave, Butcher Shawn 's deep voice stopped him. "Someone's been watching you."
John was startled, his heart sinking as he turned around.
"There's been a guy hanging around your place recently. He's not someone I recognize."
To avoid trouble, John had installed his surveillance equipment in very discreet positions, limiting the range to mainly the courtyard and the entrance. He hadn't noticed anyone suspicious nearby.
This meant that his unusual behavior in recent times had indeed attracted attention.
"Thanks. I'll handle it."
Butcher Shawn was slightly surprised. He had expected John to ask for his help, which would have made it easier to recruit him into the Blue Army.
After a moment of silence, Butcher Shawn said, "Be careful."
John nodded and left.
John was well aware of Butcher Shawn's connection to the Blue Army, a notorious criminal organization in the eyes of the authorities. However, those watching John were likely just a local gang. The Blue Army's overwhelming superiority over mere gangs meant they operated on entirely different levels. If he asked for help, Butcher Shawn would undoubtedly assist him.
But John didn't want to get entangled with the Blue Army just yet. The timing wasn't right, and it could lead to unforeseen complications. This minor trouble, he could handle himself.
Leaving the butcher shop, John headed to a nearby supermarket to stock up. He bought a large quantity of essentials: rice, flour, oil, bread, instant noodles, fruits, and vegetables. The total came to over $200, a sum that drew envious looks from those around him.
In the impoverished market district, spending $200 at once was a rarity. Most residents bought only what they needed for the day, living paycheck to paycheck.
Back home, after storing the supplies, John continued his work on the 12 computers while deep in thought. His current funds were not enough for his next big move. This meant he needed to stay in the market district's small courtyard a while longer.
This also meant he had to deal with the current threat. If he didn't, even if his secrets remained safe, gang harassment would disrupt his plans.
After a long contemplation, John reopened the shopping website and spent over $80,000 on a large quadcopter drone, custom steel pipes, clips, and various robot parts. He also bit the bullet and bought the upgraded brainwave control device he had been eyeing.