Chen Ke had never heard such thunder before – it was different from the rumbling that heralded a storm; this sound was like something in the sky was fracturing.
He pulled off his towel to dry his body and tiptoed to the door, gently opening a crack to take a curious peek outside.
In the gloomy sky, massive clouds were being whisked westward by the wind, with occasional flashes of purple stirring within them. A cool breeze flooded in through the gap, and Chen Ke shivered.
"You see, that thunder is really strange, isn't it? Sounds different than usual."
"Mr. Christopher, don't change the subject. If you can't pay your rent today, I'll have no choice but to kick you out."
Chatter emanated from down the hallway to the right, indicating that Chen Ke wasn't the only one attracted by the bizarre thunder.
Chen Ke pushed the door open slightly more, curious to see what was happening. He was stark naked, worried as he had no clothes to change into.
There stood the motel's owner, a man in his fifties with a big belly, licking his lips, and wearing a flat red cap, in conversation with Chen Ke's neighbor.
With its low costs and simple procedures, the motel attracted a diverse clientele. Most were struggling financially, ranging from penniless addicts to runaway youths.
With a bit of luck, you might even encounter someone on the lam looking for a temporary refuge.
But Chen Ke noted that his neighbor didn't seem to fit into any of those categories.
The man the owner called Christopher was about the same height as Chen Ke, a common sight among the Black People of the United Federation, probably around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, dressed in a white shirt and brown suit pants, accompanying a 5-year-old child.
"Bob, please, just give me one more week. The interview went really well, I'm determined to get this job! Once I'm employed, I'll immediately get an advance on my first month's salary to pay the rent!" Christopher pleaded.
"Honestly, Christopher, if you can't even cobble together the money for the motel rent, you might consider applying for aid at the Church in Opportunity City. If you're early enough in line, you can get a bed for the night, and during the day, you can stroll through Opportunity City Central Park. In any case, I won't be strung along any longer! Last week you told me you found a job, and now you're telling me you just had the interview—I can't believe you anymore!" Bob, the motel owner, bellowed.
"Please, Bob… Christopher is only 5 years old, and he can't sleep if there are too many strangers around…" Christopher said.
"Enough, Christopher, that's your problem. If a bed at the Church isn't suitable for you, you can still take him to the public restrooms in the park; it's quiet there! And I guarantee it will be clean! Also, it's free!"
Bob's voice was deafening, completely unyielding as Christopher looked at him awkwardly, while his child, Little Christopher, timidly hid behind him, clutching the faded corner of his blue shirt, sneaking a look at the irascible Bob.
"Alright, Bob, I'll pack up, and I'll move out by this afternoon…" Christopher said helplessly.
"Noon! Out by noon! I'm giving you one hour!" Bob wagged his stubby finger in the air as he spoke.
In the middle of speaking, Bob noticed Chen Ke peeking through the next door's ajar, and his demeanor did a complete one-eighty.
"Oh, I'm terribly sorry, I was just addressing a business dispute, was I too noisy?" He said with a hat-tipping smile.
Chen Ke widened the gap in the door slightly, showing just his head outside, his hair still dripping wet from the shower.
"No problem, Christopher? That's your name, right?" Chen Ke dealt with the owner first before calling out to Christopher and Little Christopher's retreating backs.
Christopher stopped in his tracks and turned back with a look of surprise.
"Christopher, come here a moment. And you, too, Little Christopher," Chen Ke extended his left arm through the door gap, gesturing with a "come here, come here" motion.
Father and son exchanged a hesitant glance, then walked towards Chen Ke.
"Do we know each other, sir?" Christopher asked tentatively.
"That's not important, Christopher. What is important is that we're both in big trouble right now, but we can help each other get through it," Chen Ke said with a smile.
"You… would you really help me with the rent?" Christopher asked.
Christopher peered curiously through the crack of the door, while Chen Ke unintentionally hid further behind it.
"Of course, it's for a fee, Chris," Chen Ke nodded.
"Since that's the case, you've got to help him cover all the overdue rent," Bob added from behind.
"What did you used to do, Chris?" asked Chen Ke.
"I was a technician at the Schofer Car Factory in Opportunity City, sir," Chris replied.
"Haven't found a new job?" Chen Ke looked at him.
"No company wants to hire a middle-aged man who's still handing out resumes at 30..." Chris murmured softly.
Chen Ke suddenly remembered something. The time in this world was March 2009, and if he was not mistaken, the subprime mortgage crisis that started in the United Federation in 2008 and swept the entire Western world was still ongoing. Moreover, with a series of maneuvers by the giants of the Spiritual Power Industry, a wave of unemployment was sweeping across the United Federation.
"A few days ago, I actually found a job, but they eventually retracted their offer because my commute was too long, and they thought I might not be able to meet the overtime requirements. Although I assured them I could," Chris said as if trying to prove something.
"Your assurances don't matter, Chris. They're the ones picking on you, I understand these things very well," Chen Ke nodded. Before he crossed over to this world, he was just another nameless office drone, familiar with 996, layoffs before annual bonuses, and forced resignations of older employees. He had seen it all.
But even as the subprime mortgage crisis ravaged the Western world, Spiritual Ability Enterprises were still throwing around big money and snapping up land. This showed just how prosperous the Spiritual Power Industry was in this world.
Since it was an industry, there must be products and demand. Military equipment and Holy Relics were just one aspect; Chen Ke had yet to see how the Spiritual Power Industry performed in terms of consumer goods.
Mainly because he had been too busy—busy trying to stay alive.
"Why not try... becoming an investigator?" Chen Ke suddenly asked.
"Ha! Why don't you ask him why he doesn't go work in the mines?" Bob laughed.
Chris shook his head, saying, "Not everyone is willing to deal with those ghostly things, sir."
Chen Ke uttered an "oh," realizing he had overestimated this world's attitude towards and acceptance of the job of an investigator. He glanced at Christopher, then turned to Chris.
"You just said we could help each other, right, sir? May I ask how I should address you?" Chris had been holding onto the hope that Chen Ke would help him through this difficult time, though Chen Ke had not explicitly said he would do so.
"Right, right, we're neighbors, and good neighbors should help each other out. How many sets of clothes did you bring?" Chen Ke winked at Chris.
"Clothes?" Chris was taken aback.
"Yes, underwear, trousers, jackets, socks, shoes, those," Chen Ke emphasized.
"I do have a few sets of old clothes, but they may be a bit worn, I've worn them for several years..." Chris became uneasy.
"500 union coins, Chris, give me a set of clothes, and I'll give you 500 union coins," Chen Ke looked into Chris's eyes.
"Um... that's quite a sum, sir. You could easily buy new ones..." Chris said, puzzled.
"I want them now," Chen Ke interrupted Chris.
"You could have bought from me," Bob chimed in from behind.
"I could wear your pants as an overcoat," Chen Ke waved his hand dismissively.
"I'll pull my suitcase over right now, pick whatever clothes you want!" Chris said.
"The underwear must be clean, definitely clean!" Chen Ke repeated earnestly.