Chapter 4 - Hugo's Problems

Drew exited the boutique. Behind him were two security guards who held the things he just bough.

 Perhaps it was due to his lavish spending, but he noticed that the boutique management became more respectful to him.

 Just as he wanted to flag down a cab, he suddenly heard a voice.

 "Sir!"

 Turning over, he saw somebody sprinting towards him. It was the taxi man from before.

 The taxi man arrived before Drew and started panting, while leaning his arms against his knee.

 "Are you okay?" Drew asked, with genuine concern.

 Putong!

 To his shock, the taxi man dropped to his knees, tears steaming down his cheeks.

 "What are you doing?!" Drew shrieked in shock.

 His first reaction was to raise the taxi man up, but the latter refused to budge.

 "Allow me sir to fully show my appreciation! I also want to apologize for misunderstanding you earlier" the taxi man wailed as he grabbed the helm of Drew's pants.

 At that moment, he remembered he did send some extra cash to this taxi man.

"Why are you crying. Don't you know it is embarrassing for a grown man to cry" Drew held the taxi man up.

 "But.. but." the taxi man felt even more guilty.

 He insulted this rich young man, yet he was being treated kindly by him in return.

 "Remember I once said I will add tips. I am not one to make promises and later run away from them" Drew smiled.

 The two guards were shocked when they saw this display.

 According to what they knew, young rich scions from affluent families were extremely arrogant and proud, with eyes atop their head.

 How come this one was different?

 "That's not it! the money you gave me all in all totals to the money i make in six months. I cannot just accept it!" the taxi man stammered.

 Drew smiled inwardly. He liked the honesty of the taxi man.

 "Alright. It just happened that you came at the right time. My things are over there"

 The taxi man read the situation and quickly went to grab the shopping bags from the two guards.

When he finished loading them into the booth of the taxi, he got in.

 "So where would you like to go sir?" his tone became more respectful.

 "Uhm. Where would I like to go?" Drew wondered.

 He couldn't go back to his former house. He was in coma for a whole year and his evil ex helped matters by announcing his death.

 If he went back, he might give his room mates a scare.

 Plus, he wanted to have his revenge on those that hurt him. So he had to keep his identity a secret.

 "Uhm. Just take me to a car dealership company" he replied from the passenger seat.

 "You want to buy a car?" the taxi man asked.

 "Yeah" Drew replied.

 He wanted to add "the more expensive, the merrier"

 However, he stopped himself. If the prices of the cars didn't suit his taste, he would just go to another one.

 He wanted to spend as much money as he could. He was the richest man in the world.

 And maybe the most powerful?.. well that would be in the nearest future"

"Oh, and I haven't got your name?"

 "My name is Hugo sir" the taxi man replied while handling the wheels.

 "You seem to know almost everywhere in this town" Drew probed.

 "Well, actually my roots lay in this town. You can say that i am a bonafide native" Hugo smiled.

 "Really? that's great because you seem to be the right man for a job I have in mind" Drew stroked his beardless chin.

 "What job?"

 "I am currently looking for a chaffeur. I don't know if you are interested?"

 "I.. I can't sir" Hugo gritted his teeth and rejected.

 "Oh, don't reject without hearing the salary. I am willing to pay you ten thousand a week!"

 Hugo smiled bitterly. Ten thousand a week? did this young rich scion think money could be plucked randomly from a tree?

 "Sir, it's not about the salary. It is just.." Hugo took a deep breath.

 "My only son is sick and I can't take him to the hospital. So I have to be by his side always. Maybe if i cheer him up, his condition will improve" he explained.

"Is his illness that serious?" Drew asked, barely keeping his excitement in check.

 "The doctor claimed the surgery would cost us a million bucks. Where can I find such a huge sum? the bank won't even give me any mortgage!" Hugo became agitated, gripping the wheels tightly.

 Drew burst into a hearty laugh in his heart. A million bucks! That would give him a thousand deci points!

 By then, wouldn't his strength soar. Perhaps he would become the strongest in the world!

 However, Drew wasn't only doing this for the deci points. He sincerely wanted to help Hugo.

 This was a honest man and a caring father. Somehow, he was reminded of himself, back when he was at the bottom rung of the society.

 "Change of plans. We are going to your place" Drew made his decision.

 Larryington was a second rate town. It had an urban area and a local area.

 Most of the locals were farmers who sold crops to survive. Plus, there had never been a local who awakened as a Deviant.

 Most people who awakened were from the urban area.

Reason was because, the world energy was miniscule in rural areas, compared to urban areas.

 At that moment, a taxi halted at a farm house. The farm house was made of brown wood. The chimney of the farm house would occasionally puff out smoke.

 "Is this your house?" Drew held his nose, to avoid inhaling the smoke.

 "Sorry about that. My family are also into the charcoal business. I can only ride a taxi to support" Hugo scratched his head.

 "I will go get my wife right now"

 "Don't bother" Drew stopped him.

 "I can walk"

 The duo got out of the taxi. From afar, Drew could spot a lady tirelessly plucking out cobs of maize.

 She wore an hat, so Drew couldn't see her face. But judging from her body, she was definitely a beauty with no doubt.

 "Is that your wife?" Drew asked for clarification.

 "Yes. That is Maria my wife"

 Maria who was plucking out maize and throwing them into the basket she held suddenly noticed approaching footsteps.

Lifting her hat up, she saw her husband walking towards her. Besides him was a young man, barely in his early twenties.

 "Hugo!" she ran into his arms and began to sob.

 "It's okay darling. It's okay. Everything would be alright now" Hugo stroked his wife hair.

 He was confident because he had a rich young scion backing him up.

 "Boohoo!" Maria burst into more tears.

 She thought her husband was just trying to comfort her.

 "Maria, we have a visitor. So stop crying" Hugo whispered.

 That was when Maria noticed that indeed, there was a stranger.

 As for Drew, he had a faint smile.

 "Maria, this is Mr. Drew. He is going to help us. Mr. Drew, this is my wife" Hugo did the introduction.

 "Hi. Nice to meet you" Drew beamed amiably.

 "I'm sorry if you felt uncomfortable by that embarrassing scene. My wife tends to get over emotional sometimes" Hugo smiled wryly.

 "It's okay. She was just venting out her pent up sorrows" Drew nodded.

"It is good you understand Mr. Drew" Hugo sighed in relief.

 After that, he led Drew into his cozy house. Although Maria had questions, she chose to trust her husband.

 The house had two rooms. The parlour was medium sized and had only two wooden chairs, a table and a cable tv from the 90s'.

 After making sure Drew sat comfortably, Hugo whispered to his wife to go get some beer.

 After she left, he began to engage Drew in some small talks.

 "So, welcome to my home. How is it?"

 Drew looked around, inspecting every nook and cranny with his sharp gaze.

 "It's pretty.."

 "Shabby, I know" Hugo sighed.

 "That wasn't what I meant" Drew shook his head.

 "Huh?"

 "I wanted to say it is pretty strong. If I'm not mistaken, this house is even older than me" Drew laughed.

 "You can even tell?" Hugo gasped.

 'Sure enough. Mr. Drew is no ordinary person'

 "Well, this house belonged to my great grand father. He was a welsh man who dabbled in mining precious ore"

"He passed it on to my grand father, who passed it on to my father, who then passed it on to me"

 "Then you'd prolly pass it on to your son right?" Drew joked.

 The duo burst into laughter.

 "The house is much older than I thought it was" Drew sighed.

 At that moment, Maria returned with the root beer. Two bottles.

 "Drink Mr. Drew" Hugo uncorked one of the root beer.

 "Uhm. Okay" Drew found it rude to reject, so he took the remaining bottle uncorked it.

 He took a deep gulp and his face scrunched up.

 Hell! was beer this unpleasant?

 "Seems like Mr. Drew doesn't drink beer?" Hugo noticed Drew's discomfort.

 "It's okay! I'm fine" Drew laughed, downing the whole bottle in two more gulps.

 "Can I see your son now?" he asked.

 Maria left. Minutes later, she returned.

 This time, she was holding a boy in her arms who seemed to be seven years old.

 The boy was sickly pale and his teeth kept on chattering while beads of sweat covered his forehead.

Drew went over to feel his temperature. Just as his hand was about to make skin contact, he heard a melodic voice in his head.

-[Step away from that boy!]