"Honey, I really don't want any secrets between us. But right now, I still can't tell you where the money came from. But I can promise you that I didn't get it by stealing or borrowing from loan sharks. I got a good paying job. I got out of the factory. This $8,800,000 I got as a bonus from my job."
"What kind of job can pay that much, Erland? You scare me. I don't want you to get involved in anything dangerous."
“Ainsley, listen to me. Look into my eyes. Do I look like a man who likes to do dirty work?”
Ainsley shook her head. Erland grasped her hand tighter.
“I won't do bad things or commit crimes just because of money. Trust me, this money is clean. You can trust me, right?”
Ainsley paused, she hesitated but remembering all of Erland's struggles working hard to pay for her medical expenses, Ainsley had to trust her husband.
“I believe you.”
Erland smiled, "Thank you dear, thank you for believing in me."
The transparent screen message disappeared and Erland breathed a sigh of relief.
"Are you still tired? Want me to carry you?"
"No, let's go home, Erland. I have to cook something nice for Dad."
"All those days in the hospital, Dad must be tired of eating bland food."
“Of course, honey.”
***
[Mr. Edmund's hospital is in Sky Valhala, Mr. Ronald.]
After reading the short message from his secretary, Ronald turned the car to Sky Valhala, one of the elite hospitals in Sinker City.
He came here to see the plight of Erland's family who couldn't pay for the surgery.
Last week after Erland and Ainsley left the party, Ronald immediately investigated what happened. He was so happy when he heard that Erland's father had been hit by a car and his leg would be amputated if it couldn't be operated on.
"Can I help you, Sir?" the nurse asked as she saw Ronald standing in front of the reception desk.
"Is Mr. Edmund still being treated here, Sus? He hasn't had surgery yet, has he? I will pay for his operation. Tell his son Erland to come and see me."
Ronald had prepared a bad plan, he would pay for the operation in exchange for Erland becoming his slave.
He would beg at his feet and lick his shoes, then apologize for daring to make a mess in the factory.
Ronald also wanted to use Erland's labor for free, so he had to return to the factory without a monthly salary.
"I'm sorry, Sir, but the patient named Mr. Edmund was discharged this afternoon. Mr. Erland has also paid his hospital bill."
"Nurse must be wrong! Operation cost 50 million dollars! Where did he get so much money to pay for it?"
The nurse didn't want to prolong the matter, she showed Erland's receipt.
Ronald read the bill, his hands clenched in anger.
‘Ainsley, let's go, I have 50 million dollars for Dad's treatment!'
Ronald recalled the memory, he didn't believe Erland wasn't bragging.
"Bastard, where did he get 50 million dollars?" Ronald slammed the car door and got in, his frustration growing. He had left the hospital five minutes ago.
Ronald slammed the wheel. "God damn it!" he swore. He grabbed his cell phone and dialed his confidant.
"Have you found them?"
"Already, Sir, you can meet their group in Cheng Du Alley."
"I hope your information doesn't disappoint me."
"Take it easy, Mr. Ronald, their group is well known. They have connections with the high-end mafia."
Ronald smiled, that was good news for him. The call ended, Ronald started the car and drove to Cheng Du Alley.
Cheng Du, an area inhabited by narrow-eyed residents, they are overseas. As the car entered the alleys, Ronald would find bars and casinos.
Ronald's car braked suddenly as two burly men blocked him through the alley. This area appeared to be controlled by a mob boss.
The window of Ronald's car was hit so hard it almost shattered.
"Hey, get out of the car now!"
Ronald complied and put his car keys in his pocket.
"What are you doing in our neighborhood? It's rare for a Sinker City resident to enter our neighborhood without permission."
Ronald's identity as a Sinker City resident was immediately recognized by his car's license plate. Cheng Du's car license plates always have the suffix CDF (Cheng Du Family).
"I'm here to see Jefrey."
"Who are you? How dare you mention the boss's name!"
"I have business with him."
The two men looked at each other, they contacted someone.
"There's a stranger looking for the boss on business."
"Bring him in."
The call was cut off, Ronald was frisked, his hands raised.
"I'm not an enemy of your group, I don't carry a gun. I'm here to hire the services of your boss."
"He's clean."
Ronald's cell phone and car keys, taken by force, were returned.
"You follow us."
Ronald nodded as the two men led him through a narrow alley. Toward the old construction site of their boss.
Ronald followed them into the bar, where some of the men from the group were smoking outside the singing room. They were dressed in dark gray clothes, with prominent snake tattoos on their hands."What are you looking at? Move it! Boss Jefrey is on the second floor."Several men in suits with guns surrounded the second floor, presumably those in charge of guarding the floor."Is that him?""Yes, boss."The dark-haired man with burns on parts of his face crossed his legs. He put out his cigarette, "How much money do you have to come looking for me?"Ronald took out a picture of Erland, "If you can confirm that he is disabled, I'll give you any amount!"Jefrey laughed, "Pft, hahaha, are you serious? You'll pay any amount? No nominal limit?"Ronald took out a blank check, "You can write the amount yourself. But if this plan fails, until the police find out. You will die.""Dead?" Jefrey smiled."Who do you think you are to hurt the boss?" Jefrey's men were angry."Before you kill the boss
"Mr. Erland, your father's operation will cost $50 million, including hospital fees. And I want to inform you that the operation requires payment in advance.""50 million dollars? Can I pay in installments, Nurse? I promise I'll pay it off soon, just please operate on my father's leg! His leg must not be amputated!""Only if you pay in full, Mr. Erland.""Please, allow me to pay in installments, Nurse.""I'm sorry, but our hospital does not offer a credit system.” One of the hospital visitors rushed forward and became angry."Damn you! This is a high-class hospital, you have to pay in advance, there's no negotiation. If you can't afford it, you should check the hospital's background before bringing your father here. If you're poor, you better take him to a county hospital that receives government subsidies. You're just making a fool of yourself!" "Knowing that you are poor, why did you bring him to an elite hospital? Are you trying to act like a rich person? You should know your pla
"She is here for work," Ronald answered. "We are short of servants." "What do you mean, Ronald?" Erland probed, trying to connect their shortage of servants with his sick wife's presence in that place. Ronald smirked. "What else do you think? Of course, Ainsley is here being a servant!" Erland's hands clenched tightly. Ronald enjoyed making the poor man angry. "The Thompson family is not a charity organization, we can't give out free money. If Ainsley asked for money to buy medicine, she has to work for it." Erland's patience was wearing thin. He quickly stepped forward and grabbed Ronald by the collar, pushing his body against the wall until he almost fell to the floor. "My wife is not just anyone! She is a daughter of the Thompson family! Your family too! Giving her a little money for medicine won't make you poor! Especially since she's sick! How could you make your sick sister work? What if her condition worsens! Heart failure is not a trivial disease." Ronald just laughed.
The command kept appearing, refusing to disappear. Even the mission completion time continued to move.[Time remaining: 8 minutes. Complete your mission before the penalty is imposed.]Erland was confused. In this critical situation, the strange screen kept pressing him. Meanwhile, his father-in-law started approaching him. The man's face darkened, fists clenched, ready to hit him.Ding! A new notification flashed on the screen.[Warning! Player Erland Colvin, the penalty for your mission failure is being prepared. A 1000-volt electric shock will be processed. You will soon experience death. Countdown starts: one minute, 60, 59, 58, 57...]With each passing second, Erland's heart pounded. With courage and a determination to defend himself, he delivered a hard punch to Edie's cheek, sending his father-in-law flying several meters and crashing into an antique vase displayed near the window.Erland's powerful punch caused the vase to crack and shatter across the floor. Ronald, Anne, Bre
“What did he say? He got 50 million dollars?” Ronald suppressed his laughter. “Ainsley, your husband must be dreaming. Where would he get 50 million dollars from? Who would lend him that much money? And if anyone did, it must be a loan shark. Your husband has a small salary; it would take a lifetime to pay off that debt. Ainsley, I feel so sorry for you. Your life will only get harder with loan sharks chasing you.” Everyone joined in mocking Erland. Colleagues, officials, and the Thompson family business clients laughed at Erland's foolishness. “Hahaha, he must be out of his mind,” they jeered. Erland didn’t care; he held his wife’s hand. “Honey, let’s go!” Ronald, filled with anger, saw Ainsley and Erland heading out. “Stop! You can’t just leave like that! You both have to take responsibility! My father and mother are hurt because of you two!” Ronald shouted, intending to chase after them. “Ronald, I’ve contacted our family doctor!” Anne exclaimed. Ronald was furious, but seei
Erland's father's surgery was successful. Now, Edmund is undergoing treatment. The doctor has asked Edmund to stay in the hospital until the stitches from the surgery dry up."I'm sorry for being a burden to you,” said Edmund to his son, Erland."What are you talking about, Dad? It's my duty as a son to be devoted to you. Your recovery is the most important thing to me now."Edmund's wrinkled hand touched his son's head, gently stroking it.Windy and Ainsley entered, both women carrying a basket of apples."Dear, why are you forcing yourself to sit? Just lie down," said Windy to his husband.Edmund looked at the basket of fresh apples. Something was bothering him—where did his family get so much money from? After paying the $50 million surgery bill, his wife still had money left to buy him apples, which were very expensive."Honey, can we talk privately?" asked Edmund to his wife.Windy glanced at her son and daughter-in-law. Erland stood up first, "Ainsley and I will go to the pharm
[Run 10 kilometers, do 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 pull-ups.] [Completion reward: secret.] [Mission failure penalty: divorce from your wife.]Erland was stunned. Was this system a personal trainer? Why was it giving him tasks like an athlete's workout routine? The most annoying part of the mission was the penalty: divorce from his wife.[Player Erland Colvin, the system will start the countdown. Complete your daily mission target before the time runs out.]The screen turned into a timer. He had 24 hours to complete the mission. Erland didn’t want a divorce; even if he had to die, he would never let Ainsley go."Arghhh! Crazy system!""Erland!"Ainsley was shocked as Erland suddenly ran out of the room, sprinting at full speed. He hadn't even finished his fried rice."What’s going on?" Ainsley worried.Due to the daily mission, Erland spent his day exercising.Erland's breath was heavy, sweat pouring down his temples. He had run 8 kilometers in a marathon.Two more kilometers to c
[Player absorbed bronze combat mode. Defense and attack increased.] Erland could feel a surge of strength spreading throughout his body. He felt his power multiply several times over.Besides feeling lighter, his agility also increased significantly. "Damn! That loser hit us!" "Erland!" shouted the senior leader, enraged. He had just gotten up after being hit by Erland. "Boss! Your teeth are gone!"Two front teeth had fallen to the floor. The senior leader glared at his lost teeth with anger. "That bastard made me lose my teeth. You want to die!" Without thinking, he lunged at Erland, trying to punch him. But before his punch could reach Erland’s face, he was already kicked by Erland. This time, the senior’s body wasn’t just thrown back; his bones were broken.The senior's subordinates, seeing how strong Erland’s attack was, began to back away, keeping their distance out of fear. "Come at me, all of you! Don't be cowards! Haven't you been bullying me all this time because I st