Chapter 24:
After several days of contemplation, hatred hadn't easily left the News Head's inner world; instead, it grew more intense with time. Every time he got drunk, he remembered the humiliation, harm, and control Michael exerted on him that night. He just wanted a soulmate like most normal people did. He hadn't done anything wrong; the girl didn't object either, but then Michael suddenly appeared.
He kicked the News Head and trampled on the most precious part of his body without letting him wear clothes, all in front of his foster daughter. Later, his foster daughter disappeared somewhere, and he ended up with a bunch of evidence in Michael's hands. Recalling every time Michael verbally abused him or took away his money, he grew to hate him more.
Especially this time, losing thousands of bucks made him feel deeply humiliated again, and it was now related to his control over those children.
Now, all the kids in the entire building knew someone named Michael took money that belonged to the News Head. He felt like he was being grilled, and the older kids' gazes had changed towards him.
Gradually, he began losing control over these children, especially last night. After getting drunk, intending to hit a child to release the suppressed emotions, two older kids grabbed his whip and pushed him out of the door.
This loss of control terrified him even more. Everything he had was built upon absolute control over these children. If he didn't change anything, soon he would become one of those failures in his eyes, dust in the heap of history.
"Does it work?" The News Head faced a man hiding in a dark corner, counting money in his hand, showing no response to the News Head's question.
After a while, after counting a roll of cash, the man nodded slightly. "No problem. I've tested it. There are four bullets inside. If you want more..."
He took out a bunch from his pocket. "Two bucks each."
The News Head's face twitched. He silently pocketed the pistol. This modified firearm didn't have any identification, making it hard to trace back even if problems arose. Many underground arms dealers liked these weapons; at least, they could ensure they wouldn't get involved in any cases.
"Alright, money's settled. Any other business?" The shadowy figure inquired from the darkness. The News Head shook his head. After exchanging greetings, the man swiftly disappeared into the alley.
As the sky darkened, the News Head, with a gun in his pocket, felt something he had never experienced before, something called "power." This was drastically different from the power he had felt before.
Previously, his power was based on the physical differences between adults and individual children. He was stronger than the children, so he controlled them. But now, this newfound power allowed him to fulfill his desires, directly taking others' lives. This elevated control over others' lives made him feel like a god.
Anyone who made him uncomfortable would end their ugly lives as he pulled the trigger. This reckless sense of plunder excited his whole being.
Before going back, the News Head went to the local deli and got some slices of ham and the complimentary small bread rolls. To attract more customers, many delis started offering a small bag containing four fist-sized whole wheat rolls upon purchasing a sufficient quantity of specified meats.
This business model gradually spread from larger cities to smaller towns. While people might have yet to be aware, those specializing in finance and economics have already identified these issues.
The slowdown in economic growth had heightened societal competitiveness. The overall national-level financial and economic development had experienced deceleration, presenting some challenges yet also representing a reasonable phenomenon.
Munching on the savory ham slices, paired with the bread rolls and inexpensive strong liquor, he successfully made himself dizzy once again. Simultaneously, an inexplicable impulse began invading his mind.
He recalled the event from last night in the dormitory when he was driven out by those children who used to be bossed around by him like dogs. A wicked smile appeared on his face as he held a whip and a bottle, swaying into the dormitory.
Minutes later, a somewhat not-so-jarring gunshot echoed. The chaotic noise in the entire dormitory instantly turned silent. Subsequently, the sound of a whip cracking against flesh followed.
But this time, unlike before, nobody cried. Each person gritted their teeth, which only fueled the News Head's distorted impulse.
No crying? I'll make you cry!
The beating continued in the silent night.
After a day's work, Vera had become proficient in the specifics of her job. After Lin Qi finished dealing with a transaction and bid her farewell, he left first. He had other matters to attend to, like entrusting a lawyer to register some patents, finding a factory to manufacture his coin sorter, and being curious about the strange behavior of the News Head he saw during dinner with Vera yesterday.
He contemplated whether the News Head was planning something. He needed to complete his tasks first, like placing his ring in Michael's room.
There was much to do, but he still needed to do it step by step.
Approaching noon, Lin Qi headed to a rather ordinary law firm in Sabin City. It wasn't the most renowned or the one with the highest success rate in defense cases, but he didn't need those references for patent registration.
The main reason for choosing this firm was its affordability. If hiring an accountant could make one feel the pinch once every month, hiring a lawyer could make one feel the pinch for an entire month or even longer.
The cost of discussions was just a part of the overall fees. From the moment they left the office, they began charging for travel expenses. If they left carrying a briefcase, material fees were added. Not to mention additional expenses due to thirst or hunger, which were unavoidable. So, Lin Qi just needed an average lawyer.
"Hello..." Lin Qi entered, and the lawyer politely invited him to sit down. He then clicked on a double-sided small clock on the table, starting the timer.
At that moment, the lawyer spoke, "If my secretary didn't slack off, she should have informed you that our conversation costs twenty-five bucks per hour. If it's less than an hour, it's calculated as an hour. Right?"
Lin Qi nodded, and the lawyer's smile grew wider. "So, how can I assist you?"
"I want to register a patent."
"A patent?" The lawyer paused momentarily, reevaluating Lin Qi. Considering Lin Qi's age, he assumed Lin Qi would discuss potential criminal activities like assault, injury, or robbery rather than registering a patent. Hence, he confirmed it again.
Lin Qi nodded again, and the lawyer began his work, "Alright, to be honest, our firm doesn't specialize in patent law, but we can manage..."
Before he finished his sentence, Lin Qi stood up. The lawyer stood up quickly, trying hard to secure the business. "We can offer you a discount. Trust me, registering a patent doesn't require highly specialized knowledge!"
Because each state and region had different laws, what was permissible in one state might not pass the scrutiny of the judicial department in another state. No lawyer dared to claim omnipotence; they often specialized in a particular field. For instance, lawyers dealing with criminal cases specifically studied the content of criminal cases and the conviction and sentencing standards in various states regarding criminal cases.
Similarly, there were lawyers specializing in marriage and divorce, financial lawyers dealing with wealth disputes, and patent lawyers specifically catering to patents.
The primary scope of a patent lawyer's work wasn't registering patents but rather effectively assisting employers in establishing patent barriers, solving technical monopoly issues, and handling various infringement cases.Please do not delete thisHow to find a list of chaptersPlease find the chapter label next to your favorite translator's name, and click the label.
This chapt𝓮r is updat𝒆d by (f)reew𝒆b(n)ovel.com