Chapter 81: Recruiting Talent: The Cannibal

As for that.

Louis didn’t know.

He realized his understanding of this world was still too limited; he thought that after returning this time, he should perhaps speak with his grandfather.

The old man had risen from that war-torn era and established a mafia family in Miami that still thrives today—his abilities were unquestionable, and time had granted him knowledge of far more secrets.

He was certain there would be gains then.

Before that, Louis turned to Mimi, who looked tense and uneasy—such a rare talent needed to be secured.

At any time, true talent is rare, and true talent is precisely what is most lacking!

Not to mention, this instinctive activation during danger, soul out-of-body, slightly prophetic ability—if she became one of his own, it would be like adding a safety insurance for his own security.

Mimi, meeting Louis’s slightly burning gaze, clenched her fists nervously; though the handsome man before her was indeed striking and mysterious, powerful, she had no such intentions—he was simply too… dangerous. All she felt was fear and a touch of gratitude, nothing resembling affection.

But what if…?

“What’s your name?”

“Sorry, I’m not interested.”

???

Louis frowned. What the hell? A downer girl!

Mimi froze, then realized he was asking for her full name; she immediately felt embarrassed and quickly replied.

“Mimi, Mimi Hayes.”

“Good. Interested in working in Miami?”

“Huh?”

“I can see you’re a high school student, your family background is probably ordinary. If nothing unexpected happens, you won’t have a chance to go to college, nor a chance to earn big money. After graduation, you’ll likely become a server? Or a salesperson? Or some other low-barrier job.

Then you’ll waste a few carefree years, and when you’re older, you’ll marry some mediocre man you meet during a fling. If you’re unlucky, you might divorce a few years later, your quality of life will decline, and you’ll worry daily about your mortgage, car loan, health insurance, your child’s tuition… one day you can’t pay, and the bank will seize your house… if an accident occurs, you can’t even afford health insurance…”

Louis spoke the truth—this was the norm for people of her class in America.

This is still the present, when pressure is relatively low and life is fairly comfortable; Louis was even exaggerating. But once Mao Xiong collapses and America ends its concessions to the lower classes, everything Louis described will become reality—and even worse.

Mimi’s face turned pale.

She truly had no skills, her grades were average, and she had just graduated, precisely at the stage of worrying about what to do next—but this subtle condescension still stirred slight resentment in her.

“So what?”

“So? I can offer you a lucrative job—one that could grant you financial freedom. What do you think?”

As he spoke, Louis pulled out a check.

Holding the check, staring at the number on it, Mimi froze, unable to believe her eyes.

Ten thousand dollars!

That was a huge fortune!

Her parents’ individual annual salary was under thirty thousand—this single check was nearly half of that.

“I suppose I can call you boss now,” Mimi smoothly switched her tone, speaking with a hint of ease.

In America, children raised with money knew exactly how to respond to it.

Someone who casually pulled out ten thousand dollars must be a big shot—she had to seize this opportunity.

Seeing this, Louis felt it necessary to remind her, and help her see reality clearly.

“Nothing much—just using your special ability. You already know this world is different now. You’re not like ordinary people; you’re no longer the same as your classmates. Staying here will only make you an outsider.”

Hearing this, Mimi—who had worried he might want her for some kind of experiment—glanced at her classmates outside the bus. They were watching her; their expressions were no longer merely curious or grateful, but mixed with something… unfamiliar? Or fear? Or investigation?

Even her boyfriend seemed to be avoiding her gaze.

She didn’t fully understand what it meant, but she felt uneasy.

After a brief hesitation.

“Alright, boss. I accept.”

“Wise choice.”

Louis then spoke with her for a while, informing her of his name and the upcoming arrangements.

Mimi had already graduated; this trip was their final graduation competition, so she could leave for Miami immediately.

Once there, someone would meet her. Her initial task would be to get close to a middle-aged woman named Elise. If possible, become her assistant—or her disciple.

The conversation ended.

Louis’s ears twitched slightly, and a smile appeared on his face. “Come on, get out of the bus.”

?

Though she didn’t understand why Louis wanted her to get out, her status had changed now—Mimi obediently stepped down.

But Louis didn’t move. He stood up and walked to the back seat of the bus.

Tilting his head slightly, he saw a head beneath the seat.

Angular, jet-black keratinous skin, a mouth full of white teeth, a crimson tongue—who else could it be?

Louis could see him; he could see Louis too. Fear and hatred flashed in his eyes—but his actions were honest.

The cannibal’s head quickly extended its tongue, pressing and pushing against the floor, rolling backward. The faint wet trail on the ground suggested it had used its tongue to crawl under the seat.

Though he didn’t understand how another head had suddenly appeared, it didn’t matter—one at a time.

Louis first opened the metal box. Inside, the shrunken head lay with eyes tightly shut, motionless.

“So that’s how it is. The consciousness transferred to another head. Clever mind, lots of tricks.”

Thinking this, Louis pulled out his dagger and stabbed the head beneath the seat. The head tried to resist, shooting out its highly elastic tongue to launch itself upward for an attack—but it was useless.

In the confined space, the blade pinned it firmly.

He yanked it out, stirred it twice with the knife, then grabbed the nearby fire extinguisher and smashed it down.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Juice splattered—red and white.

Until it was flattened, resembling a Shandong dumpling pie.

Only then did Louis ignite a flame to burn it clean.

At that moment, the head trapped in the metal box suddenly opened its eyes and roared, “Huh-huh-ahhh!!”

But Louis only wanted to laugh. Without a throat or body, your roar leaks air—what are you trying to intimidate? Ridiculous.

He sealed the metal box and packed it into a bag.

Efficient, high-quality, wireless-continuity blood curse artifact—Heart-Stopping Cannibal—acquired!

(End of Chapter)