Chapter 31: Addicted to Pretending to Be a Wizard

In Los Angeles, what kind of place can 800 dollars rent? A single room, and a very small one at that, roughly a bit over ten square meters.

But now, four people are living in this room of just over ten square meters.

The woman living here with her children is named Olivia Hill, though right now she is busy packing up that old car of hers, which has changed hands who knows how many times.

Beside her, two children of about eleven or twelve are helping by passing things to her from behind.

If the landlord kicks them out, the whole family might have to live in the car — just not sure if the car's space would be enough for them to live in.

This is the scene Henry Thomas brought Chen Yaozu to see.

Seeing a strange vehicle approach, Olivia seemed a bit wary — after all, this isn't the main entrance of the building.

But the license plate looked vaguely familiar, and only when she saw the driver step out of the cab did she manage to squeeze out a reluctant smile.

"Hello, Ms. Hill, glad to see you again!"

"Hello, Lawyer, you said we'd meet soon, but I didn't expect it to be this soon!"

She exchanged a pleasantry, yet her gaze shifted to the Eastern man stepping out of the passenger side.

Henry turned to Chen Yaozu and explained: "Mr. Chen, the reason I kept you waiting so long this morning was because of Ms. Hill.

Ms. Hill's car broke down, and I happen to know a bit about auto repair, so I helped her fix it.

I also happened to learn that Ms. Hill's family is in a difficult spot right now and urgently needs money!

So I looked into their situation, thinking if there was a chance I could help them.

And now, you might need their help, and they also need yours.

It's quite a coincidence, isn't it?"

Her age was hard to gauge; she didn't look all that old.

But her figure was quite good — tall and slender.

Not coarse and barrel-shaped like the typical American women you see on the street.

Her looks were passable, not stunningly beautiful, just... alright.

Chen Yaozu had no social anxiety; he walked right up, hand extended: "Nice to meet you, Ms. Hill. I'm Chen Yaozu, an Easterner. You can call me Chen."

"Olivia Hill!"

The woman wiped her hand on herself before taking his: "Easterner?

Fine!

Actually, I don't much like Easterners.

Last week I still had a job, but the boss hired an Eastern woman at half my salary to replace me.

Of course, if you're here to bring me good news, then I love Easterners!"

The woman was blunt and direct, and coupled with the two children's ignorant yet expectant gazes, it gave one the illusion that it would be embarrassing if this deal fell through.

"Actually, just as I told you this morning, I'll find a way to help you, Olivia."

Henry gestured at the room: "Won't you invite us in to sit?"

Unexpectedly, she refused. Olivia shook her head: "This is just a converted garage single room. Aside from my and the kids' belongings, there's no room left to stand.

Very sorry, Lawyer!

If there's business, let's talk right here!"

Chen Yaozu looked over; the place was indeed a converted garage, on the side of the whole building — meaning people live upstairs, but they enter from another direction, and this garage was separately renovated and rented out.

According to Henry, this single room still rents for 800 dollars — utterly bloodsucking.

Henry glanced left and right, then lowered his voice: "Mr. Chen is an illegal immigrant; he needs a Green Card! And you — you're short on cash right now! So..."

Unexpectedly, the tall woman suddenly stepped back, shaking her head frantically: "No, Lawyer! My husband is still in prison, but I have no intention of divorcing! And this Eastern Mr. Chen seems very young.

Even if he's barely over the legal marrying age of 21, that's not enough to convince Immigration our marriage is genuine."

From the look of her, she thinks we're here to marry her for a Green Card?

Bullshit! 【Olivia Hill, graduate of a prestigious Virginia university, had a high-paying job of 6,000 dollars after tax six months ago.

Because her husband Lawrence Hill criticized Little Israel online, their door was smashed in within 30 minutes and he was arrested, sentenced to five years' imprisonment.

Olivia Hill was also implicated, fired, and blacklisted in her industry, forced to bring her family to Los Angeles but still couldn't find work.

Now her life is in dire straits, reduced to relying heavily on the food bank's near-expiry handouts just to eat.

But this morning she ran into old friend Henry Thomas; after learning her situation, he discussed a countermeasure with her — to get enough dollars from you, an illegal immigrant, to solve their crisis!

Their target is 100,000 US dollars; only after getting 100,000 will they agree to a fake marriage to solve your identity issue!

And your goal this trip, Olivia Hill's eldest daughter Audrey Hill, has already been sent away by her.

She hitched a ride with a neighbor to the food bank to pick up today's food.】

Is 100,000 dollars a lot? If it really solves my identity problem, 100,000 isn't much!

After all, plenty of people throw millions at getting a Green Card.

But this matter is full of uncertainty; I'm not sure if things will actually go through after I pay.

Or whether the other side will even act in good faith!

Right now this Lawyer Henry is already colluding with others to set a trap for me, and still pretending not to know me! Do you really think I'm fresh out of school, twenty-something? I was older than both of you combined before I stopped aging! No martial virtue, trying to scam this 40-plus-year-old Comrade! Chen Yaozu complained inwardly, but his eyes turned and he thought of a plan, smiling! Smiling, he turned to Henry beside him, confident: "Lawyer, I wonder if Mr. Grilos mentioned my profession? If not, let me reintroduce myself!

I'm Chen Yaozu, an Eastern Wizard!"

"Wizard?"

Hearing someone introduce themselves like that, and the rather obscure profession of Wizard, Olivia couldn't help but freeze.

Her questioning gaze turned to Henry — meaning, what the fuck, you'd better give me an explanation! Chen Yaozu continued: "Yes, Wizard!

Wizards like us, in the East, aside from dispelling calamities, also have a line of work called Divination.

That is what you Westerners commonly call fortune-telling.

Because of our gift, we can use these eyes to see through a person's River of Time, witness what they've done in the past, and the Tribulations they may face in the future, and resolve them.

"So, we can play a game!"

He looked with a smile at the two before him who planned to partner up and fish Dollars from his pocket.

Henry tasted mockery from Chen Yaozu's smile, made no sound, and waited for what came next.

Olivia was somewhat half-believing, half-doubting Chen Yaozu's explanation of her Wizard profession; after all, what he said was too high-sounding.

Eyes can see through some people's Time River, see what some people did before and their future Tribulations — how can such words be so impractical?

As for a game, I haven't even solved lunch for two kids, haven't even scraped together gas money for the little car, what the hell game would I play with you? If this self-proclaimed Wizard Eastern Person weren't a big shot Henry and I discussed beforehand, planning to get one hundred thousand US Dollars from him...

"Mr. Chen, how come you suddenly thought of playing a game?"

Henry finally finished combing his thoughts and took over the topic.

Chen Yaozu smiled: "Just a small game, rules are very simple — just have you guess an answer."

"Guess whether I can know where Ms. Hill sent Audrey.

Or alternatively, whether you think I can guess how many Dollars you and Ms. Hill discussed planning to obtain from me this morning."

(Chapter End)