Chapter 23

For Roger, Fiona's garage wasn't just safer than a homeless camp—it was also the best place to complete the Anchor Point.

After all, only by living close enough could he boost favor.

Upon hearing this question, Mrs. Fiona immediately nodded: "Of course, you don't need to live in the garage—we welcome you anytime."

"No, I'll stay in the garage."

Living in someone else's house made Roger deeply uncomfortable.

"No problem," Mrs. Fiona agreed at once.

"That's great!" Natasha said happily beside him.

Soon after, the group left the police station.

"Mrs. Fiona, Natasha, I'll go first—I'll come back once I've packed my things."

"Alright, be careful on the way."

As she watched Roger's retreating figure, Natasha felt a pang of reluctance.

"Come on, we'll see each other often from now on," Mrs. Fiona said, pulling her daughter away.

Outside the police station, Roger spotted Juan on the nearby street.

The two returned to the car.

"Last night was truly intense," Roger remarked, then waved for Jose to come over.

Jose waddled over and jumped onto Roger's lap, prompting an involuntary sigh: "Dude, you're really heavy."

"His legs are almost fully healed," Roger thought, watching the pitbull's agile hind legs—system-made products truly were top-tier.

Juan nodded: "Thank you."

"You're welcome. I've already arranged it with Mrs. Fiona—we'll move my things to their garage soon."

"No, you go ahead," Juan shook his head, declining Roger's offer: "I'm not used to living there, and I don't know them well."

"Alright," Roger didn't press: "Then I'll leave my tent with you—I'll still come over occasionally."

Though Fiona's place was nice, it was too far from the city.

Roger had no car, and if new intel came, he'd have to travel all the way from the community.

So he planned to buy a bicycle as transportation.

"No problem."

"Ding ding ding ding ding." The phone suddenly rang.

After answering, Roger heard Vanessa's voice: "Give me a bank account—I'll deposit your info fees directly."

"Just pay me cash—I don't want the bank watching me. Also, have you finished your report?"

"Finished. The editor's planning to give me the front page."

"That's great news—can the fee go up a bit?"

"Impossible," came Vanessa's pained tone: "My salary's not much—I only pay other Informers fifty dollars."

"Alright, alright."

Roger accepted her reasoning.

After returning to the homeless camp, Roger packed his belongings and drove straight to New Eatonville Shequ.

On the way, he sent Zoe a text: I'm no longer living near the homeless camp—I've moved into a new community.

Zoe replied quickly: "I'm so happy for you. Did you find a job too?"

Roger: "Sort of—a part-time gig."

Zoe: "That's great. I've checked several communities but haven't found a suitable place yet."

Roger: "You'll find one soon."

Zoe: "I think so too. Honestly, my job's amazing—people here treat me well, give me food every day. I feel like I'm getting fat."

Seeing this message, Roger unconsciously recalled an old saying: No good deed goes unpunished.

But he had no right to warn Zoe.

So he shrugged and stayed silent.

When he arrived at New Eatonville Shequ, with Mrs. Fiona's help, he cleaned the garage and laid out his mat and pillow.

Natasha didn't go to school today, so she helped him move things around.

Only after Mrs. Fiona pulled her away did she finally leave.

Lying in the garage lit by a bare bulb, Roger sighed—he no longer had to face the cold night wind.

Then he began exercising.

He'd already felt the benefits of high Physical Function—even facing muscular white guys, he felt no fear.

If he could push the numbers far beyond normal, wouldn't one punch knock out every white trash?

So he trained even harder.

An hour later, he stopped, panting.

He checked the panel.

【Status: Unstable Cognition → Rift Edge】

【Physical Function: 6.6 (Status +10%)】

Another 0.1 increase.

Roger rested briefly, then, with time left on his rental, drove to Old John Jie Ji Ting.

The store was still noisy—he stood before the pinball machine and dropped a Silver Coin into the slot.

As an energetic tune blared, a silver pinball dropped from above into the launch area.

"Phew, hope I hit the big prize this time!"

Roger whispered a brief prayer, then quickly pressed the launch button.

The Silver marble fell from above, bouncing back and forth between the pegs.

His eyes followed the marble as it swayed between small and big prizes, until finally, after clearing all the pegs, it clanged into the big prize zone.

"Yes!"

Roger clenched his fist and cheered, then turned expectantly toward the prize outlet.

"Clang."

An old-fashioned silver pocket watch dropped out.

Roger raised an eyebrow and pulled it out, puzzled.

The next moment, a prompt appeared before his eyes.

【Silver Pocket Watch: Whenever you face anyone, opening this watch will make them pause for three minutes for you.】

"What the fuck!"

Roger's eyes widened; he thought this thing was insanely powerful.

Making anyone pause for three minutes—what did that even mean?

It meant that if Roger wanted, even the president would have to stand still and obey him for three minutes.

For a moment, all sorts of ideas flooded his mind.

For example, spend money to dress himself as an entrepreneur, get three minutes with the president, land on the front page, become a darling of capital.

Or disguise himself as a securities expert, chat with Buffett for three minutes, land on the front page, fool Wall Street investors.

But after thinking it through, he realized all these plans hinged on one word.

Money.

He currently had only three hundred dollars; he couldn't even afford to buy new clothes, let alone rent a luxury car.

Without money, there was no status; without status, he couldn't meet those famous people—even with the watch, it would mean little.

But right now, he could at least test its effect.

Roger turned his head toward the old man behind the counter, wearing overalls and a baseball cap.

Normally, this old man had a terrible temper, staring at the TV all day long, never speaking unless spoken to. Even if you needed help, he'd just point at the machine and tell you to figure it out yourself.

Roger walked up to him and said, "Hey, sir?"

The old man stared straight ahead: "If you want coins, go to the machine. I don't give change."

Roger opened the Silver Pocket Watch and asked again: "Sir?"

"What do you want?" The old man frowned and turned to look at Roger.

"I'd like to borrow your CD player," Roger said, pulling out the CD given to him by the pizza-delivery singer.

The old man looked reluctant, but after a moment's thought, he nodded: "Go ahead."

"Thank you." Roger walked to the CD player and inserted the disc.

He kept watching the old man's reaction; since the three minutes hadn't passed, the old man, despite his reluctance, kept staring at Roger.

As if ready to answer any question at any moment.

This was incredible.

Roger thought the big prize's effect was beyond expectation.

If used well, it could accomplish many things.

Just then, the CD player began playing the girl's beautiful voice.

"My old truck hums a D-flat blues,

The small town fades in the rearview mirror.

Texas red clay clings to the wheels,

Like a reluctant grip from home."

"Not bad," Roger said. Though he knew nothing about country music, his past experience with songs let him judge quality.

Anjielina's singing was pleasant, but far from outstanding.

"Even if she released an album, sales wouldn't be good."

Roger had a hunch—this singer's album needed serious polishing.

But that had nothing to do with him.

"Click."

Three minutes were up. The old man immediately grumbled, "Take your damn disc out—it's awful!"

"Uh, okay." Roger pressed stop and removed the disc.

He was surprised—the watch had an extra effect: it suppressed the old man's inner annoyance until the time ended, then let it burst out.

So does that mean, within those three minutes, even if he slapped the president, the president would have to take it?

Well, maybe that's exaggerated.

Roger hung the pocket watch around his neck and drove off.

At five p. m., he rode his newly bought secondhand bicycle back to the neighborhood.

But just as he was about to rest, a new piece of intelligence suddenly appeared before him.

【Intelligence: The Floating Shadow】