Chapter 96: The Middleman’s Profit
Eugene Lowell sneered, pulling a thick booklet of scratch-offs from his inventory and slapping it on the table. "Three Crystal Cores."
His attitude was atrocious, but he was the only one selling scratch-offs for a hundred miles around...
The customer endured it. He paid the Crystal Cores, hastily tore off two scratch-offs, and turned to leave, unwilling to put up with the abuse.
Lily Hart watched the entire exchange. ’Geez, what a pushover,’ she thought. ’No wonder that guy acts so smug.’
She couldn’t watch anymore. ’This Hunter Lowell needs to be taught a lesson. Does a mere Base Commander really think he can do whatever he wants?’
’She didn’t have the power to depose Hunter Lowell herself, but Logan Holland did. He could easily remove the commander of a Two-Star Base like Nutwood Base.’
’A Three-Star Outpost like Hope Base would be a piece of cake for Logan Holland.’
She closed her Light Brain, rolled out of bed, washed up, and went downstairs to open up the sides of her RV.
Customers were already waiting outside. The moment it opened, they shot up from their chairs, as excited as puppies seeing a treat.
Beaming, they all greeted her. They genuinely felt that Boss Hart was a good person who had improved their lives.
Before, one Crystal Core might only get you 5ml of water. But here, a small gamble could turn a bicycle into a motorcycle.
Fruit baskets, vegetables, water, hot pot, barbecue—you could even win a convenience store or a hotel stay.
It was more than worth it!
Just then, Logan Holland emerged from Nutwood Base. He had dark circles under his eyes and looked completely drained of life.
Seeing the bustling crowd in front of the RV, he couldn’t help but smile. ’It’s like a sanctuary in this apocalypse,’ he thought. ’I really hope it can stay this way.’
He composed himself and joined the crowd, casually buying a scratch-off as he approached. He had something to discuss with Boss Hart.
He was planning to bring his wife and child over in a few days and hoped she could reserve a double room for him.
The place was so popular that he was afraid his room would be snatched up the moment he checked out. Acting a little overly familiar, he boarded the RV.
Lily Hart’s eyes lit up the moment she saw him. She was about to speak, but he spoke at the same time.
"What—"
"Boss—"
They spoke at the same time, their words overlapping. Lily Hart said, "You go first. You needed me for something?"
Her tone even held a hint of anticipation. ’If you need a favor from me, it’ll be easier for me to ask for one in return.’
Logan Holland nodded immediately. "Yes. I’m planning to bring my wife and child over in a few days. Would it be too much trouble to ask you to reserve a double room for me?"
He was very sincere, and the look in his eyes revealed a family man’s devotion. It didn’t seem like an act.
Lily Hart agreed at once. "Sure, no problem. But in that case, I’ll need you to do me a favor, Minister Holland."
"Huh?" Logan Holland blinked, stunned, and stared at her. ’Boss Hart needs my help with something?’
Logan Holland all but puffed out his chest, his expression saying ’leave it to me.’ "Whatever it is," he said, "just say the word."
Feeling confident, Lily Hart showed him the surveillance footage directly. Logan Holland’s first thought, however, was whether a few of these machines could be installed at Central Command.
A sharp look from Lily Hart snapped him back to reality, and he focused on the surveillance video. After he finished watching, he felt a wave of melancholy...
’You could say every Base Commander runs a side hustle by marking up prices. But of all people, Hunter Lowell had to go and target Lily Hart.’
’This Boss Hart was not someone to be trifled with—what happened to Jason Lynch was proof enough. Wasn’t this just asking for trouble...?’
He fell into a pensive silence. Lily Hart looked at him and pressed, "So, can you do it? My request isn’t that demanding. Just make him go keep Jason Lynch company."
A spark ignited in Logan Holland’s eyes, only to dim just as quickly. "He’s got someone backing him," he said in a low voice. "Even if that backer isn’t exactly a respectable figure..."
"Who? And what’s their position?" Lily Hart asked.
She’d heard Hunter Lowell constantly bragging about having connections, but she didn’t know the details, nor did she care.
"His sister is the mistress of a big shot in the military district." Logan Holland was guarded, clearly unwilling to elaborate.
"So what? He’s not the military big shot, and he’s not the mistress. What gives him the right to be so arrogant? He dares to gouge prices on my stuff? Who the hell gave him the nerve, I ask you?!"
Lily Hart planted her hands on her hips, a torrent of sharp retorts spilling from her lips.
Logan Holland was speechless. He wanted to know who gave the man such nerve, too. ’Isn’t Boss Hart the Apocalypse Nova?’ he wondered.
"I’ll handle it," Logan Holland said.
"When?" Lily Hart’s round eyes were fixed on him.
’Either way, she wouldn’t have to lift a finger; someone else would handle it for her. She could leave punishing the bad guys to the men.’
"Three to five days," Logan Holland said after a moment’s thought. "I need to make a trip to Central Command. I’ll have an answer for you when I get back."
"Fine," Lily Hart agreed.
She was also trying to figure out how to recall those scratch-offs. ’I’m not about to let that son of a bitch Hunter Lowell profit from this.’
So, she fiddled with her Light Brain and finally found an option to recall the scratch-offs. The reason she selected was: "Printing error in this batch, requesting factory recall."
However, she could only select them in batches, for instance, by the date and time they were purchased.
With a flurry of actions, Lily Hart successfully recalled all the scratch-offs sent to Hope Base and Bloomfall Base the previous day.
Eugene Lowell, who was in the middle of a brisk sale, watched helplessly as the few booklets of scratch-offs on his table vanished into thin air.
Stunned, he glanced around frantically, his gaze finally landing on the two or three customers in front of him.
Eugene Lowell grabbed a customer by the collar, his eyes wide with fury. "Was this you?" he snarled.
The bewildered customer shook his head. His airway constricted, his throat grew scratchy, and he stammered, "Wha-what?"
The look of terror on the man’s face didn’t seem fake. Eugene Lowell abruptly released him, shoving him aside.
He then pointed to another customer, demanding, "Was it you? Did you stash the scratch-offs in your inventory?"
"What nonsense are you spouting? I didn’t even move a muscle!"
"Yeah! How could they just vanish from the table when they were right there?!"
The customers all started talking at once, feigning concern but with voices laced with mockery and sarcasm. ’Well, well, looks like your day has finally come.’
Only then did Eugene Lowell truly begin to panic. He searched high and low, then checked his inventory, only to be horrified to discover that the hundreds of scratch-off booklets he had stored were all gone!
’Wh-what was going on?’
’He could blame the disappearance of the ones on the table on a thieving customer, but personal inventories were bound to their user. No one else could possibly get in... ’
’It’s over. It’s all over. My world is ending.’
Eugene Lowell’s legs trembled. He could already imagine the thunderous rage he would face from Hunter Lowell when he got back.
Just then, his Light Brain suddenly started vibrating. He answered the call. It was another member of his crew.
The second the call connected, an angry voice erupted from the other end. "Where are the scratch-offs? Did you take them all?! You’ve got some nerve, Eugene Lowell, pulling a sneaky move like this. If you want all the credit for yourself, just say it! Stop with these disgusting games!"
Eugene Lowell was dumbfounded. "Alden, listen to me!" he explained frantically. "My scratch-offs are gone, too!"
The man on the other end refused to listen, spitting a few more curses before hanging up. He said he was coming to settle the score.
Eugene Lowell’s stubborn temper flared. ’I’m a victim here, too, okay? Let him come! Who’s afraid of who? If things get ugly, we can take it straight to the Base Commander!’
Meanwhile, Lily Hart and Logan Holland watched the surveillance feed with great interest. ’Internal conflict already?’ Lily thought. ’That was fast.’