Chapter 27 Chapter 26 Come to the Door

Zhuang Xuteng had a job before, as an assembly line worker at the Magic Crystal Factory, earning about 1,100 euros a month. 400 euros was used to pay rent, 350 euros for daily life, and the rest was saved for his sister's tuition and unexpected expenses. This income was indeed very tight, but he had seen what 2,000 euros looked like before, so he would not be hysterical or extremely nervous.

Unless the 2,450 euros was too critical, it was a huge sum of money that would allow him and his sister to continue living, and he needed to protect it well and be nervous.

On the bus on the way home, he sat in the first row, which was closest to the driver and therefore the safest. According to experience, if you encounter danger, you can rush to the front in the first row, and the driver will have to help you to prevent the danger from spreading to him. On the contrary, if you are in the last row, you will be isolated and helpless. No one will stand up for you, they all just want to get to the next stop as soon as possible and then leave.

It's a bit embarrassing to be so scared even though you have become a mercenary?

Zhuang Xuteng shook his head and drove the thought out. He just followed Dao Ge to complete the first commission, during which he mainly played the role of a living telescope, and was not a real mercenary. In his impression, mercenaries should at least be able to fight, giving people a feeling of being untouchable.

I can't do it, far from it, I am still the same as yesterday and the day before yesterday, but I must not dare to be arrogant!

The steam-powered bus stopped at the platform again, the door leaked steam, the movement of opening and closing the door was very stiff, and there was always a creaking noise. Zhuang Xuteng lowered the brim of his hat and stared at the front and back doors to see who got in and out, and what kind of people they were.

Old men, old ladies, children... are relatively safe. Zhuang Xuteng occupies two seats, one for each buttocks, this is fair, right? At this time, the radio in the bus talked about the latest developments of the 623 case and invited the senior police inspector of the PCPD to interview. Zhuang Xuteng pricked up his ears and listened carefully.

The previous babble was still some meaningless clichés. Anyway, the enemy was very cunning, the PCPD worked very hard, the citizens were enthusiastic about supporting it, and the whole city was moving in a better direction. Indeed, so many people died at a street intersection on the night of June 23, but this kind of thing did not happen at every intersection every night afterwards, so Peicheng is indeed moving in a better direction.

"We are reviewing an important law that can improve the sense of security and self-defense capabilities of the good citizens of Peicheng."

"Oh, what does this law contain?"

"It is still confidential under internal review, so I am not in a position to disclose it. I can only say that PCPD has never given up its efforts in the field of protecting the safety of citizens. Please cast your key vote and support former Director Maga in the upcoming midterm elections, so that the wise man who understands security and prosperity will become our new mayor!"

Have you started canvassing for votes? It's not even July yet, and the midterm elections will be in early November, so there are still four months to go anyway. Zhuang Xuteng didn't hear any important information from the radio, so he sighed and continued to monitor other passengers.

"We have arrived at the P76 Central Apartment Station on Banshan Road," the driver shouted in a hoarse voice, "Hurry up if you want to get off! There are still people to get on!"

Zhuang Xuteng had already prepared to get off the bus, and he still had time to check again to make sure he had not forgotten to bring anything.

Back at the building, there were still three people missing for the steam elevator, so he squeezed in. As in the past, when there were only two or three people missing, the elevator would be quickly filled.

Room 6 on the 13th floor, his home. At this time, his sister should still be in class and will not be back until the evening. Zhuang Xuteng thought that when the time comes, he will heat up the spicy chicken burger he packed back and add a fresh citrus, which will definitely make her happy. As for him, he will go to pay off the rent and arrears in the afternoon, and see if there are any discounted old bread on the way.

He didn't expect that there were three people standing at his door.

All three of them were wearing black clothes, one was wearing a black suit, and the other two were wearing black leather jackets and leather pants. The two in leather jackets, leather pants and leather boots were okay, just motorcycle riders. Even if his face was colorful, his hair was colorful, and his earrings were clanging, he was at most a gang member! The guy in a black suit reminded Zhuang Xuteng of the armed personnel of the Magic Crystal Factory, and he almost peed on the spot.

"Do you live here?" asked the leather-clad woman with wind-bell earrings.

Zhuang Xuteng really didn't want to admit it, but his house was the innermost one on this side of the corridor. Although he had a house opposite, that door was sealed and no one had lived there for more than a year. So, it was impossible for him not to admit it, unless he said that he went to the wrong floor.

But he changed his mind and thought: No matter what he encountered, he should always face it himself. If he didn't go up, would he wait for his sister to come back?

"I live in 1306. Who are you and what are you doing here?"

"Are you Zhuang Xuteng, a worker at the 21st Magic Crystal Factory?"

"Yes, it's me."

"Is there anything that can prove your identity?" The man in the black suit spoke up.

"Who are you?" Zhuang Xuteng asked.

"Do whatever you are told to do!" The leather-clad man and woman threw their hands and pulled out the electric baton. When they pressed the button, the blue arc of electricity made a crackling sound as it flashed. "You can take out your ID yourself, or we can search you."

Considering that there was still 2,450 euros in his inner pocket, Zhuang Xuteng definitely didn't want them to search him, so he took out his old work ID which was no longer useful.

"Twenty-one Magic Crystal Factory, third-level assembly technician, Zhuang Xuteng - it's all written on it, and there's a photo."

The man in the black suit carefully checked his work permit, then nodded and said, "I am a 7a28 salesperson in the legal affairs department of the Scarlet Group. Now there is a statement that you need to sign. After you sign it, you can get 2,400 euros in compensation."

"It should be three months' salary, which is 3,300 euros." As soon as Zhuang Xuteng finished speaking, his thigh was stabbed by an electric baton.

The severe pain caused his muscles to twitch, and Zhuang Xuteng had no chance to resist at all, and he sat down on the ground directly. The two men and women in leather jackets shook their sticks in front of him, showing off their power.

"Either 2,400 euros, or you can hire a lawyer and solve it through legal means." The man in the black suit had no expression on his face, and said calmly: "You are a third-level technician at such a young age, which means that there is nothing wrong with your brain. Think about it carefully and make the most favorable choice for you."

Zhuang Xuteng covered his legs, pinched his flesh with his nails, tried to control his anger, and finally squeezed out a sentence from his teeth: "Okay, I accept it."

"Then sign this document." The man in the black suit took out a folder.

"I want to get the money first." Zhuang Xuteng said, "Without money, I won't sign anything."

"This request is reasonable." The man in the black suit took out two 1,000 euro bills and four 200 euro bills, slapped them in a folder, and handed them over.

Zhuang Xuteng took the money in his hand and quickly glanced at the document. It was a settlement agreement, only one page, which stated that the severance pay of 3,300 euros had been received, and the signatory promised not to further entangle on this issue.

"It says three..."

"Do you want to be crackled again?" The leather jacket man waved the electric baton and threatened Zhuang Xuteng in front of him.

Bastard! I can't buy a gun, can't I buy an electric baton? This thing really hurts, and it really works. You wait, you all wait...

In the past, Zhuang Xuteng would not let the gangsters "wait", and he would not even dare to think about it. He would just hide as far away as possible. Now he has changed: he cursed in his heart first, and after completing the training, he will never just think about it in his heart.

"Don't shock me, I'm sober, it's indeed 3,300 euros. I'm also happy to give up the interest, compensation and any other benefits I should have received."

After he signed and picked up the money, he was shocked again. This time, the two leather-clad men and women continued to poke him with electric batons, left and right, muttering: "Don't you know the rules? Don't you know to pay us errands? If it weren't for us, how could Mr. Lawyer find you?"

Zhuang Xuteng was extremely angry and really wanted to beat them up to let them know that people at the bottom would also resist. But the current was affecting his muscles and destroying his fighting ability. He was like a shrimp trapped on the shore, twitching, jumping and twisting.

Snot, tears and saliva were flowing, and his vision was blurred. Zhuang Xuteng suddenly rushed to the corner of the wall and stuffed the banknotes in his hand into his mouth. The two men saw this and hurried up to pull him, and he struggled hard and tried to swallow. Then, the electric baton poked his neck, and he had to open his mouth and spit out the 200 euro banknotes that he had not swallowed yet.

"Damn, I swallowed all the others, only this is left."

"Can't wait for him to pull it out? Asshole, I didn't expect it to be this kind of meat!"

Zhuang Xuteng was kicked hard several times again, and the sticks kept hitting him. He held his head and curled up to endure it. They had been delayed here for too long, and it was likely to attract onlookers, so the two of them vented their anger for a while and left with the two hundred euros stained with saliva and blood.

Zhuang Xuteng lay on the ground for a long time before he could move slowly. He tried to get up, leaned against the wall, and wiped the blood from his nose. Just now, for a moment, he seemed to have returned to the night of 623, and the paralysis that could not control his body appeared again.

Fortunately, this time it was just paralysis caused by electric shock, and some blunt injuries caused by punching, kicking, and hitting with sticks. There was no broken bones, so it was not a big problem. He climbed up by grabbing the door handle, trying to focus his eyes, and then opened the door.

When the door was closed, he felt a little safe. At this time, his stomach began to hurt a little, which was caused by hunger and heavy blows, not because the banknotes could not be digested.

Two thousand euros and one two hundred euros were inside his clothes, stuffed in through his collar in the chaos, but he only stuffed the last two hundred euros into his mouth.

He couldn't let anyone take everything away.

PS: I will update twice a day at 12:00 and 18:00, and I will update more from time to time to give back to all the book friends. Please collect and recommend, thank you!