Chapter 38 - Introduction of Characters in the Free Cities

Inside City A, at the edge of Sector 17, inside a rundown building.

"Hello, my friend. How are you doing today?"

A young man seated at his desk while holding a phone and working on a computer inquired with a lively voice as the caller on the phone was speaking in a foreign language, which was understandable to the young man.

"Who am I speaking with?" An elderly man's voice came from the other side of the call.

"Huh? Isn't this Sir Javier's number?" The young man raised his eyebrow quietly, feigning confusion in his words as he spoke in the same language that the elderly man used.

"Javier? Oh, you mean my son? Yes, he isn't at home right now. How can I help?" The elderly man thought about his words before realizing that the name belonged to his son, prompting him to become curious and realize that it was indeed a call for him.

"Ah, forgive me for not recognizing you, Sir. It's just that a few months ago, Sir Javier helped me with some money, and I just wanted to return it." The young man replied with a nod and shook his head while feigning gratefulness.

"What? That lad helped someone? Hmm, hohoho, he finally became mature. But young man, he isn't home. When he arrives, I will tell him about you," the elderly man laughed, thinking about how his son, who was hardly managing their house on his earnings, had decided to help someone. He felt proud for a moment to be a father.

"Um, that would be hard. The issue is I have too much interest on me, and before the bank cuts it, I want to pay it back so please don't reject Javier's money." The young man spoke while seated inside a small office room with barely five or six people engaged in their own calls.

"Is that so? Just keep the money, child. If Javier helped you, then you are also most likely his close friend, and if you are in such a problem, please, you need not return the money for now," the elderly man, hearing the problem of the young man, shook his head, feeling down for the boy whose life was not much different than theirs, prompting him to reply through the call.

"No, please, sir, you just need to provide me with credentials for the transaction, and please don't tell this to Sir Javier since he might not accept the money," the young man spoke in a calm voice, holding a sense of understanding.

"Haah, fine young lad. Tell me, what do I need to give you? Account number?" The elderly man finally accepted defeat on his call, seeing how this young man was persistent in returning the money.

"No, no. You already know how advanced technology is these days. You just need to send the money through an app called Tenhai. I will send its link, sir. Please download it." The young man informed as he typed on his keyboard.

"Huh? Why an app? I can just use UPI?" the old man inquired, though of course, feeling that today, as technology advances, he had become outdated.

"Sir. You already know how much tax is taken on foreign transactions. The amount I want to send is too much, and even 1% will be a loss for me. This app allows me to send money while taking less charges since it just acts locally in individual countries and pays money nation-wise," the young man informed about a particular system followed by a few of the apps, even though it was clearly illegal but a method widely used due to convenience to dodge paying hefty tax on foreign transactions, where an application or organization has its individual branches in each country. Whenever a transaction occurs from one nation to another, the transaction amount is debited inside the branch present in that nation, and the equivalent amount after some deduction is sent from the branch of the other nation to the user, cutting away the path of a foreign transaction.

"Oh, fine. I will download the app," the elderly man spoke with a lively voice after talking to this young man for a while, before adding, "Young lad, definitely come to meet me when you arrive in this country. I will take you to our farms...."

Beeep

The young man hung up the phone and lifted his eyes towards the computer screen where the information tab was shown,

Name: Javier

Work: Salesman

Work timing: 8:00 am to 6:00 pm

Family: an elderly father, two small children, and a paralyzed wife.

"Haah, it's done, manager. He will soon download the app," suddenly the young man's demeanor changed as his smile vanished before he slammed the table and stood, looking towards a man who was moving throughout the different tables while giving instructions to other employees who were mostly teenagers just like this young man wanting to earn money.

"Good, Raj, you did well. Let me check if it's done," the middle-aged man arrived before taking out his cell phone and calling someone to inquire about the status of the process they were trying to accomplish by talking with their fifth client.

"What? 1000 Imperial Crowns only?" The manager, hearing that the money they had got from this client was only 1000 imperial crowns, frowned, looking at the young man, he informed. "Tch, that old bastard only had saved 1000 imperial crowns in his bank account, poor shit, ptuu."

'....' The young man looked towards the manager who spit on the floor after hearing that the money they had scammed from the old man was just 1000 IC. [1 IC= 1.50 USD]

"Manager, can I get my today's income?" the young man inquired as he offered his hand to get the money, looking towards the manager who frowned as he glanced towards his hand before taking out a 50 IC bill from his pocket and slamming it into his palm.

"Take this, it's your today's earning," the manager gestured his hand and tried to shoo the young man away, who kept looking at him while glancing between his hand where the 50 IC was resting before turning towards manager as he tried to ask for more, but was only met with a firm declaration, "WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT, BASTARD? JUST PISS OFF!"

"Give me 20 more Imperial Crowns," Not getting intimidated by the manager, the young man once again asked.

"FUCK OFF, BASTARD—SLAP!" In a burst of rage, the manager noticed other employees casting curious glances their way. He swiftly slapped the young man, sending him crashing to the floor. Then, with a flick of his wrist, he pulled out twenty ICs from his pocket and flung them at the young man's face, gesturing angrily with his finger. "Just take this, beggar, and leave before I beat you to death."

The young man, maintaining the same impassive expression, slowly stood from his place, clenching his fist where 70 IC currently rested. He then put them in his pocket while using his hoodie to cover his face as he left the building.

Through the streets, the young man moved towards a clothes shop where the women's dresses were arranged in a discounted corner. Arriving there, he inquired, "Can I get a good dress for under 20 IC?"

"Whom are you looking for this for, sir?" The staff at the corner came forward before inquiring, looking towards the young man who seemed to be beaten due to marks on his face.

Raj, noticing his gaze, pulled his hoodie to cover his face, trying to hide the marks before replying with a small defeated smile forming, "It's for my elder sister."