Chapter 511: The Dust Settles, Great Gains, Return to New York

She just stared at the end of the alley, sitting there in a daze, not knowing what she was waiting for.

About another hour passed. The sun peeked out from behind the mountain ridge, the fog began to dissipate, and the sounds of people filled the alley.

The next-door neighbor came out to take out the trash, saw her sitting on the steps, and greeted her.

“Waiting for someone again, huh?”

She smiled but didn’t say anything.

After some more time, the sound of a car engine came from the end of the alley.

A car slowly drove into the alley. The license plate was from Nuevo León, a Monterey plate.

She shot to her feet, her heart threatening to leap out of her throat.

Then the car drove past her without slowing down or stopping, disappearing directly at the other end of the alley.

She stood rooted to the spot, stunned for a few seconds.

Then she slowly sat back down. Her fingers loosened their grip on the hem of her clothes, and she lowered her head, staring blankly at her own shadow on the steps.

Her aunt came out of the house with a cup of hot coffee for her and sat down beside her.

The two of them sat side by side, just like that.

“Mom.”

A voice came from behind her.

At first, she thought she was hearing things again.

She had heard that voice in her head so many times over the past few days—in her dreams, in the moments between sleep and wakefulness, amidst the static of the radio.

She didn’t dare to turn around, terrified of being disappointed once again.

“Mom,” a figure walked over. “I’m here. Auntie, long time no see.”

She turned her head.

Raphael was standing in the doorway.

Her son. Her Raphael.

He was wearing a brand-new uniform. There were still bruises on his face that hadn’t fully faded. He had lost a lot of weight, and his eyes were frighteningly bright.

He was standing there, safe and sound.

Her mouth opened and closed. She walked over, and the moment she felt his warm skin, her tears finally fell.

“Let’s go home, Mom,” Raphael bent down and hugged his mother. “Kuluoqi is dead.”

Her aunt, standing beside them, was already a crying mess.

…

「A few more days passed.」

The negotiations between Don Quixote and Jin Heon were nearing their end.

With nothing else to do, Li Wei took Alexandra and the other Mercenaries out to find some food one evening.

They found the same barbecue spot they had eaten at before.

The place wasn’t large. It still had the same open kitchen and the same flat-top grill. Meat and onions SIZZLED on its surface, and the air was filled with the smoky smell of charcoal and the fragrance of chili peppers.

As soon as Li Wei sat down, he noticed the table next to them.

A young police officer in a dark blue uniform was sitting with an elderly woman.

The woman’s hair was graying, her frame was thin and frail, and she was eating barbecue.

Li Wei recognized him. He looked like a completely different person. The gloomy, suppressed look on his face was gone. Although he still looked somewhat tired, he had an unstoppable smile on his face.

Just as Li Wei was about to say something, his phone rang.

“Boss!” Jin Heon’s voice practically burst out of the receiver. “It’s signed! Everything’s signed!”

“Combined cost is 0.30 USD, only 30% of the production lines back in the United States of America! 7 lines! Monthly output of 30 million bottles! Fernando has signed, and Mr. Don Quixote has confirmed it too!”

She rattled off a long string of details, then said excitedly, “Fack Coca-Cola! We’re not renewing the contract after it expires!”

“Great!” Li Wei said with a laugh. “You guys make the call. We’ll have a celebration banquet when we get back.”

He put down his phone, in an excellent mood.

30 million bottles, and the profit per bottle had increased by another 0.70 USD from the previous 4 USD.

Selling one bottle would earn him 4.70 USD. With 30 million bottles a month, that was 141 million USD a month!

‘Who the hell needs to play ball, really.’

He looked at the “Clear out the Witch Demon” mission in his attribute bar and nodded with satisfaction.

‘Over 100 grunts had contributed 0.7 attribute points, and with the 1 point from taking care of Kuchilo, this trip to Mexico alone had brought me 1.7 attribute points, about the same as 17 games.’

‘I’ll get the movie thing sorted out when I get back,’ he thought. ‘On one hand, making a movie could trick the system. On the other, I also need a way to maintain my high level of public exposure. After all, my fame will fade. If I’m not going to be a sports star, I’ll have to be an entertainment star.’

Just as he was thinking about this, his barbecue was served.

As Li Wei was about to eat, he noticed that Raphael had already finished a plate.

“Is it that good?” Li Wei suddenly asked.

Raphael stared at Li Wei for two or three seconds, as if trying to remember something.

Then he smiled.

“It’s delicious,” he said, giving a thumbs-up. “I highly recommend you try it. And also—”

He thought for a moment. “Welcome to Monterey.”