Chapter 366: Christian's IRS Travelogue
"Wow, this is excellent! Looks like my haul might be even bigger than I expected?" Ron said casually. He'd originally just wanted to find an assistant for Andy, but scored a top-tier hacker as a package deal.
While Ramsey's skills were nowhere near Paige's level, he was still leagues above most ordinary techs when properly utilized. However, his personality was simply too laid-back—so laid-back that even Ron, known for his casual attitude, found it excessive.
The two cars drove in convoy along the road to the outskirts of LA. Christian felt increasingly relaxed as he drove, and the unease he'd felt due to his initial doubts about Ron's capabilities gradually dissipated.
"We're here." Ron parked on the curb, and Christian got out as well. Looking around, the place didn't seem like some shadowy organization headquarters—it was more like a peaceful, harmonious neighborhood.
What kind of place was this? It looked like an oasis from the urban sprawl, a quiet residential area. Inside an old antique shop, a Korean couple dusted off vintage items while waving to Ron, just like the other harmless immigrants Christian had encountered before.
Past the antique shop, the nearby diner was temporarily closed. A kind, gentle old man sat on a chair by the entrance, holding a book, apparently reading a story to a child nearby. The scene was incredibly wholesome. That must be the old man's grandson, right?
How nice. If it weren't for that accident, his father would probably still be alive, probably reading stories to his grandchildren like this too. Or maybe his younger brother's kids—his brother seemed like he'd settle down and start a family much earlier anyway.
Further down, a bald mechanic was working on a couple's pickup truck, while several old-timers stood beside the vehicle, commenting on the mechanic's work, seemingly debating whether a rocket launcher or a heavy machine gun would be better mounted on the truck bed. What a peaceful neighborhood!
Christian thought to himself, about to follow Ron, when suddenly he sensed something was off.
Wait! What did I just hear? Heavy machine guns? And rocket launchers? What kind of neighborhood has these things?!
Christian's muscles tensed up again. Before he could speak, Ron chuckled and tapped the pot on Beca's head: "Hey! How long are you going to keep wearing that thing? Don't you know you look ridiculous?"
The pot was still on Beca's head, making a loud clang when Ron tapped it. She grabbed the handle and pulled it back down over her head defiantly: "I almost got my brains blown out just now! And then that disgusting thing landed on my head! I'm not taking it off all day!"
"Fine, suit yourself~" Ron nonchalantly tapped Beca's head twice more, making her stomp her feet in frustration. His eyes, however, were already tracking Christian: "So? What do you think of this place? I guarantee that as long as you stay here, nobody will be able to extract you."
"What makes you so confident? If local PD can't do it, what about the Bureau?" Christian was sweating bullets, seriously suspecting he'd walked into some kind of black site. His body was tensed like a coiled spring, his words measured as he responded, ready to bolt at any moment.
He was already calculating escape routes. The bald mechanic was clearly no pushover, and with the bald British guy standing next to him, that route was essentially blocked. The alley next to the antique shop didn't seem promising either. Although the Korean couple didn't appear threatening, the stocky man inside the shop clearly had extensive military background.
So the best route seemed to be past the grandfather and grandson outside the diner—an old man and a kid. Breaking through there would be optimal, right?
"The Bureau won't cut it either—that's my professional opinion!" Ron said with swagger. "Welcome to the IRS Special Operations Division. I'm Ron. Relax, friend, I mean you no harm. I just want to invite you to join our team. We happen to need a financially savvy asset."
"IRS?" Christian's heart skipped a beat. Of course he knew what that agency did—in fact, he knew it intimately. Most of his work involved helping his clients navigate IRS audits. Had he just walked into a honey trap?
"No, I prefer to work solo," Christian said decisively.
"Don't refuse so quickly. Let's hear the terms first," Ron said confidently, blocking Christian's path. "First, I can give you an identity—a clean identity—so you don't have to live a life on the run anymore. As for your past activities, I'll sanitize your record.
Second, I'll also provide you a well-compensated position. Of course, I mean well-compensated compared to legitimate employment. Compared to what you're earning now, it'll definitely be less, but the upside is I won't mind if you take on some freelance work occasionally."
"Really?" Christian's hand, which was reaching for the car door handle, stopped. He had to admit that Ron's two offers were very appealing, but he wanted to hear more. "And? You've only mentioned two. I'm betting there's a third."
"Finally, I'll help you resolve your current predicament. You don't think that just because you escaped with this airhead, they'll let it slide, do you?"
"Of course I know, but I'll handle it myself. I definitely won't drag anyone else into this mess." As he said this, Christian gave Beca a meaningful look.
His eyes held regret, longing, and reluctance. Ron knew immediately that things were progressing well. He forcefully turned Beca around to face Christian: "What if I add another condition: you work for me and I help you get the girl?"
"What?!" Beca's face visibly flushed crimson: "Don't talk nonsense! Ron! We just met... we haven't even..."
"Please, airhead, how long are you going to stay oblivious?" Ron scoffed: "If he considered you just a coworker, would he have rushed over to rescue you without hesitation?
For someone who lives in the shadows, I think the logical choice in such an emergency would be to quickly switch identities and disappear, right?"
Christian stared intently at Ron without saying a word. Ron didn't push for an answer, just maintained eye contact for a long moment before Christian finally spoke: "Okay, I'm in."
"Congratulations on making a wise decision."
(End of Chapter)
[Reader Event Active]
500 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter
10 Reviews = +1 Extra Chapter
Thanks for reading!
100+ advance chapters on P1treon Soulforger