Seeing their confusion, Ryden quickly clarified.
"I'm Ryden Hunt. My parents were military researchers who died in a spy bombing six months ago. My sister is always at the police station. I need an honest housekeeper to clean, cook, and occasionally run errands for my research. The job requires living here. I'll pay two hundred dollars a month, plus extra for supplies."
Two hundred dollars! Most people couldn't find work for twenty.
This was a fortune!
Sarah looked at Ryden with maternal pity.
"I can do that, Ryden. I'll take care of you."
Steve was happy too; being a housekeeper was much safer than being a nurse in a tuberculosis ward.
Without this meeting, Sarah might have died of contagion, just like in the original timeline.
"Great. Start tomorrow. I'm home on weekends. I'll pay you the first installment then. Nice to meet you, Aunt Sarah."
Sarah gave Ryden a warm, motherly hug.
She was a well-endowed woman, and the contact felt...different to Ryden.
The pure-hearted teenager turned beet red.
Sarah noticed his reaction and realized he was just a boy hitting puberty.
Instead of being offended, she felt a bit of pride in her own charm.
She held the hug a moment longer to avoid making it awkward.
Ryden was embarrassed but, honestly, it felt great.
Steve didn't think twice about it—a hug of gratitude was normal.
After they left, Ryden moved his supplies to his lab.
In the center sat a wheel-sized reactor—a prototype made of Element X and palladium coils.
It wasn't functional yet, but if it worked, it could power the whole house forever.
Ryden began his daily workout.
He needed a strong body to survive this era.
He remembered that on Wonder Woman's island, Themyscira, they had a tradition of "dueling." The winner gained "dominance" over the loser.
If he could win, Diana would be his for life.
He couldn't beat a demigod with just push-ups, but a strong body plus some "schemes" gave him a chance.
Plus, he really wanted to get rid of that "shameful virgin hat."
"Hey, Ryden! You stingy bastard, come eat!" Terrence yelled from next door.
Ryden showered and headed over.
The Rhodes' house was smaller but cozy.
Mrs. Rhodes, a shapely woman who worked at the police station, welcomed him warmly.
"Ryden, come in! I could smell the food from across the street!" Ryden sat down to a golden-brown steak.
"Mrs. Rhodes, your cooking is getting even better," Ryden praised.
Terrence rolled his eyes.
"Mom, don't let him fool you. He's been a rascal since we were kids, always 'experimenting' in other people's yards because he didn't want to break his own stuff!"
Ryden enjoyed the hearty meal, fueling his body for the long road ahead.
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