Chapter 3: Chapter 3 Threats
Master Batu was very fat. Extremely fat. He weighed over three hundred pounds, and when he walked, the fat on his body would jiggle.
However, Master Batu was very wealthy, at least to Xu Mo, he was very wealthy. He had a not-too-big, not-too-small department store at the street intersection, in a very conspicuous location. The department store had two floors, the upper floor was the living area.
When Xu Mo and the others arrived, Master Batu had just opened the door. A drunkard staggered forward, threw an arm around Batu’s shoulder, and said, “Batu, why are you opening the door just now? Give me a few bottles of liquor. I’ll pay you another day.”
“Get lost, get lost…” Batu pushed the drunkard away. Due to his weight, he was very strong, and the drunkard who was pushed off the steps landed on his buttocks on the ground.
“If you have no money, go earn some. All you ever think about is drinking. No wonder your wife ran off with someone else.” Batu’s words were sharp and caustic. The drunkard sobered up a bit after being scolded and pointed at Batu, saying, “Mind your own damn business.”
“If it has nothing to do with me, pay your tab.” Batu glared at him. The intimidation from Batu’s over three hundred pounds made the drunkard get up and back off a few steps before walking away cursing.
“Loser.” Batu didn’t hide his voice when he cursed. The drunkard, whose face flushed bright red, bumped right into Mia walking up. Mia bowed and said, “Uncle Harren, I’m sorry. My dad is just like that. Please don’t take it to heart.”
“How could that fat pig father such a lovely girl like Miss Mia? Better get a paternity test,” the drunkard muttered as he left. Mia angrily walked up to Master Batu and said, “Dad, can you control your temper?”
“Change, I’ll definitely change. But that bastard not only drinks but also gambles. He even lost his wife. Now his kids are starving at home, yet he’s still drinking on credit. How can I be kind to him?” Batu grumbled, then looked at Xu Mo who was standing behind Mia.
“Master Batu.” Xu Mo called out. The original persona was very afraid of Master Batu, whose temperament was irritable, devious, and greedy, but feared his daughter. However, Xu Mo now believed that the original impression might not be entirely accurate, and at least had some obvious errors.
He even suspected that the earlier tailing incident might have been orchestrated by Master Batu. After all, with something like this happening, Batu wouldn’t let Mia go alone, and the department store had just opened.
Besides, with the original persona’s knowledge of the Underworld, how could the incompetent Master Batu open a department store here?
“Hmm,” Master Batu nodded. “It’s good that you’re alive. Don’t worry too much about other things for now. Business at the department store has been okay. You stay and work here.”
“However, no overtime pay.” Batu emphasized.
“Thank you, Master Batu.” Xu Mo knew that Master Batu was indirectly helping him and was naturally grateful. Batu glanced at him, then went back into the store and took out a lollipop, smiling at the girl Xu Mo was holding, “Yaoer, have some candy.”
When he smiled, his eyes squinted into slits, almost blocked by the flesh on his face.
Yaoer didn’t accept it immediately but looked at Xu Mo. Only after Xu Mo nodded did she take it and say in a childish voice, “Thank you, Master Batu, for the candy.”
“Good girl.” Master Batu pinched Yaoer’s cheek, then said to Xu Mo, “Do you need to rest for a while?”
“No, I’ll watch the store,” Xu Mo shook his head.
“Alright,” Batu nodded. He said to Mia, “Mia, take Yaoer to rest. Xu Mo, you watch the store.”
“But are you really okay?” Mia glanced at Xu Mo’s wound, which was healing quickly.
“I’m fine,” Xu Mo nodded. He said to Yaoer, “Yaoer, go take a nap with Sister Mia, okay?”
“Okay,” Yaoer obediently nodded. Xu Mo handed her to Mia.
Mia hugged Yaoer tightly, looked at Xu Mo worriedly, and said, “Then I’ll take Yaoer upstairs first?”
On the way here, she felt that Xu Mo was too calm, fearing he might be holding it all in.
“Mm, thank you, Miss Mia,” Xu Mo nodded. Seeing Xu Mo’s normal expression, Mia felt reassured and left, with Master Batu following behind.
Xu Mo sat at the counter in front of the department store, looking at the unfamiliar world in front of him with some confusion. These experiences felt like a dream but were so real.
Constant sounds reached his ears from the surroundings, along with faint sobbing from upstairs.
Xu Mo was no longer surprised by his own senses and could even hear what Miss Mia was saying.
Outside the bedroom on the second floor of the department store, after settling Yaoer, Mia recounted the events to Master Batu and pleaded, “Dad, can we let Xu Mo and Yaoer stay here?”
Batu showed a thoughtful expression, his brows knitted. He wasn’t sure if those people would continue to trouble Xu Mo. Moreover, he knew Xu Mo had been secretly in love with Mia.
Though Xu Mo wouldn’t dare to have any serious thoughts, if they lived together, Mia’s excessive sympathy could lead to unforeseen circumstances.
While he pitied Xu Mo’s situation, Mia was his precious daughter, and Xu Mo was far from being enough.
“Dad…” Mia looked at Batu with a grievance, causing him to soften. Sternly, he said, “Alright, alright, let him stay for now, but no long-term promises. And Xu Mo is growing up; keep your distance.”
“Got it, thank you, Dad.” Mia didn’t mind; Xu Mo was only fifteen years old.
She always treated Xu Mo as a younger brother, with no other thoughts. Her father was overthinking.
Their conversation fell into Xu Mo’s ears. If everyone here were the same, Master Batu and Mia should know he could hear them. They might control the volume, but they clearly didn’t.
Also, the original persona seemingly had no such memories. It seemed that his arrival caused some changes in this body. His vision, hearing, and sensory perception improved?
“Xu Mo, you damned wretch, you killed your uncle.” Just as Xu Mo was ‘eavesdropping,’ a voice came from outside. Xu Mo looked out and saw a middle-aged woman running towards the department store, crying and grabbing his clothes.
“You little beast, did you kill your uncle?” The woman roared, spitting as she spoke. Xu Mo closed his eyes and recognized the woman—his aunt.
Others didn’t know why Uncle Xu went to Xu Mo’s house, but she must have known something.
“Aunt, what are you saying? Uncle was killed by bad guys while protecting me and Yaoer.” Xu Mo grabbed her hand to make her let go and opened his eyes to stare at her coldly, causing her sobs to pause.
The Law Enforcement Team wouldn’t investigate this, so blaming her was no problem.
“You’re lying. When your uncle went to your house, they had already left.” The woman glared at Xu Mo.
“Aunt, you know so well, were you watching at my house? Should we go to the Law Enforcement Team and accuse the murderer?” Xu Mo’s eyes grew colder, fearing his aunt had the same thoughts as Uncle Xu.
The woman’s face changed in fear, clearly lacking the courage.
“Anyway, your uncle died because of you. Xu Mo, how do you plan to compensate?” The woman calmed down, seemingly not saddened by her husband’s death but wanting to extort something.
Not a single good soul among them.
“Aunt, you must be joking. My parents just had an accident, and I have no money. Besides, for compensation, you should find the murderer.” Xu Mo said.
“Don’t you still have a house? There are also many things in this store.” The woman stared inside the department store.
“What kind of shrew is this? Get out!” Just then, Master Batu came down and scolded the woman loudly. The shout scared her back several steps, almost falling down the steps.
“You little bastard, you killed your uncle and colluded with outsiders to bully your aunt?” The woman sat on the ground outside the department store, crying loudly, “You little wretch, you’ll die a horrible death.”
Master Batu walked out, his three hundred pounds of weight imposing. The woman’s cries gradually weakened as Batu clenched his fists, making cracking noises. The woman retreated repeatedly.
But then Xu Mo came out and said, “Master Batu, let me talk to her.”
Batu turned to look at Xu Mo and stepped aside.
The woman glared venomously at Xu Mo walking up. Xu Mo squatted next to her and whispered in her ear, “Aunt, you should know who killed my parents. The Law Enforcement Team didn’t dare make it public. If you make a fuss, they’ll have to act. Who knows what those ruthless killers will do? Aunt, you’re alone now. Be careful. My parents died so unjustly.”
The woman shivered at Xu Mo’s words and scrambled away.
Xu Mo watched her leave, expressionless. This Underworld seemed to be a man-eating place.
Batu curiously watched Xu Mo standing there. This little brat seemed different—was it because of this incident?
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