3:00 PM, huh? This took longer than I thought it would. I looked at the time as I got out of the apartment, as I once again calculated everything that I had done. From the start, where I tipped off the police about the drug deal, to paying her fees and rent, I pondered if I had missed something.

I also recalled how I checked her entire apartment in the name of cleaning, trying to figure out if there were any clues that could point to Charles somehow. Though sadly, there was not a single thing that could relate back to him.

Finding something out on the first try would be wishful thinking. I thought as I then pondered the other two that I had to check. Damian White and Evan Castro. Though then thinking about the time it would take to look into them, I decided to postpone meeting both of them to tomorrow.

Since, unlike Ciana, who needed a lot of help, both Evan and Damian had much more stable lives. While they did indeed have their life struggles, it wasn't something that would put them in a corner of sorts.

A direct approach won't work with them. I would need to get close to them slowly over time. I pondered before deciding to plan a few things I can do when I meet them. Other than that, I planned to do a bit more research on their history. Perhaps if not them, then someone from their families or friends might be in need of something or other that can be used.

As I was lost in my own thoughts, I reached the nearest bus station. Sitting on the second last seat, I then typed a certain name on the phone.

The Stroke Family.

Amongst the people who had destroyed my life, this family was presumably the easiest to handle. Their main business stemmed from a chain of local markets that spread within the city and a few more neighbouring cities. In my past life, this business chain was quite successful, reaching at a national level. They also had a small guild within the game that had mediocre success at that time.

Most of the success was because of the local gangs forcing the other shops to close down, promoting the Strokes as much as they could. I recalled bits of information before reading and matching with the current ones.

There were a few differences, but overall, the structure of their family and the business was pretty much the same.

All right. Let's check on them first. If they change in this timeline, I will move to the others. If not, let's uproot them before they take their stance. I sighed before reading more about the Stroke family in detail.

The next 30 minutes passed slowly as I read about the Stroke Family, refreshing my memory once again. By the time the bus reached near my apartment, I had already recalled most of the information about them.

Since mom is working at the salon. I should have a few hours to kill. I thought about my next steps, but much to my surprise, I found about 4 people standing outside the apartment gate. They were actively talking with each other, while one of them constantly looked at his watch, checking for time.

One of them, the aunt from the last apartment in this building, saw me from a distance, a relieved expression forming on her face, as she smiled brightly and said,

"Ah! Mikeal! You are finally back."

The others also moved closer. An old man in a suit, with an almost ancient laptop in his hand, and a young brown-haired teen girl.

"Kid, can you look at my laptop? It has been buzzing since yesterday."

"Our fridge suddenly started over-cooling. Can you please see to it?"

They asked for my help, making me understand their purpose. Thinking about the opportunity to make money, I first did a basic calculation of the prices.

$80 for the laptop and $50 for the fridge. Hmmm. Given the aunt is carrying the phone, I think that's another $20.

"Sure, let's fix the laptop and the phone first," I said as I took out my apartment key, moved inside, then explained to them the problem their devices had, and the price required for it to be fixed. Confirming that they had no problem with the price, I then moved to fix their problems one by one.

By the time I was done with that and was ready to move and fix that fridge, I saw a few more people outside peeking inside the house. Looking at the devices in their hands, I turned to the brown-haired girl and explained,

"It's going to take a few minutes. You can leave if you want to. I will reach there once I am done with the work here."

Though she shook her head, saying that it was fine. She would like to watch me doing the work, which I nodded before moving to fix the mobile phones. Looking at the number of customers, I first fixed all their problems before asking the last one,

"Umm, excuse me. Can I know how you came to know about this shop? I don't think I have seen you before."

While I could believe that at least a few people might come after seeing the advertisements I had placed, I doubt the impact was big enough for so many to arrive at once.

"I am from the neighbouring apartment. I went to that salon, and the lady there recommended this shop in case I needed something to be fixed for cheap. Honestly, I didn't expect much. You are really good, huh? If you do happen to open a shop, I think you can get famous pretty easily," he praised my skills before leaving, while thanking me once again.

Mom, huh? I smiled with a slight surprise. I didn't think she would advertise my work in the Salon. Though, in the end, I simply nodded before moving to fix that girl's fridge first. As luck would have it, as I was returning, I was also asked to fix a few more items by the neighbours.

By the time I finished everything, I counted the $500 that I had earned in a single day.

While the money was good and all, I should restrict the timings I am going to do this. I thought before returning to the apartment. It was 7PM now, and I was really hungry.

"Hard-working?" I heard Mom in the kitchen, preparing tonight's dinner with a bright smile on her face. The previous exhaustion she had vanished, making me smile a bit as I looked at mom being more active than she was in the last few days.

"Just a couple of quick fixes," I answered before placing the $500 on the kitchen table, making her a bit surprised. She then smiled as she hummed a little before continuing to cook the dinner.

Since there was at least half an hour before the dinner would be ready, I moved to my room, checking for any new website requests.

Oh! Nice!

Luckily, there was one.

It was the same guy as last time. Though he was asking me to create a website for a friend of his. Looking at the description he provided about the website, and the few templates he provided me, I understood the basic structure.

Looks much simpler than the previous one. Hmmm… it should take about an hour to finish this. Then… $250 should be fine. I calculated before sending him a few ready-made prompts and ideas, asking him to choose first. The reply came in the next few minutes with a cash-pocket of $250.

Just like last time, he had sent the money before the work was done. Either he was really rich, or just too naive.

Doesn't really matter. I thought as I began working on the website. Since I had half the code already ready, I worked on the other half, making the required changes as the guy had asked me to do. Though, by the time I was done, I noticed 2 hours had passed, twice as more than what I had planned to give it.

-Grrrr!

Even my stomach was almost on the verge of giving up.

After sending the link, the username and password to that guy, I was ready to reach the dinner table. But a reply came in the immediate second, making me turn and look at it.

-Thank you, Boss!

With a slight smile, I closed the chat-box and then the laptop before moving to the dinner table.

Mom had already prepared the dinner and was waiting for me while chatting on the phone with someone. Looking at me, arriving for the dinner, she put the phone down and asked me about how my day went. With a smile on my face, I explained to her a few things that had happened today. Obviously, I did not include anything about Ciana Grace.

Eating the food, mom prepared with a blissful smile on my face, I also asked about her day. With a bright smile on her face, she explained to me how her resignation went, and how Aunty Zehra was happy about her leaving the other job as well.

"She is having a birthday party the day after tomorrow. Called us there," Mom said, to which I nodded before finishing my dinner before adding,

"I might be a bit busy that day."

Mom simply nodded before asking me about it before changing the topic once again.

Well, let's see if we can begin the first phase of the destruction of the Strokes before the birthday party starts. I thought as I smiled and continued to enjoy the dinner.

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