Chapter 2 "Windfall" (2) "Old Cripple" Bar

Opening the door, the bar was filled with smoke and noisy people as always.

The metal floor was covered with cigarette butts and broken glass bottles, cockroaches were infested, and the hygiene situation was worrisome.

The owner of this bar is Old Jon, a veteran of the Terra Federation. Although he is not rich, he is respected.

Old Jon was injured in the colonial war when he was young. His left leg was blown away by an alien induction mine. He underwent amputation and used the meager pension to open this small bar to make a living.

The old man is used to standing next to the bar,

He was wearing a worn Terran Federation military uniform, with a second-class Combat Honor Medal on his chest. His snow-white beard was neatly combed, and he wore a wig on his bald head. He had a walnut crutch in his hand. He had fewer legs than others and stood tall.

He is straighter than anyone else.

"This old man looks exactly like the image on the neon sign. The skill of the craftsman who made the lamp is really amazing!" Roy said.

"Hello, old man."

"I just got off work, how was your day?"

"It's not great! It's very unpleasant!"

"Why, was your ankle bitten by a wild dog again?"

"I'd rather be bitten by a dog! Today is a hundred times worse than that, that nasty production line leader Diana!"

After being together for so long, she is still not merciful at all. Just because I went to the toilet too many times, she deducted my work points! This month's perfect attendance award is in vain!"

"It does sound bad." The veteran laughed and said, "You have to use some alcohol to numb yourself. That's what we did in the army."

"That's how it should be! You'll have to get drunk before you stop tonight!"

Roy walked to the bar and took a photo of two coins on the table.

"then!"

The coin slid towards the bartender, and Roy's movements were so cool that he didn't look like a poor man, but more like a young man from a rich family.

"What would you like to drink?"

"Two glasses of flamingo depth bombs, with ice, thank you, and two pieces of synthetic protein artificial steak, six mature."

"Six mature?"

The bartender sneered at him: "Roy, you are so pretentious!

Are synthetic things still mature? Are you going to have a feast at a high-end restaurant?"

"Hahaha!" The drinkers around laughed: "Poor people like to pretend!"

"Why are you laughing? What's the matter with you? Then change it to real steak! Five-cooked!" Roy took out two more coins and slid them along the bar.

The bartender caught the coin and swept it into the cashier drawer:

"I really don't understand how a bastard like you can find a partner!"

Anna came to the jukebox as usual, put in a coin, ordered a famous song by the hip-hop dog band, and watched the holographic projection villain singing and dancing.

With the cheerful rhythm, late-night snacks and good drinks, the stress of the day is released, and there are more and more empty glasses on the bar.

The TV hanging on the wall is playing the news:

"Conflicts broke out again in the city. An illegal trade union organization held a large-scale rally in front of the headquarters building of Sakura Co., Ltd. and wanted to increase wages.

The founder of the union wanted to meet with Mr. Jubei Matsushita, CEO of Sakura Co., Ltd., but was decisively refused. Company security and demonstrators pushed each other, and then it turned into a bloody conflict, with both sides shooting at each other.

As of press time, the conflict resulted in the deaths of 13 union members, 5 corporate security guards, and more than 100 injuries on both sides.

A spokesman for the police station declared that the demonstration was an illegal assembly and that the union was an unregistered illegal violent organization. 326 people, including the founder of the union, had been arrested.

These thugs committed multiple crimes, including illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, picking quarrels and provoking trouble, damaging public and private property, blocking public roads, intentional homicide, etc.

A spokesman for the York City Police Department said that it will crack down hard on illegal union organizations, confiscate illegal guns, and create a good security environment for our city..."

"It's all bullshit!" the bartender cursed:

"It doesn't matter if the company's security guards kill people with guns! The worms in the city police department must not be underpaid!"

Drinkers also shouted curses, and some threw French fries at the TV screen.

By eleven o'clock, Anna realized that Roy was drunk.

The veteran came over with a cane:

"Roy, this kid, he can't drink enough but he always shows off, to be honest,"

The veteran leaned close to Anna's ear and whispered:

"Girl, this boy is not good enough for you."

"He loves me and I love him, that's enough."

Anna laughed it off: "I have to go to work tomorrow, and I have to take this drunkard home, but I'm not strong enough to carry him."

"Don't worry, I'll make arrangements."

Old Jon shouted to the kitchen waiter:

"Hey! Donny! Carry this dead pig back! Escort our lady home."

"Thank you!" Anna kissed the veteran's rough skin; "Sorry to trouble you all."

"It's already twelve o'clock. The road is too dangerous. There are hooligans and gang members wandering around." The veteran still felt uneasy and stuffed an automatic pistol into the hand of the tavern clerk:

"Hey, fat man, take it. It is a gentleman's duty to protect the safety of ladies. Remember how to shoot."

"Turn on the safety, aim, and pull the trigger." The chubby bartender said, "Don't worry, I'm very good at playing video games and my marksmanship is excellent."

"Idiot! You should really play less games! Your brain is broken!" the veteran scolded.

Leaving the "Old Cripple Bar",

The tavern boy carried Roy on his back and Anna led the way,

The three of them walked through the dark and narrow alleys and walked up the long stairs,

From time to time someone whistled at Anna on the road,

"Little girl? Come here and play."

Anna didn't care either, just smiled and avoided it,

As a tall and beautiful girl who lives in a slum neighborhood with poor security, she has long been accustomed to all kinds of verbal harassment.

The jungle of tower-like concrete buildings is like a rusty prison cell for death row prisoners. Even the best mood can be depressed by this environment.

The street lamps were used as targets for marksmanship practice. The road was dark, and people were lying beside the drainage channels. I don’t know if they were drunks or corpses.

A group of gang members with guns holstered around their waists gathered together for a meeting. The wise way would be to walk around and pretend not to notice.

The three of them arrived at No. 0127, a giant low-rent residential building in York City. By this time, Roy was already feeling better and could walk with help.

The old elevator creaked and sounded like it was about to fall apart at any moment, but fortunately that didn't happen.

Arriving at the door of Room 08 on the 140th floor, Anna thanked the bartender.

"Thanks, Donnie."

"You're welcome. Take care of yourselves. I'm going back to play games."

The dirty corridor was very noisy, with neighbors arguing and throwing things, and occasionally children crying and dogs barking.

Using the key to open the iron door covered with spray paint, Roy suddenly woke up, rushed straight to the toilet, lifted the toilet lid, knelt down and vomited, and then lay on it in a daze and passed out.

"Hey, it really doesn't make people worry..."

Anna acted like she was serving a paralyzed patient, helping him change his clothes and wash himself, wipe him clean and put on talcum powder.

There was a voice message on the phone. The person making the rumor was the manager of the property management company of this low-rent housing building.

He told the cruel fact in very polite words that if the rent and management fees cannot be paid within 15 days, the tenants of low-rent house No. 14008 will be forcibly evicted to the street by the security guards.

Anna said to herself:

"It's okay. I'll call my mother tomorrow to borrow money. If it doesn't work, I'll ask my brother for help."

Roy heard everything, his nose became sore, and he cried.

"I'm sorry...honey, I'm so useless..."

"You drank too much, go to bed quickly."

"My mind is clear...I...

I heard what Old Jon said in the tavern. He said that I was not good enough for you. It sounded ugly, but it was true."

"Okay! Let's see how wronged you are!"

As if coaxing a child, she put Roy's head on her lap:

"Don't cry, dear! I won't marry anyone but you! Everything will be fine, don't worry."

Roy got drunk again and went to the toilet to throw up. When Anna helped him rinse and wipe his mouth again, he was half asleep and said groggily:

"Honey,

one day,

I'm going to take you out of this damn place,

Immigrate to other planets and make a fortune!”
Chapter completed!