Reset Life with Infinite Talents - Chapter 191
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
Infinite Talent Reset Life Episode 191
50. To Hong Kong
“800 million barrels…”
Lynch licks his drying lips.
“That’s just the currently confirmed reserves.”
They haven’t even fully grasped how deep the oil well goes or how widely it spreads in the lower sections.
“What a shame.”
If the CIA had provided significant help in finding this oil well, they could have received 1 percent as compensation. Johann was never stingy when it came to sharing.
“Isn’t that being too greedy? Don’t we have Inoue’s treasures and assets?”
Lynch snorts at Swallow’s words.
“The more budget, the better.”
“I know that, but…”
‘He doesn’t understand.’
Saying that shows he doesn’t know. The power that abundant budget provides.
Lynch looks at the photo of the tombstone at Littlefield Crescent Park.
Perhaps you failed to find the star?
“James Han…”
An incredibly lucky figure who called himself a fortune teller.
An Asian who possessed tremendous wealth and fame.
‘Could this be mere coincidence?’
The inscription on the tombstone was too meaningful to dismiss as coincidence.
The oil well’s location was at the exact center of the land James Han had purchased. In the Land of Judgment, where countless oil companies had drilled holes only to find dust, there was oil only in that spot.
How could this be possible?
‘Fortune teller, no, shaman.’
Lynch, having organized his thoughts, looks at Swallow.
“Track down everyone James Han contacted.”
Who knows.
He might have left more things like this.
“Find them and hand them over to Big Star.”
Big Star, referring to Johann.
The CIA would act as hands and feet, finding and delivering things on his behalf.
“Oh. We’re not taking them for ourselves?”
“If we did that, he’d stop relying on us.”
Of course, it might be immediately beneficial for the CIA to get their hands on what James Han left behind.
But that would be cutting open the belly of the goose that lays golden eggs.
Johann Jefferson was an absurd genius, no, a monster who had built assets worth hundreds of billions of dollars at just 17 years old.
Just counting the major ones: Instory and Quick Food, the gold mine in California, Inoue’s treasures and assets, and now this oil field.
What about copyright fees, online novel serialization profits, stocks, and real estate?
“What about the royalties coming in from Boeing?”
Boeing, which had completed application and production of the dream insulation material Starlite in their product line.
Since September, they’ve been turning military exhibitions upside down, making army, navy, and air force generals cry out “just take my money.”
Stock prices were also soaring.
‘Originally they planned to announce it last year, but…’
There was intelligence that they delayed it a year due to durability issues.
“To think he achieved such wealth at just 17 years old.”
What would happen in 10 or 20 years?
“What if he finds El Dorado or Yamashita’s treasure?”
“Haha!”
Swallow, who had burst into laughter, hardens his expression.
To dismiss it as a pipe dream, everything Johann had done so far couldn’t be explained by common sense.
“I don’t know what or how much more James Han left behind, but it might be pocket change. Understood. I’ll organize a team.”
A team to track James Han’s traces and additional forces to protect Johann.
“Move immediately.”
“Yes!”
As Swallow left, Lynch walked to the window and drew back the curtains.
Beyond the window, Johann’s SoHo dormitory was visible.
* * *
A restaurant somewhere in SoHo.
“O-overseas?”
“From Canada to Japan.”
Every country in the world wanted him to visit.
Including all classical performances.
“The United Arab Emirates also wants you.”
“D-Dubai?!”
Johann corrects Camila’s shocked response to Larry’s words.
“The capital is Abu Dhabi.”
Dubai is the capital of the Emirate of Dubai, one of the seven emirates that make up the UAE.
The capital of the United Arab Emirates is Abu Dhabi, the capital of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, the largest of the seven emirates.
“I see…”
Larry speaks to her as she nods, having learned something new.
“What do you think, Miss Camila?”
“M-me?”
The schedule had already continued non-stop for about two months.
Even so, there were still major American cities left to visit.
Proceeding with overseas schedules after finishing all of this wouldn’t be easy.
“Miss Camila is also a main player in this album.”
“Wow…”
It’s different. Everything is different from her previous agency, Syco Music.
“I like it!”
The tour with Johann was time to reconfirm that she was a singer and resolve to become an even better one.
It was precious time to nurture her desire for a solo album.
If she could keep singing and meet more fans, physical exhaustion was nothing.
Larry falls into thought at her answer.
“Hmm.”
No matter how much Camila Cabello agreed, it would be a big problem if their artist collapsed from an excessive schedule.
“How about going to Quebec after finishing the New York schedule, then through Toronto to Chicago?”
They would travel by plane to the eastern and northeastern states to save time.
Larry looks at Johann, who had spoken up.
“Cross from Washington State to Vancouver?”
“Yeah. If we plan the route that way, we can tour more comfortably, and if we’re going, we should visit Canada before it gets colder.”
It was already November. It would be snowing in Canada.
“Hmm… Then let’s proceed with the overseas schedule, but considering Miss Cabello, we should skip Britain.”
Flinch!
Britain, where Simon Cowell’s Syco Music was located. It would be best not to set foot in Britain at all.
“We’re keeping a close eye on their schedule from our end, so there shouldn’t be any chance of you two meeting for a while.”
“Thank you….”
“Not at all.”
Even if not going to Britain caused problems with the UK charts, Larry could do much more than this for his artists.
That was Larry’s management philosophy.
“Oh, Larry. Remove Japan and Korea too. I think it might cause troublesome issues.”
“I understand Japan… but why Korea?”
“I sold the Joseon cuisine records that Korea wanted to the ENU Museum.”
“Ah, those old books that were on your bookshelf?”
“Yeah.”
Originally, he had planned to keep them, but because the Korean Historical Compilation Committee kept contacting him persistently, he handed them over to the ENU Museum for exhibition.
Since the Korean Historical Compilation Committee knew that Johann had sold them to the ENU Museum, they might create public opinion portraying him as an individual who arbitrarily sold Korea’s treasures, like an immature child. He wanted to avoid this until he could observe public opinion and confirm there were no problems.
“Got it. I’ll remove Japan and Korea too.”
Not going to Britain for the UK charts and Japan for the Oricon charts was a loss, but since both charts were currently showing good results within the top 10, Larry decided to remove them cleanly.
Johann and Larry adjusted the schedule afterward, and Camila watched this with curiosity.
‘Even though Johann is Larry’s son….’
“…Mr. Yo. Ms. Cabello?”
“Yes, yes!”
“Wasn’t the trailer uncomfortable for you?”
“No! Not at all!”
Throughout the journey, far from being uncomfortable, she felt like she was on cloud nine every single day.
“Except for the fatigue that builds up from long-distance travel, there were no uncomfortable aspects.”
No matter how nice the trailer was, there was still the psychological fatigue of sleeping outside rather than at home.
“That’s a relief. If there are any inconveniences….”
Johann looked at Larry and Camila having their conversation, then turned his head.
‘Yawn.’
He wanted to quickly get to the dormitory and sleep soundly.
“Excuse me, by any chance….”
Women approaching while looking back and forth between Johann and Camila.
Johann gave them a bright smile.
“Then we’ll adjust it that way… you’re still not thinking about classical music?”
“I want to do a premiere with the LA Philharmonic.”
“Alright. I’ll arrange that. If you need anything, tell Rick anytime. Ms. Cabello, please feel free to tell Anna anything as well.”
Anna Jowin, Camila’s manager.
‘She was also CIA, wasn’t she.’
Unlike Rick, she was a former field agent, a spy. Only Larry and Camila didn’t know.
“Yes! I’ll do that!”
“Get plenty of rest today, Johann.”
“Yeah. You be careful going back too, Larry.”
“Phew. When am I going back.”
Larry shook his head, took a taxi toward LaGuardia Airport, which focuses on domestic flights, and Johann looked at Camila.
“What would you like to do?”
It was already 10 PM. Time when people would start to feel scared.
“I’d like to walk a little….”
During Fifth Harmony, she was just dragged around as told, so it only felt like a big city, but now New York’s night streets approached her with a completely different feeling.
Camila looked at her manager Anna with earnest eyes.
“It’s fine.”
“Really?!”
“Yes.”
With so many people around, what problem could a short walk cause?
Camila’s face brightened as she looked at Johann, and Johann nodded as well.
“Then let’s walk a bit.”
He had some things to think about anyway.
“Awesome!”
“First, let’s wave to those paparazzi over there.”
“What?!”
Johann waved and took the first step.
‘Mining and business operations are settled since I decided to leave them to professional managers….’
He had already explained about James Han, who was the cause of this incident, and Larry and Ada said they would look into it separately. If there were descendants, problems could arise.
‘Now the remaining problem is the other legacies James Han left….’
Things left under the name of seeds, like the Littlefield oil field.
There were many things to think about, from naturally finding them to managing them.
“Father!”
“Hm?”
Johann and Camila, who had turned their heads, stopped walking for a moment.
Deep in the alley, a woman in her 50s approached an old man crouched in old, dirty clothes.
The old man who looked up at the woman widened his eyes.
“You, you’re mistaken!”
The old man urgently got up and ran toward Johann and the others.
“Father, please! Father-! Ah!”
At the sound of someone falling with a thud, the old man glanced back and gritted his teeth as he ran again.
‘What’s going on here?’
Johann, who had closed his eyes, urgently opened them.
As the face hidden in the darkness finally became visible, Johann was shocked.
‘It, it’s him?’
It was someone he knew.
Johann stretched out his arm and grabbed the torso of the old man trying to pass by.
“Ugh?! L, let go!”
“You should listen to your daughter’s story, old man.”
“Please!”
“H, hold him tight!”
Despite struggling, the arm wouldn’t loosen, so the old man tearfully pleaded, and the middle-aged woman urgently got up and ran over.
And….
Thump!
She hugged the old man tightly.
“I won’t let go now. Never. So give up, Father.”
“Ah….”
The old man who gave up escaping finally looked at his daughter’s face.
“Isabel…. My daughter….”
Tears fell from the old man’s eyes.
* * *
Isabel Barber still remembers that day.
The day forty-some years ago when her father suddenly disappeared without a trace.
And the day when loan sharks and bank collectors turned the house upside down.
And….
“Your dad ran off with another woman after getting caught embezzling company money. He’s probably dead by now.”
The day when her mother abandoned her.
It was the day when her entire world collapsed.
At first, she couldn’t believe it.
Her father was the most wonderful person in the world and the one who loved her most.
He had given her a goodnight kiss just the night before.
And he was incredibly wealthy too.
But when foreclosure notices were plastered all over the mansion, her mother disappeared taking only expensive bags and accessories, and she had to endure uncomfortable meals at her paternal grandmother’s house, she had no choice but to accept it.
‘Father abandoned me.’
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have cheated, and he wouldn’t have embezzled money either.
From the day she acknowledged this, she had no choice but to become tough.
That girl who looks just like her mother, the girl who made men run away, the girl who would abandon her own child when times got tough.
Grandmother’s daily curses that pierced her heart were enough to keep her loosening spirit in check, and she devoted herself to studying while forgetting her father for the goal of success.
So she was eventually able to enter a good university and get a good job.
She met a good husband, got married, and had children.
A successful life that everyone would envy, a happy life.
She had lived happily like that, forgetting the father and mother who abandoned her.
Until her daughter played some song for her recently.
“Mother, Father! Listen to this!”
“What could it possibly be… Oh.”
“Letter Written in Heaven” released by a singer named Johann Jefferson made her husband think of his deceased parents, and made Isabel Barber think of her father whose face she could no longer remember.
‘I wonder if Father is doing well?’
Words that seemed like they were written by her father.
Forty years had dulled the blade of hatred, and eventually made her think about checking on him from afar, even if just to see his face.
“So I investigated the old matters again to find Father… why did you do that?”
Outdoor terrace of a nearby cafe.
Isabel looks at the Old Man with tears welling up in her eyes.
“Isabel…”
“Why didn’t you tell me! The one who embezzled wasn’t Father but that business partner! And the one who cheated was him and Mother!”
The Old Man lets out a deep sigh.
“That’s right…”
The betrayal of his 20-year friend who was his business partner and his wife.
At first, he couldn’t believe it.
But the moment he started digging into it, he had somehow become the embezzler, and his wife had fabricated evidence to make him a domestic violence perpetrator.
The staff members had also turned their backs on him.
Though he felt isolated alone in the world, he decided to fight back thinking of Isabel.
“But they took you hostage and threatened me.”
They said they would kill his daughter Isabel if he didn’t take the blame for their crimes.
The business partner was connected to the mafia, and in the 1970s, the mafia had enough powerful influence over politics and business.
Back then, killing one person was nothing for the mafia.
“Instead, they said if I quietly took the blame for the crimes, they would raise you well.”
Like a fool, he believed only those words and left Chicago as if fleeing.
He only learned that it was a lie a full 10 years later.
Thinking that Isabel, who would have become an adult over time, might understand him if he explained the situation, he investigated her whereabouts only to despair.
When he went to find his wife and business partner who had broken their promise to kill them, the two were already dead from a car accident.
There was nowhere to pour out his anger.
“That’s when I thought this.”
Isabel must have suffered more than he did.
Even if the father she thought had abandoned her came looking for her after 10 years saying it was all a misunderstanding, it would only be confusing.
So he chose to disappear again.
And he became homeless due to the 2008 subprime mortgage crisis and has been living like this ever since.
“You should have just come to me! You should have come even if it was later!”
“If I had come then, would you have been able to build the family you have now?”
“Father!”
“It’s enough if you’re happy. If you were happy…”
“Sob!”
Isabel buried her face in the Old Man’s hand and cried loudly, while Johann and Camila watched them with trembling eyes.
‘Thanks to our song…’
A terrible misunderstanding of over 40 years was resolved.
A family that had to be separated was reunited.
His heart felt like it was melting, and his head was so dizzy he couldn’t collect himself.
“Thank you!”
Isabel grabs Johann and Camila’s hands while shedding tears. The hands she held felt so hot they might burn.
“Thanks to you two, I was able to meet my father like this! If you come to Chicago later, please contact me at this number. I definitely want to repay this kindness. If I don’t answer the phone, grab anyone and ask them to tell you where Leicester Barber’s mansion is.”
Thump!
That’s right.
She was the wife of ‘Investor Leicester Barber’ to whom Johann owed so much.
Such a fateful encounter.
The first situation he’d experienced since ‘Art Student’ Benjamin.
“Let’s go, Father.”
“Thank you, young people. Thank you so much.”
Johann stared blankly at the two disappearing figures.
“…I don’t think I’ll ever be able to forget what happened today.”
“Me neither.”
Johann nodded at Camila’s words and stood up.
“Then let’s get up too.”
‘Chicago…’
Just the place he needed to go.
‘This is inevitable.’
Johann smiled softly.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
