Reset Life with Infinite Talents - Chapter 209

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Infinite Talent Reset Life Episode 209

‘Wow…’

Johann turns his gaze away from the military band he had been staring at blankly and looks at Tanzania’s President John Magufuli.

He holds Johann’s hand tightly without letting go.

The reporters’ camera shutters had already stopped clicking long ago, but his eyes still gaze at Johann with tears welling up.

“You have no idea how much I wanted to meet you.”

How many Tanzanian citizens had their lives saved thanks to the $100 million worth of medicine Johann donated?

It had been about 7 months since the John Magufuli administration took office. Johann’s medicine donation might become his greatest achievement throughout those 7 months, or even his entire term until the very end.

Even if Johann had landed at Kilimanjaro, he would have come to find him personally like this.

“Nice to meet you, I’m Johann Jefferson.”

“S-Swahili?!”

John Magufuli is shocked when Johann fluently speaks Swahili, Tanzania’s national language.

“I thought I’d learn it so I could communicate smoothly with the Tanzanian people. Is it okay?”

“…Khheup! Thank you so much, thank you!”

Following the $100 million medicine donation, he even came to do volunteer work personally.

Indeed, this young star Johann is a saint.

A saint destined for greatness.

If he could, he’d want to kidnap him to the presidential palace and talk for days and nights.

But he can’t do that.

John Magufuli looks at the Flag of Salvation.

“But is there a reason you came with that organization?”

“Ah, well…”

Johann explains the situation.

“Oh, Watt Company!”

It’s an unfamiliar name, but definitely one he must remember from now on.

“Mm, mm. I understand. Ah, I’ve kept a busy person here too long. Please take care of our people.”

“I hope I can be of help.”

Swoosh! Thump! Thump!

John Magufuli embraces Johann and pats his back heavily, then turns away wiping his tears, while Johann sticks out his tongue.

“It feels like a storm just passed…”

“Hey, when did you learn the Tanzanian language?”

“Just bit by bit?”

“In two months?”

“Yeah.”

“…Crazy bastard. Really, sometimes I look at this guy and wonder why he didn’t skip grades.”

“Did you forget? He didn’t do it because he wanted to hang out with us.”

“…Right. Among us, this guy was the biggest crazy…”

Thump!

“Ugh?!”

“Kekekekek!”

They laugh as they approach the Flag of Salvation volunteers who arrived earlier.

“I’m Ageman Kruma, Tanzania Branch Head of the Flag of Salvation.”

“I’m Johann Jefferson. Please don’t worry about who I am and feel free to put me to work.”

“Hahaha!”

How can his personality be so good too?

The branch head nods as if it’s natural and looks at the hundred or so volunteers gathered from countries around the world.

“We’ll be taking a domestic flight in an hour and flying for 2 hours to Kigoma.”

“Ah!”

“Ugh!”

Not only Johann’s group, who had arrived in Dar es Salaam after a grueling 28 hours due to flight delays, but volunteers from other countries also scrunch up their faces, but the branch head continues speaking with a friendly smile as if he’s used to it.

“After that, we’ll spend a total of 22 days doing volunteer work at the refugee camp and villages near the camp, then return here to Dar es Salaam to volunteer in the slums for 5 days. There are important points you must pay attention to.”

The branch head’s expression hardens as he makes eye contact with every volunteer, starting with Johann.

“Do not pity the people you meet.”

Do not look down on them.

Do not try to buy people with money.

“You must absolutely follow our control. Just three months ago, people died because they couldn’t follow these simple rules.”

Murmur! Buzz buzz!

“I won’t say which country, but four people from the same country died while harassing a young girl in the Dar es Salaam slums before we could even stop them. Please, please, I beg you – if you came to volunteer, just volunteer. Don’t do unnecessary things.”

Everyone frowns and looks around at the people nearby at the branch head’s words full of distrust.

“And lastly…”

The branch head’s complexion turns coldly rigid as he pauses.

“Never, ever follow if a refugee says it’s urgent and asks you to come along.”

Thump!

Everyone’s hearts sink as they look at the branch head with bewildered faces. Johann’s eyes narrow.

“The camp we’re going to houses over ten thousand refugees. They’re people who fled to survive, but are all of them really good? Remember this. From the moment you leave this airport, you must take responsibility for your own safety.”

The branch head glances at Johann.

“We’ll basically protect you, but you must take responsibility for your own safety.”

Especially volunteers from countries with good security like Singapore, Japan, and Korea where you can walk around even at dawn need to be more careful.

“If you carelessly go out after sunset, you might not see the next sunrise.”

…Gulp.

The volunteers’ faces harden rigidly.

On the other hand, Johann and the Emilys nod without showing any surprised reaction. Since they had studied this information before coming here, there was nothing to be surprised about.

The branch head, thinking the warnings were enough, smiles brightly and points to Johann.

“Then let’s give a round of applause to Mr. Johann Jefferson who graciously participated in this volunteer activity! Thanks to him, we can go to the refugee camp with a massive amount of medicine this time!”

“Wow!”

“Thank you, Johann!”

Clap clap clap clap clap!

“Haha. Not at all. I came here to help people in difficulty and hardship just like all of you, so please think of me as a colleague, not as a star.”

“Wow!”

Clap clap clap!

“Now then, those who need to use the restroom, go use it, and those who are hungry, have a meal and then let’s meet at the domestic flight gate! Brief dismissal!”

Rush!

“Um…”

“Could we do autographs and photos inside? I’m really hungry.”

“Ah, of course! Yes, yes!”

As the volunteers smile and step back, Johann points to a hamburger shop inside the airport.

“Six hamburgers.”

“This bastard thinks we’re his slaves…”

“I’m buying.”

“Bro, don’t you need fries?”

Johann gives the middle finger to Flash, who cutely puts his clenched fist to his cheek, then looks at Tanga heading toward the domestic flight gate.

“That person has been taking photos since earlier. Is he also a volunteer?”

At Johann’s question, the branch head shakes his head.

“Mr. Tanga? No.”

Tanga is a graduate of the Film Studies department at the University of Tanzania.

“He’s a photographer whose dream and purpose is to inform the world about the difficulties and poverty of Tanzania and Africa. He graciously joined us saying he’d film our volunteer work for free this time.”

He’s already a skilled photographer who has published photos of Tanzania and various other African countries in newspapers and magazines.

“Oh.”

‘This time?’

“You still look young but that’s impressive.”

“That’s why I’m so proud of him. Haha. Oh, I’m going to the restroom….”

“I’m going to buy something at that market over there.”

“Haha. Yes.”

‘Hmm.’

“What’s wrong?”

When Johann narrows his eyes, Rick looks puzzled.

“…It’s nothing. Let’s go.”

Johann walked toward the chocolate in the airport market that had caught his eye earlier, toward the red chocolate that had been tempting him with its entire being.

* * *

Vroooom!

The concrete road changes to a dry dirt path.

“Cough! Cough!”

About an hour ago, the emotion of seeing Lake Tanganyika, the second largest lake by volume in the world, has already faded as people watch young girls and children walking along the road carrying something on their heads.

Dry lips and empty gazes watching the bus pass by.

They could wave their hands asking for a ride, but they walk silently without making any gestures.

‘Where are they coming back from?’

People with good observation skills notice the callused bare feet of the girls and boys stepping on the dirt ground, and those with good eyesight notice their rough, dry skin like this dust.

From that moment, conversation disappears.

Humming and singing disappear, and expressions change.

Even though complaints about the shabby bus without air conditioning are disappearing, the branch manager actually smiles. Because this happens every time.

The huge shock that those who lived protected lives receive when they see those who are not protected.

The moment when they realize that even if they lived difficult lives, they were truly living under protection.

“Johann… did you just see that?”

A child about 3 years old was clinging to the back of a girl about 10 years old who was carrying a large bundle on her head. Even that young child just stared blankly at the bus.

Smack!

‘Crazy girl!’

She shouldn’t have gotten excited just because she came abroad to help people in need. She should have thought about how to help first.

Johann pats the back of Emily’s hand as she reflects and thinks of the girl who can no longer be seen in the distance.

‘She must have money to buy something or something to exchange.’

The Tanzanian person he’s currently absorbing and reading with ‘The One Who Became a Star’ says so.

Even the nearest village from here is about 30 minutes by car. On foot, it naturally takes several times longer.

Enduring that effort means there’s something necessary, and also means having money to buy it.

‘Maybe she works in that village.’

Whatever it is, walking the road is evidence of productive activity. She’s definitely not someone to pity.

Click! Click!

Johann glances at Tanga taking pictures of the scenery outside the window and looks at the approaching entrance of ‘Mtendeli Refugee Camp’, at the surging waves of people beyond the silver fence barrier.

Screech!

After being inspected at the entrance and arriving at the center of the camp, as they get off the bus, a group of about ten people comes running among the people and machines moving frantically.

The branch manager greets them with a bright face.

“The medicine is in the first bus, and the rest is in the third bus!”

“Ohhh!”

“What are you doing! Move it!”

“Move it carefully! Every single pill is precious!”

“Here’s Mr. Johann Jefferson… Mmph?!”

“Shut up and move things first!”

People opening trunks and carrying boxes like hyenas rushing toward fallen prey.

The branch manager smiles looking at the bewildered volunteers.

“Those people in white coats are from WHO and Doctors Without Borders, and those people over there are dispatched from WFP.”

World Health Organization and World Food Programme. Both are UN agencies.

‘So that’s why they packed everything so tightly.’

The Tanzania Branch Head of the Flag of Salvation who not only packed boxes of various items tightly in the trunks of three buses but even loaded the storage compartments inside the buses.

Because of that, they had to hold their own luggage for the 1 hour and 30 minutes it took to get here, but seeing those happy faces, they can’t express complaints.

Especially because of the refugees in shabby and dirty clothes sitting blankly among the frantically moving people.

“Then let’s unpack at the dormitory first! Follow me!”

The place he guided them to was a house with concrete walls like a barn or warehouse in a wide space with only a tin roof on top.

But again, no one complains.

“Please unpack on any bed and come out!”

At those words, everyone looks with stunned eyes at the simple cots that might be used in the military, at the musty-smelling beds and crumpled, scattered blankets.

Do they really have to sleep there?

It’s a moment when no one can easily take a step.

Step!

‘Johann?’

Johann moves and puts his bag down on a nearby bed.

“Emily, that place beyond the curtain in the middle seems to be where the women sleep.”

“…Yes! Lucy! Joy!”

“Okay! Who said they brought insect repellent?”

“Me! Bedbug repellent and….”

Starting with Emily, as the women cross the curtain hung in the center of the building, Johann looks at the Flashes and asks with his eyes what they’re doing.

“Did you come here to play?”

“…Geez. Yeah, you bastard.”

“That guy always moves one step ahead and makes people feel embarrassed. It’s not like he’s showing off his athletic ability.”

“Isn’t that your fault for having no athletic ability?”

“I’m better than you!”

Seeing Johann and his friends moving while giggling, the male volunteers also come to their senses and move to find beds to lie on, and Johann heads outside.

“Wow!”

Young children running from the side.

“Whoa?!”

Johann, who was stepping aside, extends his foot toward a child who falls and screams.

Thud!

‘…?’

“…?!”

The child caught on Johann’s foot and Johann make eye contact.

“Th, thank you!”

“…Be careful.”

“Yes, yes! Let’s go!”

“Woohoo!”

“That big brother is super strong!”

Children running somewhere again with bright smiles, happy about something.

‘That child….’

Johann stares intently at the boy who almost fell, then looks at the branch manager.

The branch manager, who was smoking, gives a thumbs up.

“You’re strong?”

“Haha.”

“How’s the dormitory? It must be quite uncomfortable….”

“It’s not uncomfortable.”

There are concrete walls and a roof to shelter from rain and wind. It was much better than the refugees who made those small cloth tents and tents their homes.

That’s why no one could show complaints. Because they realized they were being treated well for being volunteers.

“But what about drinking water?”

The branch manager had said that once you leave the airport, safety is your own responsibility.

“You can’t just drink any water in places like this.”

“…Oh?!”

Smart.

“Haha! Come this way!”

“Johann.”

“Oh! Your friends are coming out too!”

It seems like we can all move together.

That’s when it happened.

Clatter clatter!

“People here to volunteer?!”

A black man with dirt and dust covering his face and body. Some kind of card hangs around his neck.

“Need strong people right now! Anyone done construction work, raise your hand!”

Johann looks at the branch manager. The one who had told them not to follow even if refugees urgently asked them to come along.

“You’re still here, Tunda!”

“Oh, branch manager!”

They know each other.

Johann and the Flashes look at each other.

“We’re good with physical labor.”

“I know a bit about construction.”

“You do?!”

‘Why? What?’

If we’re going to volunteer anyway, wouldn’t it be better to use our talents rather than just doing mindless labor?

Johann ignored his shocked friends and made his eyes sparkle with enthusiasm.

* * *

“So young! How?”

Johann speaks to the amazed middle-aged black man.

“You can speak in Swahili.”

“…Oh! You must be from a big city?”

Tanzania, where not only black people but various races live.

In the second capital Dar es Salaam, the capital Dodoma, and nearby big cities like Kigoma, you can often see Asian people.

“Looking at how young you are, did you just enter university?”

“I usually studied, but recently I gained practical experience living and working at a house construction site.”

“Ah… well, even that much is enough!”

Since people with construction knowledge are all currently tied up with water pipe connections and construction of important buildings like hospitals and schools, even someone with small experience was precious.

“Water pipes?”

“Not something as grand as water pipes…”

The Mtendeli refugee camp was hastily built due to the sudden increase in refugees.

Since it was suddenly decided and is being built recently, connecting water supply for the continuously arriving refugees and construction was an urgent problem.

So they were connecting giant plastic pipes instead of concrete ones to Kasanda, a city 10 minutes away by car.

“Until now we’ve managed somehow with water tank trucks…”

The currently housed refugees have already surpassed ten thousand.

The Mtendeli refugee camp will house up to 40,000 people within this year.

Solving water-related problems is the top priority.

“Why not dig for groundwater?”

“Haha. If it came out just by digging, would we be building those things?”

The middle-aged man points to a tower-like structure made of woven materials nearby.

Waka Tower. A device developed by some Italian designer two years ago that can collect up to 100 liters of water per day.

“You probably can’t feel it since you lived in a big city where water isn’t scarce, but our Tanzania doesn’t have much water. Can’t you tell by looking around?”

Except for the sparsely growing trees, only red, parched soil rolls around this land. Even those trees are barely sustaining life with the rain that falls intermittently during wet and dry seasons.

“…That can’t be right.”

‘There should be water here?’

According to feng shui principles, there absolutely must be water in this location.

The ‘Daoism Master Doseon’ he had absorption read was saying the same thing – wondering if he had misjudged.

Johann looked down at the ground he was currently walking on.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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