Reset Life with Infinite Talents - Chapter 260

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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 260

“Haah.”

The assistant’s face rapidly ages as he sighs.

“I understand. No. If that’s the situation, then there’s nothing we can do. I understand. I hope you resolve this favorably. Phew…”

The installation art assistant, who had been sighing deeply again, finally notices Johann.

“You’re here? What’s the matter… Ah, did you come because of this exhibition? You won’t be able to participate due to the pay issue, right?”

“No. I came to check the status of materials for practical work…”

Even though he hasn’t decided on a theme yet, he figured he needed to understand what materials and how much he could use to make plans.

“Is something wrong?”

“…Yes.”

There’s a very big problem.

“The company we contracted with contacted us saying they can no longer supply practical materials.”

“Huh? Suddenly?”

That’s strange.

“The company we contracted with contacted us saying they can no longer supply practical materials. They say it’s due to company circumstances… probably an accounts receivable issue.”

“Huh? Suddenly?”

That’s strange. If it’s a company big enough to have a contract with UCLA, their company size, financial status, and reliability would have been thoroughly reviewed.

For such a company to suddenly unilaterally stop deliveries right as the semester starts was a story that was hard to understand.

“Or maybe the political establishment is trying to kill them. As far as I know, the CEO there is an ardent Democratic Party supporter. There are rumors that he received a lot of benefits, knowingly or unknowingly, during the last administration.”

“In California?”

“Ah, maybe that’s not the issue?”

“Of course not.”

California is a representative Democratic stronghold where the ratio of Republican politicians is so low that even including all politicians like senators and representatives, it exceeds 10 to 1.

The neighborhood is too favorable to pressure them just because the administration changed.

“Argh! This is driving me crazy! How am I supposed to find a new supplier in just 2 weeks!”

It’s not something that can be decided just because Professor David Paul of installation art approves it. It has to pass through faculty meetings and board meetings.

“Ha, do I have to run around and buy materials myself in the end? Haha. I also have to help with the professor’s exhibition? Hahaha.”

Johann quietly slipped out of the professor’s office, watching the assistant breaking down.

“I won’t be able to use many materials.”

Even buying wholesale would have its limits.

“Hmm.”

‘What could have happened?’

A company big enough to have a supply contract with a university would be quite substantial, with multiple clients including other universities.

Also, since universities rarely change suppliers, it’s rare for them to face financial difficulties.

“So it wouldn’t be easy for them to go bankrupt…”

‘Should I look into it?’

Simple curiosity.

Johann slowly closed his eyes and entered the library.

* * *

Murmur murmur.

“Hmm?”

Ada Wong, sitting in the law firm office, wonders about the slight noise coming through the door crack.

Knock knock knock!

“Yes. Come in…”

Ada Wong, who was answering, stands up as she realizes the reason for the noise upon seeing Johann entering through the door.

“Are you busy?”

“What brings our troublemaker writer here?”

“Just. I suddenly wanted to see Ada.”

“Yes. Sure. Coffee?”

“You don’t believe me… Yes. Give me coffee.”

Ada pours the brewed coffee into two cups and sits on the sofa across from Johann.

“Where’s Emily?”

“She’s running late because of the club.”

“The organizing committee, right?”

The organizing committee that manages all the women’s social clubs that are the object of admiration for female students attending UCLA.

“Yes. So she’ll be late for a while.”

September 1st, the fall semester when new students enroll has begun.

The clubs have no choice but to go crazy trying to recruit new students, and because of that, the organizing committee also has no choice but to run around frantically to control them.

“There’s also the new student welcome festival.”

“Ah, I see. That’s right. You’ll be lonely for a while?”

“Would it be as much as Ada who sleeps alone these days.”

Whoosh!

Johann grins as he dodges the flying pen.

“Tsk. So what’s the matter? I’m really touched that you came to see me like this, but since I know it’s not purely for that purpose, just tell me.”

“…Do you know Del Diego Company?”

“Del Diego? Del Diego… Ah, yes. Del Diego.”

Del Diego Company was the client for a case assigned to one of the associate lawyers.

A small to medium enterprise specializing in art material supply.

“Ah, don’t tell me the supply contract with UCLA fell through?”

She remembers that UCLA was also one of their clients.

“So there were accounts receivable issues elsewhere too?”

“Who knows?”

Johann, who already understands the situation, asks subtly, but Ada Wong, who doesn’t know this, smiles mysteriously.

“I can’t tell you this even if you ask. This is a client who trusted and entrusted us at Lewis & Boris.”

“Tsk. You’ve changed since becoming CEO.”

“I never told you before either.”

Ada snorts and gestures for him to drink his coffee.

‘The contract with UCLA also fell through… I need to estimate the damage on a larger scale.’

The reason Johann came to see her today must be to inform her of this. With the CIA acting more attentively than a babysitter by his side, finding out about Del Diego Company’s situation or the law firm handling the case would be a piece of cake.

Ada’s eyes become gentle.

“How is it attending lectures after so long?”

“Attending lectures isn’t a problem, but… it’s a bit hard having the professors ostracize me.”

“…Is it about the exhibition assistant pay issue?”

“Yes. They say my name value is too high.”

Smack!

“Ow.”

“Why don’t you speak properly?”

“Hehe…”

Shiver!

Johann, who had been letting out a mischievous laugh, urgently turns his head.

‘Danger?’

The instincts of wilderness and survival from long ago, even before ‘The One Who Became a Star’, suddenly awakened.

Johann, who was turning his head in confusion looking for danger elements and then looked out the window, jumps up.

Massive black smoke approaching while covering the sky.

Red flames soaring and raging in the distance.

It’s fire.

Johann urgently grabbed his phone.

“Emily, where are you right now!”

La Tuna Fire.

It was the major wildfire that struck LA County in September 2017.

* * *

It burns.

It surges and threatens.

It rushes to burn lungs and airways.

So please, God.

Give me courage to leap into the flames once more.

“Have we confirmed the status of the hikers?!”

-The center should be checking! So open your ears and spray some water!

To not miss even the faintest cry.

-What was forest surveillance doing until it got this bad! Did they spend the increased budget on meat?!

-Thanks to that increased budget, we noticed this quickly! The weather’s been crazy lately, that’s why it spread so fast!

-Right! Thanks to the increased budget, we can operate this close!

At one person’s voice over the radio, all firefighters look at their gear. New firefighting suits combining aramid fiber with Starlite, the dream insulation material.

“Oh God…”

Thank you. Thank you for answering our prayers.

“Now I will not lose courage.”

I will not be careless.

“According to your will, we will fulfill our calling.”

We will protect the lives and property of all neighbors.

“If you’re done praying, let’s go, you bastards!”

-Aaaahhhhh!

-Die, all of you! You fucking fire bastards!

Firefighters with hoses at their sides charged toward the flames covering the Verdugo Mountains, adjacent to Burbank, Sunland, Glendale, Pasadena and other areas.

Meanwhile, near the fire prevention line where the flames were visible.

“Rescue victim secured!”

“Hooray!”

Cheers of relief pour out for the survivor walking out supported by a firefighter. Cheers of praise pour out for the firefighter.

“Don’t come closer! Move back further!”

“Contact your families to check if anyone went into the mountain!”

At those words, people frantically pull out their phones, but Johann, who had closed his eyes, sighs.

‘Too late.’

Too late. He should have come faster.

Johann clenched his fists.

* * *

Verdugo Mountains fire! Successfully extinguished in one day!

What made it possible to extinguish the La Tuna wildfire, expected to be the worst fire in LA history, in just one day?

What’s the difference between past disasters and this fire!

Swoooosh!

Rain falls.

Ash smoke flares up from falling droplets, then gets crushed by the next raindrops.

The scorching earth and charred black trees slowly cool down.

The smell of disaster subsides.

In the early dawn, firefighters gaze at the mountain.

“Cough!”

“Ahem.”

Having slept less than 4 hours, they’re in poor condition.

Fighting the urge to lie down right now, they try to perform their final duty.

That’s when it happened.

Murmur murmur

‘What’s that.’

‘Who is it?’

Who would be making such a commotion at this dawn hour?

Could it be politicians?

The firefighters who turned their heads with frowns widened their eyes.

A chubby uncle in a checkered shirt, jeans, and raincoat.

A little girl wearing a cute duck raincoat.

Teenage students in short sleeves and shorts as if rain meant nothing.

Thousands of people approach – citizens, the very people firefighters must protect.

One of them approaches and extends his hand.

“Thank you for your hard work all day yesterday, and for protecting our property and lives. I’m Jack Wilson from the Sun Valley Volunteer Fire Club.”

He was the beginning.

Representatives from volunteer fire clubs and service clubs in counties adjacent to the Verdugo Mountains – LA, Burbank, Sunland, Glendale, Pasadena – step forward offering to help with aftermath cleanup.

The firefighters’ sleepiness vanishes, replaced by overwhelming emotion.

Thank you, God.

We were able to protect these people today.

It was a moment when trembling lips moved on their own.

“Huh?”

“Long time no see, Oliver. I came too!”

Oliver, a firefighter from LA Fire Department Station 3.

“Jo, Johann?!”

Station 3 was the fire station where Johann had done job experience when he entered high school.

Johann smiled at those who recognized him.

Not just Johann. The cast of “Casanova: The Beginning of Sensuality” – Bradley Cooper, Ewan McGregor, Sean Bean – also smiled.

* * *

“Don’t go to dangerous areas! Please follow our firefighters’ instructions!”

“Yes!”

Thud!

Fire boots, rain boots, sneakers step firmly on the ground of La Tuna Canyon in the Verdugo Mountains, the ignition point.

Sharp sticks and other tools dig through the ashes.

Raking them together to move somewhere else.

Though the disastrous fire was suppressed, the firefighters’ work wasn’t over.

Checking for remaining embers, searching for survivors, recovering the dead, post-fire cleanup – for a fire of this scale, they’d need to be here for at least a week.

“It’s all thanks to you.”

At Oliver’s words, the surrounding firefighters nod.

In the old days, this would have caused twice the damage.

The atmosphere and ground dried by months of drought, grass and trees that lost moisture.

“If it were the days when wildfire surveillance budget was insufficient, we definitely would have discovered it late, and then suppression might have taken over a week.”

Wildfires require initial response more than any other fire scene.

It was truly fortunate it ended at this level.

“Even so, we couldn’t have done anything until today when this rain came.”

“Come on, what did I really do.”

“No.”

Oliver and the firefighters shake their heads firmly.

Thanks to increased budget, they could discover the ignition point early, and thanks to new firefighting suits, they could suppress the fire from closer range.

Johann’s touch was on all of this.

Johann was a benefactor to the firefighters and citizens of counties around the Verdugo Mountains.

“Oh, then can I expect Michelin?”

“Th, that’s a bit…”

“Hahahaha!”

Johann, who laughed together, walks toward one place.

With each step forward, his expression hardens.

People naturally follow along without realizing Johann is leading them somewhere.

The new firefighter next to Oliver can’t stand the brief silence and chatters.

“Still, isn’t it fortunate that it’s raining?”

At least they can worry less about remaining embers.

“Why? Are you saying it would have been better if the wildfire had happened today…?”

Tap!

Oliver, who had been responding curtly unlike his conversation with Johann earlier—perhaps because he was deployed after only 3 hours of sleep—looks puzzled at the hand tapping his arm.

He looks where Johann is pointing and closes his mouth.

The new firefighter who had shrunk his shoulders at the reprimand, and the people led here by Johann, all do the same.

“Ugh!”

“Sob!”

People turning their heads away and shedding tears.

Johann slowly approaches that place.

Thud!

He kneels down.

Crouched down, he gently touches the charred lump of coal.

‘Firefighter’s Prayer, Alvin William Lynn’ forcibly holds back rising tears and struggles to open his clenched jaw.

“I’m sorry for being late.”

The only victim of this La Tuna fire.

Someone who was too close to the ignition point, making it too late when Johann noticed.

Johann slowly closes and opens his eyes, absorbing and reading ‘Knight of Saint Sylvester,’ then makes the sign of the cross over his body.

“May you rest in peace beside God.”

‘Please have mercy on this poor soul.’

“Sob!”

“Sniff!”

Johann extends his hand to Oliver, and Oliver, gritting his teeth, hands over the radio.

“This is Johann Jefferson from Station 3. Confirming death of rescue target. Will transport.”

-…Message received. Please escort with dignity.

“Confirmed.”

‘Phew.’

“Good work. Leave it to us from here.”

As Oliver and the new firefighter approach the body, Johann steps back and embraces Emily, who is crying with her mouth covered, comforting her.

His eyes catch sight of a 60-year-old Indian elder among the volunteers, smiling bitterly.

‘How is that person here?’

The founder and CEO of Del Diego Company, confirmed through the library two days ago. Someone who should be frantically busy with lawsuits and company survival issues.

* * *

“Here’s some coffee!”

“Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it! We should be thanking you for coming to volunteer so readily!”

When a famous star like Johann comes to such disaster sites, the disaster receives more attention and even affects disaster prevention budgets.

Moreover, Johann didn’t just discover the body but actually touched it and prayed for its peace.

As a fellow human being, it’s truly grateful and admirable.

“Then let’s keep up the good work later too!”

“Yes. Let’s do our best.”

“Hehe! Here’s some coffee!”

“Oh, thanks!”

Pop! Hiss!

Johann brings the lukewarm canned coffee that has lost its fizz to his mouth and smiles bitterly.

‘The burnt smell is strong.’

Perhaps because of what just happened, it tastes even more bitter.

‘Isn’t there a way to respond to such fires more quickly?’

Or a way to prevent fires from happening at all.

‘Modern fire suppressants are better…’

From extinguishing agents to flame-retardant coatings. Fire suppressants that have been further developed based on the wisdom of past ancestors.

‘Should I search the library more?’

Johann, who had been quietly lost in thought while watching the volunteers rest, gets up.

“Wait here for a moment.”

“Huh? Okay. Come back soon.”

Leaving Emily behind, Johann approaches the CEO of Del Diego Company sitting nearby.

The man fidgeting with a charred tree branch while looking at the fire scene.

“Hello, Mr. Slip.”

The Indian elder Slip’s eyes widen.

How does this benefactor who gave so much back to the Indians know a shabby old man like himself?

“I saw you coming to deliver to UCLA.”

“…You saw that?”

Slip, who always personally delivers art supplies to the university because he wants to see firsthand the fresh and passionate appearance of college students who will lead America’s future art scene.

He scratches his head as if embarrassed.

“I was worried it might have looked foolish.”

“Not at all.”

Thanks to the good materials Slip delivers, and thanks to his final check during delivery, students learning installation art at UCLA can complete their works with peace of mind today too.

That’s why he’s sorry.

“I’m sorry. Because I was looking for the Altar of the Starbeam…”

According to his library research, unpaid bills started accumulating at Del Diego Company, which had been trading art materials in LA for decades, right after the Altar of the Starbeam was discovered.

Such a thing happened to such a wonderful person who readily steps forward for the city’s disasters despite his company’s difficulties.

He can’t lift his head from shame.

“No. Please don’t think that way.”

Please, he begs.

“It’s because of stupid, foolish racists who don’t even know the world has changed, never because of you, our benefactor.”

The reasons for delaying payments were various, but there was one common reason.

They were disgusted by the sight of some Indian acting superior.

The company’s struggles are due to his own eyes for not recognizing what kind of people they were, and his own stupidity for not saving reserve funds for such situations, never because of Johann.

“Please never think that way.”

Seeing him look like he might collapse if he apologized more, Johann deliberately changes the subject.

“Why are you touching that completely burnt tree branch?”

“Haha. You noticed? …I’m just wondering when these damn wildfires will finally be satisfied. Whether there might be more fundamental solutions.”

LA, which suffers from wildfire threats every year.

Expanding the scope to all of California, hundreds of large and small wildfires occur annually.

“And I was thinking whether we could use this charcoal and ash somehow.”

“Use them?”

“For campaigns. How wonderful it would be if art students could use these to create works that give people awareness…”

Perhaps because he’s someone who supplies art materials, his thoughts only proceeded in that direction.

“Oh my. I raised my voice in front of someone who has put so much effort into wildfire prevention.”

“Not at all. No amount of warning about disaster prevention is ever enough.”

Natural disasters that can be endured but cannot be stopped.

‘Hmm. A campaign…’

Johann alternately looks at the burnt tree branch in Slip’s hand and the fire scene.

‘Should I try it?’

The fragments left by artists say they can do it.

They say to try it.

‘Right. Let’s give it a try.’

It would also help shake off the guilt I felt toward Slip.

“Mr. Slip, how much inventory does the Company have left right now?”

“…Pardon?”

Slip blinked his eyes.

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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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