Reset Life with Infinite Talents - Chapter 264

—————
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 264

Swoosh!

In front of the open closet door and mirror, Slip ties his necktie.

His gaze fixes on the old work clothes hanging in the closet.

Work clothes he wore every day because art supplies often had sharp and pointed tools.

Work clothes he wore to work every day, thinking what glory could a man who lost his wife and daughter so meaninglessly enjoy.

His body says the formal suit feels awkward after so long, but he tries to comfort himself.

“Bear with it. It’s the last time.”

The last day at work.

He hopes his body will bear with it since he won’t have occasions to wear a suit except for his friends’ grandchildren’s weddings.

Moving his awkward hands to tighten his tie, he turns around but hesitates. Because of the photo of his wife and daughter smiling brightly at him.

“…Yes. I feel relieved.”

He feels relieved having said everything that was inside him.

He has no regrets since he also procured all the materials Johann requested. No, he settled everything.

“I’ll be back.”

Putting the money he borrowed last night and envelopes containing the employees’ severance pay into his bag, he’s surprised as he leaves the house.

“How long has it been since I felt this refreshing?”

The company he had to go to even when he thought he might die from it.

His body, which felt heavy as a thousand pounds every day, feels light, and his head, which was cloudy as if covered in fog, is clear. The world is bright.

“So retirement really is the answer.”

Remembering what friends who regained their health after retirement used to say, he chuckles and gets in his car to head to the company.

He’d like to take the bus for once and enjoy this refreshing feeling more, but he restrains himself due to LA’s unsafe security.

Driving to the company like that, Slip is surprised for a different reason when he arrives.

“Boss! Why couldn’t we reach you!”

“Wow! You came this early?”

It’s the employees. The employees who should appear around 8 AM work time are gathered in front of the closed gate at the time when the sun has just risen.

‘Did I show it too much yesterday?’

Did they feel anxious and come to work early because of that?

Slip gets out of the car feeling sorry.

“Phew. Everyone must have felt it, but I’ve decided to…”

“Never mind that. Boss! Look at this!”

“An article from California Daily was posted yesterday, and it’s causing a huge stir right now!”

“California Daily?”

Remembering the interview he did ten days ago but gave up on when no article appeared, thinking this place was the same, Slip looks at the laptop and newspapers the manager is holding out.

Starburst’s Altar! It became poison to the Indians!

Insidious and deadly racial discrimination even in 2017! Victimized Indians!

America is not a great country! It’s just a hell of racial discrimination!

Del Diego Company mobilized its last strength to supply materials to Johann Jefferson even while the company was collapsing! Trial begins in one week!

Del Diego Company, that place was a symbol of trust.

LA County District Attorney’s Office announces it will review the case!

“…My goodness.”

Is he dreaming right now?

Not only the internet but all the newspapers are featuring his story, the Indians’ story, as headlines.

The world is paying attention.

“Wow, doesn’t this mean we’ll win our lawsuit too?”

“Of course we were going to win anyway! Lewis & Boris took on the lawsuit! But more than that, the prosecutor’s office is investigating the case now!”

A case where it wasn’t easy to prove that the excuse of internal circumstances was a lie, that they maliciously delayed payment.

That’s why Lewis & Boris Law Firm had said that even indictment itself would be difficult due to insufficient evidence.

But now the prosecutor’s office says they’ll step in.

They say they’ll help to resolve the injustice.

“Wow, these bastards. They wouldn’t even pretend to listen back then, and now…”

“Better late than never.”

Is this the power of the media? The employees, feeling the power of the press for the first time in their lives, are amazed but then discover something and their expressions harden.

“Boss.”

Slip, who was equally dumbfounded and couldn’t come to his senses, follows the direction the employees are pointing and his expression hardens.

Vrooom! Screech! Screech!

From the familiar vehicles that stopped in front of them, some of the debtor representatives who had maliciously refused payment get out.

“Mr. Slip! Why couldn’t we reach you!”

They get angry right off the bat.

Slip, frowning at the rising irritation, remembers that an employee also got angry saying they couldn’t reach him.

“Ah, it was set to silent mode.”

Slip puts away his old phone with an enormous pile of missed calls and coldly stares at the debtor representatives.

Are they finally getting scared now that the prosecutor’s office is stepping in?

How desperate must they have become for people who wouldn’t even meet him when he went to ask for partial payment of overdue amounts to rush here at such an early hour?

“But are you getting angry just because I couldn’t take calls for a bit? There should be something you need to say first, shouldn’t there?”

Flinch!

“…Ahem. In business, overdue payments can pile up sometimes. I was having difficulties too!”

“That’s right! Do you know how hard it’s been trying to scrape together money we don’t have because of the civil lawsuit Mr. Slip filed?”

“Let’s not do this when we both know each other’s situations. We’ll pay the overdue amounts right away…”

“Hey, you bastards! Is that what you should be saying right now… Mmph! Mmph!”

Glancing at the manager who got angry but is now struggling with his mouth covered by another employee, Slip twists his lips looking at the debtors.

‘They won’t apologize to the end.’

What was he expecting from them?

Rather surprised that he had hoped for an apology, Slip coldly declares.

“If you’re done talking, let’s meet in court. I have no desire to exchange words with you people who are going to hell soon.”

“Look here, Mr. Slip! Are you really going to do this?! If I get serious too, I might think differently…”

“B-Boss. I think reporters are coming over there?”

“Huh?”

It’s true. Vehicles marked with major media companies like CNN and AP are rushing from both sides of the road.

The debtor representatives’ faces turn pale.

“S-Sorry!”

Thump!

Even an insincere apology makes his heart pound loudly.

Confused by the inexplicable beating, Slip soon realizes the reason.

‘Ah, I see… I wanted to see this.’

Even if not sincere, he wanted them to at least apologize.

“Sorry! I’m sorry! Then I’ve apologized!”

“Really sorry! I just remembered something urgent, so I’ll be going!”

“I’ll make a formal apology next time!”

Slip clenched his fists watching the debtor representatives frantically fleeing, worried their faces might be photographed and their companies and universities exposed.

A postal truck approached him.

* * *

“Grandfather was a great tree to me. He was a tree that offered the world’s largest shade, telling me to rest anytime, and a tree that taught me wise wisdom to navigate through the world.”

A sorrowful memorial speech echoes in the small church.

A young soldier continues speaking, forcing his trembling lips apart while looking at the urn placed instead of a coffin.

At the tears flowing down his blackened face, someone lets out a heavy sigh, and someone else wipes away tears.

Johann, sitting in the corner of a chair, also looks at the urn.

He pats Emily’s hand to comfort her as she’s about to cry.

“Thank you for everything, Grandfather. Please rest in peace now… *sob*!”

“*sniff*!”

When tears burst forth, the choir with reverent faces sings a memorial song.

-Not once did sunshine grace your face.

Bette Midler’s Wind Beneath My Wings, containing content honoring devoted parents and often used as a memorial song.

Everyone stands and moves forward to touch the cold urn and offer their final farewells.

He was a wonderful grandfather, a good father and father-in-law, and a fun and good neighbor.

They pray that he may be happy every day in heaven.

“May the deceased rest in peace.”

“Thank you for… coming.”

Johann, who was the first to find Grandfather in the place swept by flames.

The Catholic paladin who prayed for Grandfather’s soul to rest in peace.

Not only that, but he even attended the funeral like this.

They could only be grateful, again and again.

“Not at all.”

It was only natural that he should come.

“And thank you for giving permission. For allowing the work I’m currently creating.”

This work also carries the meaning of commemorating the sole victim of the La Tuna wildfire.

He was grateful that they readily gave permission despite it being a sensitive matter for the surviving family.

“Not at all. Grandfather would have… rather liked it.”

Grandfather, who was always cheerful. If someone had told him while he was alive that they were creating a work for him, he would have been busy spreading the news throughout the neighborhood.

“Thank you. And thank you for your dedication to the country. …Stay strong.”

Johann, who patted the grandson’s shoulder, exits the church.

‘It’s clear.’

On a day like today, it could have been gloomy, but LA’s autumn sky remained high, blue, and dry.

“Cigarette?”

Johann follows the hand holding out a cigarette and turns his head, curling his lips.

“Would you offer one in front of my girlfriend too?”

“Oh.”

Oliver from Fire Department Station 3 hurriedly takes out one cigarette and hides the rest.

Click! Hiss!

“Phew.”

Johann is surprised by the dispersing cigarette smoke.

“When did you start smoking?”

Cigarettes are like poison to firefighters who need good cardiopulmonary capacity. That’s why firefighters who smoke are extremely rare, but his smoking posture is quite skilled.

Oliver smiles bitterly.

“I don’t smoke all the time.”

Only at times like this. Only when facing a life he couldn’t save like this again.

“I can’t bear it without cigarettes.”

Since he never knows when he’ll have to rush out, he smokes cigarettes instead of drinking alcohol.

At those words, Johann chuckles.

“I guess I can call you a veteran now?”

Now he can feel it from Oliver too.

The helplessness of being unable to save countless deaths, and yet the will to enter the inferno again.

“Hey, Lee. It’s been several years since I met you!”

“Haha.”

Oliver also chuckles. Many events from the past four years flash by.

‘Now I can’t even try to convince him to become a firefighter.’

Johann, who was a natural-born firefighter, who could be said to have been born to become a firefighter.

That’s why many people tried to make Johann a firefighter, but in just a few years, Johann had become an avatar sent down by the god of art.

Binding such a being to a single profession would be too great a loss, a loss for the entire world.

“I’m going. Oh, the seniors are dying to have a meal together, so come out when they contact you. Your contact info hasn’t changed, right?”

“It’ll be fine for a while, so contact me anytime.”

As Oliver waves and leaves, Johann moves his steps toward Slip, who is smoking a cigarette in a corner.

“It’s okay. You can keep smoking.”

“Thank you.”

Slip smiles faintly and blows his last puff of smoke toward the sky.

“The world is paying attention.”

To him, and to the Indians.

The media and the world have begun to pay attention to the damage suffered by Indians.

“I saw the news.”

The prosecution, which revealed through search and seizure that there was malice in the delayed payment, not only pursued the Del Diego Company case but also began investigating the damage suffered by Indians after the discovery of Starburst’s foundation, and the media began to shed light on the damage Indians had suffered.

So currently, any media outlet in America was running news about Indians.

Accordingly, Lewis & Boris Law Firm was also postponing the civil lawsuit while waiting for the criminal trial results. This was because they could lead the civil lawsuit more favorably based on the results of the criminal trial.

“I’m glad things are going well.”

Slip bows his head toward Johann, who smiles brightly.

“Thank you. It’s all thanks to you, Writer.”

“Not at all. How much did I really do?”

It was just that the oppression and persecution suffered by Slip and the Indians moved the public’s hearts. He had done nothing.

“Huh.”

Slip is amazed by Johann’s appearance as he calmly waves his hand.

‘He’s truly an amazing person.’

Johann, who had done such a great thing for them but didn’t want to show it off.

‘If we don’t call such a person a saint, who would we call a saint?’

That’s why the slight hesitation that remained disappears.

Slip takes out a shabby leather bundle from the car beside him and holds it out.

“Would you accept this?”

“This is…?”

Slip, who pressed it firmly into his hands, smiles.

“Honestly, I was going to quit.”

Even when the prosecution began their investigation, that feeling hadn’t changed.

Then, hundreds of letters were delivered to him.

“They were students from the universities I supplied art materials to.”

The letters contained messages like how they were able to create perfect graduation works thanks to him, how sorry they were to learn of his situation only now, and asking if he really had to quit.

Seeing those letters, he couldn’t help but burst into tears.

And he realized.

“I still have lingering attachments. I still want to see those children’s smiles… So I’m thinking of trying again. Please take care of me in the future.”

“That’s great! Please take care of me too.”

Slip smiles with relief at Johann’s smile, hoping he’ll continue to supply good materials in the future, and bows his head again.

“Oh, and my acquaintances asked me to give you a gift. I moved it to your car earlier, so please check it later.”

“A gift?”

Slip smiles again and turns around, and Johann, who had been puzzled, nods as he sees his straightened shoulders.

“I’m really glad…”

“Yes. I’m really glad…”

Johann comforts her as she chokes up with a different meaning than before and turns around.

“But what gift could he be talking about?”

“Who knows?”

Johann and Emily, who tilt their heads and head to the car to look inside the trunk that Rick opens, drop their jaws.

“Wow! What is all this?”

There are traditional Indian drums, traditional clothing, traditional tents, as well as numerous accessories like dreamcatchers and rings.

“…Should we set up that tent at home?”

“Let’s do it quickly. Oh, but what’s that?”

At the look telling him to check, Johann nods and his eyes widen as he unwraps the leather bundle that Slip had given him.

“This is…?”

“What is it? What’s that?”

Johann slowly closes and opens his eyes, smiling ambiguously.

“I suppose you could call it a shaman’s earnest wish.”

California had many fires even in the distant past.

It was an item not even recorded in The Starwind Foundation, created by the earnest wish of a shaman who tried to protect the young ones of the forest.

“It’s a flame-retardant coating.”

“Huh?”

‘I should check this out.’

The fire prevention substance he had been searching through the library for until recently.

It seemed like he would need to open the laboratory door after a long time.

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