Reset Life with Infinite Talents - Chapter 267
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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 267
He kneels and prays.
He presses his lips against the cross tombstone and brings his head close, making a wish.
That such a thing never happens again.
He removes his hat and pays his respects.
To the sole victim of the La Tuna wildfire.
“Is there a reason you erected this tombstone?”
After finishing his condolences, LA Mayor Eric Garcetti asks with troubled eyes, and the surrounding people focus on Johann’s response.
Johann glances back at the cross tombstone.
“I hope no more tombstones like this will increase.”
A wish that no more casualties from wildfires would occur beyond this last tombstone.
That tombstone was such a resolution and determination, and a plea to never forget this tragedy.
“To me… it sounds like harsh criticism.”
Harsh criticism as a politician, as a mayor responsible for LA, to never let his guard down and always be prepared.
“If that’s how you heard it, then you heard it correctly.”
That’s also why he used ashes collected from the La Tuna wildfire.
“Oh my.”
“Hahaha!”
“Hohoho!”
Johann smiles faintly and looks into Mayor Eric Garcetti’s eyes.
“Of course I know what you’re worried about.”
Honestly, it could be called an eyesore.
“If this had been erected downtown, there would have been thousands of complaints demanding its immediate removal every single day.”
“Mm.”
“But I created this work hoping people would develop a sense of vigilance, even through this method.”
While fires can occur due to natural disasters, they can also happen due to human carelessness, mistakes, or poor management, so if people maintain vigilance and prepare, prevention is also possible.
“Hmm. At least the citizens passing through La Tuna Canyon will frown when they see this, but they’ll also remember its meaning.”
Johann thinks the same.
‘He doesn’t look pleased.’
Mayor Eric Garcetti not only immediately approved the proposal but also provided various conveniences.
Johann approaches and quietly offers him candy.
“It can also be used for Halloween or Christmas.”
“…Oh?”
Mayor Eric Garcetti’s eyes widen as he looks around the post-fire world again.
‘This would be perfect for Halloween, and even Christmas…’
They could hold an event with a concept like Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas.
‘It would also be good as a field trip location for students.’
“It can also be used as a filming location.”
Gasp!
Surprised, Mayor Eric Garcetti looks at Johann and smiles brightly while extending his hand for a handshake.
“Thank you for creating such a wonderful work, Writer. Ah, may I call you Writer?”
“Please call me whatever you’re comfortable with. I’m a citizen of LA after all.”
“Haha. Thank you. Then I look forward to your continued good work. …Ah.”
Mayor Eric Garcetti, who was about to let go of his hand, looks at Johann with a meaningful smile.
“What do you think about fire-retardant coatings made from natural materials?”
Both Johann and the reporters who were smiling at their warm interaction freeze momentarily.
Soon Johann smiles.
“You seem to be referring to the fire-retardant coating Boeing recently developed… It’s eco-friendly, non-toxic, and has a 100% tree growth rate, so why wouldn’t we use it? That’s why I’m currently using it myself.”
On all the vegetation within the mansion grounds that serve as his and Emily’s nest, and on the vegetation within Larry and Edward’s mansion grounds too.
“All the sculptures erected here have also been coated with it.”
Boom!
Mayor Eric Garcetti, who had only hoped for words of simple expectation, and the reporters who had been narrowing their eyes suspecting some connection between the mayor and Boeing, widen their eyes in shock.
“…Haha. You’re quite the early adopter, Writer!”
“That’s something old men used to say…”
“Ahem!”
“…Pfft!”
“Hehehe.”
As the reporters burst into laughter, Mayor Eric Garcetti looks at Johann with inner admiration.
‘He definitely intended that joke just now. Does he have political talent too…?’
Such pleasant wit that smoothly defuses tense situations was one of the essential requirements in politics.
‘Has a strong rival appeared in the Jefferson family’s succession selection?’
It seemed like a storm would blow through the West in the near future.
“I understand. So that Writer and the future leaders of California…”
Mayor Eric Garcetti scans the university students standing around Johann.
“Can respond to the concerns these pillars are sending, I will work to save even one more citizen.”
From disasters like this wildfire.
From natural disasters that humans cannot overcome.
“That’s what we politicians should be doing.”
“I’m counting on you.”
“Well then.”
Click! Click! Click!
The mayor turns around, leaving behind Johann who bows his head, and looks at his secretary.
“What about the ladies?”
“They’re waiting for their turn right now.”
Their turn to greet Johann.
“Tell them I’ll see them right after this ends. The Fire Chief and the top Forest Service official too. It seems we need to pass the wildfire monitoring and firefighting budget increase as quickly as possible.”
The firefighting budget increase that was already implemented during former LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s time.
‘We need to increase the budget on an even larger scale than that.’
Kellner wants it, Jefferson wants it, and even the UCLA university students who are future leaders want it.
Plus, Christmas is coming soon – Christmas, Americans’ most beloved holiday.
‘If wildfires occur before or on Christmas Day despite all these efforts, it won’t end with simply stepping down from the mayoral position.’
Mayor Eric Garcetti, with anxiety settling in his chest, quickened his pace, and Johann turned his gaze away from him to look at Kellner.
And his eyes widened.
‘Grandmother? Lisa Jefferson?’
And there was one more person beside them.
Someone he had never met before, but a very important figure.
‘How did that person get here?’
“Hoho. Nice to meet you, Writer Johann.”
“Ah!”
A Black woman in her late 70s with sharp eyes, straight posture, and an impressive gentle smile.
It was Maxine Waters, one of the actual representatives of LA’s Democratic House members.
Next to her, another political heavyweight, Karen Bass, was sending a warm smile his way.
‘I guess I really have become famous.’
Seeing these political heavyweights approach him first.
In terms of actual influence, they surpassed even Mayor Eric Garcetti.
Johann smiled and shook hands with them.
Maxine Waters and Karen Bass didn’t say much. Like Mayor Eric Garcetti, they left with words that they would do everything they could as politicians and then departed.
However, they put strength into their handshakes and maintained eye contact until the end, imprinting their presence.
“The outfits you wore this Halloween were really wonderful!”
Johann and Emily, who enjoyed Halloween by walking around downtown in Grimani family noble attire.
That day, the two had quite an unusual experience. Out of every 10 people walking the streets, 2 were dressed in European aristocratic attire.
“Haha. Thank you.”
After taking a photo with the last celebrity who came to view this work today and sending them off, Johann.
As the bustling place from just moments ago became quiet, he lets out a sigh.
Then he extends his hand toward Professor David Paul and Slip.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
“…The hard work was all done by Writer Johann. What did we do?”
For some reason, both of them are wearing sullen expressions.
Johann, who knows the reason, smiles.
“The news about pozzolan will be reported tomorrow.”
“…Right? That’s how it is, right?”
They had gone to the trouble of restoring ancient Roman pozzolan to create the work, but the invited guests showed absolutely no interest in that aspect.
That’s why they had been sulking, but now their faces brighten up.
“Of course. People will probably start flocking here from tomorrow, right?”
Not just Johann’s fans or ordinary citizens, but even people who study and work in art, architecture, and history will come rushing.
“So you should prepare yourselves. Interview requests will flood in for you professors too. Maybe… you might even appear on talk shows?”
Like the Allen Show, or the Tonight Show.
“Uhehe! You worked hard, Writer Johann! See you tomorrow then!”
Tomorrow is Saturday, and they’ve made plans for an after-party.
“Oh, of course your grade is A+!”
“Hey, Writer Johann. Seriously consider changing majors… Mmph! Mmph!”
“Hehe. This fellow must have been drinking. See you tomorrow then!”
“See you tomorrow!”
“Thank you so much!”
After the professors and students leave, Johann looks at Slip.
Slip smiles and offers a handshake.
“I had a truly valuable experience, Writer.”
For the first time in his life, he was able to participate in the entire process of creating a work from initial preparation to completion, and thanks to Johann, he was able to escape the threat that had been looming over him.
An incredible experience that might never happen again in his lifetime.
“I hope you win the trial, and I’ll continue to ask for your help with good materials.”
“Haha!”
That goes without saying.
“If you need any materials, just let me know anytime! I’ll somehow procure them for you!”
“Just hearing that makes me feel reassured. Take care going home. See you again.”
“Yes, I’ll see you again!”
After sending Slip off as well, Johann smiles as he sees people approaching.
“Sorry, Grandmother.”
There were too many people to greet, so he’s only greeting her now.
“Hoho. Not at all. I was so absorbed watching my grandson’s reliable and wonderful appearance that I lost track of time.”
“Haha…”
Johann’s face reddens at the praise filled with nothing but sincerity as he scratches his cheek, and Melanie smiles warmly.
“More importantly, did you like the gift this old lady sent?”
“…So they were people Grandmother sent after all.”
Maxine Waters and Karen Bass.
As if testing the waters, they said hardly anything and just made their presence known before withdrawing, so he had suspected, and it turned out to be true. Normally, when such heavyweight politicians grace such a place, there must be some purpose.
“To be precise, the Kelnegar child moved together with them.”
“…I’m sorry.”
“Not at all.”
How could she be disappointed when Jefferson failed to show trust? She pats Johann’s hand and changes the subject so he won’t feel more sorry.
“But are you that worried?”
“…There are currently over 30 major wildfires in California.”
Major wildfires that caused damage to over 400 hectares. Including smaller ones, it reaches nearly ten thousand cases.
The highest numbers of wildfire damage in the past 10 years.
LA, which had its firefighting budget increased once in 2009, is barely holding up, but without that, LA wouldn’t have been safe either.
“But even with that increased budget, we’ve suffered this much forest damage and one casualty.”
The La Tuna wildfire that would have caused unimaginable damage if the firefighting budget hadn’t been increased.
The fire energy is getting stronger, and the air is becoming drier. In a moment of carelessness, LA could become a sea of flames.
“LA is surrounded by mountain ranges on three sides, so if a fire breaks out in places untouched by human hands and we can’t stop it, it will truly become a sea of flames.”
Gasp!
People who momentarily imagined it turn pale.
The sight of the entire mountain range surrounding LA burning.
A hell where black smoke covers LA and sparks cling to wooden buildings, growing in size.
“Jefferson wouldn’t be any different.”
Jefferson, which also engages in agriculture, forestry, livestock farming, etc.
Among them, what worries him most is Melanie.
“Me?”
“There are mountains around your house.”
“Ah!”
Melanie’s surprised eyes fill with affection.
How could she not love a grandson who worries about her in ways she never heard from the children she raised like precious gems?
She glares at Lisa Jefferson and smiles as if feeling sorry.
‘How anxious and scared he must have been all this time.’
“So that’s what you were worrying about… I understand. Grandmother will do her best to help.”
When her grandson worries about her like this, is there anything she can’t do for him?
‘I’ll have to move the California State Assembly.’
As she makes up her mind, Emily firmly grasps her hand.
“Grandmother!”
“You’re wearing proper clothes today?”
“Aah!”
Johann glances at Emily jumping up and Melanie smiling warmly, then passes by Larry and Ada who are smiling awkwardly, and looks at a white woman in her 70s who’s gazing at them lovingly.
She’s dressed like a typical rural Western grandmother, and a tough one at that, wearing cowboy-style boots, a denim shirt, and a leather vest.
“Nice to meet you, Grandmother. I’m Johann Jefferson.”
“Hehe. So our grandson also acknowledges these kids’ relationship?”
“Oh, Mom!”
“Mother!”
That’s right. Her name was Cassandra Wong.
She was Ada’s mother and the matriarch of the Wong family.
* * *
Slurp!
“Oh.”
An ordinary Chinese restaurant in Chinatown with photos of many celebrities on the walls.
Johann’s eyes widen as he puts the thick soup in his mouth.
“Please try this quickly, Grandmother. Hurry up and try it, Emily.”
Hot and sour soup with pork, mushrooms, eggs, sea cucumber, etc. The sourness is excellent.
“Hehe. Does it suit your taste? As expected…”
“My grandson is Korean-American.”
“Soon his maternal grandfather will be Chinese, so what does that matter?”
“If you put it that way, he should be British, not Chinese!”
“More importantly, when are you two getting married?”
“This woman? Changing the subject when it’s unfavorable to her is so typically Chinese!”
“You’re not going to answer?”
Johann blinks as he watches the conversation between Melanie and Cassandra Wong.
Something tremendous is hidden within that brief exchange.
However, there was a different point of curiosity.
‘Why did she come?’
Wong, who had considered Ada as a mother and had been treated as such for 8 years, yet hadn’t shown her face even once during that time.
Her sudden appearance was suspicious.
‘It can’t be because Larry and Ada are approaching fifty…’
Looking at her complexion and posture, she doesn’t seem to be ill either.
“We’ll handle it ourselves!”
“When? After your mother gets into a coffin…”
“Hmm. Ah, could it be because of the Chinese?”
Flinch!
Cassandra Wong, who had closed her mouth, looks at Johann.
“If that’s the case, then there’s a hole in someone’s security…”
Cassandra Wong’s eyes narrow pleasantly at Johann’s appearance as he trails off and stares quietly.
“Do you have a reason for thinking that?”
“Because other than that, there’s no proper reason for the Wong family, representatives of the Western American Chinese community, to come looking for me.”
The Wong family, major landowners who embraced the Chinese settlers when they first settled in the West by establishing Chinatown in San Francisco.
Since then, they had become the center of North America’s largest Chinese community.
No matter how he thought about it, this was the only reason the Wong family would appear at this timing.
“…How about changing your surname to Wong.”
“Say one more word and I’ll kick out all the Western Chinese.”
“Tsk. You nasty old hag…”
Cassandra Wong clicks her tongue, straightens her back, and looks at Johann.
“The mainland wants Starlite and flame-retardant materials.”
“So Boeing has been compromised…”
Otherwise, they wouldn’t want just those two things.
It was likely that information had leaked from the researchers who participated in that day’s demonstration. He’d have to check the details through the library.
‘Hmm. Should I just sweep out all the spies in California while I’m at it?’
“I don’t want to.”
“Right? Got it.”
“Huh?”
Everyone looks at Cassandra Wong in surprise.
Unaware of this, she drinks her beer refreshingly with a relieved expression.
“Ahh! Huh? Why?”
“Why what? What’s so disappointing?”
“Those ass-kissers of the mainland bastards come every day causing a ruckus, so I just asked. What’s the point of saying more? If he doesn’t want to, then forget it.”
“Is that okay? Will it be fine?”
“So should I pick a fight with Jefferson in the West? Or pick a fight with the CIA?”
There was no reason to invite disaster.
‘How much does she know?’
She seems to know about his relationship with the CIA.
Johann narrows his eyes and stares at Cassandra as she looks back at Ada.
“So when are you going to do it!”
“Really! I said we’ll handle it ourselves… Ugh!”
“Huh?”
Suddenly, everyone’s time stops.
“Urgh. Maybe the milk I had this morning was spoiled.”
“Why are you looking at me? The ingredients are… Urp?!”
Johann covers Larry’s mouth and looks at Ada.
“Ada, give me your hand.”
“Huh?”
“Quickly.”
Johann simply takes Ada’s hand, slowly closes and opens his eyes, then places his fingers on her wrist.
Johann’s eyes tremble.
“Haven’t you been feeling weak lately, sleeping a lot more? And having no appetite?”
“That’s always the case though?”
“When was your last period?”
“Four months ago…”
Ada’s eyes tremble as she answers.
“N-no… That’s not it, right? It can’t be. Skipping periods for months is something that happens often! And how old am I-!”
“Sigh.”
Johann sighs and gets up.
“Everyone stop eating. Larry, take care of Ada.”
He had to think of her as the most precious yet fragile treasure in the world, like glass.
“We need to go to the gynecologist.”
“…Crazy.”
At this moment, all suspicions, questions, and things to do were pushed aside.
Something important enough to dismiss all those matters as trivial had occurred.
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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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