Reset Life with Infinite Talents - Chapter 87
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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 87
’As expected, I’ve been found out.’
Johann’s eyes waver.
Mayor Antonio looks at Johann and laughs as if finding it absurd.
What first made him suspicious of Johann was how quickly the mural became famous.
The organized movement as if trying to turn the surrounding area into a tourist destination.
So when he looked into it, he found that all the buildings around where the mural was painted had been purchased by BlackRock LA Branch.
And that was even before the mural was revealed to the world.
‘The residents of that neighborhood already knew Robert Burton was painting the mural.’
But then strange testimony came out.
They said Robert Burton had taken instructions from some young child.
It was nonsensical talk.
But he soon realized it wasn’t nonsense.
Because the mural and Robert Burton’s art style were completely different.
It was also very different from the works Jamie Valin had painted so far.
In other words, there was a third artist there, and among them, the only ones who could be called young children were Johann and his friends.
Then he finally saw it.
‘The night view of modern LA as seen from the observatory.’
The first place work in the Valin competition.
That’s how he came to realize that Johann was the main mural artist who painted ‘The Story of the World Watched by Stars.’
At first, he couldn’t believe it.
But once he started suspecting, all the pieces began to fit together.
Edward Sherman’s daughter, who was friends with Johann and the BlackRock LA Branch Manager.
The victim of the kidnapping case where quick arrest was possible thanks to Johann finding the CCTV, and the son of Mr. Kellner, who was one of the perpetrators in another related case.
And Mr. Kellner, who owned the cafe built in the parking lot of the building where the mural was painted.
Decisively, that building was in Johann’s name.
With so much circumstantial evidence, there was no choice but to believe it.
‘And yet!’
The mayor grits his teeth, recalling the case worker he had transferred to a minor position.
The case worker who had been from the opposing faction.
“Ahem. Mr. Mayor, that painting is…”
“We’ve been found out. Mr. Robert, Sister Jamie.”
He spoke with certainty.
It meant the investigation had been done properly.
Clumsy tricks wouldn’t work.
“…Tsk.”
Mayor Antonio bursts into laughter.
“You have no idea how shocked I was when I learned the truth. Ah, don’t worry. I have no intention of profiting from this.”
The reason Robert Burton and Jamie Valin stepped forward.
The reason they came forward despite knowing the different art styles would soon be revealed.
When you think about it, it’s simple.
They wanted to protect Johann.
The young genius who might crumble under the weight of enormous fame.
“I share the same sentiment.”
How many geniuses had been ruined by fame and jealousy over the years.
For the future of America, geniuses like Johann must be protected at all costs.
“But it would be a waste of talent, wouldn’t it.”
Robert Burton’s eyes shine sharply.
Mayor Antonio didn’t hide his feelings.
“That’s right.”
Even if they had moved in an organized manner, if the main mural hadn’t been beautiful, it would have just been a flash in the pan.
But what about now.
Far from decreasing, tourists continue to increase, and the reputation is extremely good. Even for the city government, this is a success case that might succeed only once out of a hundred attempts.
And that young genius accomplished it in just one try.
“Would you come here?”
Mayor Antonio leads Johann to the large LA map hanging on the wall of the mayor’s office.
“What do you think when you look at LA in this map?”
“It’s a beautiful city.”
To the south, it borders the blue ocean, the other three sides are surrounded by mountains and forests, and countless parks are established within the city.
It had really good conditions both as a resort and as a place to live.
“Right. LA is a beautiful city surrounded by mountains and forests.”
But it’s dry.
It’s a very dry region with a Mediterranean climate that has almost no rainy season.
“Do you know what such a region should be most wary of?”
“…Fire.”
Forest fires.
“What if sparks fly into those mountains?”
What would happen if they failed to detect it early?
Shiver!
Johann urgently looks at Mayor Antonio.
“The budget for forest watchtowers and fire prevention…”
Johann stops mid-sentence.
He laughs as if finding it absurd.
“The mural you want to commission me is a stepping stone for that, isn’t it?”
“…Dear God.”
The shocked Mayor Antonio lets out a hollow laugh.
‘This child’s greatest talent might be this insight.’
An appearance unbefitting a child.
Indeed, geniuses always show unexpected sides.
This makes conversation easier.
Mayor Antonio kneels on one knee again and meets Johann’s eyes.
“Johann, could you lend your talent to prevent disasters that might come in the future?”
Johann looks at Ada.
Since Larry isn’t here, Ada is his guardian, and also because of the song promise he made for Mother’s Day before coming to city hall.
If he accepts the mural commission, he probably won’t be able to finish the song dedicated to Ada on time.
‘It’s okay.’
Ada, who understood Johann’s thoughts, answered with her eyes.
Just the thought alone is grateful.
Mother’s Day will come next year too.
‘Maybe this could be a bigger gift than a song!’
Having finished her calculations, Ada nodded, and Johann made a slightly sulky expression and extended his hand toward Mayor Antonio.
“If that’s the meaning, then by all means.”
Though the price will be quite expensive.
“Oh my.”
* * *
Johann’s lips twitch as he leaves city hall.
‘3 million dollars….’
As expected of a country.
Money overflows.
‘Investor Leicester Barber’ had said so.
The easiest money to take in the world is government money.
But….
“Why did you accept it?”
Johann looks at Robert Burton.
He who readily accepted Mayor Antonio’s proposal to join this mural project as well.
Unlike Jamie Valin who desperately needs a portfolio, there’s nothing for him to gain.
“It’ll only quickly bring about art style controversy.”
One artwork could be accepted as Robert Burton trying a new challenge for mental refreshment.
But from the second time onwards, it becomes a completely different story.
Breaking away from existing art style, changing art style.
The identity of art world giant Robert Burton would change.
“…Don’t tell me? Are you planning to quit artistic activities after this?!”
That can’t happen.
Absolutely not.
This would be a national loss.
‘Art Student’ Benjamin would be extremely sad too.
‘Well….’
Why did he readily accept?
As Johann said, it’s a commission with nothing good for him.
‘But I want to see.’
Johann who looks exactly like his son who went to heaven early.
‘I was shocked when I saw that habit.’
The duck lips his son often showed when concentrating.
When he saw the protruding mouth with a brush in it swaying back and forth, he almost burst into tears.
A child who resembles not only the art style but also the habits.
He wants to keep watching.
So that might be why he readily accepted like that.
“Hey! Why are you saying such disappointing things? We’re a team! Or are you saying you don’t need us anymore?”
At Jamie Valin’s outcry, Johann hurriedly shakes his head.
“No!”
He needs them.
If these two people join him, it would be really reassuring.
“Good! Then this conversation ends here!”
Mayor Antonio’s secretary is approaching.
“This is the place.”
The place the mayor’s secretary and government official guided them to was a large building located on a wide road leading to the highway.
A white building with a clear view of Topanga State Park.
With its tall wall, it seemed like it used to be a factory or logistics warehouse.
“Is this the right place?”
“The mayor also wanted to allocate the area right below Topanga State Park for you, but….”
“Ah, I understand what you mean.”
Right below Topanga State Park in western LA is Santa Monica, LA’s representative affluent area. The districts between Topanga State Park and Santa Monica are also where upper-middle class people close to the upper class live.
For Mayor Antonio, this place would be the best option.
“Anyway, this building was originally used as a logistics warehouse….”
In 2008, when the company faced bankruptcy crisis, the owner cleanly closed the company and donated this building to the city.
“He said he had earned enough and asked us to use it for good causes.”
“Wow.”
It’s a building located on the way to the highway.
Even though real estate prices plummeted due to the economic crisis, the value must be astronomical, yet he readily donated it.
It would have been a difficult decision for anyone.
“Shall we look inside?”
The inside was bigger than it looked from outside.
Six loading gates where six trucks could simultaneously load cargo.
Even if you stood at opposite ends and screamed, it would barely be heard.
Moreover, there’s a hill full of trees behind the site.
“A-are you telling us to paint murals on all of this place?”
Robert Burton and Jamie Valin’s faces turn pale.
“Of course not. You can paint as much as you want.”
Just 3 million dollars’ worth.
“Well then.”
The government official quickly went outside, and Jamie Valin, who was staring blankly at that, scrunches up her face.
“Damn! As expected of a government official!”
His words are vague.
“I thought we’d be assigned the observatory mural!”
“Closing the observatory would be too much of a loss.”
Griffith Observatory is a place visited by an enormous number of tourists every year even without completing murals.
There was no reason to invest budget excluding facility maintenance costs.
“Ha. I should have decided after seeing the location.”
If he had known it would be a place like this, he might have thought differently.
“What will you do? Johann, what will you… where did he go?”
Ada points outside.
They quickly head outside and find Johann standing in front of a 20-foot (about 6 meters) wall, looking up at it.
“What are you doing there?”
“I’m thinking of a concept.”
What should I draw?
How can I give a warning?
“A-are you really going to paint? Johann, to paint murals on all the walls here….”
“So you won’t do it?”
The wall’s length alone is almost about 33 yards (30 meters).
When would I get to paint murals in a place like this?
This is an opportunity.
“Well, that’s true, but….”
“Do we really need to fill up the inside too?”
“Huh?”
“I think just painting the wall would be sufficient….”
Even painting just one-tenth of the wall would far exceed Robert Burton’s worth.
Robert Burton charges 500,000 dollars for a single painting the size of a half-sheet.
“Of course I want to paint it all, but that would be lowering my own value.”
3 million dollars.
It’s an enormously large sum of money.
However, it’s far from enough money to wallpaper with Hugo Ballin’s murals.
“That’s right.”
A writer should neither overvalue nor undervalue their work.
As Robert Burton smiles contentedly, Jamie Valin sighs.
“…Well, fine. Let’s try it.”
Even leaving just $100,000 from this commission would be plenty profitable.
When she also raises her hand, Robert Burton’s eyes light up.
What kind of creative thinking will this genius, who looks exactly like his son, surprise him with this time?
He’s incredibly excited.
“Johann, what do you want to draw?”
“Fire.”
“…Huh?”
“Massive fire.”
Setting the entire wall ablaze.
Using that as a warning.
“How about it?”
“How about it? That’s obviously a crazy idea….”
“Excellent.”
“R-Robert?”
Robert Burton scans the wall from left to right.
He measures the height from top to bottom.
Then he looks at Johann.
“Haha!”
This genius has surprised him once again.
* * *
“…I’ve decided.”
Johann’s friends look at the massive logistics warehouse with gleaming eyes.
“From today, this will be our real hideout.”
“It’s city property.”
“No way!”
“I don’t want to!”
“Even if you don’t want to, there’s no choice.”
The children make tearful faces at Johann’s firm words.
Then they look desperately at the adults with pleading eyes for help.
Robert Burton quietly turns his head away, and Jamie Valin heads toward the road carrying various tools.
They urgently seek help from other adults, but they also avoid eye contact.
The children slump down in defeat.
“We’re doomed….”
“Hehe. I’ll just have my labor exploited again.”
“What’s the point of working when it’ll just be taken away anyway….”
“This rotten world.”
‘That’s why I told them not to come this time….’
Still, he couldn’t coldly reject his friends’ desire to be together.
‘What should I do?’
“How long do you think the deadline will be, Johann?”
“Two weeks?”
It might take longer than that, or it could be shorter.
Everything would depend on how quickly Jamie Valin and the workers finish the wall preparation.
“What? Midterms start next week. What about studying?”
Emily furrows her brow.
“I’ve already finished preparing for the exams.”
It’s his first time seeing midterms in this life.
He’s completed all preparations.
“For the rest, I can review during breaks while painting the mural… Hmm.”
Johann looks at the logistics warehouse building.
‘The space between the building and the wall is wide too….’
“Emily, everyone.”
They all look at Johann with disappointed faces.
They’re disappointed about not being able to play together for several weeks.
Johann looks at them and points to the logistics warehouse building.
“Should we turn that into a study room?”
A play space too.
“A-a swimming pool too?”
“A swimming pool, and a slide too.”
Renting everything they want.
The price to pay is one thing.
Running errands.
Just like before, that’s all they need to do.
“E-everything we want….”
The children stared blankly at the building.
Gulp!
The sound of saliva going down their throats answered for them.
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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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