Mike is a "Gold Digger," but unlike those who roam around recklessly, he specializes in doing business with Gold Diggers.
Not every country in this world is as developed and advanced as the Federation. So countries are even very backward, which is simply incredible!
Just like the country he is in now, called Suge.
This country has over twenty million people, not a lot, and their technological level is quite backward, equivalent to the Federation’s level from ten or twenty years ago.
When Mike stands on this land, an innate sense of superiority relentlessly grows from within, threatening to overflow from his body!
Locals don’t often interact with the international community because the area is backward, and there’s nothing particularly noteworthy to offer.
Furthermore, the distance is considerable, so even if so goods are cheaper than elsewhere, the transport costs could multiply, potentially making them more expensive than buying locally.
However, so people from the Federation still make a living here, always believing that certain areas of this country hide various treasures, gold mines, and oil.
As long as they find these things, they could live on money for the rest of their lives.
That is the essence of a Gold Digger, possibly poor for life, but catching one opportunity can surpass ninety-three percent of people.
Every now and then, Mike arranges for goods from the Federation or nearby places to be sent here, catering mostly to local wealthy individuals and people from the Federation.
anwhile, he manages to send back so acquired items, such as precious tal currencies, complete leather, and spices, which are all popular among the upper middle class in the Federation.
To ensure his business runs smoothly, Mike involves his brother and so relatives in operating here.
Firstly, they are outsiders here, and a small number could easily be bullied by locals. Don’t assu that just because this place is backward, its people are necessarily afraid of foreigners.
Sotis they don’t care about the consequences of attacking foreigners, only focusing on imdiate gains.
During this period, they’ve acquired quite a bit of leather, fodder, and so gold and silver.
Unlike bulk transactions that require many containers to transport, items like gold can be taken away mostly with just one personal ticket.
Leather and spices are also conveniently transportable.
To ensure the shipnt proceeds without a hitch, they have relatives and helpers escort the goods back to the Federation.
anwhile, here, only Mike and his brother remain.
They had just sent the goods onto the ship and stood at the dock watching the vessel sail away when Mike’s heart suddenly jolted.
As if... soone squeezed it, preventing it from beating, his body losing all strength for a mont.
He clutched his chest, frowning and lowering his head.
His brother imdiately reached out to support him, "What’s the matter?"
Feeling a bit odd that day, he was sowhat uneasy. "It’s nothing, maybe the food was not clean, my stomach feels uncomfortable."
At present, asking those who travel internationally what they find difficult, it’s likely the varied dietary customs across countries.
Taste, seasoning, dietary habits—these pose definite challenges to the Federation citizens, who pride themselves on civilization.
Mike’s brother chuckled; Suge’s local food is never quite clean.
It’s hard to imagine how the locals endure, perhaps they evolved powerful stomachs.
"Let’s hurry up then..."
Mike’s shop is located in the heart of this city’s comrcial district.
Calling it a comrcial district, it’s basically the city’s market, a cluster of disordered buildings encircling various stalls where people co from all directions daily to sell goods.
Unlike vendors without fixed stalls, Mike purchased a house here without much expense and started his business.
Considering the safety angle, he specifically sought out craftsn with his brother to reinforce the house, embedding steel bars and plates at crucial points.
As long as the door remains shut, outsiders cannot rush in.
Returning to the shop and closing the door, the unease around him gradually dissipated, and he sighed with relief.
What he was unaware of was that he and his shop had long been targeted.
Those watching them were a gang of local mbers; although in Federation eyes this place may seem poor and socially backward, the locals regard it as an ordinary society and ordinary living environnt.
Having grown up here, they cannot see the "backwardness" foreigners ntion, nor can they envision the "developnt" or "advancent" foreigners depict in other countries.
Therefore, it’s not surprising for gangs to exist here.
A gang had targeted Mike’s shop, the wealth of Federation people making these law and morality-unrestrained gang mbers nearly mad with envy.
But usually, Mike’s security work is tight, coupled with people from the Federation in the shop and next door; even if local gang mbers were fiercely envious of Mike’s family, they have no easy way to tackle this tough nut.
But so ti ago, they found an opportunity.
n like Mike who do business in a foreign country, far from their wives and families, inevitably feel a bit lonely and cold at tis.
Finding a cheap local woman to solve physiological needs is their little secret, though not really a secret, since everyone knows, including their families.
In this era, money represents everything. With money cos happiness; without it, only sorrow follows, so the won back in the Federation say nothing and pretend not to know.
Recently, Mike’s brother got involved with a local girl who had just co of age, and this scene was discovered by mbers of the gang who had been watching them.
They saw it as an opportunity, a chance to realize their dreams.
Early today, they targeted these two brothers. At this mont, those n are hiding outside, yet the pair inside are completely unaware.
According to the rules set by Mike, once soone has cargo on the ship, if there aren’t enough people here, business stops, and during the day, they only deal with Federation people, not locals.
The purpose of doing this is to prevent locals from having ideas about them.
All along, this rule has protected them, and everyone abides by it.
In the evening, the brothers shut the door before dark, locking it tightly from the inside.
"What’s that sound?" Mike suddenly stopped while packing, hearing so rustling above.
The brother, busy packing on the side, replied casually, "Maybe it’s a cat?"
Mike didn’t think much of it. Indeed, there are quite a few stray cats and dogs here. He continued packing.
After tidying up the shop, when they lay in bed, neither could sleep.
Usually, work isn’t very busy, but they close around eight or nine in the evening at least.
Now, doors closed just after five, with no TV or entertainnt options making ti frustratingly slower.
The brother tossing in bed suddenly thought of the girl he’d recently gotten involved with.
He’s in his thirties, nearing forty, with a family back in the Federation, a wife, kids; life isn’t perfect, just living together for responsibility he doesn’t even understand.
This situation is quite common in the Federation, n and won seeing each other a few tis, not loving or disliking each other.
The man just wants to vent excess energy without extra cost, with a hot al after a long day’s work, without having to juggle household chores.
The woman just wants a man with a proper job, handso or not, as long as he can support her, occasionally spending a little on whims.
They marry without loving or disliking each other, possibly feeling nothing for each other, yet they accomplish many life milestones.
Marriage, having children...
The brother is just another of those people, not loving or disliking, just burdened by an unknown sense of responsibility.
Unable to sleep, he started thinking about that recent girl, feeling a flutter, a sense of romance.
Being with her, he felt like he returned to high school, joyful with her happiness, sorrowful with her sadness...
His finger gently stroked the wall, its rough surface nowhere near as smooth as the girl’s skin, his face wearing an indescribable grin as if reminiscing sothing.
Ah, youth... how wonderful.
He sighed, growing increasingly restless the more he thought.
He sat up at the bed’s edge, patting his head.
Mike, on the adjacent bed, glanced askance at him before returning his gaze.
With a flattering smile, the brother asked, "Can I go out?"
Mike remained silent.
He asked again, "Can I go out?"
Mike was slightly annoyed, "It’s dark, the outside becos dangerous!"
Perhaps twenty years of suppressed feelings burst forth at this mont, and the brother didn’t give up the idea, thinking of fighting for it.
"There are still many Federation people out at night, mingling in bars till late without anyone bothering them!"
Mike sat up too, looking seriously at his brother, "That’s because they’re poorer than the locals; hurting them gains nothing and risks agitating the Gold Diggers."
"But we’re different; we have this shop, a business that’s not small though not large either. Do you understand how many out there are scheming to rob us?"
He looked at his brother, "You know it, you’re just blinded by so idle emotions, you need to clear them."
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