Asher’s POV
What’s this... she’s an influencer?
I muttered under my breath, eyes still glued to the surveillance feed as Secretary Kim filled my screen.
I’d honestly thought she was just keeping in shape with so casual yoga... but no—turns out she had an audience. A phone sat propped neatly on a tripod, angled just right to catch everything, quietly recording as she moved.
And she knew exactly what she was doing.
She dipped into another set of squats, slow and controlled, her braless tits bouncing just enough to keep things interesting, a light sheen of sweat forming along her forehead before trailing down her neck and settling over her chest.
It wasn’t even subtle—it felt intentional how she shook her asserts in a provocating manner.
Yeah... no way her viewers were only there for fitness tips.
I leaned back slightly, watching a bit longer than I probably should have, already picturing the kind of crowd she pulled—guys glued to their screens convincing themselves this counted as "working out." Honestly, I couldn’t even bla them.
Sowhere along the line, I got a little too into it, because the next thing I knew, the faint crackle of my walkie talkie snapped out of it. Karen was back.
I hadn’t even noticed her return.
A few soft noises filtered through from her room, absent-minded sounds that told she’d just walked in—so I shifted my focus and pulled up her feed instead.
That’s when I saw it.
Stacks of cash—just... dumped onto her couch like it was nothing.
Karen sat there, legs tucked in, a slow, satisfied smile playing on her lips as she counted through the piles, humming to herself like she didn’t have a care in the world. The contrast from yesterday was almost jarring. Gone was that heavy, worn-down look she had, now she practically glowed, completely at ease.
I couldn’t tell if it was from that cheque she got off the married guy she slept with last night, or if she had another source lined up. Either way... money looked good on her.
Really good.
She took her ti with it too, savoring the mont before finally gathering everything up and heading into her bedroom. I watched as she opened her wardrobe, revealing a hidden safe tucked neatly inside.
She stashed the cash inside and l caught a glimpse of more money in the safe too.
This woman and money.....where was she getting it from?
After that, things settled into sothing almost... normal.
She moved through the rest of her night without much fuss: cooking, bathing, eating, then eventually turning in.
Nothing dramatic, nothing out of place. Just a quiet, ordinary routine, if you ignored the pile of cash she’d casually locked away earlier.
And just like that... her day was done.
I remained on the feed for a bit longer before finally shutting things down myself. No point overthinking it tonight.
With that, I called it a day and headed to bed, letting sleep take as I waited for whatever tomorrow decided to throw at .
***
I was dragged out of sleep by my alarm, my eyes fluttering open in protest. With a groggy sigh and shoulders still heavy from sleep, I pushed myself up and shuffled out of my room toward the private surveillance room, more out of routine than urgency.
A quick glance at the monitors told nothing was out of place. Most of the tenants were already up, going about their usual routines—getting dressed, preparing for work, moving through their mornings like any normal day.
Just as I was about to turn away, the wall-mounted phone started ringing.
I picked it up imdiately. "Hello?"
"Hello, young man." Akira’s deep voice ca through.
"Good morning, bro— I an, boss." The correction slipped out a second too late, habit biting again.
He didn’t bother comnting on it. "So... last night. Anything out of place?"
"Well... she ca in with stacks of cash. And I an a lot of money."
"Oh... okay. Only that?" His tone barely shifted, like I’d just told him the weather.
"Uh... yeah. Only that."
"Good. Keep reporting if you spot anything else."
The line went dead right after, leaving standing there with the receiver still in hand, the silence pressing in as that small, nagging sense of mystery settled sowhere in my chest. The guy clearly knew more than he was letting on...
I shrugged it off and leaned back, thinking about how mornings like this were basically my free ti. Once the tenants ca back later, things would get busier, but right now? I could do whatever I wanted.
And honestly, there was a lot.
Now that I was back on Earth, I could visit the shrine I used to go to with my wife when we were newly Weds, maybe stop by the hospital and see my old colleagues, or even swing by that bar where we used to drink and talk nonsense for hours like ti didn’t exist. Just thinking about it made sothing in my chest tighten a little—nostalgia, maybe.
Problem was... there was too much I could do.
I exhaled heavily, rubbing my temples as I tried to decide. That’s when it hit .
"What if I just make money first... then I can do all of it without stressing about cash?"
Yeah. That sounded a lot smarter.
Besides, my stomach was starting to complain, and Sakura’s money—well, let’s just say I’d been a little too generous with spending yesterday.
"Right... decision made. Quick cash first."
I grabbed a fast bath, then threw on the clothes Sakura had given . The mont I looked down at myself, I clicked my tongue.
"These are too baggy... yeah, I definitely need to buy my own stuff."
After that, I opened the system store and purchases four healing potions. Then I headed out toward the mall, where the crowd was already thick with people moving in every direction, the air buzzing with that familiar city energy.
Near the entrance, a line of local vendors had already set up their spots. I greeted a few of them, earning so casual nods back, then found an empty space and laid down a small cloth. Sitting cross-legged, I placed the four potion bottles neatly in front of .
Ti to get to work.
"Highly effective healing potions for sale here! Two hundred dollars each!" I called out, raising my voice just enough to cut through the noise. "Heals deep wounds and diseases almost instantly! Co take a look!"
People walked past like I didn’t exist.
So glanced over, only to roll their eyes and keep moving. A few didn’t even bother hiding their comnts.
"Scamrs are getting bold these days." "Potions for two hundred? Yeah, good luck with that."
I couldn’t even argue with them. Their reaction was exactly what anyone sane would have. Instant healing potions didn’t exist on Earth... at least not officially.
Still, I kept calling out, my voice steady, posture relaxed. No point getting discouraged this early.
Then I heard the confident click of stilettos cutting through the noise, heading straight toward .
I looked up.
A woman in a gray office suit stood there, hands planted firmly on her hips, her expression already twisted with irritation. No—anger.
My eyes lit up anyway. "Oh, my first custor. Ca to try out my potions, right? Tell you what, I’ll even give you a discount since you’re my fir—"
"I ca to tell you to pack your junk and leave."
...Ah.
I cleared my throat. "Excuse ... what junk?"
Her face tightened, like the word itself offended her. "I see you’re uninford. You don’t seem to know who I am."
Around , whispers started picking up.
"That kid’s done for... Maribelle, the vendor killer is here." "She’s with the city council. Keeps vendors in line. Can make or break you depending on her mood." "If she’s this angry, he’s finished. Prison if he’s lucky... worse if she decides to make an example out of him."
I raised an eyebrow slightly.
Vendor killer, huh?
Yeah..... I’m not intimidated. I’ve dealt with far more intimidating won than this.
I let out a small sigh. "If you’re not buying anything, could you step aside, ma’am? I’m trying to run a business here."
That did it.
Her expression snapped completely, anger flaring without restraint.
"Catch him!" she barked. "This brat needs to be taught so manners!"
Three bouncers behind her moved instantly, rushing before I even shifted. My potions scattered across the cloth as they grabbed and hoisted up like I weighed nothing.
Still... I didn’t panic.
I laughed.
"Oh, so this is the famous vendor killer?" I tilted my head slightly, eting her gaze without a hint of fear. "You can’t even catch yourself? Sending your dogs instead... not exactly intimidating."
The collective gasp around us was almost impressive. Apparently, no one here talked back to her.
Her fists clenched, her glare sharp enough to cut.
Before she could explode, I spoke again.
"Or is it the kidney stones slowing you down?"
She froze. Blinking, confused and shocked.
"Ah... yeah," I muttered, almost to myself. "That reaction says enough."
Her condition, her posture, the subtle strain in her stance—it was all laid bare to through my appraisal skill.
"Your ti’s almost up, Maribelle," I continued casually. "You’re not as healthy as you used to be. The na still scares people, sure... but once they realize your body’s starting to fail, that fear’s going to disappear real quick. And when it does?" I shrugged slightly. "This place will be flooded with scamrs you can’t control."
The slap ca fast and loud, snapping my head to the side.
Yeah... fair enough.
"Shut up!" she snapped, her hazel eyes burning into mine. "Stop spouting nonsense!"
I turned back slowly, unfazed. "Is it nonsense, though?"
I let my gaze drift briefly to her arm before eting her eyes again.
"And it’s not just the kidney stones. Your right arm’s sprained too, isn’t it? Probably from one of those ’grueso’ punishnts you’re known for." I smirked faintly. "That’s why you used your left hand to slap just now. Honestly? Kinda weak. You’ve really fallen off."
This ti, her composure cracked.
A sharp intake of breath, her eyes widening just a fraction too much.
Bingo.
She clearly wasn’t used to people seeing through her like this—especially not her weaknesses.
But to ? This was easy.
Hell, compared to everything else I could see about her, the embarrassing sensitive spots of her body, even her hidden kinks, this was the ta stuff. My appraisal could show everything.
I leaned forward slightly despite being held up by the bouncers, a grin tugging at my lips.
"So... what do you say we make a bet, vendor killer?"
To be continued...
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