karlmaks
Stories
7
Chapters
3,381
Words
5.9 M
Comments
20
Reading
20 d, 11 h
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Johnny woke up around 4 a.m., not because of a peaceful sleep but because the excruciating pain from his injuries jolted him awake. Having recently undergone surgery, the anesthetics had worn off, leaving the raw agony of multiple fractures to assault him. His screams woke his daughter, who rushed to his bedside to comfort him. "It’s over now," she said soothingly. "You’re safe." Johnny’s scattered thoughts gradually coalesced as he blinked through the haze of pain. His pale face was covered…-
1.5 M • Ongoing
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Johnny gnawed the last shred of meat off the bone, patted his belly with satisfaction, and smirked—he’d made another ten dollars today. Life was good. He had paid two quarters’ worth of protection fees recently, meaning he didn’t have to worry about those expenses for the next six months. At first, handing over the money had stung, but as John had assured him, it wasn’t money disappearing—it was just being paid in advance. Glancing at the apprentice wiping down tables in the corner,…
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1.5 M • Ongoing
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"Do you have time..." Lance handed over the signed forms. Patricia glanced at his signature and murmured softly, "I’m not sure... this seems so fast. We’ve only just met, and now you’re asking me out..." Lance chuckled lightly. "I was referring to wanting to learn more about the registration process." Patricia immediately looked embarrassed. In matters of romance, the one who reveals their feelings first is often at a disadvantage. Just as she was floundering for words, Lance saved her from her…
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1.5 M • Ongoing
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From the barely open door came stifled breaths, an oppressive sound that made the apprentice’s fingernails dig deep into his palms, drawing blood that seeped from the cuts. The dark gap in the doorway seemed to hold everything he loathed. He despised it, wanted nothing more than to storm in and plant his fists on that fat face, but cowardice held him back. All he could do was seethe in silence, letting his hatred fester. Sometimes, he wondered what was wrong with the world—why did every…
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1.5 M • Ongoing
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By Wednesday, Officer Brayden had successfully entered Lance’s identity information into Jingang City’s records. Now, anyone searching his personal details would find a file associated with the White family. Lance had officially taken on the identity of "Steven (formerly known as)" and was now recognized as Lance White. Brayden also helped him apply for a Social Security number and a personal tax number. With these two pieces of documentation, Lance was now a legitimate citizen of the Federation.…
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1.5 M • Ongoing
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Mr. White was a typical middle-aged man of the Federation, carrying an air of gloom about him. His pale complexion made the dark circles under his eyes even more pronounced. His unkempt, light brown hair hung messily over his head, and he wore a short-sleeved white shirt that had been washed so many times it was now yellowing. His light blue pants bore the telltale signs of numerous repairs. His wife, Mrs. White, looked ill—timid and uneasy. She dared not lift her head to meet Lance's gaze or that of…
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1.5 M • Ongoing
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It seemed there had been a shift in the political game at the upper echelons of the Federation. On live television, the President finally issued a direct response to the Empire's accusations against the Federation: "The Federation has never condoned any discrimination against immigrants from the Empire, whether they arrived legally or not!" Previously, the Federation President had avoided responding to these accusations. But this time, he declared that such claims were baseless rumors. Even if…
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1.5 M • Ongoing
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"Families of missing children?" Officer Brayden frowned. "So you’re planning to…?" "Give them a child," Lance replied, "healthy, handsome, polite, and willing to pay them $200. Of course, they’d need to keep their mouths shut about the arrangement." Lance didn’t hide his intentions, as he needed Brayden’s help to execute the plan. Brayden’s eyes lit up. "That’s quite the unique business. You shouldn’t share ideas like that so freely." Lance leaned forward slightly. "Consider it a…
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1.5 M • Ongoing
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“Mr. Jobav wants to talk to you.” Lance turned toward the man who had spoken, recognizing him as Mr. Jobav’s assistant. Wrapping up his conversation with the teenagers and leaving them his contact information, Lance followed the assistant. The name "Jobav" carried significant weight among the Empire’s immigrants. Back in the Empire, nobility and power garnered attention. Here, wealth determined prominence, and Jobav, with his considerable fortune, was undeniably in the spotlight. Ironically,…
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1.5 M • Ongoing
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Early the next morning, Lance picked up a copy of the Jingang Daily. Alberto had bought 50 copies to ensure everyone in his company saw it, including Lance. The front page of the lifestyle section featured a photo taking up nearly a fifth of the page: a restaurant with a septic truck overturned on the roadside, sewage flooding the sidewalk, and the glass walls of the restaurant visibly smeared with waste. The restaurant’s name was crystal clear in the photo, along with the neon chef sign modeled after…
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1.5 M • Ongoing
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