I work as a sorcerer in the US, and my side hustle is building Gundams.

Hmm. These programmers were still holding their running Apple laptops, their eyes were glazed, their expressions were dejected, and their hair was a mess, like a bird's nest.

Even so, high-end suits wrapped in plastic bags and protective covers were still hanging on a rope next to them.

Perhaps they still dream of turning their lives around, at least having a nice outfit for a job interview.

"Hey Mike, what are you doing here?"

The programmer known as Tom stood up, glancing somewhat evasively at the homeless man who looked more energetic, had a ruddy complexion, and was better dressed than himself.

"We've run into some issues, so we need to move. You still haven't told us how you got here?"

Mike had previously done business with snakes when he was buying them to make antidotes for Lynn.

At that time, these people were not yet so destitute.

"Hey, don't even mention it. The owner of that warehouse is back. He kicked us out and threatened us, saying that if we dare to break in again, he'll call the police and have us all arrested..."

The short programmer next to him, known as Jerry, typed furiously on his keyboard, saying with a bitter expression.

"We want to rent a place outside, but they require proof of employment..."

"So we looked for a place that didn't require proof of employment. We finally found a basement apartment, but less than two days after the five of us moved in, the police came to inspect the place and said that we had violated the Seattle Municipal Code (SMC) by illegally sharing a dwelling with multiple people, and made us pay a $2000 fine."

Another programmer standing nearby chimed in, complaining indignantly.

"That policeman was as fat as a pig, and his appetite was as big as a pig's. He warned us that if we didn't move out right away, he would come every day to make us pay a fine..."

"The way he looked at us was as if he wanted us to continue this illegal cohabitation... so we had no choice but to move out, and luckily we found this underground drainage system nearby..."

That's the situation.

Lynn grimaced in exasperation upon hearing this; this was just like running into a corrupt cop.

After paying for some food, clothing, and fuel for heating, the Fountain Gang finally obtained some living space from the local indigenous people.

The indigenous people, meanwhile, used these resources to venture deeper into the sewers.

There is no sunlight there, but they say the living space will be correspondingly larger, and fewer people will live there.

……

"So, Lynn, what are our plans going forward? Will we continue to live here?"

After everyone had finally settled in and pitched their tents, several key members went to Lynn's tent.

Lily hadn't been with McLean before, so she didn't know their plans. Old John, Jack, and the others nearby were also watching Lynn with great anticipation.

In the past, Old John was the most influential person in the Fountain Gang, but now, after Lynn's sudden emergence, everyone has become accustomed to regarding him as the backbone.

Lynn originally thought that old John would be unhappy about this, but after observing him, he found that the hunchbacked old man in his sixties showed no anger at all, and even had a sense of relief as if he had finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Since everyone trusts me, Lynn, and is willing to seek refuge with me, I can now share my thoughts on what to do next."

Lynn pointed to Antonio, who was sitting next to her, engrossed in reading a Doraemon comic book under the dim light.

"This child, weren't you all curious about who he was? He's Caribou's real son, and the one he's keeping outside is a stand-in."

Wow!

"Really?"

"A body double? This feels like I'm watching an American TV show!"

The crowd gasped in surprise, but then calmed down at Lynn's urging.

"He is our bargaining chip. Caribou's former boss, Perez, is looking for this kid. If we hand him over, Caribou might actually become completely obedient to him and do whatever he wants."

"But we can't gamble on the humanity of a mob boss. Besides, Perez is seriously injured and hospitalized, and he's being closely monitored by Caribou, who has already figured something out. He simply doesn't have the energy, strength, or freedom to control a child."

"What should we do then? Won't this child become useless, a burden that only has negative effects?"

Jack was impatient. After a long journey through the underground sewers, his initial excitement had long since vanished, replaced by a deep disgust and aversion to the darkness and the stench.

"Of course not, we must take the initiative."

Lynn paused, considered his thoughts for a moment, and then shared his ideas.

"I have contacted professionals, and they will find a way to get close to Perez."

"For the average person, it would take at least one or two months for a seriously injured patient to fully recover."

"But don't forget, I'm a witch doctor!"

……

At this moment, in a ward at St. George's Hospital in Seattle.

Perez, with his right foot in a cast and his left hand wrapped in bandages, was lying on the bed, listlessly munching on an apple.

He has been hospitalized for three days after being severely beaten by Karibu for allegedly using gang funds.

His right leg and left hand were broken, and he vomited blood several times. Although he was sent to the hospital, he was closely watched by Karibu's trusted henchmen and could not have any contact with outsiders.

I wonder how things are going with Lynn?

As he munched on the apple, casually spitting out the peel, he thought anxiously to himself.

Even if he had captured the real Antonio, he couldn't hand him over.

Damn it, I wish I were healthy right now, and of course, I also had to be free.

Speaking of freedom, it seems I won't have any freedom for the rest of my life.

"Ugh!"

He let out a long sigh, but suddenly heard the hospital room door next to him being pushed open with a loud bang.

"Officers, I'm so sorry, but the patient inside is seriously injured and it's not convenient to visit them..."

He heard the anxious and helpless voice of Carib's trusted henchman who was guarding him.

"After his release from prison, Ambrose Perez is suspected of two more counts of murder, eight counts of aggravated assault, and three counts of economic crimes. The Seattle Police Department has issued a formal arrest warrant for him."

A tall, muscular white police officer, at least 1.95 meters tall, stormed into the ward with an arrest warrant stamped with a red seal, completely disregarding the Latino member of the Carlos gang who was blocking his way.

Behind him was a white police officer who was a head shorter than him, thin, but with particularly sharp eyes, directing two medical personnel wearing white coats, white hats and white masks to carry a stretcher to Perez's bedside.