In American TV shows: Get stronger by spending money!

Her boss's attitude was very clear: no matter what Joe Martinez did, she had to get the funding; if she messed it up, she wouldn't need to come to work starting tomorrow.

Every police station receives donations from wealthy individuals, the only difference being the amount. Why do these wealthy individuals donate? Do you really think it's to support their work? Don't be naive. On one hand, it's for tax exemption, and on the other hand, it's naturally for situations like this.

Otherwise, why do you think those rich people can do whatever they want? Usually, these kinds of tickets can be canceled with just one phone call. When they arrive at the police station, they are not only welcomed by the public, but also given a grand reception. Even if it might involve a case, they have to be careful, for fear of displeasing the other party.

The wealthy can do whatever they want because of their influence!

Having money but lacking influence means you might not be able to get things done even if you spend a large sum of money, while a wealthy person with more influence than you might be able to solve the problem with just a phone call.

Su had never paid attention to this aspect in the past because he mainly dealt with the supernatural. He even stole the angel's weapon, so how could he care about the influence that ordinary people valued?

But now, the Su family feels it's necessary to increase their influence.

Chapter 147 Becoming a celebrity for the sake of influence?

Joe Martinez handed the phone back to Su with a grim expression, forcing an unpleasant smile: "I'll cancel your ticket right now. When will your donation arrive?"

"After you pay my fine and act as my driver, don't worry, it's just for one day." Sue took out five hundred dollars and the car keys and placed them in Joe Martinez's hand, then looked at the tow truck team that had arrived. "After the car is towed to its destination, drive out to pay the fine, and come back here to pick me up in half an hour."

After saying that, Su turned around and went back to Abel's Antique Shop.

Joe Martinez watched silently as the tow truck carefully towed the sports car away, then rode off in one of the trucks.

Back at Abraham's shop, Sue chatted with him about ways to both spend money and increase influence.

Despite his advanced age and seemingly lack of wealth, Abraham was young at heart and possessed a remarkably insightful way of thinking.

In a country like the United States, where money and entertainment reign supreme, influence can be understood to some extent as fame. After all, if the Soviet Union didn't want to get too involved in politics, then entertainment was the best option.

If Mr. Su were a celebrity with high visibility, and everyone knew he was very rich, people would naturally approach him and offer to help him solve various problems, thus increasing his influence.

Furthermore, the entertainment industry is the method with the lowest threshold, the fastest results, and the widest reach. After all, entertainment news spreads the fastest and widest. Even if you donate to every police station in every region, not to mention people from all walks of life, very few people within the police force would know you. At least someone like Joe Martinez, who works at the grassroots level, certainly wouldn't know you.

Sue agreed with Abraham's views, but making him participate in various programs and interviews like a celebrity was a complete waste of his life and time, not worth it at all, and even contrary to his original intention to increase his influence.

The purpose of having influence is to facilitate the handling of supernatural events or to provide convenience in daily life. If you are busy dealing with boring news and interviews every day, what is the point of having influence?

It's impossible to get involved personally, but it's possible for behind-the-scenes investors to occasionally make appearances at events or in interviews. So... what should be done?

Two names popped into Su's mind: Victoria's Secret and America's Next Top Model.

These two programs are definitely popular with the general public, have extremely high popularity, and do not require the hosts to appear in public frequently.

Unfortunately, the former already exists, and the latter also has a similar program.

Anyway, it was just a sudden thought, and I'll think about it slowly when I have time. Besides, just because he can't think of it doesn't mean others can't. As long as I have money, none of these things are a problem.

Half an hour later, Joe Martinez returned in Su's sports car, and his expression... well, don't expect him to be all smiles.

Su didn't care. Sometimes, the feeling of being disliked but not being able to get rid of someone was even more satisfying than being flattered.

Joe Martinez was given a break, or rather, she was assigned a new task: to ensure that Sue's donations would arrive smoothly.

When will the money arrive, and when will the holiday or task end?

If this matter is messed up, Joe Martinez will be in big trouble, and the Su family will be in big trouble too. After all, they have already done as you asked. You can play tricks on Joe Martinez, but if you play tricks on the entire organization, well... there won't be any big trouble, but there will be constant small troubles. And don't let them find a reasonable excuse, otherwise, even if they are wrong, they will still argue their case.

Of course, whether the Su family cares or not is another matter.

Joe Martinez dutifully drove Sue around several large gold and silver jewelry stores. After comparing prices, Sue ultimately chose Tiffany's.

Firstly, he was quite familiar with the business, and secondly, Tiffany's silver custom-made products were indeed excellent. Although the silver kunai he ordered last time was not restocked, the silver cage he made this time was even more popular than the kunai. It was still the same salesperson and designer as last time, and the rules were naturally the same as when he ordered the kunai.

The Su family ordered twenty large silver cages in one go, along with all sorts of other silver items, such as tableware and kunai. They also went on a shopping spree, clearing out all the jewelry and other valuables from the store.

Good heavens, after all this, Su found himself broke again. Not only broke, but he also owed someone nearly $600,000 in outstanding payments.

Listen to this, the final payment? Since when did Su's start separating payments into initial and final payments?

"You didn't spend all your money, did you?" Joe Martinez asked Su with some concern as they left Tiffany's.

Su casually tossed a necklace to Joe Martinez: "It's for you."

"I do not want."

"Then I'll call your boss."

"you……"

"Put it on!"

Sue remained unmoved as she looked at Joe Martinez, who put on the necklace with a humiliated expression.

"This necklace is worth seventy thousand US dollars. Don't act like you've suffered some great injustice. Think about it carefully, how much money did I ultimately pay for a traffic ticket?" Su said with a sneer.

how much is it?

At least a million dollars, oh, and a necklace too, and all he actually did seemed to be running errands and driving cars. Thinking about it this way, Joe Martinez felt somewhat relieved.

Seeing the slight upturn of her lips, Madam Su couldn't help but chuckle to herself.

Yes, from a financial perspective, he did lose out, having wasted a million dollars on a few hundred dollars in fines. But from Su's perspective, the money wasn't wasted. First, he made Joe Martinez submit and face reality. Second, donations can be tax-deductible, and he pays a lot of taxes, so the money was essentially wasted. Finally, he certainly gained many advantages in the local police force.

Most importantly, he can become stronger by spending money, and he doesn't feel any pain in spending a fortune just to spite someone or to save face.

Thinking she had figured things out, Joe Martinez gradually started talking to Su. On the one hand, she was genuinely curious. Although she hadn't met many wealthy people, she had never seen anyone spend money like Su before, especially with things like customizing ways to win someone over. It didn't sound like something a normal person would do.

On the other hand, through their brief contact, she discovered that Mr. Su was not the kind of arrogant rich person. She couldn't understand why Mr. Su would make such a fuss over a traffic ticket.

Sue also learned that Joe Martinez was not yet a detective and had never had a boyfriend, which was quite surprising, since her ex-husband died at the beginning of the Forever storyline, and it seemed that her ex-husband was also a policeman.

"You live here?" After the car stopped in front of the apartment, Joe Martinez got out and said to Su with some surprise, "I also live in this community."

"Are you afraid of animals?" Su asked.

Joe Martinez shook his head in confusion: "Aren't you afraid? Why do you ask that?"

"Want to come in for a drink?"

……

P.S.: I've been experiencing writer's block lately, mainly due to financial constraints; poverty is limiting my imagination.

Chapter 148 The Supernatural Creatures of Midnight Town

"These are the conditions?" Joe Martinez was stunned for a moment. His attitude towards the Su family, which had improved somewhat, instantly changed back. Sure enough, he was no different from other self-important rich people.

Su was also taken aback. "I just heard that you live here, and as a neighbor, I politely extended an invitation to you. Did that make you think that I'm interested in you?"

“You’re overthinking it.” Su walked over to get her car keys, shook her head at Joe Martinez, and turned to go into the apartment.

Although Joe Martinez is the female lead in Forever and certainly has her own charm, Sue has seen plenty of female leads and charming women. Besides Ricky Neller and Christo, even Luna is no less attractive than Joe Martinez, not to mention Elena, Lisa Trinity, and Sarah Blake.

Su's reaction didn't seem like the anger and embarrassment of being exposed and rejected. Her stunned reaction was very real. Joe Martinez was a little shaken in his judgment, but after hesitating for a long time looking at the closed apartment door, she turned around and left.

The next day, after reporting back to the police station, Joe Martinez received praise from her superiors. Although Sue herself did not show up, the donation had already been sent, and she expressed her satisfaction with Sue's performance the previous day over the phone.

Joe Martinez felt a little uneasy listening to his boss's praise, partly because of the misunderstanding when they parted yesterday, and partly because of his boss's reaction.

During the phone call, Ms. Su also suggested that the department could give more opportunities to young detectives, especially female detectives, and expressed her willingness to provide more assistance to support the development of young female detectives.

What does this mean?

It's not like I'm just saying I'll pay more money if Joe Martinez gets promoted!

Joe Martinez wanted to explain that she hadn't done anything and had nothing to do with the Su family, but her boss hadn't said anything explicitly about it, only relayed the Su family's words and her own encouragement. How could she explain that? Joe Martinez could only say thank you in frustration and go back to work.

Before long, word spread throughout the police station that Joe Martinez had received a million-dollar donation, so almost every colleague thanked her whenever they saw her. Whether there were any other hidden meanings behind these thanks remained unknown.

Joe Martinez endured it all day, but finally couldn't resist going to Green Point Apartments to ask Sue what she meant. Unfortunately, Sue wasn't home at all, and hadn't been home for several days in a row.

What does "Su Shi" mean?

Hehe, of course it was intentional.

You've made me depressed, so naturally I'll make you even more depressed.

I have no feelings for you, but you misunderstand me; you did nothing, but everyone else misunderstands you as having done something.

Is there something wrong?

No problem!

Of course, Su was not deliberately hiding from people. He was indeed not at home, or more accurately, not at his home in Green Point Apartments, but in Midnight Town, Texas.

After arriving in Midnight Town, Olivia did not immediately notify the Su family. Instead, she stayed in Midnight Town for a few days to learn about the situation before contacting them.

Located in a remote area with a sparse population, it is called a town, but it can only be considered a small community, and the residents live very far apart.

The only bustling street is called Wuguang Road, where there is a restaurant called Jiachanglai, a pawnshop named after midnight, a Jianzhuang Angel tattoo and nail salon, and a fortune-telling shop called Mind Exploration.

Sue brought her camera with her when she came, and Luna and Christo naturally brought theirs as well, since before the appearance of the Otherworld Supernatural Creature Pet Park, Midnight Town was more like a supernatural creature paradise.

A man and a woman, a cat and a leopard—such a group walking down the street naturally attracted a lot of attention, especially from the supernatural creatures of Midnight Town.

Midnight pawnshop, basement.

A few people gathered together to discuss what to do. In fact, Olivia had been watched ever since she arrived, since almost no outsiders would come to this kind of small town.

Among the group, a blond, burly man and a slightly thin, dark-haired man stood together, the blond man with his arm around the dark-haired man's shoulder.

The blond man is named Joe, and the dark-haired man is named Hammer. They run Jianzhuang Angel Tattoo & Nail Salon.

Standing next to the two men was a handsome young man named Bob Winthrop, the owner of the pawnshop. Next to him stood a blue-eyed Black man named Lemuel Bridger, the pawnshop's night shift employee.

Standing beside him was a middle-aged pastor, the only pastor in Midnight Town.

Standing next to the pastor was an elderly woman with white curly hair named Hilda, and next to Hilda was a woman named Mildred, who ran a fortune-telling shop that explored the mind.

"What do you think?" Lemuel Bridger, the blue-eyed black man, looked at everyone and reminded them, "I feel like they seem to know our secret. That woman has been asking everyone questions since she appeared, and she even said she wanted to settle here. I don't think her purpose is that simple."

“I also think they’re unusual. Who would keep a black panther as a pet?” Bob Winthrop muttered to himself.

The old lady, Hilda, said, "I think the most important thing right now is to figure out their identities and purposes."

Mildred chimed in, “I can make some cookies to test if they have any ill intentions. You know, my cookies will make any malicious or scheming person vomit and have diarrhea.”

"it is good."

Everyone nodded in agreement to let Mildred, the witch, test the waters first to see if the other party had any ill intentions, before making any further plans.