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The system is just that simple.
Nothing fancy at all.
Its sole function is to condense the Life Essence.
As for the so-called Positive and Negative points, Chuck, after years of exploration, has roughly understood their operating principles.
Live your daily life to your heart's content, and you'll automatically condense one Positive point.
Live an exciting day to your heart's content, and you'll automatically condense one Negative point.
And whether ordinary or exciting, there are always special days where good living can reward you with multiples of Positive and Negative points.
When each of the Positive and Negative points condenses to 365 points, they automatically collide and explode, releasing one drop of Life Essence.
Its function is literally what it says: to elevate the essence of life.
Chuck had traveled many years, and the system had been active for three years, yet he had only condensed one drop of Life Essence, which he absorbed into his body. Both his body and mind were nourished to varying degrees, slightly alleviating the pain of the disharmony between body and mind, and significantly increasing his physical attributes.
If there were an endless supply of Life Essence, he believed that one day this incurable illness would be cured, the constant pain would cease, and he would finally be able to live the life he truly desired.
His business card used to have only the label "Accountant," as he loved math and was good at bookkeeping, earning a good income at the beginning of his life.
However, after discovering that this type of life offered easy growth in his positive energy but almost no growth in his negative energy, he added the label "Detective."
Detectives, after all, often encounter thrilling and exciting situations, which facilitated the growth of their negative energy.
These thoughts kept flashing through his mind.
After a long moment,
he got up, turned on the light, entered the bathroom, and began to shower.
After showering and tidying up the room, he finally sank into the smooth, seamless blanket like a vampire in a coffin, closing his eyes and falling asleep.
Although his mind wanted to embrace the beauty, the obsessive-compulsive cleanliness and urgency inherent in his severe autism meant that he could only sleep comfortably this way.
His previous daily interactions with Alex, like the ten minutes of bright light and noise, had been a forced adaptation.
This was his limit.
The next day,
Alex woke up early, packed everything, showered, and changed into fresh clothes. She walked over to Chuck's door, took a deep breath, and knocked.
Chuck was also up, preparing breakfast and a packed lunch. Hearing the knock, he walked over, peered through the peephole, and then opened the door to let Alex in.
"Mexican food?"
Alex was an old acquaintance. She knew Chuck's personality and habits well, and knew he liked to cook his own meals, hence the suites he chose. As a frequent traveler, she knew what Chuck was cooking from a single sniff.
"Yeah, clean and hygienic,"
Chuck replied, returning to his colorful array of dishes.
"Of course it's clean and hygienic when you make it."
Alex, knowing the joke, couldn't help but laugh. Seeing Chuck cooking, and knowing he didn't like people around him, she didn't bother to help. She sat at the side of the long table, her icy blue eyes watching him tenderly.
"How long have you been in Chicago?"
Alex couldn't help but ask after watching for a moment. Before Chuck could answer, she continued, "Because of the economic crisis, our industry is booming. After all, many companies need to lay off people. I haven't taken a break all year, and my work schedule is completely packed. I've sent it to you. If our schedules overlap or our locations are close, just let me know and I'll come find you."
She was an outsourced human resources expert specializing in layoffs for large companies.
With outsourcing, as long as the layoff targets were met, the specific method of layoffs had nothing to do with the company itself.
Therefore, the worse the economy gets, the busier her job becomes.
She's practically a frequent flyer.
"It hasn't been decided yet, but it'll be two weeks for now. I've made a note of that."
After Chuck finished preparing the meal, he laid out two plates, brought them over, and handed one to Alex. He then sat down at the other side of the long table before speaking.
"It smells delicious."
Alex's face instantly lit up with a smile as she listened to Chuck's few words, and she took a deep breath from the plate.
After Chuck sat down, he put his hands to his mouth, blew on them, and then began to enjoy the food.
"Why did you think of making Mexican food? Do you like Mexico?"
Alex took a bite and found that he had really grasped the essence of Mexican cuisine, it was authentic, so she asked subconsciously.
Chuck ate slowly, and after a while he replied, "I lived in New Mexico as a child, and the investigator on this case has Hispanic roots."
"That makes sense."
Alex looked enlightened.
Her flexibility was a natural attribute of women, but Chuck, a sturdy 6'4" man, was capable of even more incredible feats. Coupled with the authentic Mexican food, she should have guessed he'd been to the Southwest and trained there.
Time was limited, so Alex didn't dwell on the question. Instead, she began to chatter about her own affairs. Chuck listened quietly, occasionally offering a concise reply.
They finished their breakfast.
Chuck packed the extra food into an insulated box, packed up, and then left with Alex, one behind the other.
"I'm going to the airport. Remember to contact me,"
Alex said melancholy.
"I'm going to the courthouse,"
Chuck nodded. After a moment of silence, he turned and left.
Alex watched Chuck disappear, then dragged her small suitcase, cleared her melancholy, and regained her professional demeanor as she boarded her flight in her high heels.
Chicago Courthouse.
"Thank God, you're finally here,"
the lawyer breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Chuck. "Why are you here so late?"
Chuck tapped his watch, indicating he was perfectly punctual.
The lawyer, feeling helpless, glanced at her boss, Diane, who was touring the court with her two nephews. Remembering her words, she could only straighten her suit. She didn't expect Chuck to help her; she was on her own.
"Go in later and find a seat to observe carefully. We'll discuss your conclusions after the trial. If it's urgent, write a note and have Kalinda bring it to us. Try not to reveal yourself."
Even if it's not a gray area, employing someone specifically to read jurors' micro-expressions to gauge their thoughts and formulate defense strategies can easily antagonize the judge and jury. A misstep could not only destabilize the case but also threaten the survival of the entire law firm.
You don't bite the hand that feeds you.
Chuck nodded and waited a while until the female lawyer was gone before following the other spectators inside. He found a seat convenient for observing the jury and sat down. He saw Kalinda already sitting nearby, giving him a blank look.
As an investigator for the law firm, she was required to thoroughly investigate everyone involved in the case, from the plaintiff and defendant to the witnesses testifying in court and even the opposing attorney.
Observing and investigating the judge and jury, who could influence or even determine the outcome, was naturally her job.
(End of Chapter)
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