Chapter 44: Debts Must Be Repaid
"You watch the shop here for now, I'm going out for a drive."
After greeting Jin, Tommy Vercetti walked out of the burgeoning burger shop. Jin was slightly surprised. She found her boss was always a mystery, disappearing for periods of time now and then. However, she didn't pry. A boss had his own affairs; there was no need to tell his assistant everything. Of course, if she knew what Tommy Vercetti had been doing recently, she would be utterly shocked.
Name: Tommy Vercetti
Character Card: Nobi Nobita
Ability: Martial Arts Talent
Points: 800
From his system panel, it was clear that Tommy Vercetti hadn't been idle during this time; he had been rigorously striving for points. Where did these points come from? Naturally, he earned them, shot by shot.
Tommy Vercetti had been taking on various 'hunting' missions from the Continental Hotel. After all, it would be a waste not to utilize his excellent marksmanship. Moreover, the assassin industry was also listed in his system's achievement tree.
[Congratulations, Host, for achieving the 'Hired Assassin' achievement in the Assassin Series]
[Reward: 100 points]
[Congratulations, Host, for achieving the 'Professional Assassin' achievement in the Assassin Series]
[Reward: 300 points]
In one month, Tommy Vercetti had already achieved two accomplishments, earning 400 points. Adding that to his original points, he was very close to his next lucky draw. He had a strong premonition that once he completed this current job, it would be just about enough to cross the threshold.
Arriving at the parking lot next to the burger shop, Tommy Vercetti was about to open the car door when he suddenly felt an unfamiliar presence. He swiftly drew his pistol and aimed it directly at the corner of the building.
"Oh, calm down, homie, I mean no harm."
Franklin Clinton raised his hands high, feeling a cold chill race down his spine. He never expected their long-awaited meeting to begin this way.
Ever since their chance encounter at the burger shop, he had been obsessively searching for Tommy Vercetti, desperately hoping to work for him. Unfortunately, he knew nothing about the man—not his address, nor his name. He only gleaned from snippets of conversation that Tommy Vercetti seemed to be starting a burger business, and the shop was in its founding stage. So, he rode an old second-hand motorcycle, wandering the streets of New York City for nearly a month just to find this unnamed burger shop, now revealed as the Crab Burger King, which hadn't even officially opened yet.
His good friend Lamar had greatly looked down on his efforts, constantly belittling the idea of wanting to follow someone else, believing it lowered the dignity of their community. But Franklin understood Lamar; his friend had a sharp tongue but was fiercely loyal in his actions. Otherwise, Lamar wouldn't have emptied his savings and even contributed his own motorcycle for the month-long search.
Franklin quickly recounted his frustrating experiences during the last month and then explained his thoughts—his desire for a new, legitimate life. Tommy Vercetti listened carefully, still not lowering his gun.
It was strange. In Tommy Vercetti's memory, all African American people looked alike—a holdover from his system's strange racial processing—yet Franklin Clinton's face somehow felt intensely familiar, as if he had seen him before.
So, he asked, his voice steady. "What's your name, where do you live, and who's with you?"
"Clinton, Franklin Clinton. I'm currently staying at my aunt's house. My only relative is my aunt, and I have a friend named Lamar, and of course, a dog named Chop..." With the dark muzzle of the gun pointed at him, Franklin spoke without reservation, rapidly telling him everything about himself.
Listening to his precise narration, Tommy Vercetti slowly lowered his gun, re-holstering it at his waist. Franklin, living at his aunt's, a friend named Lamar, and a dog named Chop... One or two similarities might be a coincidence, but these linking characteristics made Tommy Vercetti realize the truth. Perhaps, this Franklin in front of him was indeed the one from his memory.
"Can you drive?" Tommy Vercetti asked.
"No problem!" Franklin proudly patted his chest; he wasn't boasting, his driving skills were absolutely first-rate. It was as if he was born to race.
"Very good. Here are the car keys. Take me to the church." Tommy Vercetti casually tossed the keys over. Franklin swiftly caught them, eagerly moving to open the car door. He knew he had successfully passed this first, terrifying hurdle. Whether he could achieve his dream would depend entirely on his performance now.
As Franklin had promised, his driving skills were exceptional. Even the slow, sluggish Toyota Prius they were using came alive in his hands. He drove both fast and smoothly, without making the ride bumpy.
"Man, can I ask, why are we going to the church?" Franklin's question was slightly guarded. Everyone knew that going to church was for worship. However, he keenly noticed that Tommy Vercetti wasn't wearing any Cross decorations, nor did he have any tattoos with religious significance. Coupled with the powerful aura Tommy had just revealed, it made him suspect the other party might be about to cause a big commotion.
"To collect a debt," Tommy Vercetti said calmly, with nothing to hide. "Someone owes me a large sum of money, and it's time for them to pay up."
Compared to the mission itself, Tommy Vercetti was more preoccupied with Franklin. If his memory wasn't mistaken, this familiar-faced young man should be one of the protagonists from the game Grand Theft Auto V. As for why a game character could appear in reality? Tommy Vercetti no longer cared. If he could transmigrate, what else couldn't happen?
However, since Franklin Clinton could appear, where were Michael and Trevor? Tommy Vercetti dismissed the thought quickly. America was too vast; finding two specific people was like looking for a needle in a haystack. Moreover, while those two guys had decent abilities, one was too cunning, and the other was clinically insane. How could they be as trustworthy as someone like Little Franklin, who was so transparently emotional and loyal?
Franklin Clinton didn't know what Tommy Vercetti was thinking. While driving, he was determined to prove his value.
"Oh, those damn deadbeats," Franklin growled. "Man, you just say the word, and I'll beat that bastard's butt till it bleeds, let him know the consequences of not paying his debts."
As he spoke, he observed Tommy Vercetti's expression in the rearview mirror. Seeing that Tommy remained unresponsive, Franklin felt a bit awkward. After getting a slight nod of tacit approval, he turned on the car radio.
"I don't have the ambition to burn down the whole world, I just want to ignite a spark of passion in your heart. In my heart, there is only one desire, and that is you, irreplaceable..."
The soft music eased the awkward atmosphere in the car.
It didn't take long for the car to reach its destination. Franklin parked the car and turned off the engine, nimbly getting out and even opening the door for Tommy Vercetti. Tommy liked his attitude. He waved him to follow, went to the back of the car, opened the trunk, and lifted the hidden compartment inside, revealing the lethal things hidden underneath.
"Holy crap, homie, where did you get all this stuff?!" Franklin exclaimed, his eyes wide.
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