In the pitch-black night sky, Leon was flying over Hell's Kitchen.
The cold air from high-speed flight at night made Leon shrink his neck and pull his coat tightly around him.
"This speed isn't fast enough! And it's so late! Those guys riding skateboards, swinging around, or swinging hammers... well, maybe not the hammer swingers."
"How are they not cold? Couldn't they at least wear some green coats?!"
By this time, Leon would have usually been snug in bed, fast asleep.
Now, he had to endure this misery!
"Damn it, it's almost morning!"
Tonight had been the busiest night since Leon crossed over to this world.
First, he failed to deliver a gift. Daredevil was quick to steal the spotlight.
Then, Leon couldn't just watch as a noble, kind-hearted hero in tight leather pants collapsed next to a trash can. Unable to stand it, he gave the guy a quick save.
And while he was at it, he tested out his physical anesthesia technique.
His well-meaning advice to the kind-hearted hero to not be so kind worked wonders!
That was already half the night gone. But, unexpectedly, on his way home, he ran into a classic scenario: the hero saving the damsel!
Leon had thought this story wouldn't give him that kind of good luck! And, of course, it didn't.
A liar! A spy! A bald head!
Blessings come with misfortunes, and misfortunes come with blessings.
Thanks to a series of maneuvers by Leon "The Big Conman" Collins, what seemed like a bad situation turned into a good one.
This should have been something to celebrate.
He had both protected his weak self for now and given himself the freedom to do whatever he wanted without worry.
"It's just too late... or too early, I guess?"
He touched his mask. The thing had done wonders today. People who made eye contact with the mask would see their own hearts. Villains would feel Leon was even more evil because of the Rorschach design, while good people would see him as righteous and trustworthy.
Although it was just a small psychological suggestion, in situations where he was walking the line between good and evil, especially during negotiations, it proved extremely useful!
"I've heard lack of sleep is bad for your skin!"
Blame it all on Kingpin!
Time for sleep!
Back in his small rental apartment, Leon muttered as he changed out of his clothes. What kind of superhero has to clean up after himself when he gets home?
Sleep! Now!
The moment his head hit the pillow, Leon was out like a light.
...
By the time Leon woke up, most normal people had already finished their lunch.
Groggy, he got up to wash up and then groggily opened the fridge.
"Nothing in here. Guess I'll eat out."
Dressed like a normal person, Leon yawned his way to Eza's authentic taco shop.
As usual, he asked Eza for some spiced broad beans, but to no avail. Also as usual, Eza brought him some random flavor combo platter.
"Have you heard?"
Heard what?
Leon was confused. How is it that you always hear news, but I never do?
Could it be true, the rumors that bars and restaurants really are hubs for information?
Leon looked at Eza, his mouth full, gesturing for her to spill the news.
"Did you… get plastic surgery?"
Eza switched the topic abruptly, staring curiously at Leon's face.
That's what you heard?!
This nonsense is spreading all over town now?!
How was I supposed to hear that?!
Leon knew all too well the terrifying power of rumors. In his previous life, he learned this lesson well. If a chicken went missing at one end of the village, by the time the story reached the other end, it had become a missing cow. One year, when he didn't go home, rumors started that he had stolen the chicken, and by the time it spread to the far end, it turned into him stealing a cow and ending up in jail, which is why he wasn't home for the New Year.
When he eventually returned, the whole village started saying he'd escaped from prison, and by the time it reached the neighboring village, someone who had really lost a cow called the cops on him.
To be fair, when Leon first arrived in this world, he was weak from years of inactivity. His original body was also shy and timid.
The difference between Leon and his original self was huge.
In terms of personality alone, it was as if a whole new soul had taken over!
What a miracle!
As for his physical condition, aside from the boost from the system, Leon had been consistently exercising and staying fit. And when it came to food, Leon didn't cut corners.
He took eating seriously!
So, compared to when he first arrived, he had bulked up quite a bit. His face no longer had that sickly, emaciated look, and he now appeared much healthier and more vibrant.
But that's no reason to spread plastic surgery rumors!
Thinking this, Leon swallowed the corn chip in his mouth and asked, "Is that really the news you heard?"
"What are you thinking~"
Eza rolled her eyes at Leon. Seeing that he didn't want to talk about it, she wisely changed the topic.
She took a corn chip from Leon's plate and ate it herself.
And she even guarded the ketchup! How could a man act like this?!
"Seems like you've been really busy lately. You haven't been paying attention to your community at all, have you?"
"What am I supposed to pay attention to? I'm just a tenant." This was something Leon could never quite adjust to.
Here, the sense of community was much stronger, unlike the loose and disorganized neighborhoods back home, where the community concept was more individualistic.
"What do you mean, just a tenant!"
Sure enough, Eza was displeased.
"Let me ask you this: if your landlord gets kicked out, where will you sleep? Do you have the money to rent a new place? Do you think the next place you rent will be better and cheaper than this one?!"
That was true.
Rental properties only get worse and more expensive. There's no such thing as cheap and comfortable housing.
"Wait, what did you say? The landlord got kicked out by who?"
Leon quickly caught on to the key issue.
"Oh~ now you're interested, huh~"
Eza found Leon amusing, the type who wouldn't worry until the fire was at his doorstep.
"Don't rush. Oh, right! Hand it over!"
Reluctantly, Leon pushed the ketchup towards Eza.
"This morning, the hotdog shop down the street—Mr. Brown's place, you know it, right?"
Leon nodded. He knew all the food spots in this area, and Mr. Brown, who sold hotdogs and sandwiches, was a kind old man.
"Mr. Brown's son, Little Brownie, got hit by a car and sent to the hospital. You know how few people in Hell's Kitchen have full health insurance. He needs money."
Eza propped her chin on her hand and squinted her eyes. "What a coincidence… yesterday the accident happened, and this morning, someone came to buy his property."
"What a… coincidence…"
Leon listened, his face expressionless, but in his mind, he was already sending his regards to Kingpin.
His thoughts were filled with curses, from Kingpin's ancestors all the way down.
"Don't worry too much. I heard from a friend that New York City is about to launch a 'Civilized and Hygienic City' initiative, so things like this won't happen again."
"Hahaha, you're pretty well-informed, huh~"
"Of course! I'm the Brooklyn Insider!"
"Really?! Huh?"
"Absolutely!"
"What does that mean?"
"Huh?"
"Brooklyn Insider!"
"It just means I'm well-informed…"
Eza heard her mom call her to serve food, and she responded. It was as if she was talking to both Leon and herself when she added, "I just hope that friend of yours really knows what they're talking about."
Leon stuffed another corn chip into his mouth.
"Time waits for no one…"
He murmured softly.