William's stomach let out an untimely growl, exceptionally clear in the narrow stairwell, almost overpowering the lingering scent of cheap cologne that had faded from Glenn.
The sound wasn't simple hunger; it was like an invisible hand, tightly gripping his insides, reminding him that life's most primal needs had yet to be met.
The 20% rent discount was like a thin shield, fending off imminent eviction, but it couldn't fill the emptiness in his stomach.
What he urgently needed now was food that could be stuffed into his hungry belly and truly converted into energy, not Glenn's airy verbal promises.
He reached into his pocket, his fingertips touching only rough fabric and a few unidentified crumbs.
"Expand business..."
He muttered softly, these four words now tasting even more insipid than the nearly expired energy bar from last night.
Pushing open the creaking iron gate of the apartment building, the distinct, mixed scents of New York's morning assailed him.
Car exhaust, the faint fishy smell of the sewers, and the slightly burnt aroma of cheap sausages wafting from the street corner food truck—each was like a tiny hook, tugging at his sensitive nerves.
His gaze was no longer aimless as it had been in his previous life; now, it was sharp as an eagle, carrying a newfound acuity, instinctively searching for any anomaly in the surrounding energy flow.
This city was no longer just a jungle of steel and concrete; it was more like a vast machine riddled with minor malfunctions, waiting for someone with a discerning eye to tune it.
His steps moved aimlessly along the sidewalk, hunger making his gait a little unsteady, yet his eyes were sharp as an eagle.
Shops lined the street, some with bright, gleaming facades, their glass sparkling clean in the morning light; others had faded signs and peeling paint, revealing the weariness of time.
An old neon sign caught his attention.
"General Ross Restaurant."
The upper half of the character "Ross" flickered stubbornly, like a weary eye, sometimes bright, sometimes dim, and more often completely extinguished.
William's steps halted.
Glenn's washing machine was a starting point, an unexpected gain.
This sign before him might be another opportunity.
He took a deep breath, trying to suppress the rumbling in his stomach, adjusted his non-existent tie, and habitually put on a smile that was somewhere between friendly and professional.
Pushing open the restaurant's chipped glass door, which bore a "Welcome" sign, a warm breeze mixed with coffee aroma, the greasy smell of fried bacon, and a faint hint of disinfectant wafted over him.
The restaurant was small, with a few booths covered in faux wood-grain plastic. Behind the counter, a grey-haired woman in a faded apron was wiping coffee cups.
Her face showed the fatigue of long years of labor, and the wrinkles around her eyes were particularly clear in the dim light.
"Good morning, kid."
The woman looked up, her voice a little hoarse but gentle.
"What would you like to eat?"
William pulled out a high stool by the counter and sat down, trying to make his voice sound relaxed and natural.
"A glass of Water, please."
He paused, his gaze casually sweeping over the flickering sign outside the window.
"Your sign... seems to have a small problem."
The woman followed his gaze, then pursed her lips in resignation.
"Oh, that 'Ross' character, that's not a small problem. It's been flickering for over half a month. I called someone to look at it, and they quoted two hundred just to start, with no guarantee it could be fixed. It's highway robbery!"
She sighed, pushing a glass of Water in front of William. Her tone was full of complaints about the high repair costs and a deep sense of powerlessness.
"Two hundred?"
William feigned surprise, raising an eyebrow, but his heart stirred.
This was his opportunity to intervene.
"From what I see, with these old signs, sometimes the problem isn't big. It might just be a loose connection somewhere, or a small part inside that's not working."
He spoke cautiously, using an uncertain tone.
"I used to... well, I have a little bit of knowledge about these things."
The woman eyed him suspiciously, her gaze like someone evaluating a used item for sale.
"You?"
William offered a sincere smile, with a touch of youthful enthusiasm.
"I just happened to be passing by, and I'm idle anyway. If you don't mind, I could take a look for you. No charge, just to stretch my hands a bit."
He deliberately emphasized "no charge," which was key to dispelling her doubts.
"If it doesn't work out, you won't lose anything, right?"
The woman was silent for a few seconds, seemingly weighing her options.
This young man didn't look like a smooth-talking swindler. His clothes were simple but clean and tidy.
And, a free inspection, there really was nothing to lose.
"Alright."
She finally nodded.
"But you have to be careful, that sign is quite old."
"Don't worry, ma'am."
William's heart brightened, and he immediately stood up.
He walked outside the restaurant and looked up, carefully observing the flickering "Ross" character.
Concentrating, the familiar sensation of Novice Energy Tuning surged through him again.
Under his focused gaze, the sign was no longer just ordinary light tubes and sheet metal. The complex energy pathways within it appeared like a gradually developing blueprint, becoming clearer bit by bit.
Sure enough, at a certain connection point in the upper half of the "Ross" character, the energy flow was extremely unstable, intermittent, like a poorly connected wire.
He reached out and gently tapped the corresponding part of the sign's outer casing. Then, mimicking the feeling of repairing the washing machine, he subtly adjusted the pressure and angle of his wrist.
This was purely intuitive, a subtle control over energy flow.
The woman stood at the door, arms crossed, her expression complex, showing both anticipation and a hint of imperceptible doubt.
William didn't look back, completely focused.
He could 'sense,' or rather 'see,' that the previously obscure and obstructed energy node, under the subtle adjustment of his fingertips, began to flow smoothly again, like a dredged riverbed.
"Zzz..."
A faint electrical hum, softer than the buzzing of a gnat's wings.
Immediately after, the previously flickering "Ross" character, after a final, struggling flash, suddenly lit up, emitting a stable and soft glow.
The entire General Ross Restaurant sign appeared so complete and clear in the morning light for the first time.
The doubt on the woman's face instantly froze, then turned to surprise. She even rubbed her eyes instinctively.
"Oh my God... it's lit! It's really lit!"
William turned around, a touch of appropriate shyness on his face.
"It seems it was just a small contact fault, madam."
He clapped his hands, as if dusting them off.
"It should be fine now."
The woman hurried forward, looking excitedly at the refreshed sign, then at William, her eyes filled with gratitude.
"Child, I truly don't know how to thank you!"
She took William's hand, somewhat incoherent.
"You've really helped me a great deal! I truly couldn't afford that two hundred!"
William smiled.
"It was nothing."
The woman insisted on giving him some compensation. William couldn't refuse, and in the end, she brought out a steaming hot breakfast.
Two slices of golden toast, a perfectly fried egg, a few sizzling pieces of bacon, and a cup of aromatic coffee.
"This is a small token of my appreciation. Eat up, child, you're so thin."
The aroma of the food powerfully filled William's nostrils, and the emptiness in his stomach grew even stronger.
He no longer demurred.
"Thank you, madam."
The first sip of hot coffee went down, and a warm current instantly dispelled the last trace of morning chill.
The savory taste of bacon and the tender smoothness of the egg intermingled in his mouth. This was the most delicious meal he had eaten since coming to this World.
Seeing the genuine smile on the woman's face, William's mood brightened as well.
Novice Energy Tuning could not only be used to pay rent; it could also bring tangible warmth and food.
He suddenly felt that in this strange World, which was full of coldness and danger, he had grasped a lifeline, a seemingly insignificant foothold that allowed him to temporarily catch his breath.
Perhaps his "business" could indeed start with these flickering signs and malfunctioning appliances.
At least, he wouldn't have to worry about his next meal.