Chapter 40. Change

[Reputation points from Cornell Stokes +25]

Sitting in the small room converted from a storage room, Ryan raised an eyebrow as he looked at the content that suddenly appeared on the data panel.

The name Cornell Stokes was somewhat unfamiliar. It was obviously not a well-known character in the Marvel world, but the system displayed a lot of reputation points, even more than the reputation figures he earned from Luke Cage, so Ryan was a little confused for a while.

Anyway, no matter what, getting points was a good thing.

After sitting on the bed and pondering from side to side for a while, Ryan then gave up on this apparently pointless approach.

The room converted from a storage room wasn't very big. While barely able to accommodate a bed, it was even more cramped now. But Ryan wasn't too picky. While the moonlight shined in, Ryan lay on the bed, and it didn't take long for him to fall asleep.

The system's cards gave Ryan extraordinary capabilities, but they didn't give him the ability to stay awake indefinitely.

Besides, he wasn't a superhero like Daredevil, or the Punisher, who fought criminals without hesitation.

No need to sacrifice his sleep to defend the safety of New York City.

　　...

The next day, as the chaotic night in Harlem, passed...

The sunlight crept up, sweeping all evil into the shadows.

Looking at the pedestrians coming and going on the road alone, Harlem seemed no different from any area in New York, provided, of course, that the apparently broken glass of the Chinese restaurant was ignored. The thugs who caused trouble last night were dealt with by Ryan, but the damage they left behind in the Chinese restaurant didn't disappear so quickly.

Especially in front of the store. The huge floor-to-ceiling window that had a big hole in it was Ryan's masterpiece.

Last night, he kicked the thugs out of the restaurant, showing great strength, and at the same time, added some unnecessary problems for the Chinese restaurant.

Such a large piece of glass was a hassle to replace, so the Chinese restaurant didn't open in the morning. They needed to deal with the damage left by the thugs in the restaurant last night.

Ryan also relaxed and went to the barbershop located near the restaurant.

The purpose, naturally, was still for Luke Cage.

"Hey, Ah Xing. Good morning."

"Good morning."

In the barbershop, Henry saw Ryan walking into the store and then nodded and greeted him, "How's it going? How are you getting used to working in Connie's restaurant?"

"It's ok." If he ignored the second part of the day, where he had to reveal his powers. From his performance in the first part of the day in the restaurant, Ryan thought he did quite well. He was quick, responsive, hard-working and didn't complain. He was a good employee.

"At least Mrs Connie was satisfied with my work and promoted me."

Ryan didn't lie about that. He did get a promotion.

Last night, he promised Mrs Connie and changed from a part-time worker to an employee of the Chinese restaurant, specifically to protect the restaurant from the neighbourhood thugs.

"Promoted?"

Looking at Ryan with some surprise, Henry took in his serious expression, and it really didn't look like the kid was lying. "Looks like you did quite well."

'Did he really do that well? In just one night?'

Henry couldn't help feeling curious.

"By the way, why isn't the restaurant open today?"

After briefly chatting about Ryan's first day working at the restaurant and harvesting a full load of questions, Henry then asked.

"Because last night, a few thugs came to the restaurant and damaged a lot of things. They're still cleaning it up." Ryan explained why the restaurant wasn't open today, completely ignoring the fact that a large part of the damage was actually caused by him, no, his legs.

Ryan's reply made Luke, who was cleaning the windows, and Henry subconsciously stop their movements.

After a few seconds of silence, Henry shrugged his shoulders at Ryan and made a helpless expression, "Welcome to the real Harlem, son."

Even though Pop tried to maintain the rules in the barbershop, trying to lead the children in the store to the right path, he still couldn't change the fact that Harlem was chaotic.

"In Harlem, everyone has a gun. No one has a father."

By the window, the silent Luke Cage spoke up and provided the most accurate description of Harlem.

"If that's the case, why don't you step up and change things around here?"

"Change?" Faced with Ryan's question, Luke Cage helplessly shook his head. He collected the rag in his hand and put it away, turning to look at Ryan behind him, "Do you know Harlem's past, chaos and poverty? Every day, countless people die on the streets of Harlem, countless wives lose their husbands, and children lose their fathers. Chico's father died that way. Harlem's history is like that, and there hasn't been much change."

"The new councilwoman, Mariah Dillard, took office, but she herself is Cottonmouth's shield, and it was Cottonmouth's men who destroyed the Chinese restaurant. So, Harlem never changes. It only sinks deeper. That's the reality. Change doesn't just happen. You're a foreigner who's only been in Harlem for a day and can't even pronounce 'Harlem' that well yet."

Luke Cage seemed to have a lot to say about Harlem but didn't do so.

"Although I'm just an outsider to Harlem, but I know change doesn't just happen out of thin air or by sitting around at home doing nothing. Those thugs influence Harlem with violence, so why can't someone use their own way to stop the violence and make a change? You won't know what will happen if you don't try. If a person doesn't have a dream, would they be any different than a salted fish?"

After the short pep talk, Luke Cage's expression clearly faltered a little.

Standing aside, Henry also subconsciously clenched his fist. Looking at how Luke was stunned, he chose to keep his mouth shut, leaving the choice to the other party.

However, Luke quickly collected his emotions and reverted back to his previous silent demeanour.

"You don't have to lecture me. I'm just an ordinary sweeper around here." He shook his head, lifted the bucket at hand, and planned to go inside.

"No, you're not." Reaching out and stopping Luke, who wanted to leave, Ryan looked up at the tall figure and firmly said, "I can feel it. You're not an ordinary person. You have the power to change this place, stopping Harlem from sinking deeper."

[Reputation points from Luke Cage +55]

[Reputation points from Henry Hunter +25]