6. Being Trash in People's Eyes

CARVERAL CITY.

Edward could not meet his parents again after being outside The Bazzlington City. The Bazzlington City's special security car carrying his parents was different-they were traveling directly to the police station.

While The Bazzlington City's security car carrying Edward stopped on the sidewalk. Edward was forced to get out of the car, then watched the area of kumoh shophouses that lined the few meters. Residents with the look of thugs and sidewalk beggars near the trash bins greeted Edward's eyes.

The sight of all this gave Edward goosebumps. Edward turned to face one of The Bazzlington City's security guards, who grabbed him by the collar of his uniform.

"Please, meet me with my parents. I need to see them!" Edward pleaded with the Bazzlington City security guard.

The burly man in front of Edward only wore a flat expression. He grabbed both of Edward's wrists and immediately pushed his body.

Edward's body swayed a few meters backwards. Luckily, he was able to maintain his balance so that he did not fall to the asphalt.

"Hey, loser, you stay here well. You've wasted the opportunity to live in The Bazzlington City!" snapped the security guard.

Edward's breathing was ragged as he lunged back at the security guard who spoke to him. But before he grabbed both of the security guard's shoulders, two other security guards held him back.

Edward was taken away roughly.

"You guys... is this how you treat people?" Edward made a growling voice. His gaze held a hint of anger.

"I just want to see my parents, why are you getting in the way?!" Edward's tone rose.

The security man in front of Edward laughed at him. He looked down on Edward while placing both hands on his waist.

"That's why. Why did you make such a big mistake and end up a loser in this shitty city? When in The Bazzlington City, you should have kept your level!"

"It's not my wish, asshole!" retorted Edward more fiercely. "My parents and I did nothing wrong! Arthur, that greedy man of wealth, has accused my parents! Why are you defending him?!"

"He's the leader of The Bazzlington City. Would a leader hurt his people?" quipped the security officer.

Edward gritted his teeth at the security guard's defense of Arthur. He should have guessed that persistent urging would be useless. Arthur had a lot of power in The Bazzlington City.

It was obvious that the security guards bowed to and feared Arthur.

Moreover, now Edward's position had fallen. Wasted. Worthless. Who would listen to him?

"I know it's useless to talk to people like you all," said Edward who growled once again at the security guard man.

The security guard in front of Edward just shook his head indifferently. Without wanting to ignore Edward, the security guard signaled him to leave.

The two security guards holding Edward's wrists released their grip. Edward's body was pushed so hard that it was again almost unsteady.

Edward, bent over, watched as the three security guards boarded the car. They did not turn to him at all and hurried away.

As the security car drove away from him, Edward felt his head spin. The sudden pain made Edward groan as he held his head.

On the sidewalk by the roadside, Edward tried to walk more sideways. His body walked with unsteady steps as he endured the pain. Some passers-by cursed irritably at Edward as their shoulders collided.

Edward leaned against the wall of the building. The pain in his head was getting so strong that his eyes suddenly closed. Edward held his head to give a small massage. But the intense pressure in his head did not lessen.

"What's happening to me?" muttered Edward in between enduring the pressures in his head.

Soon a holographic screen appeared in front of his face. As his vision blurred, Edward read the caption that appeared on the screen.

[SYSTEM RESETTING...]

[10%... 15%... 18%... 21%... 33%... 44%... 59%... 71%... 89%... 97%... 100%]

[RESET COMPLETED!]

[YOUR LEVEL WILL BE RESTARTED FROM THE BEGINNING. YOU CAN DO MISSIONS TO LEVEL UP!]

[WELCOME TO THE CASH SYSTEM, EDWARD! PLEASE CHECK YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION]

Edward was still confused by the notification that appeared. Despite not understanding at all, Edward immediately pressed the Personal Information menu.

[PERSONAL INFORMATION]

[NAME: EDWARD NICCO LIVINGSTON]

[AGE: 35]

[LEVEL: 1/100]

[STATUS & JOB: NONE]

[TOTAL POINTS: 1000 POINTS]

----------

[SKILL LEVEL: BASIC]

Reading the personal information made Edward surprised. As he remembered, just a moment ago, his level was still at 15. Now his level had dropped so far-even repeating from the beginning?

"Hey, Loser!" Someone was heard calling out from behind.

Amidst his blurry vision and sluggish body, Edward looked back. Two burly men whose sleeveless shirts revealed a pile of tattoos approached him.

"You're a resident of The Bazzlington City?" quipped one of the thugs.

Edward just looked at them with bated breath. His hunch became uncomfortable instantly.

"Well, how did you get banished from the city? That's too bad. They threw you out," said the man on the right, then laughed mockingly.

Hearing what the two of them were saying struck a chord in Edward's heart. He was so embarrassed. He didn't want to show his face in front of anyone right now.

Hearing what the two of them were saying struck a chord in Edward's heart. He was so embarrassed. He didn't want to show his face in front of anyone right now.

"What have you done wrong?"

"I didn't do anything," Edward replied with a slight groan in his voice. "They accused my parents, and... my level suddenly dropped."

In front of Edward's face, the system's holographic screen displayed the personal information of the man before him.

[PERSONAL INFORMATION]

[NAME: JERRY FRANCOS]

[AGE: 39]

[LEVEL: 6/100]

[STATUS & JOB: NONE]

[TOTAL POINTS: 8,100 POINTS]

----------

[SKILL LEVEL: BASIC]

"Ah, you residents of The Bazzlington City. Are you bragging that you deserve to survive there?" Jerry said again with a sarcastic tone and gaze.

In front of Jerry, Edward was surprised that his words were misunderstood. He immediately shook his head.

"No, I didn't mean it like that. I'm just telling you that the leader of The Bazzlington City is an asshole!" Edward retorted.

"And now you're bragging by telling me the condition of The Bazzlington City's leadership? Hey, we've been here all these years since we were born and we're already poor!"

"Isn't it rude to tell the people of this poor city about the conditions in your city? Are you someone who is fair and doesn't like power? All residents of The Bazzlington City are the same!"

"Oh, perhaps you are no longer useful and needed by the conglomerates there. What a pity. Now you're insulting them after being banished?"

"I didn't mean what you think I meant at all!" Edward was evasive.

"You're just like a traitor who thinks you're very good. Wait, if you weren't banished, would you insult them like this?" Jerry laughed sarcastically with the man next to him.

Edward didn't understand why the two men before him were making different points. With his body weakened, he just wanted to answer. But Jerry seemed to have gotten so annoyed that he lunged at him suddenly.

"Hey! You're a new resident in this poor town. Don't display your sadness in front of those of us who live more miserable lives than you. You sound arrogant," Jerry said as he grabbed Edward by the collar.

At that moment Edward could not say or do anything. Edward just looked at Jerry's slightly reddened eyes.

"We shouldn't accept a resident of The Bazzlington City like you!"

Right after Jerry raised his voice, a fist landed on Edward's stomach. Jerry pursed his lips tightly together angrily after delivering the fist.

"How does that feel? You've never been treated like this, have you?" asked Jerry, laughing sarcastically. Satisfied after mocking Edward.

Edward still couldn't move because he was surprised. Before he could deliver his next punch, Jerry immediately delivered a fist to the jaw. He delivered such a powerful punch that Edward's face was knocked to the side.

BUGH!

DUAGHHH!

Jerry and the man beside him took turns attacking Edward. They delivered knocks and punches to Edward's face, stomach, jaw, and even nose. All the attacks were unavoidable due to their stronger strength.

"You should feel the bitterness of life after coming to this city," Jerry said, then threw Edward's body to the side. "Welcome, Loser Expelled From The Bazzlington City."

As Jerry and the man beside him left Edward's presence, Edward held his stomach with a pained expression. Edward fell to the asphalt after losing his balance.

Edward closed his eyes while clenching his fists. His head was bowed remembering the events before he was banished to this city. All of Jerry's words stirred up anger in his heart. If only Jerry knew the reality of life in The Bazzlington City.

At that moment Edward accidentally saw a torn newspaper paper flying on the asphalt. One of the torn papers flew in the wind towards Edward, landing right in front of his eyes.

The picture on the newspaper intrigued Edward. The quality of the photo was black and white but Edward could tell the person in the photo was Arthur.

[RAYYANCO WALT TECH COMPANY WON THE AWARD FOR BEING THE MOST EMPLOYEE WELFARE COMPANY. THE COMPANY TURNOVER REACH 1 TRILLION DOLLAR]

After reading the caption, Edward took the torn paper and crumpled the paper. His fist was so tight that the newspaper no longer took shape.

"Fucking Arthur..."