Logan sat outside the water tower, pulled a cigarette from his pocket, lit it, and watched the sunset.
Finally, he took out his phone and the business card, and dialed the number on the card.
"It's me, James," Logan said when the call connected.
Chris Lawrence, on the other end, was visibly surprised, but then his tone brightened.
"Hey, friend, I knew you'd call. Have you considered it? Working with me is definitely more promising than being an Uber driver."
"I need good pay," Logan said without further delay.
"As long as it's not too outrageous, I accept. I'm sure you know the strength of our Lawrence family; money is only a minor issue."
Chris was clearly pleased with Logan's abilities and liked his straightforward approach.
"What can I help you with?"
Logan took a drag from his cigarette and spoke indifferently.
"It's hard to say over the phone. Are you free tomorrow? How about we meet at the construction company at 11 AM?"
"Sure."
Logan hung up the phone and stubbed out the cigarette butt on the ground.
Before, he would have disliked interacting too much with these wealthy families, but now he was forced to deal with them.
In this world, money is essential, and even being Wolverine, he couldn't create gold from thin air.
Whether it was selling the boat and retiring as he had originally planned, or leaving San Antonio to search for a sanctuary where mutants gathered, both would require a considerable amount of funds.
With his current job as an Uber driver, he couldn't gather that amount. If he wanted money, he had no choice but to partner with Chris.
Although such an association could significantly increase his risk of being discovered, he had no other option.
Besides, after so many years as an Uber driver, picking up countless passengers and driving through San Antonio for so long without being recognized, perhaps the world had already forgotten him.
Being discovered was probably a remote possibility.
Logan stood up, dusted himself off, and returned to his room to rest, awaiting his first meeting with the Lawrence family the next day.
Santa Fe can be considered a modest city, but it boasts centuries of history. Due to its location in a permanently arid desert, it thrives mainly on agriculture. Before the Civil War, slavery was common here, and many of Santa Fe's wealthy merchants profited from it. The Lawrence family, for example, was a clear example. Former farmers, they controlled much of the means of production in Santa Fe, and along with other prominent families, they prospered in the city.
Subsequently, defeat in the Civil War led to policy changes, and the Industrial Revolution accelerated this transformation. In a few decades, the region underwent a drastic transformation. Railroads and highways connected the country, and nearby towns gradually merged, finally establishing the current city of Santa Fe in the arid lands.
After the abolition of slavery, several prominent families turned to other businesses, continuing their legacy to this day by investing in emerging industries.
The Lawrence family, like many others, exploited the legal loopholes of Prohibition to amass a fortune through smuggling, eventually becoming the most powerful family in Santa Fe.
Perhaps it was genetic, but Logan felt a certain affinity with the Lawrence family. After all, they were farmers themselves, and before his family's tragedy, he was the forced heir to a large farm.
After Prohibition, the smuggling business suffered a severe blow. Fortunately, the Lawrence family ancestors, with wisdom, successfully transitioned to coal mining, leveraging their fortune in the sector.
Today, the vast majority of the coal mining business in Santa Fe belongs to the Lawrence family. Combined with their recent expansion into the logistics sector, the Lawrence family wields undisputed influence.
...
"James, I'm glad to have you here. You made the right decision," Chris said with a smile, as he escorted Logan into a majestic office.
The office, luxuriously decorated, looked like a palace. Behind the windows, a middle-aged man in a black suit was already waiting in a leather armchair.
"Allow me to introduce you to my father, Mr. Lawrence," Chris said, smiling as he introduced Logan.
Sitting on the leather sofa, with a Monte cigar between his fingers, the room was filled with the intense aroma of cigar smoke.
Mr. Lawrence was visibly stunned upon seeing Logan, and then a smile appeared on his face.
"Hello, Mr. Lawrence!" Logan greeted him politely.
"It seems my son was right, Mr. James. You look like a fierce tiger."
Lawrence stared at Logan, then smiled and motioned toward the table and chairs in front of him. "Please have a seat."
"What can I do for you?" Logan asked bluntly, sitting down on the sofa.
Lawrence set his cigar down in the ashtray and stared at Logan. "Mr. James, can I trust you?"
"Of course," Logan nodded in response. "And I believe you have already investigated me, otherwise you wouldn't allow me to set foot here."
He knew that these wealthy businessmen were very cautious and wouldn't let anyone into their lair without checking them first.
Luckily, Logan also trusted his ability to disguise himself. In the entire city of Santa Fe, no one knew his true identity, except the Professor and Caliban.
So far, he had remained hidden.
"Smart," Lawrence smiled. "We have a shipment going out in three days, and the delivery might take about ten. The cargo is valuable and unique, and many covet it. Our current security team lacks a capable leader. I wonder if Mr. James will have the time."
"Compensation," Logan said calmly. At the moment, he cared more about money than danger.
Lawrence held up two fingers. "Twenty thousand dollars, I think that's a reasonable offer."
Logan lowered his head and thought for a moment. Earning twenty thousand dollars in ten days certainly sounded tempting, comparable to his three months' salary as an Uber driver.
However, such a high price likely implied considerable risk.
After a moment of deliberation, Logan nodded. "Deal."
The high price made Logan willing to take the risk.
Just one more job and he would have enough to leave.
"A wise decision." Lawrence narrowed his eyes and smiled, then picked up the cigar and took a puff. "Come here in three days, and I'll give you the details."
Logan nodded and, without saying anything else, stood up, closed the door, and left.
As the door slammed shut, Lawrence's calm expression instantly vanished. He looked at Chris and asked in a grave voice: "Where did you find him?"
"You mean James?" Chris, observing his father's sudden change in expression, seemed to sense that something was wrong and quickly said: "I ran into him on the street. He saved my life. He's a crazy guy, but he's also a good fighter, better than anyone on our security team."
Chris paused and added: "I checked his record. He arrived in Santa Fe a few years ago and has been working as an Uber driver. Aside from his alcoholism and driving under the influence, he hasn't caused any trouble."
"No!"
Lawrence shook his head and rummaged through the cabinets until he finally found a pile of old newspapers at the bottom.
"It's Wolverine, Logan!"
Lawrence slammed his bun on the table and pointed to a photo.
It was a headline from twenty years ago. A reporter interviewed the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters, and a young Wolverine was featured prominently in the photo.
Wolverine's face perfectly matched that of James, who had just entered.
"Surprise!"
Chris looked at the photo with a frown. "It really is him!"
"Although he is much older now than he was over twenty years ago, I'm sure they are the same person. The foul smell he gives off is as bad as other mutants. They are all despicable beings!"
Lawrence's gaze was cold, and he forcefully stubbed out the cigar in his hand. "Have the servants clean the office again later."
Chris nodded, still confused. "Doesn't this guy know he's a wanted criminal? He actually dares to work as an Uber driver. Isn't he worried about being recognized?"
"The most dangerous jobs are often the safest," Lawrence said. "No one would have thought that the former Wolverine would end up being an Uber driver."
"So are they replacing him now?" Chris asked.
The government's current attitude towards mutants is very clear. Cooperating with a mutant right now is not a smart decision. If the government finds out, it will probably have a significant impact on the entire Lawrence family.
"No, that's exactly what we need. Although they are low-class, they are undoubtedly fearless in a fight."
Lawrence shook his head, looking at the office door with contempt. "Since this guy is taking such a risk, he must have some concerns, especially since he's a wanted criminal. Once we get something on him, he'll be at our mercy!"