Chapter 2: Strand Group

"Maria, I'm heading out." After finishing his meal, Maxwell waved at the housekeeper before turning around and leisurely walking out of the villa. However, the moment he stepped outside, he realized he had trouble. The villa complex covered a vast area, and his villa was just one of many. Other residents left in luxury cars roaring past, while he could only walk toward the exit. It took him more than ten minutes to reach the main gate. The security guards at the entrance gave him strange looks. After all, they had never seen such an extravagant villa resident leave on foot. Fortunately, they had seen Maxwell before. Otherwise, they might have mistaken him for a thief. They had also heard that some wealthy young men liked to keep a low profile, so they figured he was just one of those types. After leaving the villa complex, Maxwell walked another ten minutes before spotting a bus stop. Luckily, he had a few coins on him, despite not having much money. Otherwise, he wouldn't have even been able to afford the bus fare. After riding a few stops, Maxwell got off. Earlier, he had noticed that the Strand Group was hiring. He had his eye on the security guard position. Besides that job, he wasn't sure what else he could do. Having been away from Earth for so long, he had no certifications or qualifications. And this wasn't Earth, most decent jobs here required a degree. He had no educational background, so his only option was to try the security job. If he could get hired, at least he could take care of his basic needs first. Once he regained some of his cultivation abilities, he could consider other ways to make money. With this in mind, Maxwell stepped forward. Just then, a sharp cry rang out, and the people ahead quickly moved aside with indifferent expressions. "Stop that thief! Somebody help me catch him!" Through the parting crowd, Maxwell looked up and saw a man clutching a woman's handbag, running madly in his direction. Behind him, a woman in high heels was desperately calling for help. "Get out of my way! If you want to live, move aside!" The man gripped the bag tightly, his face twisted in madness. The bystanders instinctively backed away, unwilling to get involved. Seeing this, Maxwell frowned slightly and stepped aside as well. Behind Maxwell, Taylor Lafontaine saw his actions and felt a flash of disappointment in her eyes. Losing the money wasn't a big deal, but the bag contained a crucial document, a file for securing a new client. With that file, she had a solid chance of signing the deal. Winning the client over would be much more challenging if she lost it. Biting her lip, Taylor didn't blame the bystanders. Instead, she pulled out her phone, planning to call the police hoping to recover her documents. Bang! Just as the thief dashed past Maxwell, he sneered at him, only to suddenly trip over something. The next second, he crashed hard onto the ground. Maxwell walked up to him, grabbed the handbag from his hands, and then kicked him fiercely in the waist. Did this guy think he could mock him? A surge of anger flared in Maxwell's heart. His kick landed on the thief's spinal nerves. Within ten days, the thief would be paralyzed for life. He had tolerated Isabella's attitude because Chris had once saved his life. That was why he never got angry. But this guy? A common thief? Maxwell had no reason to show him any mercy. "Thank you! Thank you so much!" Taylor, who had just caught up, was overjoyed. She took the bag from Maxwell's hand and repeatedly bowed in gratitude. "It was nothing, no need to thank me so much." Seeing how emotional she was, Maxwell gestured for her to stop. "Oh no, he's getting away!" Taylor turned and saw the thief running off again. She immediately panicked. Maxwell looked over and saw the thief glancing back at him. His face was a mess. His front tooth was missing, and blood dripped from his face. The thief's eyes were filled with hatred, making it clear that he planned to get revenge later. Seeing this, Maxwell smiled. It wouldn't be long before the thief was permanently bedridden. Revenge? He wouldn't even be able to take care of himself. He had deliberately let the thief go. If the police caught the thief and he ended up paralyzed in a few days, they might suspect Maxwell. His cultivation hadn't fully recovered yet, so he didn't want to draw unnecessary trouble.  Staying discreet was a skill that had helped him reach the rank of Immortal Emperor in the cultivation world. "It's fine. I got your bag back, and if he escapes, he escapes. Even if the police catch him, he'll return to the streets soon." Maxwell waved dismissively, signaling Taylor not to worry. "Still, I owe you a big favor. I have urgent business at work, so I have to go now. Here's my business card. Please call me. I'll treat you to a meal to thank you properly." Taylor handed him a card, urged him again, and hurriedly left. Maxwell took the card, glanced at it briefly, and then tossed it into a nearby trash bin without a second thought. They were just two strangers who happened to cross paths. He had lent a helping hand. There was no need to call Taylor for a meal just because of such a small favor. His pride wouldn't allow him to do something so petty. A few minutes later, Maxwell arrived in front of a tall building. After confirming he was in the right place, he walked inside and took the elevator to the fifth floor, where the job interviews were held. When the elevator doors opened, he was stunned for a moment. There were so many people applying for a security guard job. The place was packed. Some of the applicants looked surprisingly weak. Were they here to apply for a security job? "Hey bro, you're here for the security guard job too?" A young man walked up to Maxwell, winking at him knowingly. "Yeah, why?" Maxwell asked in confusion. "Since when has being a security guard been so popular?" "Come on, man, we all know why people are here. This place is full of gorgeous women. Everyone's hoping to get in and maybe snag one as a girlfriend. No need to pretend you don't know." The young man nudged Maxwell with a grin. Maxwell was speechless. He just wanted a job. "What about you, bro? What's your background? Any military or professional bodyguard experience?" The young man sized him up. "What? This job requires qualifications?" Maxwell was stunned. He thought he had chosen the most straightforward job possible. Why were there still so many requirements? "Well, originally, no. But see those guys over there? I did some digging. Many are graduates from top universities, and some even are ex-soldiers. If two guys both served in the military, but one has a higher education, who will they hire?" The young man smirked as if he had already figured Maxwell out. Realizing that Maxwell wasn't much of a competitor, the man quickly lost interest and walked away.