Chapter 36: Putnam’s Past.
Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
In the kitchen, Putnam and Li Zhuo were sitting at the table, enjoying the diet meal that Putnam had made himself.
Looking at the vegetable salad and baguette in front of him, as well as some food that no one could name other than Putnam, Li Zhuo revealed a pained expression.
"Hurry up and eat. These are the things you need the most right now."
"No, no, no. I think what I need the most right now is something that my stomach and taste buds can accept."
After saying that, he picked up the baguette on the table and knocked on the table.
Bang, Bang, Bang. The corners of Li Zhuo's eyes twitched slightly.
"Can my stomach really digest such a hard thing?"
Putnam gnawed on the baguette and said faintly, "As an assassin, most of the time, we can't live according to the most comfortable lifestyle. When necessary, we even have to eat roots and tree bark."
"Hey, hey, hey, I didn't say that I wanted to be an assassin. I just wanted to exercise." Li Zhuo was shocked. When did this fitness instructor become an assassin instructor?
Did he not say that he would only teach me to exercise?
However, Putnam stopped chewing and slowly put the baguette back on the plate. "Do you know... how did I get onto the path of a killer?"
Looking at Putnam in front of him, Li Zhuo was also slightly stunned.
Li Zhuo suddenly realized that after he had been with Putnam for the past few days, Putnam was actually a kind-hearted person.
However, he had subconsciously overlooked one thing. How did this taciturn tough guy in front of him walk down this path?
He was obviously a man who liked small animals, had a blue cat, was always quiet, and sometimes looked at everyone with a warm smile.
Henry seemed to have learned from a certain 'teacher' when he became a pharmacist.
So, who taught the man in front of him the top killing skills?
Putnam looked at the food in front of him as if he was talking to Li Zhuo, but he also seemed to be mumbling to himself.
"I'm 37 years old this year. I used to be a fitness trainer. My income was not high, but it was just enough to support myself. Occasionally, I earned a little more, and I could buy some delicious canned food for my pet dog and cat."
"I've been a fitness trainer since I was 20 years old, but I've only been a fitness trainer for three years."
"In my third year as a fitness trainer, I accidentally killed a person."
Accidentally killed!
Hearing this word, Li Zhuo's face turned ugly because the crime that got him into Section S was manslaughter.
"And then?"
"And then? Then it's much simpler."
Putnam leaned back in his chair, looked at the light on the ceiling, and said continued, "For an ordinary fitness trainer like me, I don't have any power behind me, and my savings over the past three years are pathetic."
"There are only two paths left for me. One is to surrender and go to jail, and the other is to escape."
"You chose to escape?"
"Yes. If I go to jail, my pet will starve to death."
Hearing this, Li Zhuo was slightly stunned. This killer actually brought his pet with him when he was escaping?
Putnam continued, "the process of escaping is very arduous and long. I need income to maintain my life. You understand that I need to feed more than just one mouth."
"I know, you needed to feed three mouths."
"However, no one would hire me for any proper job. I did not have a proper identity. At that time, I could only search for food in the trash can."
"After enduring a period of hunger, a student boy came to me. I will never forget the look in his eyes. They were filled with hatred, but also with some fear."
"The first thing he said at that time was, 'excuse me, are you Putnam?'. At that time, I knew that the fear in his eyes was because of me."
Putnam paused. His eyes were filled with reminiscence.
"Then, how did he know your name?"
"That's because I was already wanted at that time. That kid recognized me. ThatkKid was afraid of me, but he still took the initiative to talk to me."
"He gave me a commission. He wanted me to teach those hooligans at the school gate a lesson. It was said that these hooligans often bullied and blackmailed him."
"The reward was also the most impressive reward I had ever received in my life -- a piggy bank filled with coins."
"That kid's idea is very simple and very reasonable. Instead of being endlessly extorted and bullied, why won't he give me the money and get me to teach those who bullied him a lesson?"
"In this way, not only can he buy a new piggy bank and start accumulating his 'small savings' again, but he can also take revenge on those who have been bullying him."
Li Zhuo felt that this matter seemed to be very reasonable because not only in terms of his figure, even Putnam's appearance was very oppressive.
Such a person was obviously the most suitable candidate in that kid's eyes.
"So, you did it?"
"Yes, I did it. The coins in the piggy bank were enough for me and my pets to live for a very, very long time, so I had to do it."
"Moreover, at that time, it seemed to me that this was also helping that kid."
"That day, he brought these hooligans in front of me. As a fitness trainer, I had a physique that these hooligans could not compare to."
"I single-handedly defeated five hooligans, even though it was my first time fighting."
"Then, I started my own business -- I specialized in helping others teach some hooligans a lesson."
"You know, these guys actually dared to take the initiative to find a wanted criminal. This means that they really can't stand this kind of life, so my income source became very stable. Many 'clients' have this kind of demand."
"My identity was more sensitive, so I could have this kind of gray income. After this continued for a period of time, I received a 'big business'. The other party was not a student, so he paid me 10,000 yuan."
Hearing this, Li Zhuo had a slight premonition in his heart.
He felt that this 'business' might be a turning point that had affected Putnam's life.
"That kid was also a gang member. He wanted me to help him participate in a gang fight. You know, I only beat up a few hooligans back then. I never participated in gang matters."
"However, 10,000 yuan was too much for me at that time. As long as I complete this business, I can rent a house that doesn't need ID and have my own home."
"I needed the money too much..."
At this point, Putnam fell silent again.
What he wanted to express was very clear -- many times, the path was not necessarily voluntary, it could also be forced by life.
"That time, it was the first time in my life that I touched a pistol."
-- Gift
received