America: Starting with Daily Intelligence-Chapter 29 Sieg Compromise

The situation was brought under control.

Officer Mig and his three colleagues detained the Zero-Dollar Purchase robbers in the car, used the walkie-talkie to report the situation to the dispatch center of the Southern Branch, and immediately took out the medical kit to begin humanitarian aid.

No, it’s not. This guy is riddled with bullets, is CPR going to be of any use?

Allen Zhang saw that Blackie had gone limp, and the officers, after a symbolic attempt at first aid, decisively gave up and reported to the dispatch center that the individual no longer exhibited any signs of life.

But the ambulance was still on its way, even if only for show, they needed to bring the body into the ICU to attempt resuscitation, and then regretfully announce that they had done all they could.

The scene, with blood spewing everywhere, was somewhat nauseating, with many people vomiting. Yet Allen Zhang kept a calm heart.

"No photos! No onlookers!! Hey! Don’t block the way! Everyone, leave here quickly!!"

Officer Mig immediately gestured to disperse and remove the crowd and began comforting the injured from the discount store.

Although the white homeless man had died immediately after stepping forward, curling up with his head down, his brave actions still received high praise from the officers.

When the officers realized the injured individual was a black undocumented homeless man, and they did not intend to record his testimony, after much thought, one privately pulled out 20 US Dollars as a reward and let him leave the crime scene.

Since Sieg Comprey had no identification and was listed as deceased and undocumented, it was not easy to investigate, nor could they take testimony from him, so his injuries were essentially for naught, and his actions could not be recorded as credit points in a citizen file.

The officers could only use the surveillance footage, let the discount store’s employees provide testimonials, and leave it to the store owner to decide whether to accuse the several Blacks afterwards, complaining to the court to confirm their robbery and assault charges.

Allen Zhang also left Eito Street following the crowd, noticing two new police cars arriving at the crime scene and setting up warning tapes.

Watching such a drama, it was really worth it.

Having arrived on the West Coast just a few days ago, how many people have already died?

After leaving Eito Street and noting that it was already 1 PM, Allen Zhang also purchased needed items from a nearby store specializing in camping gear.

An outdoor double inflatable moisture-proof mat for 29 US Dollars, a decent quality summer bedding set for 69 US Dollars, a solar panel charger for 32 US Dollars, an insect repellent lamp for 18 US Dollars...

Then, he spent 25 US Dollars at a fast-food restaurant on a calorie bomb meal: hamburger, pizza, fried chicken, beer.

Remaining assets 507 US Dollars.

Sitting in a spacious shady spot, he enjoyed the scenery while eating delicious pizza and drinking beer.

Turning his head, he noticed a familiar figure, with wet hair, a swollen forehead, a band-aid over a scar, rummaging through trash cans.

"Hey, is that you? How are you doing?"

Allen Zhang decisively greeted him.

The homeless man Sieg obviously didn’t remember him and asked in confusion, "Buddy, do we know each other?"

"I saw everything you did bravely in the discount store, and although it seemed a little rash in action, buddy, you are a hero!"

Allen Zhang warmly invited him to sit down, "Haven’t you eaten yet? If you don’t mind, come and join me."

Sieg hesitated for a moment, but enticed by the enticing fried chicken, he abandoned the trash search and took a seat. Allen Zhang casually handed him a slice of pizza and a can of beer.

"Thank you for your generosity! Buddy!"

Touched by Allen Zhang’s kindness, Sieg voraciously ate the pizza and drank the beer, his eyes reddening as he recalled his recent experiences.

"Nobody has ever been this nice to me, a homeless man! Never!!"

What he had encountered the most during this period was beating and being beaten.

Not knowing the rules of street survival, he would often accidentally trespass on others’ territories, even being pushed and shooed away while dumpster diving, and at night, lying on the street, he would have people urinate on his face to drive him away.

This place is simply hell!!

Sieg looked at Allen Zhang, and even though he was an East Asian person often maligned by the media, the fact proved that kind-hearted people transcend race and identity.

Sieg was deeply moved.

"Because I’m homeless too, having been rained on myself, I ought to hold an umbrella for others. There are still more good people in the world. Besides, I really admire someone like you, who is truly deserving of respect. You’re a real man!"

Allen Zhang’s words astonished Sieg, who looked at him incredulously, speechless for a long time.

"Buddy, that joke isn’t funny."

No one would guess that a man wearing DG sunglasses, sitting here eating fried chicken and beer, looking clean and relaxed, might be a vagabond.

Look at you then look at me.

I’m disheveled, starving, eating sporadically. Begging on the street gets me beaten and insulted. When I lie on the street, people chase me away now and then. At night, my shoes and luggage might get stolen while I sleep, leaving me in a terrible mental state.

Your clothes and gear are brand-new; your muscles, physique, and spirit are even better than the average person’s, looking like you’re living in luxury.

You’re saying you’re a vagabond?

Who could believe that?

We’re both supposed to be vagabonds, so why do you get to have it so good?

Sieg couldn’t understand.

Allen Zhang didn’t explain much, but asked with curiosity, "Didn’t the officer just give you 20 US Dollars? Didn’t you use it to buy a meal? At least to fill your stomach?"

Sieg honestly replied, "I donated that money to someone in need. A kid begging on the street."

"Oh! Then you really are a great person!!" Allen Zhang was somewhat surprised.

He had thought the other would use the money for a good meal, but instead, he gave it away to someone else.

So the other’s act of righteousness was just pure righteousness? No ulterior motives?

It’s rare to find such people in the US Army who emerge unsoiled from the mud, as rare as giant pandas.

What a shame.

Someone who once had a bright future has now become a vagabond. freewёbnoνel.com

Maybe that’s just the West Coast.

Following this, Sieg said with a bitter smile, "I just try to do good within my capabilities. Sadly, I can’t even take care of myself, no identity, no job, nothing at all, even survival is a problem..."

"That’s a coincidence, buddy. My story highly overlaps with yours! I’m undocumented too. Due to certain reasons, my identity was cancelled. I also can’t find work, homeless, wandering the streets."

Allen Zhang smiled and took a swig from his beer can.

"How is that possible!?"

Sieg was surprised, disbelieving.

After confirming it several times and finding that Allen Zhang didn’t seem to be lying, he was surprised and excited, as if he had found his own kind.

Perhaps touched by the other’s kindness or perhaps because he had been bottling things up in his heart for too long, needing someone to confide in, Sieg also let down his guard.

Drinking one bottle after another, fueled by alcohol, Sieg told Allen Zhang about his past, revealed his secrets hidden in his heart, and vented all his frustrations.

He felt much lighter after speaking.

"I never meant to hurt anyone, I just wanted to use that money for a meal, but I accidentally caused the death of that old man... I thought about turning myself in, even gathered the courage to do so, but the street officer told me that without an identity, I’m undocumented, my words are worthless. Who knows if I’m just trying to freeload and hide from enemies, saying I’d be wasting taxpayers’ money every second I’m in prison."

Sieg chuckled with self-deprecation: "Because I’m undocumented and haven’t paid taxes, I don’t deserve to be locked up in a private prison. I was only kept in the police station for a few hours before being chased out and despised. This is the West Coast, this is the United States! I finally see it clearly!"

"But I still haven’t been completely defeated by the cruel reality, I haven’t lost my passion for life! To hell with the United States! I don’t care anymore!"

"Whatever happens next, I don’t care anymore. I’m a sinner!! Everything I’m going through now is God’s punishment on me!!"

Sieg screamed like a madman.

During his days wandering the streets, tormented and in anguish, he felt like he was going insane.

Passersby on the street looked at him with surprise, then indifferently turned and walked away.