Chapter 18: A Painful Situation

With an address and a business card from Mr. Fox, Lynch found the “friend’s shop” Fox mentioned, a small place called “Space Light Bath.”

It looked different from what Lynch expected. There weren’t many people, especially none lining up outside, which didn’t quite match the trend.

As he entered, a bored young woman at the front desk greeted him, “Sir, how can I help you?”

She looked about twenty, with freckles near her nose and a youthful aura that was pleasant.

Lynch’s gaze shifted past her to a hallway lined with doors every few meters, each leading to light bath rooms.

After a certain organization claimed light baths could effectively kill lice and some mild skin diseases, many started to enjoy nude light baths.

Whether it worked or not was unclear, but it obviously satisfied some people’s urge to be nude in semi-public spaces, relieving stress, while making what used to be a group activity awkward.

Most light bath shops eventually converted from semi-public to semi-private rooms to protect privacy and some sensitive eyes.

Just as the woman was about to speak, a door opened down the hall, and a nude woman wearing aviator-style sunglasses appeared, stretching and exposing herself without shame.

Her sunglasses covered most of her face, leaving only her nose and mouth visible, combined with a diving cap that hid her hair, making it hard to recognize her even for acquaintances.

This was why these people dared to undress publicly—they didn’t worry about being recognized.

The receptionist screamed, apologized, and escorted the unruly lady back to her room, warning her that if she ran again, her future appointments would be canceled, which calmed the woman down.

“Sorry for the disturbance,” the receptionist apologized to Lynch after handling it.

“No problem, she has a great figure—I think I got lucky.” Lynch’s comment made the girl blush; she didn’t know whether to see him as honest or as someone shamelessly revealing his thoughts.

She was speechless, while Lynch smiled and said, “Please contact your boss for me. Tell him Mr. Fox sent me—I want to meet him.”

She breathed a sigh of relief, said “One moment,” and after about thirty-five seconds on the phone, pointed to a side door, “The boss is waiting in the back. You can go now.”

Lynch thanked her and entered the office behind the side door, where a balding man in his thirties warmly greeted him.

This man was Toby. When he started the light bath shop, he borrowed money from Mr. Fox. As business grew, he quickly repaid the debt.

Toby was an ordinary, somewhat awkward but interesting small businessman who felt indebted to Mr. Fox and wanted to repay the favor. That’s why Fox immediately thought of Toby when Lynch mentioned the light bath shop.

“Mr. Fox is very important to me. He helped me a lot when I started. If you’re his friend, you’re naturally mine,” Toby said, shaking Lynch’s hand firmly and guiding him to sit on a sofa. “What can I do for you?”

His sincerity was clear; despite society’s flaws, more good people existed.

“Toby, I need a set of ultraviolet light bath lamps. Do you have any spare?”

Toby hesitated, then asked apologetically, “Sorry, maybe I shouldn’t ask, but may I know what you need UV lamps for? You don’t have to answer—I’m just curious.”

Lynch shrugged. Everyone has moments to protect their core interests. He didn’t want unnecessary enemies, even if he wasn’t afraid. So he explained:

“I heard our water contains many harmful bacteria. UV light can effectively kill them after some exposure.”

Toby paused, then laughed and nodded. Some developed cities have begun disinfecting water with UV light, but the effect’s extent is unclear.

Lynch’s explanation was plausible enough. As long as he didn’t plan to open a competing light bath shop, Toby didn’t mind what Lynch needed the lamps for.

“No problem. Give me an address, and I’ll arrange delivery,” Toby said generously, not even mentioning payment.

Eventually, Lynch asked, and after some refusals, he paid 350 Sol for a separate lamp stand.

Later, Lynch and workers sent by Toby returned to Lynch’s rented warehouse. At Lynch’s request, the workers set up the UV light bath lamp before leaving.

After they left, Lynch ate nearby, returned to the warehouse, closed the door, and urinated under the light…

The next morning around nine, an excited Richard came to the office carrying a somewhat old backpack. His face was flushed, and the metallic clink of the backpack echoed as he took it off.

Wiping sweat from his temple, he said, “This is what I collected yesterday…” He announced a number, looking expectantly at Lynch.

The job wasn’t exactly legal—there wasn’t even a contract between Lynch and Richard—but Richard didn’t care. As long as he could make money, legality was irrelevant.

“Tell me how much you should take,” Lynch said, opening a drawer and pulling out a wad of twenties, clenching them in his hand. Richard’s breathing quickened.

“You owe me 1,200 Sol, boss!”

Richard quietly counted the bills stacked in tens, his eyes locked on Lynch’s hand and the money soon to be his.

After Richard left satisfied and promised to return soon, Lynch wheeled a cart full of coins into the office.

He placed the cart under the UV lamp and switched it on. The coins lay quietly under the light…