Holding an address and a business card he got from Mr. Fox, Lynch found the store Mr. Fox described as a "friend's shop", a small establishment called "Space Light Bath".
Contrary to Lynch's imagination, the place didn't seem to have many people, especially at the entrance, with no one lining up, which was a bit different from what was trendy.
Just as he pushed the door open and entered, a young girl at the front desk, looking bored, came up to him, "Sir, is there anything I can help you with?"
The girl looked about twenty years old, with some freckles near her nose, exuding a youthful vibe that made her quite pleasant.
Lynch's gaze shifted from the girl to a corridor behind her, where doors lined both sides every few meters, all leading to light bath rooms.
Since some organization claimed that light baths could effectively kill crab lice and treat some mild visible skin conditions, many people started enjoying the effects of light baths while baring it all.
Whether it's effective is debatable, but it clearly satisfied some people's urge to be naked in a semi-public space, relieving pressure and turning what could have been a communal light bath into something awkward.
Eventually, most light bath shops transitioned from semi-open venues to semi-closed private rooms to protect certain people's privacy and certain people's eyes.
The girl was about to say something when a door opened behind her, and a girl wearing sunglasses, stark naked, stood in the hallway. She stretched her body and looked at the two outside the hall, making no attempt to cover herself.
The sunglasses she wore were like aviator glasses that covered most of her face, leaving only her nose and mouth exposed, combined with a swim cap that wrapped all her hair. Even familiar people would find it hard to recognize her true identity through the thick disguise.
This is why these people dared to undress in public; they weren't worried about being recognized by anyone.
The front desk girl screamed while apologizing, ushering the restless lady back to her room and warning her that if she ran around again, her subsequent appointment would be canceled. This settled the lady down somewhat.
"I'm very sorry for the inconvenience..." After handling the situation, the girl returned to the counter and apologized to Lynch.
"It's okay, the lady has a great figure, I think I got the better deal." This remark made the girl's face blush a little, and she also felt that Lynch... She didn't know how to put it.
To call him a bad guy, he was honest; to call him a good guy, he made no attempt to hide the sordid thoughts in his mind.
The girl, unsure how to express her feelings at that moment, stood there speechless, while Lynch smiled and said, "Could you get in touch with your boss for me? Tell him that Mr. Fox referred me, and I'd like to meet him."
Breathing a sigh of relief, the girl told him to wait a moment before picking up the phone. After about thirty-four to thirty-five seconds, she hung up the phone and pointed to a side door not far away, saying, "The boss is waiting in the back for you, you can go in."
After thanking the girl, Lynch entered an office through the side door, where a boss, looking to be in his thirties and slightly balding, came up to greet Lynch proactively.
This boss was named Tobyin. When he started this light bath shop, he didn't have much money, so he borrowed some from Mr. Fox. As the business took off, he quickly paid back the debt.
He was an ordinary, simple, yet interesting little merchant who always felt indebted to Mr. Fox and wanted to repay the favor. So when Lynch mentioned the light bath shop, Mr. Fox immediately thought of Tobyin.
"Mr. Fox is very important to me. He helped me a lot when I was starting out in business. Since you're his friend, you're naturally my friend too..." After shaking hands with Lynch, he didn't let go but warmly pulled him to sit on the sofa, "Is there anything I can do for you?"
His expression was very serious, not seeming fake. Society might produce bad people, but it could also nurture more good ones.
"Mr. Tobyin, I need a set of ultraviolet light bath equipment, do you happen to have an extra set here?"
This question made Mr. Tobyin pause for a moment. After a brief change in his expression, he uncertainly asked, "Sorry, perhaps I shouldn't pry, but could you let me know what you intend to use the ultraviolet light bath for?" He said this in an apologetic tone, "You don't have to answer, I'm just a bit curious."
Lynch shrugged. Even good people have their special moments, such as when it concerns their core interests; he didn't want to gain an unnecessary enemy. Although he wasn't afraid of such an enemy, it would indeed be a hassle, no?
So he did explain a little, "I heard that the water we are using has many terrible bacteria, and exposing them to ultraviolet light for a time can effectively kill these bacteria..."
Mr. Tobyin paused for a moment, then laughed, nodding in acceptance of the explanation. Some developed cities' water plants did indeed start using ultraviolet light for disinfecting water, but how effective it was remained unclear.
Lynch gave a plausible explanation, and as long as the other party didn't intend to open another light bath shop to increase competition, Mr. Tobyin didn't mind what Lynch wanted the light bath for.
"No problem, just give me an address, and I'll have someone deliver it to you..." Mr. Tobyin was quite generous, not even mentioning whether Lynch needed to pay for the transaction.
In the end, it was Lynch who brought up the matter. After a few polite refusals, Lynch paid three hundred and fifty bucks, considering it as a purchase of an individual lamp stand.
A bit later, Lynch and the worker Mr. Tobyin sent together went back to a warehouse he rented and, under Lynch's request, the workers set up the ultraviolet light bath and then left.
After the workers left, Lynch found a small restaurant nearby, ate something, and returned to the warehouse. He locked the door, and under the light of the bath, he pissed...
At around nine the next morning, an excited Richard, with a somewhat old backpack, arrived at the office, his face slightly flushed. When he took the backpack off his back, there was a clanking sound.
He wiped some sweat off his temple, "This is what I collected yesterday..." He reported a number, looking expectantly at Lynch.
Honestly, this job might not be entirely by the book, considering he and Lynch didn't even have a formal employment contract, and perhaps the job had a hint of being illegal.
But he didn't care, as long as he could make money. Who cared if it was legal or not? Without money, what good is doing everything by the book?
"Just tell me how much you're supposed to take...," Lynch opened a drawer, took out a stack of twenty-dollar bills in his hand, and Richard's breathing became instantly heavy.
"You're giving me one thousand two hundred bucks, Boss!"
Every ten bills made a stack, and Richard's gaze was locked on Lynch's hand, softly counting the money that was about to become his!
After Richard contentedly left with the cash, promising to be back soon, Lynch pushed a cart full of coins into the office room.
He placed the cart under the ultraviolet light, turned on the switch, and the coins lay quietly under the light...