A parking lot in the southern part of Hebili.
Then came a group of people who managed to make that ordinary place something special.
A bunch of Black gang bosses. They were the leaders of Black gangs operating in Hebili and other major cities across the country.
The rat people observing this historic moment busily moved around.
They had to gather useful information without getting caught.
First, they checked the license plate of the cars the bosses arrived in to find out which state they were from… which ultimately helped them identify who they were.
The best thing would have been to snap a photo of them together. However, doing so would make too much noise and might alert them.
“….”
As the rat people busily moved about, the one who called them here finally spoke up.
Jack ‘Black Jack’ Walker.
He had just been in a car with a license plate from the state of Hebili.
“Thanks for coming, everyone!”
“….”
Most of the bosses didn’t look too pleased. Walker quickly pointed that out.
“There are brothers among you who may be close, and some who may have grudges.”
The reason their expressions were sour wasn’t Walker himself. Some were friends with Walker, while others were his enemies. The same rules applied to everyone else.
A complicated relationship unfolded where one might be Walker’s friend but an adversary of another boss.
“This here is Rock Fisher from Norfolk, and over there is Queen Maria Sinclair from Atland.”
“Ahem.”
A boss in an antagonistic relationship with Sinclair cleared his throat uncomfortably. His actions implied a deep meaning like, “What queen?”
His name was Casper Renpol. He had made a fortune early on in Lexington through number betting and lottery business, earning the title “King of Number Betting.”
In contrast, Sinclair was a figure who had established herself in the same field from neighboring Atland, making their number betting competition very fierce.
“And of course, Parkson is from Kingston.”
Salvatore ‘Sally’ Parkson.
Born to an elf father and a Black mother he had raped, he was a Black man with a name closer to that of an elf, and he was a ruthless killer.
He was a devoted son and a prodigal child who, alongside his mafia father in Kingston, killed over fifty people, and ultimately couldn’t endure the persecution against his mother, killing his father too.
“Walker, it’s an honor to be called by you.”
“This is the Black Wolf from Tullydough. You all know the news, right?”
The news Walker referred to was simple.
Walker of Hebili and the Black Wolf from Tullydough had pushed out the Bangor Mafia Family and taken control of the cocaine supply chain.
In the world Luke Felini once inhabited, it was called diamorphine, but whether there or here, cocaine was still cocaine. Cocaine was considered a stimulant compared to diamorphine.
Of course, drugs are drugs, and while their side effects are seen as less serious compared to diamorphine and other drugs, they’re not harmless.
The drugs the Felini Family brought in from Tyrennia included both diamorphine and cocaine, with diamorphine being more prevalent.
The large-scale diamorphine supply chain was unique to the Felini Family in Hebili.
However, the cocaine supply chain existed in other cities alongside Hebili. One of those was held by the Calon Family in Bangor.
Until they were ambushed by the two Black gangs.
“I understand that our relationships are complicated. Some of us may be friends, and some may be enemies. But that no longer matters.”
“….”
“Our drug suppliers have always been of different races. It’s been a long road!”
“Too long.”
The Black Wolf nodded in response to Walker’s remark.
He had a real name, but everyone preferred to call him by his nickname, the Black Wolf.
“We can create a drug supply chain completely free of them! If we unite, we can do it.”
The cocaine supply line through Bangor was already in the hands of Walker and the Black Wolf. What remained was the diamorphine supply chain in Hebili.
“…But those Tyrenians won’t sell to anyone but wolves.”
Sinclair remarked as if it was impossible.
While the ones supplying cocaine to Bangor were manageable, the Tyrennians weren’t that easy.
“Yes, they established this drug market and set the prices. But now, it’s our turn to have a say.”
Walker spoke to Sinclair and those bosses who shared her views.
While we may not be able to obtain the diamorphine supply chain, we can talk to the Felini Family who hold it.
“We need to shake this city to make them listen to us. It would be best to start with the south.”
“The Mafia won’t just sit back.”
“Who’s currently controlling the south of Hebili?”
“Marinelli and Dragovich.”
As soon as Walker’s words finished, the bosses started talking amongst themselves.
“To be precise, Marinelli is in the southeast, and Dragovich is in the southwest. The south is Walker’s territory.”
The Black Wolf, closer to Walker than the others, added.
“There’s a reason we’ve always lagged behind them. They’ve killed everyone who didn’t listen to them. And they divided us.”
Some bosses wanted nothing more than to stop hearing this inflammatory speech.
Nonetheless, the truth in Walker’s words was undeniable. The more crucial thing was what he would say next.
“Now the tables have turned. After the Wolf was killed, they started dividing amongst themselves. The defeat of the Calon guys in Bangor is proof of that.”
“We all need to unite.”
“…Our king is you, right?”
After Walker and the Black Wolf exchanged a word each, Sally Parkson asked.
“Yes.”
Walker candidly admitted.
He didn’t miss the opportunity he had with the Black Wolf, and it was also him who had wiped out the Calon Family in Bangor.
The result was that he took control of the cocaine supply line in Bangor and gathered so many bosses to this place today.
“Parkson, you might as well be called the Joker.”
Of course, even as Walker remarked, he compared Parkson, who had thrown that comment at him, to a Joker. There were many implications in likening him to a card that could defeat even a king.
“If you promise to join me…”
As Walker turned to his men, they brought out a truckload of something from the car.
Packages of white powder wrapped up on all sides—it was cocaine.
“I’ll sell it to you for 60% less than the average price per 2 pounds.”
As he showed them the goods and mentioned the incredible discount, the expressions of the bosses visibly brightened.
“Absolutely beautiful.”
Even the usually quiet Renpol was praising the cocaine.
“So, shall we all agree?”
“….”
The bosses’ deliberation was very brief.
*
The next morning.
I headed to the Union Office in the Academy and did not return to Lupus Carlton Hotel.
“Luke, when do you think you’ll come back?”
“It seems it will take a little while.”
Naturally, Elena and Felicita could hardly wait for me to return to the hotel and contacted me separately.
Of course, my office was not a good environment for taking a nap.
I spent the evening in an empty room among the Academy staff quarters. Sarina and Kambara occasionally came by to update me on the progress of things.
“….”
After waking up early, I called many within the family.
“Brother.”
“Oh, Giovanni. What’s up?”
“Everything’s ready for the delivery with Carso.”
For a moment, I almost said “Already?” But thinking about it, it was already Monday.
Kazin and Haremo were set to visit the city with drugs sometime between this Tuesday and Wednesday.
And today was a significant day. The Marinelli Family and the Russo Family were scheduled to announce their withdrawal from the existing Five Families.
“Alright, good job.”
I contemplated whether to tighten the security more than usual but decided to leave it to Giovanni and Carso.
After finishing the conversation about the drug delivery with Giovanni, I couldn’t put down the receiver.
I discussed the merger of the area near Greenbug with Kambara’s brother Samia Zakaya, and talked with Viola about suppressing the northeastern part of the city.
Then I discussed the Union issues with Sarina and Kambara.
“Brother, have you had your meal yet?”
“No, not yet.”
When Kambara brought up breakfast, I couldn’t help but swallow my saliva.
“Luke, let’s meet at the restaurant then.”
Sarina, having taken the receiver from Kambara, looked at me as if piercing through me. I was starving as I hadn’t eaten anything since waking up.
As I headed to the Academy’s student cafeteria, it was bustling despite the early morning.
Thanks to that, even with our trio of small elf, beautiful beastman, and crocodile man, we didn’t stand out too much.
“Brother, are you going to eat all that?”
“Why?”
Kambara was agog at the amount of food I had brought to the table.
“A man has to eat that much. Aren’t you eating too little?”
“Sister, I’d say that’s pretty average.”
Though Sarina defended me, Kambara seemed still shocked by my portion size.
“Is there something wrong with me?”
“…No, it just seems that both you and sister are typically big eaters for wolves.”
“Well, you eat when you can.”
Sarina nodded vigorously at my remark.
It might be strange for us wolves, but training to be a wolf makes a person like that.
I did have things to tell the two of them, but first, I needed to fill my stomach.
A long sandwich filled with red tomatoes, thinly sliced salchichas, green vegetables, and white cheese.
Tomato spaghetti generously loaded with shrimps.
A moist croissant cut in half and stuffed with salmon and cheese.
Chicken steak drizzled with gravy sauce, mashed potatoes, and roasted green beans.
Ambrosia salad mixed with oranges, pineapples, cherries, and marshmallows in mayonnaise.
“…Is this a lot?”
“It is a lot.”
“Is it, really? I mean, this is normal.”
“All in all, it looks like a lot, but I only took a small amount of several dishes.”
“…Is that so?”
Kambara looked completely perplexed. Regardless of his reaction, the ambrosia salad was exactly to my liking.
It had a taste reminiscent of the fruit salad in mayonnaise I had for school lunch.
No, more accurately, it was not just to my taste, but rather a food imbued with a sense of nostalgia.
After filling up somewhat, I checked in with Kambara about the progress of things.
“So, how’s everything on your end?”
“I’ve handed over all the broker students who met with the dead student to the deputy chief.”
“There won’t be an issue, right?”
“No, they weren’t from powerful families, and the deputy chief will handle it.”
The brokers who killed the representative of the student brokers were dealt with very smoothly.
According to Kambara, not all student brokers were in favor of this act. It seemed only about half were involved.
“Then the remaining ones are the problem.”
Now with half of the brokers gone, filling the void is work in itself. We needed to gently reassure the remaining ones too.
Next would be to deal with the union executives who had tried to stab us in the back. Actually, I didn’t need to ask Sarina about that.
“Luke, I’ll take care of this right after I finish eating.”
“Sister, you’re speaking quite loudly.”
“It’s fine. No one is going to care about this. Besides, they won’t even be able to follow a context like this.”
Kambara was startled by Sarina’s words, but neither Sarina nor I paid much mind.
“Handle this when no one is watching as much as possible.”
“Yes.”
That concluded our discussion regarding the union executive.
After finishing a hearty breakfast, I returned to the Union Office. Even before entering my office, one of my men told me that Vincent Lumini had called while I was away.
“Vincent Lumini? What’s the matter?”
“Uh… Veronica. That woman fled to Lumini’s territory.”
“What?!”
It was a sudden news. It felt somewhat like déjà vu.
Come to think of it, it seemed Lumini had some kind of connection with securing my siblings first.
