Side Story: Capo of the Eastern Thumb IV
“Sss… haah…”
The smoke the child exhaled from the cigar filled the black room, then slowly drifted apart and vanished.
Seated on the red sofa, the child regarded the client standing before them.
“So… what’s a big shot like you got to complain about that you’d come looking for me?”
“Ah, if the way I talk rubs you the wrong way, just say the word.”
“No. It’s fine.”
The client the child had called a big shot held out a single sheet of paper.
“In the upcoming Family Head Contest of H Corp, you will participate as this person’s family.”
“Family Head Contest, huh… What’s a person of your standing got to be so hard up about that you’d ask for something like that?”
“There isn’t a soul alive who’d simply throw away the chance to become the representative of a Wing.”
The child’s mind worked quickly.
H Corp. Family Head Contest. Wing. They were calculating just how much profit the things the person in front of them was saying would bring to their own side.
“Alright then~ I’ll take that job.”
“The exact date will be relayed later. Stand by until then.”
With those words the client left the room.
The child crushed the cigar against the ashtray, snuffing out the ember.
“Haa… Family Head Contest, huh… Looks like a big one just walked in.”
“What do you lot think?”
The child asked the subordinates standing behind them.
“It would seem best to accept, sir.”
“Right~? Tell the kids downstairs to get ready~”
“Yes, sir.”
With that the child picked up the sword resting beside the sofa and stepped out of the room.
It was a weapon they had received along with a Star’s name in the City, one they had modified in their own way and carried with affection ever since—the child’s personal blade.
“Alright, so what’s the next job?”
“The Underboss has ordered you to clean out the back alleys of District 9.”
“District 9, huh… Timing’s perfect.”
Just as the child said, the timing was almost too good.
The job they had just accepted was in H Corp—District 8—while the Underboss’s order was for District 9. It was the sort of schedule that meant finishing one job and immediately starting the next.
“I’ll be handling things in District 9. Tell the others to head to Hongyuan first and wait.”
“Understood.”
The Soldato withdrew, and the child began walking alone.
Like a tiger setting out on the hunt.
“Guh… kuh-hack!”
“That’s what you get for poking around a tiger’s den.”
The man who had been pouring blood from his throat went limp and collapsed to the floor.
Around the child, corpses of the same kind had piled into a small mountain.
Judging by the thick reek of gunpowder that filled the alley, the child had enjoyed themselves quite a bit.
Ordinarily the child did not bother with bullets, but when they judged an opponent worth the trouble, they never skimped on ammunition.
“Haa… Still, don’t lose heart, yeah? Even this much was fun enough for me~”
No answer came back, yet the child smiled as if thoroughly satisfied.
“Well then… shall we be on our way?”
Like a tiger that had just brought down a great hunt, the child smiled and began to walk.
Before long they arrived at a Warp Train station.
“Let’s see… switch this on…”
The child activated a special device from T Corp.
It was a device that let them freely adjust the time they perceived.
Knowing their own origins, the child was well aware of the truth behind Warp Trains, and so had prepared in advance.
No matter how strong someone might be, if they were forced to endure an uncountably long stretch of time as it was, their mind would inevitably collapse.
Ah… that wasn’t something I should have said just now, was it?
Hmm. It seems I no longer have time to look at you.
The child over there will be the same as the child here, so I’m rather looking forward to what choice they’ll make.
Well then—see you later.