The Runorata Family[]

New Jersey Outskirts of New York

"And?"

A clear blue that almost seemed transparent. Under the freezing sky coloured in this shade, a single elderly man stood alone on the lawn. Behind him was a young man. Gustavo's underling, the man who normally was in charge of reporting about the state of things.

"Yes, sir. Gustavo miraculously pulled through it. We do not know what weapon was used, but his carotid artery was split open. The bullets in his body are the result of self-defense by the employees. Concerning the wound on his throat, it's said to be self-inflicted in a moment of insanity."

The underling made his report without even a speck of nervousness to his real boss behind the scenes------------ Bartolo.

As if he was a completely different person from before, when he cowered in terror before Gustavo.

"In addition, the police are also charging him for being the prime suspect for the Genoard murders, and it's only a matter of time before he is taken into custody. We have already made the necessary arrangements. The government has said that it would be in our best interests not to interfere beyond this with regards to matters concerning Gustavo."

"Is that so."

Bartolo gave a small nod of the head, muttered to himself while regarding the sky,

"Well, I suppose one could say that fellow is fortunate."

"I beg your pardon?"

"At the Council with other organizations, they had demanded that I handed him over. He has done some mighty fine things in the past, so they want to him to take responsibility for what his action."

As though he were discussing business matters, he tonelessly drew his conclusions.

"It would be ideal if that fellow had managed to get his hands on the Gandor Family territory, because I had agreed with the Five Families that once we had it we would transfer it to them."

"And, if he were to fail I was to hand him over."

"Although he failed in the end, they can't act since he's on this territory. To Gustavo, this is a truly lucky state of affairs. However, in exchange, I must give up part of my profits."

Bartolo paused here for a moment, before giving a bland smile while idly complaining to his underling,

"Times have changed dramatically. Whether it's for killing a traitorous underling or for taking revenge for your brothers, it's a era where you need the recognition of the Council or the Commission.

After the revolution drenched in Luciano's blood, the Mafia world rapidly progressed towards modernizing the organizations. Ties with politicians were gradually strengthened, and even hostilities towards the Jewish and Irish Mobs mellowed.

The Runorata Family plodding on operating their own business little changed in the wake of this wave of modernization. However, this did not mean they wanted to antagonist the others- they chose to walk the path of 'co-existence' the same way as the other organizations. It was only Bartolo alone who pressed on, intent on having his own way.

"Lucky Luciano was a powerful man. But he didn't preside over his own organization, but changed it into a parliamental style of running, similar to the government. Because he understood that, if he were to be the central figure in the organization, it was likely that the next person to be attacked would be him. In that case, anyone could become the leader. Aah, that fellow ruled the world, at least for a short period of time."

Unconsciously glancing at his underling, a hint of expression appeared on Bartolo's face.

"Perhaps now is the harshest era, for both us and the Gandors. Will we be able to prevail over each other? I really look forward to this."

The underling was a little surprised by these words.

"Then, the Gandor Family?"

"We have already signed a truce. From now on we will be equals. Not as enemies, but to coexist."

"Are we leaving it there? Then what's with this kind of small organization having a relationship with that assassin called 'Vino'."

"You simply don't get it!"

In an instant, Bartolo resumed his icy expression, and gazed silently at his underling through his glasses.

"Our world is either 1 or 0. Are they existences equal to enemies? Or are they existences that cannot be permitted? It's a case of two-choose-one. The word 'weak' simply doesn't exist in our world, and we absolutely cannot regard opponents as weaker as ourselves. And, it all begins in that instant... Gustavo and my thoughts about this are the same. It's just, I regard them as 1, and that fellow regards them as 0. That's the only difference."

At this point, Bartolo waves at the corner of his villa; his young grandson was just running over in their direction.

"When my grandson grows up, will the Gandors be enemies or neighbours? I really look forward to that day."

Bartolo walked forward and, finally, revealed the complicated emotions about the man with whom he was negotiating earlier.

"Keith Gandor, hm? What an impressive man."

The Gandor Family[]

5 January 1932

Kacha

Keith silently hung up the phone and pulled on his coat in preparation for going home. It had already been a week since he last went back, so there was some excitement in his heart.

"Mrs. Kate is still well?"

A hint of a smile mixed in with his cold expression, Keith gave a light nod of his head and left the room.

---But man, Big Bro sure talked a lot on the phone.

Berga also didn't know if Keith was aware of what he thought, but in any case Keith remained silent as always. Or that was to say, he was as stingy as ever with his words.

>

The Gandor Family office. They had already returned to the peaceful, routine work of the old days, and only Luck alone had many matters weighing on his mind as he lay on the sofa.

"I'm so bored..."

Indeed, when isolating Gustavo, he had said 'we refuse nobody'.

Although he was just saying that.

"You can't, amigo! You can't use scissors to cut vegetables!"

"Eh--- But it tastes good. That's right, what does 'amigo' mean?"

"It means friend!"

"Oh wow, this is the first time a girl's called me a friend."

In the kitchen of the office, Tick and the Mexican girl were innocently chatting and laughing.

The first time the Mexican girl came to the Gandor Family office, all their men wore identical expressions of shock.

"Um, Mr. Luck, that girl..."

"Please don't mind."

"But..."

"Even if you do mind, please pretend you don't mind."

"Huh?"

Watching out of the corner of his eye his underlings, who all seemed unwilling to leave, Luck sighed again.

---Keith-bro. Even though Tick alone is enough to fill our quota of craziness. I mean, I even had my hand cut off by that guy.

Ah well, I'll live. Things become tolerable when I bear in mind that the number of skillful fellows around have increased.

Claire, who had been muttering 'I exercised too much on the train...', had disappeared off to someplace. Probably to look for the person he was marrying. He's always had a will of his own.

>

But the person who had been more impulsive, more idle than anyone else—-- it was, without question, himself.

>

Luck stared up at the sky and sighed, musing over the events after that incident.

>

<==>

>

"Miss! M-M- Miss! My sincere apologies! Because of a mistake on this Benjamin's part, I allowed Miss to become involved in such a frightful incident."

Eve didn't let them continue apologising.

"Mr. Benjamin, Ms. Samasa, I, I---"

Feeling two raps to her head, Eve looked up to see Samasa smiling.

"Y'ain't hafta worry, everythin's dun!"

Just as Eve was about to leave, Luck slowly walked towards her.

"Ah..."

Eve couldn't speak. Her brother's enemy, who, despite all those wilful words she had said, despite all those wilful things she did- who, inspite of all that, still saved her.

If she had fired the gun just like that, she would probably never see Benjamin and Samasa again.

Although she had been saved by that person so many times in that room, in the end she never once said a word of thanks.

Even so, she still wanted to rescue Dallas in the depths of her heart.

What kind of behaviour was appropriate when speaking to him?

Then, he handed Eve a piece of paper and said,

"When you feel my pain has disappeared, please do as you wish. I shall leave this judgement of when this time has come to you."

With that, the fox-eyed man turned to leave.

Drawn on the paper was a detailed map, and there was even a mark at the center of the river.

"Um! Mr. Luck!"

A hand was suddenly thrust in front of Eve, cutting her off.

"Don't say anything. Whether it's to curse me or thank me, because that will only make me angry."

Watching Luck's receding back, Eve just clutched that piece of paper to her chest.

>

If that was exposed, the next person to be sunk in the river by his brothers would be himself.

And prior to that, how could he ever explain himself to his deceased companions!

If it were Firo, he would definitely say nary a care in the world, 'They're dead, so there's no need for explanations, is there'. In this one aspect, Firo was colder than he was.

But he couldn't do that. Although people in this field are all aware that they can die anytime, reality differs greatly from novels and movies. No one wants to die. In this respect, they and all the common folk were the same.

If he had to point out the difference between them, it could only be one thing. They were villains. That was all.

---Yes, villains.

Which was why he did not forgive Dallas and his cohorts, and why he he did not show Eve any sympathy.

That act was nothing more than just one of the 'calculations' he was proud of.

---After all, it's impossible for her. While she may know their location, she can't possibly haul them out.

Dallas and the others were sunk in the deepest part of the nearby river. It was possible to search the depths with heavy machinery, but with just Eve's power alone that was absolutely impossible.

He just wanted to let that girl 'be temporarily at ease', that was all. If he told her the location, she would no longer contact himself and his gang. There wouldn't be any more reason for her to bear such pointless hatred against him. And despite that, Dallas and the others would continue serving for their sins on the riverbed.

Everything was in control. There was nothing worth worrying about.

Although he thought that way, Luck couldn't get rid of the feeling that he was 'idle'.

If he really didn't want to let Dallas and the others off the hook, then he could have just created a false address. But why did he have to give Eve the chance to save Dallas and his cohorts? Why didn't he lie to Eve? These issues kept nagging Luck.

Claire was right: perhaps he simply wasn't suited to being Mafia. But now, his hands were already too filthy. Furthermore, protecting this land was his mission and duty. This estate was the best representation of family honor.

In other words, it boiled down to this, and nothing else.

This, was probably his entire world.

---Could it be.

Luck thought back to the time when he was facing off Gustavo, to the girl's face then. The look in those eyes was one he wasn't capable of expressing. The look of someone who threw themselves wholeheartedly into a world they believed it, the look of someone who was filled with a certain type of readiness.

---Could it be, this is what I envied? That child and her heart brimming with passion. Something I probably can never attain no matter what I do.

Because he no longer possessed the capacity to prepare himself for death. Not ever, not for all time.

Turning these thoughts over in his mind, Luck quietly immersed himself in a book.

The Wealthy[]

"Hey, let's do this again sometime tomorrow?"

"Next time, Firo join us too!"

Several large wine barrels were placed in the Alveare. No longer used to store wine, it was now packed with dominos.

Sitting on the wine barrels, Isaac and Miria were drumming their two feet against the barrels.

"I refuse."

Firo snapped and sighed as he asked the two,

"Hey, I'll ask again... What's so fun about this? Knocking down in a few minutes things that took several hours to place."

Hearing this, Isaac and Miria grinned like kids as they said,

"But watching it is very fun, yeah?"

"Fun, isn't it?"

"......Yeah."

Firo agreed with them on this point. Although it looked tragically stupid, he too forgot to eat and had focussed on watching when the dominos started falling.

"It's so much fun! Of course, we're happy too when the dominos we placed fall..."

"The people watching are happy too, it's really killing two birds with one stone!"

"In other words, we can earn a lot of money!"

"If us and the people watching are happy, then all the people in the city happy too!"

Confronted with this genuinely delighted duo, Firo gave a smile of surrender.

"True... This is exactly the kind of game that'll come from you two with that kind of reasoning."

---Your lives are like that too.

Although Firo thought that, he didn't say it aloud.

---This pair's lives are just like the 'central trunk' of the dominos. Moving independently, passing through various mechanisms, knocking down forking dominos. Ennis's life and mine are the same; these two always impact on other people's lives. But they're actually just living by doing whatever they want.

"I understand. Next time I'll help too. If I have the time."

"That's great! Now Firo's also a domino buddy!"

"A dominist! Which one is better?"

"...Please tell me what's the difference between the two."

Firo held his head and thought,

If there were more people like them, the world would probably become peaceful and harmonious. But while the number of people who have been influenced by this couple will be many, no one would probably want to 'become those two'.

---I'm thinking too much.

As Firo smiled wryly at his own fantasies, he laid out the dominos from the bucket on his palm.

>

<==>

=

In the Genoard family villa, Eve was sprawled on the dining table.

While holding the piece of paper in her hand, she thinking about her older brother and Luck, as well as pondering over matters silently.

--I'll save Brother Dallas just like that? Is it really right to do so?

This was her original wish, but why now was she shaken?

Could it be, her selfishness had been delivered a massive blow by that person?

But her determination to save her brother hadn't changed.

What should I do, what should I do? I, I---

"Why you so little energy neh? Quickly eat some food lah, then get energy!"

Eve turned her eyes towards the lively voice, to see the Asian-looking chef walking over with some dishes in hand.

"Even though I dunno what you have on your mind, why not eat first ah. People ah, they most happy when eating."

"Don't say such naive things so irresponsibly."

Jon, standing at the side, suddenly interjected.

Eve, who originally had no appetite, smelled the fragrance of food and unconsciously picked up fork and knife.

"---Delicious. Just like what Mrs. Kate cooked."

"Kate? Who's Kate?"

Fan seemed baffled, turning to the seemingly overjoyed steward and Samasa.

Eve, who had been frowning all along, finally regained her former smiles, and the two delighted over this as though they were happy for themelves.

Looking at the people around her, Eve once again sensed how fortunate she was. But, her older brother and father were no longer here. That was a fact. Even if one mourned the deceased there was nothing one could do. But, Dallas was indeed still alive.

What should I do? Eve pondered as she ate.

What should I do? How could I let Dallas and Luck, and also the Gandor people gain happiness?

--Aah, I, I only thought of my happiness.

The only goal she had been thinking about was to immediately rescue Dallas.

If she kept thinking about it, she could at least decide what she was able to do.

That's it, I--- I want to become like those two.

I want to be like the two thieves who brought me happiness for a time, to think about what I could do over people other than myself. Then, to absolutely not get confused when I act. To put others before myself, not ever let happiness escape again.

Eve thought about the thief-couple, and her anxieties slowly melted away.

As though wanting to confirm her way of thinking, she tightly, tightly held that piece of paper.

Begg[]

August 2002 Somewhere in New Jersey

"Begg."

Maiza called this name he hadn't said in decades, but the other party had no response whatsoever.

In a room of a certain hospital, Begg was just huddled up in the corner of the room. He seemed to be muttering something by himself, completely indifferent to everything around him.

"It appears he started being like that a few decades ago... About thirty years ago, since Mr. Bartolo Runorata passed away in old age, he's been in that state. Don't you know? That he was a very famous Mafia in this area."

"I've only heard of his name."

Bartolo Runorata. Although Maiza had never met him in person before, he knew that he was a very famous person in the same line of business. Begg's master, and also the only other person he trusted outside of 'old friends'.

The last time Maiza had seen Begg was when Bartolo was still the boss of the organization. Some unknown events had happened back then and Begg suddenly lost all vigor, concocting new drugs as per Bartolo's request with an expression of utter despair about this world ever since.

Seeing Begg's peerless loyalty towards his master, he had worried a great deal about what would happen to him after Bartolo's death---

"Do you still recognize me, Begg?"

Maiza once again called out at Begg, but his eyes still didn't look in his direction.

Seeing the nurse give him a thoughtful look-over, Maiza asked without minding the stare,

"Who pays for the medical fees?"

"National charities. Ah, while Mr. Genoard was alive he would frequently donate money. But drug therapy has its limits, and it doesn't seem to have any effect on him."

"I see..."

Other than that, Maiza didn't ask further questions, his gaze travelling back to the man at the centre of the room.

"He's always like that. No matter what he doesn't respond... But, may I ask what is your relationship with this patient?"

"An old friend."

"......"

The nurse didn't say anything. This person had lived without eating or drinking for decades; he said he was an old friend, yet no matter how one looked this man appeared to be around only thirty. About this patient, the FBI had already ordered saying 'don't care about him'. Just who was this man?

The nurse was very puzzled, but didn't ask anything.

Maiza entered the room and Begg still didn't respond.

"Nowadays, compared to yours, more powerful drugs have been discovered. Drugs that make people fortunate, and also drugs that make people unfortunate."

Maiza reminisced the past as he sat next to Begg.

"Nowadays, in alleyways, there's a type of drug with tens of times the side-effects of the drugs you blended. Even though they knew there was 80 percentage chance of death, many people still take it. ---Humans, are truly unimaginable creatures."

Then, Maiza called countless times to no avail. Afterwards, Maiza spoke of many, many things, but there was still no light in those eyes.

"Begg......"

Maiza slowly lifted his right hand and gently reached over to Begg's forehead.

If you were to be forever lost in darkness, why not---

In that instant his palm was about to rest on the forehead, a few familiar words came from Begg's mouth.

"......Czes, your side...... the hull...... look...... look quick...... This boat...... is going to America......"

Hearing these fragmented words, Maiza silently lowered his right hand.

Begg had already returned to his happiness times. A time when he together with a child aboard the same ship as he was, discussing the exploration of the inside of the ship.

"I'll still come."

Maiza slowly stood up in preparation to leave, when Begg suddenly uttered some syllables.

"Thank, you, Maiza, for, not, eat, ing, me."

The nurse looked up startedly, then Begg lapsed back into his normal state.

---Seems he wasn't angry.

Maiza donned his hat, gave a nod, and walked out of the hospital.

"How was it?"

At the back, a child in his early teens was waiting for him.

"Oh, nothing. He looks a little tired- he's bound to recover someday."

As he spoke, Maiza slipped into the driver's seat of the car.

"Someday, for sure---"

Maiza didn't continue, and started the car with the youth inside. They drove towards the place they hadn't returned to in decades, New York.

The Drug Addict[]

A day in January, 1932

Aah, feels wonderful. Amazing.

But other than that, there's still something.

Something missing. What was it. I had to remember it.

There was nothing here. Everything was focused in my brain.

Before my eyes, everything had merged together. The skyforeststreetsdaynight all merged together into one entity. This was reality. My fingers too had merged, wrists, feet, waist, head, chest, bones, heart, everything had merged into one point, all my vision was focused on myself. My body encompassed the whole world.

Then, my eyeballs too started merging. Aah, I could see every corner of the world.

But, that time, what shape was the world?

Other than the eyeballs that had merged into the world, I wanted to see the outside world.

I already had completely merged with the world. In other words, the world was me.

Then, I knew everything about this world.

Here, there was no one other than me.

>

"......R-, Roy......"

>

Who was calling?

Who. It didn't matter who. I didn't want to see them. I was right, right here. Aah, my world started collapsing. Like it was grabbing at my eyeballs, like many pairs of hands were chasing me. Stop it, don't surround me. Aah, voice, my voice is becoming distant. Stopstopstop stop stop stop stop stop stop stop stop stop stop stop stop--- stop, you bastard!

>

"Roy......Roy..."

>

My body was thrown into the deep, deep ocean. It was a world without chaos, without dust, a completely black world. If I didn' t float up it'd be bad. I'd drown. Getting closer and closer to the shining surface, the entire world shone with a bright light. The skyearth streets,day, night, all appeared familiarly before my eyes. My memories under the rays of the light slowly became fresh, my consciousness on the surface of the water frantically parted water and swum towards the voice.

>

"Roy!"

>

Then, my body finally broke through the surface. <--!lit: then, my body finally floated to the surface-->

>

<==>

>

When he awoke, Roy found himself lying in a hospital.

"Wonderful! You're finally awake!"

"Edith."

Looking at the surroundings, it was a familiar hospital. It was Fred's hospital in the West Village. When he had hurt his head seriously in the past, he had been taken to this place. Although recently it had stopped business because of its distant location, it had opened again at some unknown time.

Lying beside him on his bed was an old man whose entire body gave off the smell of alcohol, a man whose feet and face were wrapped in bandages.

"You seem to mind a lot!"

The doctor covered in grey clothes from head to toe said. That's right, it was Fred. Standing at his side seemed to be a helper- when had he been hired?

"You'd come here every time you took drugs. Originally this place wasn't a hospital specialised in drug overdose, but when it's you, you'll be sent here only when you were heavily injured."

Then, the helper-like man began inspecting Roy's right hand, swathed in bandages, with some tools. He didn't scold or lecture him, a junkie, and when he had finished the treatment he immediately left the room. This doctor was always like that.

Looking to the side, he saw Edith staring back at him, as though wanting to say something.

"Thank you, Edith. I was really wrong."

Before he was yelled at by Edith for being an idiot, he had best apologise first.

"It's great... I thought you wouldn't wake up! It's great!"

She didn't call him an idiot. It was a little abnormal.

Then, the two didn't know what to say next. After continued silence for the better part of half a day, finally, Edith seemed to remember something, and shattered the deadlock.

"Ah...... right, right, the truck."

---Truck? ...... Aah, I remembered. The truck I stole and drove when snatching away the Runorata Family's drugs. Yeah, no matter what, I was going going to be hauled away by the police.

A wave of powerlessness washed over me from my lower abdomen. But I had done it, this was a fact.

Then, Edith chuckled.

"Relax. I've already settled it."

"Eh?"

"Mr. Gandor has already offered compensation to the owner. That's to say it's been solved without going through the police."

"Solved... Paid compensation for me..."

The next moment, Edith said something totally unexpected.

"Of course, this is lent to you! Mr. Gandor--- lent it to you!"

"Huh? Eh? Eh? Eh?"

"The interest is very high, so you need to work hard to pay it back. Mr. Gandor's high interest is very famous in the 'territory'!"

At this point, Edith smiled gently and touched Roy's face.

"You need to atone for your own sins. Because I'm your guarantor, so I'll give you a little help. After Mr. Gandor has arranged work for you, you must work hard, okay? Also, don't forget to apologise with the truck owner."

---Oh no!

He originally thought he had escaped from the Grim Reaper of the Runorata Family, but he never though his throat would once again be gripped in the jaws of the Gandor Family hyena. He could no longer escape, but if he took drugs again he'd definitely be killed by the Gandor Family. He had better work seriously. He must not escape again.

Seeing Edith's expression, she seemed to know everything. It was like he was trapped in the palm of her hand. After this, he probably could never raise his head before Edith for the rest of his life. That kind of feeling. But even this didn't matter, he would only think that now. Only now.

...But there was a feeling that something was stange. Like something was missing.

Could it be, could it be I was still dreaming?

He glancing at Edith, who seemed to want to say something, then he realised she didn't seem the same as before.

"Your hair, you cut it?"

"You noticed it too late--- idiot."

Only after hearing this did he feel he had really woken up.

"It suits you. Yeah, very well."

He felt very happy.