Chapter 4: A Parting
1283 Words
“Oh. There was one cartel I mustn’t forget. The Greif Cartel.”
Alois knew everything, but he pretended not to.
“The Greif Cartel had its share of troubles, but those have been completely resolved now. I’m on friendly terms with Karl Kaltembrenner, who runs the Greif Cartel. Though he’s still the most dangerous man around.”
Ah. That’s certainly true. Thanks to the schemes Karl had woven, the Wolf Cartel found itself surrounded by enemies. Karl the schemer. Karl the scoundrel. Karl the traitor.
He’d failed in his first life, but in his second, he’d take care of him early on. Alois had made up his mind. Absolutely, whether Karl was Heinrich’s friend or not.
“Mother won’t last much longer.”
Heinrich said.
“I did everything I could as a husband. But it wasn’t enough.”
Alois wondered if his father was truly grieving his mother’s death.
“At the funeral, the bosses from each cartel will be there. I’ll introduce you there. I’ll make it clear to the Wolf Cartel’s executives that there is a successor. That’s what matters.”
More important than his mother’s death? Alois thought this man’s blood must surely be green.
“Be dignified and stand tall. Once the greetings are over, that’s it.”
Alois simply left his father’s study.
In his first life, Alois’s mother had been completely unconscious and didn’t respond to his calls.
But what about the second time?
A faint hope welled up in Alois’s chest.
How wonderful it would be if he could speak to his mother. Did she know the true nature of Heinrich’s work? Did she know, and yet still bake him a birthday cake with money tainted by drugs?
He wanted to ask her.
“Ivo. Can I talk to Mom?”
“I’m not sure. The lady regains consciousness from time to time.”
“Then let’s go.”
Alois heads toward his mother’s room.
His mother had always been kind to him. She was different from his father.
From a societal perspective, his father—who provided Alois with money—could probably be considered kind as well. But his father seemed to believe that the bond between parent and child could be bought with money. Thinking about it now, it’s not surprising. He provided Alois with money to ensure the next generation’s heir would be worthy, and just like a corrupt police officer, Alois’s loyalty had been bought with money.
His mother was different. She rarely bought him anything. However, he often received handmade clothes during his childhood. If he said he wanted an outfit like a character in a comic book, his mother would skillfully work with thread to create exactly what Alois desired.
Though the wealthy Alois had plenty to boast about, the thing he was most proud of was the clothes his mother made for him. That was the thing he could brag about the most in class.
But his mother was frail. About six months after Alois started attending the “National Union” university, her health began to seriously decline, and she was bedridden from then on. Alois would send photos of friends he’d made at the “National Union” and of famous landmarks to his family—or rather, to his mother—to cheer her up.
But despite his efforts, his mother was going to die tomorrow.
Before that happened, he wanted to say just a few words to her.
It was something he hadn’t been able to do in his first life. In this second life, Alois was once again getting involved in the drug trade. But surely a difference in fate like this was acceptable? Thinking this, Alois opened the door to the room where his mother and her attending physician were.
“Ah. It’s young Master Alois.”
“How is Mom?”
“Severe pneumonia. There’s also a possibility the bacteria have entered her bloodstream. She likely won’t last much longer. It’s a shame.”
“Is she conscious?”
“She wakes up from time to time. But it would be best to keep her resting.”
She’s going to die tomorrow anyway, isn’t she? What good is resting going to do?
“Mom, Mom. Are you awake?”
Alois sat down in the chair by the bed and called out to her.
“Oh. Alois, did you come all the way back just for me…?”
“Of course. I’m your son.”
“Alois, you really are such a kind boy…”
His mother reached out her hand to touch Alois’s cheek.
Her hand was cold. She was dying.
“Did you know about Dad’s real job?”
When Alois asked, his mother furrowed her brow.
“Did you hear it from him?”
“Yeah. He said he wanted to bring me on as a business partner.”
“I see… So they’re trying to make the children bear the sins of their parents…”
Saying that, Alois’s mother turned her gaze toward the ceiling.
“Yes. I knew. Everything. What he was doing, where the money he brought in came from. I knew it all. He told me. He said we were family, and this was a family business.”
“Are you saying Dad dragged you into this too?”
“I had no choice. For a drug cartel boss, family is a weakness. They’re brutal; they show no mercy, not even to women and children. That’s why he always had bodyguards with me. Alois, he was trying to protect you, too. That’s why he sent you to the ‘National Union’ university. If he kept you somewhere other cartels couldn’t reach you…”
At that point, Alois’s mother coughed.
“Sorry. I get it. I think I’ll probably follow in Dad’s footsteps.”
“Are you giving up on your dream of becoming a pharmacist in this village?”
“I guess I have no choice.”
When Alois said that, his mother looked sad.
“Alois. I’m sorry. I couldn’t do anything for you…”
“That’s not true. You raised me until I became a decent man. Mom, thank you so much. Really…”
Why is Mom dying? What crime did she commit? It was Dad who committed the crime!
Alois doesn’t believe in God. He thinks God is just junkie nonsense. If God really exists, why didn’t He kill Dad first? Why is He taking Mom away so soon? Damn Him.
“Don’t cry. It would be sad for me to see my son’s face all tear-stained as my last sight. Please send me off with a smile. Seeing you cry really makes me so sad…”
“I’m sorry, Mom.”
Alois wiped away his tears and tried to smile. But he couldn’t.
“Mom, Mom?”
“It seems she’s lost consciousness. That’s all for today. It would be too much of a burden on the patient.”
“I’m family, you know.”
“I understand. I’ll do my best as well.”
Alois was overcome with the urge to punch the doctor, but in the end, urged on by Ivo, he left his mother’s bedroom.
The Alois of ten years ago would have shot the doctor in both knees. But the Alois of today wasn’t involved in the drug trade yet, and he wasn’t the type to carry a magic-powered pistol around with him at all times. He’d never even touched a gun.
Alois prayed that fate would change and his mother would survive.
It was the next morning that he was told his mother had died.
The gears of fate were turning with cruel precision.
- Writer
