A Parting
1310 Words
10 Years Ago
“Oh, right. There's one cartel I mustn't forget to mention. The Greif Cartel.”
Alois knew everything already, but he pretended not to.
“The Greif Cartel had several problems in the past, but those have all been resolved now. Karl Kaltenbrunner, who runs the Greif Cartel, is now a friend of mine. Though that doesn't change the fact that he's the most dangerous man around.”
Yeah. That's exactly right.
Thanks to the schemes Karl had woven, the Wolf Cartel ended up surrounded by enemies. Karl the schemer. Karl the filthy. Karl the traitor.
Alois had already decided that although he failed in his first life, in his second life he would eliminate Karl early. Whether Karl was Heinrich's friend or not made no difference.
“My wife doesn't have much time left.”
Heinrich said.
“As her husband, I've done everything I could. But it wasn't enough.”
Alois found himself wondering whether his father was truly grieving over his mother's impending death.
“At the funeral, the bosses of the various cartels will come. I'll introduce you there. I'll also make your existence as my successor clear to the executives within the Wolf Cartel. That's important.”
More important than Mother's death?
Alois thought that this man's blood must surely be green.
“Stand tall and act with confidence. Once you've finished greeting everyone, that's all there is to it.”
Alois simply left his father's study.
In his first life, his mother had been completely unconscious and never responded when spoken to.
But what about this second life?
A faint hope rose within Alois.
How wonderful it would be if he could talk to her.
Had his mother known about Heinrich's real work?
Had she known and still baked him birthday cakes using money stained by drugs?
He wanted to ask.
“Ivo, can I speak with Mother?”
“I don't know. Lady Nethesheim regains consciousness from time to time.”
“Then let's go.”
Alois headed toward his mother's room.
His mother had always been kind to him.
Unlike his father.
From society's point of view, his father, who provided him with money, would probably also be considered kind.
But his father seemed to believe that family bonds could be bought with money.
Looking back on it now, that wasn't surprising.
The reason his father spent money on him was to shape the next successor into someone worthy, and just like the corrupt police officers, Alois's loyalty had also been bought with money.
His mother was different.
She rarely bought him anything.
Instead, when he was a child, she often made clothes for him by hand.
Whenever he said he wanted clothes like those worn by characters in comics, she would skillfully work her needle and thread and make exactly what he wanted.
Alois, who grew up wealthy, had many things he could boast about.
But the thing he was most proud of was the clothing his mother had made for him.
That was what he had boasted about the most in class.
But his mother had always been frail.
About six months after Alois began attending university in the People's Union, her health had seriously deteriorated, and from then on she had been bedridden.
Alois would send letters to his family—more specifically, to his mother—telling her about the friends he had made in the People's Union and including photographs of famous places to encourage her.
Despite those efforts, his mother would die tomorrow.
Before that happened, he wanted to speak with her one last time.
It was something he had been unable to do in his first life.
Even in his second life, Alois was about to become involved in the drug business.
But surely fate could allow at least this much of a difference?
Thinking that, Alois opened the door to the room where his mother and her physician were.
“Ah, Young Master Alois.”
“How is Mother?”
“Severe pneumonia. It's possible the bacteria have entered her bloodstream as well. She probably doesn't have much time left. It's unfortunate.”
“Is she conscious?”
“She wakes up from time to time. However, it would be better if she rested.”
She's going to die tomorrow anyway.
What difference will resting make?
“Mother, Mother. Are you awake?”
Alois sat down in the chair beside her bed and called out to her.
“Ah... Alois. You came all the way back for me...?”
“Of course I did. I'm your son.”
“Alois, you're such a kind child...”
His mother reached out and touched his cheek.
Her hand was cold.
She was dying.
“Mother, did you know about Father's real work?”
When Alois asked, his mother's brows twisted slightly.
“Did he tell you?”
“Yeah. He said he wants me to become his business partner.”
“I see... So we're trying to make a child bear the sins of the parent...”
After saying that, Alois's mother turned her gaze toward the ceiling.
“Yes. I knew. Everything. What he was doing. Where the money he brought home came from. I knew all of it. He told me. He said we were a family, and that this was the family business.”
“Are you saying Father dragged you into it too?”
“I had no choice. For the boss of a drug cartel, family is a weakness. Those people are savage. They show no mercy, even to women and children. That's why he always kept guards around me. Alois, he was trying to protect you too. That's why he sent you to a university in the People's Union. If he placed you somewhere the other cartels couldn't reach...”
At that point, his mother began coughing.
“It's okay. I understand. I'll probably end up walking the same path as Father.”
“So you're giving up on your dream of becoming a pharmacist in this village?”
“I don't have much choice.”
When Alois said that, his mother looked saddened.
“Alois... I'm sorry. I couldn't do anything for you...”
“That's not true. You raised me until I became who I am. Mother, thank you. Thank you so much. Truly...”
Why does Mother have to die?
What crime did she commit?
Wasn't Father the one who committed the crime?
Alois did not believe in God.
He thought God was nothing more than the nonsense of junkies.
If God truly existed, then why didn't He kill Father first?
Why was He taking Mother away so soon?
Damn it.
“You mustn't cry. If the last face I see of my son is a crying one, it will make me sad. Send me off with a smile. Seeing you cry truly breaks my heart...”
“I'm sorry, Mother.”
Alois wiped away his tears and tried to smile.
But he couldn't.
“Mother? Mother?”
“It seems she has lost consciousness. That's enough for today. Any more will be a burden on the patient.”
“I'm family.”
“I know. I'll do everything I can.”
Alois felt an urge to punch the doctor.
But in the end, urged on by Ivo, he left his mother's bedroom.
The Alois of his first life, ten years later, would have shot the doctor in both knees.
But the current Alois was not yet involved in the drug business, nor was he the sort of man who constantly carried a magic-powered handgun.
He had never even touched a gun.
Alois prayed that fate would change and that his mother would survive.
He was informed of his mother's death the following morning.
The gears of fate continued to turn with cruel precision.
- Writer
