Vicious Darling

[8]

Yuri casually brought up what could be a sensitive question.

However, Chris knew that he wasn’t intentionally probing the woman’s wounds. Yuri had a knack for reading people.

“It’s obvious why an old person like me stays in a place like this without retiring,” the old woman answered with a shrug.

“My daughter’s family and grandchild are in another continent. My grandchild has asthma, so it was impossible to raise them in the Winter Continent.”

“I’ve heard that watching grandchildren’s antics in one’s twilight years is a joy. You must miss it a lot,” Yuri remarked.

The old woman shook her head at Yuri’s words.

“Isn’t the child’s future more important than pleasing an old woman with not many days left?”

She added, stroking the strap of her rifle, “Besides, I don’t miss it that much. Originally, we only communicated through the Barrel Society, but since I came here, I can see their faces once every few months.”

While it sounded like she was sharing her personal story, in reality, she was subtly appealing to Yuri Sobolev’s sympathy.

Although rumors were rife that Baekyah’s boss was a man without blood or tears, the woman who had lived a long life had the wisdom not to listen to street gossip.

Yuri Sobolev’s way of doing things was different from the back alley dwellers she knew. Strangely, he didn’t spare investment in the local community. If an organization member caused a violent incident, he would mercilessly expel and deal with them. He expanded his influence by sweeping away and absorbing existing organizations, but thoroughly prevented the expansion of back alleys.

Ordinary mafia don’t engage in such unprofitable actions. Having lived a harsh life, she knew this well.

So there must be something precious to Yuri Sobolev in this Winter Continent, whatever it may be.

‘That’s why he’s protecting it.’

Hence, the old woman was in the process of appealing the usefulness of the Barrel Society. The unexpected cocoa and cookies were just bait to lead up to this conversation.

“You seem to have high job satisfaction,” Yuri said with a painted-on smile before falling silent. He appeared to be lost in thought, but the old woman, meeting Yuri Sobolev for the first time, couldn’t be sure.

She quietly retreated and glanced beyond the partition.

Seeing Baekyah’s boss personally visit the Barrel Society and wait like this, there must be some business to attend to.

‘Since he came to talk, it would be better if they came out quickly without dawdling.’

Thinking about the twisted nature of the person in charge currently staying here, the old woman inwardly clicked her tongue.

“We have an esteemed guest,” a middle-aged man with brown curly hair and piercing gray eyes appeared on their floor.

His clothes still smelled of alcohol, and his brown hair was messily disheveled. The old woman frowned at his appearance.

‘So that’s why it took so long…!’

“Well, well. It seems our gatekeeper has been sentimental again, missing her grandchild.”

The middle-aged man clicked his tongue upon seeing the cocoa and cookies on the table, then tore off a wooden plank from a pile of boxes nearby, took out a bottle of alcohol, and strode over.

Despite there being a seat prepared right across, the middle-aged man deliberately stood in front of Yuri and set down the bottle on the table with a thud.

“Have a drink.”

The man’s shadow loomed over Yuri.

“The moonshine from our Barrel Society is the best. Even Baekyah wouldn’t have tasted anything like this.”

First cocoa, now alcohol.

It was truly a reception of extremes.

“Is there a need to make alcohol in secret when there’s no prohibition?” Yuri calmly asked the man who was clearly looking to pick a fight.

“Secretly made alcohol is the most fragrant. A mafia should know that well.”

The man’s words had a barb to them.

When Yuri showed little reaction to his provocations, the man sneered.

“I’m talking about the prohibition that was originally in the Winter Continent. You made quite a profit from that, didn’t you?”

The distance from other continents, the lagging behind in reconstruction, and the harsh natural environment on top of that.

The Winter Continent had a strong desire to unite and survive. Thus, the provisional government established there declared a large-scale prohibition.

The argument was that with barely enough food for people to eat, how could they use precious grains to brew alcohol?

If not all, the majority agreed with this, and thus the Winter Continent’s unique prohibition was implemented.

“Mafia like you burrowed into that gap, producing and selling moonshine… When clients tried to cut ties, you ruthlessly reported them.”

At the time, the provisional government of the December Continent was operating a reporting reward system. The mafia, not caring about such paltry sums, shamelessly committed such acts to drive those who fell out of favor to extremes.

“Many people paid fines and closed their businesses because of that. With two or three dependents per person, their livelihoods collapsed. When they tried to work with what was left, their places were set on fire. If they tried to start something new, the mafia would come and subtly threaten them.”

The man muttered to himself, “Damn example,” and scratched his unkempt bearded chin as if disgusted.

“So there were people who had no choice but to leave the Winter Continent.”

The middle-aged man growled in a low voice.

“That’s how the Barrel Society started. It was created by people driven from their homeland, fleeing from those who made it impossible to gain a foothold even in the land where they were barely surviving. So with what face does the mafia crawl in here?”

Behind the middle-aged man, the gatekeeper could be seen quietly touching her forehead.

Yuri stared at the man silently for a moment, then gestured to Chris.

“Chris.”

“Yes.”

“Coat.”

Chris respectfully removed the outer garment Yuri was wearing. After personally taking off his suit jacket and handing it to Chris, Yuri was left in his shirt.

Yuri reached for his sleeve, undid the cuff buttons, and rolled up his shirt. On the inside of his right arm, among the numerous scars Yuri had, there was a clear trace of a burn scar.

The scar, contrasting with the pale skin where blue veins were visible, startled those who saw it.

“Johnny & Johnny, was it? There was a pub in the corner of the old town in the December Continent where I worked. As you can see, my face is quite presentable.”

It might sound like self-praise, but Yuri’s tone was utterly dry.

“I didn’t know it then, but besides bringing in moonshine from the mafia, the owner was also making and selling his own alcohol. When the mafia found out about this, they were furious.”

The person in charge of the Barrel Society opened his mouth several times but couldn’t say anything, lowering his eyes.

“Somehow she found out first and ran away. She didn’t even warn me.”

Chris kept his mouth shut tight.

This was from the very early days after coming to the Winter Continent. Chris wanted to do anything for his guide but was no different from a poorly socialized beast.

Even as a fugitive, Yuri needed food to eat, clothes to wear, and a bed to sleep in, so he tied up his dog in the hideout and did all sorts of jobs to earn money.

Restaurant waiter, pub errand boy, dishwasher, club bartender…

Although each ended in a noisy and unpleasant conclusion, Yuri did have a time when he tried to earn money in a ‘somewhat’ normal way.

“I barely escaped from the pub filled with acrid smell, only to find the signboard falling on top of me. Men holding kerosene cans were pointing at me and laughing…”

Yuri smiled, raising one corner of his mouth crookedly.

“Well, if not escaping then disqualifies me from even setting foot in the Barrel Society, I apologize for my rudeness.”

Silence fell inside.

It’s understandable. While rumors of Yuri being a ruthless mafia boss spread widely even without legs, there were no mouths speaking of how much he struggled from the moment he first set foot in the Winter Continent.

Half of it was buried by Yuri, and the other half was sunk in the sea by Chris.

“Chris.”

Chris bent down to help Yuri put on his outer garment and draped the coat over his shoulders. As he lowered the rolled-up sleeves, his hands trembled slightly as he tried not to touch the bare skin.

Despite noticing this, Yuri’s face showed no particular displeasure as he looked down at the platinum blonde head.

“Let’s go.”

“Wait, just a moment.”

The old gatekeeper tried to block them, but Chris gently pushed her away with telekinesis without moving a finger. Another man stepped forward in surprise to support her, but no one could stop Chris.

The tightly closed iron door flung open with a bang!

Perhaps due to the vibration, dust fell from the ceiling, making Chris regret it a little. It was already unpleasant enough that Yuri was breathing this stuffy air, and now dust was scattering because of him.

Regardless of his inner thoughts, Chris walking behind Yuri was an S-class Esper surrounded by an unapproachable aura.

“I, I made a mistake,” the middle-aged man ran out after them as they stepped outside.

Chris didn’t stop him. He knew that Yuri’s intention wasn’t really to leave this place.

“There was a misunderstanding. The Barrel Society welcomes all who seek this place and ask for help. Please come inside.”

It took less than thirty minutes for the expulsion to turn into an invitation.

Yuri slowly turned around, and Chris, who wasn’t good at managing his expressions, stared at the other party with inorganic eyes, showing no emotion on his face as usual.

“As we share a continent, it would be courteous to refrain from causing trouble for each other. Lead the way.”