Filed to story: A Bullied Boy Died: A Mafia King Woke Up In His Body
Keith looked up at Damian in utter confusion, silently mouthing to his brother. “
Doesn’t Alvin already know me?”
In response, Damian gave him a look that boiled down to “Shut the fuck up and play along.”
“Good, come here.” Kyle retrieved a large, bulky book from a bookcase, which looked like an account of the gang’s finances. “Read this out loud.”
Kyle couldn’t read the language of the book but could somehow speak the same language as Damian and the rest.
I must find a way to fix this impediment in the future.
Keith was excited, having not been able to touch the account books under Ulon. He began to read out loud, using his finger to trace the myriad numbers. “This year, Year 369 of the Yual Reign, in the month of Autirth, 42,262 rakels were obtained as revenue. The deficit is…” He hesitated, glancing at Kyle.
“Continue.” Kyle’s demeanor frightened Keith, spurring him to read on.
Every month that Keith read out, Kyle’s expression only got darker and darker until he was almost boiling with rage.
When he had learned about the gang’s power ranking in the sector, he had chosen the smallest gang possible in the vicinity. When starting from scratch, it was wise to never aim for the big guns immediately. Kyle did not think he could directly take on the Red Lions or even the Ardent Cretins, the supposed major gang of the South Sector, alone. Kyle was also not intent on being a subordinate and “climbing the ladder.” He had far better things to do than listen to someone else.
“Ulon was a great gang leader,” Kyle muttered sarcastically. If he had such a subordinate back in the Melsura Star Sector, he would have instantly executed him by particle irradiance from the nearest star.
“As of this month, the month of Autirth, the total deficit we owe to the Crimson Swords is approximately 1.2 million rakels, with an expected due date of four months on the last day of Decaber. The end of the year.”
“So what I’m hearing is that even if we cut all our expenses right now, it will take us around thirty months to come close to repaying the debt, assuming there is no interest. And that is assuming the accounts are accurate.”
“Yes, sir, though the interest rate is a tenth year on year.” Keith was still stiff.
Kyle didn’t react anymore. He was already far too incensed to care. Instead of wasting emotions and energy on being outraged, he focused on Keith. “You seem like you are good with finances and accounts.”
“I used to train under a scholar before we came here… sir. Leader.” Keith still couldn’t get used to calling Kyle sir. The change from the weak Alvin, who always cared for them, to this distant Kyle was too drastic.
“Good. From now on, you’ll be my assistant with financial issues. Every night, you are to spend one hour teaching me how to read and write as well. Do this, and there will be a reward for you. Now leave us.”
“But Alvin, you already know how to read and write… I mean, yes, sir! Leader!”
“Stick to sir.”
Keith nodded, bowed stiffly, and took his leave. An awkward silence filled the office as Kyle thumbed through the account books while Damian shuffled his feet nervously.
A few minutes passed before Kyle suddenly spoke up. “Damian, how many alchemists do we have under us?”
“Huh? None. We never had any alchemists to begin with.”
“Not a single one within our protection racket or influence?”
“Hmm…” Damian scratched his chin. “There is one member of the Alchemists’ Guild in our district, but he’s a bit feisty. No matter which gang tried to approach him, he always refused to pay the protection fee, even under constant threat. He lives in his shop, and it is well guarded by traps and his own private mercenaries. Ulon never managed to get him to budge.”
A well-protected alchemist…
“Get ready, we’re going to visit him. Bring out the cash reserves.” Kyle stood up, patting his pants before moving to leave.
Perhaps we can complete the second objective soon. But we’ll need to do some scouting first.
“What? Now?” Damian was caught off-guard. He had never seen their gang leader be so proactive in his five years as a goon. Ulon usually lounged around and got others to do things for him.
“If not now, then when? Once we’re bankrupt?” Kyle retorted. “Lead the way.”
Damian hastily retrieved rakels into a medium-sized coin pouch before the two exited the Seven Snakes’ base, coming out of the basement of a five-story building into a narrow street that was fairly isolated.
“The alchemist lives near the food market. We regularly buy our meals from there as well,” Damian explained as they walked through the street. Homeless squatters, rubbish heaps, and small workshops painted the landscape, with kids covered in grime laughing and running through the sparsely populated street. The same never-ending pipes and barricaded windows dominated the walls, as rickety wagons rattled up and down the cobblestone road.
He had already accepted the fact that Kyle was an amnesiac and needed to be taught from scratch. There was also something about the straightforwardness and strength of his new gang leader that drew Damian in-a far cry from the repulsive and irredeemable Ulon. He could not say the same for the rest of the gang members, however.