There was bad news. And it was terribly bad news. When Sixx first heard the news, he couldn’t believe it. No, he didn’t want to believe it. He would have preferred it to be a really bad joke. But looking at Corbin’s face more serious than ever, Sixx eventually had to accept the reality.
“So… what do we do?”
“What can we do? Either let it be and die, or undergo surgery and live, that’s it.”
To Sixx’s common sense, the former was unthinkable. It seemed absurd to have to die just because he couldn’t afford the surgery. However, Corbin said it was a common thing. There were plenty of people in the world like that, and this time it was his sister who had become one of them.
With a trembling voice, Sixx asked, “So we just sit back and watch? Watch Andy die, doing nothing?”
“Well… that’s not an option. I’ll find a way to cover the expenses.”
There was a determination in Corbin that Sixx hadn’t seen before. It was an unavoidable situation. His sister was seriously ill, and there was no way to save her other than surgery. He had to somehow raise the money. But how could a fourteen-year-old boy with barely a few dollars to his name manage to get thousands? Unless he committed a crime, there seemed to be no way a boy of his age could come up with that amount.
“Corbin, do you mean…”
Suddenly, a hypothesis popped into Sixx’s mind. Saying he would find a way meant he wouldn’t hesitate to use any means necessary. In other words, Corbin was essentially saying he wouldn’t hesitate to commit a crime. Corbin nodded without hesitation, stunning Sixx.
“We’re going to steal.”
“W-Where from?”
“Well… actually, Sixx, there’s something I need to confess to you. I’ve been deliberately keeping it from you all this time. I thought you were too young and shouldn’t be involved in this. I didn’t want to drag you into it.”
“Corbin, we’re only a year and a half apart in age.”
“I know, but you’re like a brother to me. I haven’t told Andy either. I thought she might object. But I realized I need to be more practical. We can’t go on like this.”
Sixx had a hunch about what Corbin was going to say. He had witnessed Corbin and Leticia’s secret meetings. He couldn’t exactly make out what they were discussing, but at least it sounded very suspicious. Finally, the time had come for that secret to be revealed.
“Our allies are me, Leticia, Paladin, and a few others. All of them are Part 2 members. In fact, except for you, Andy, and Clay, most of Part 2 is involved in this plan. I feel it’s poetic justice. It’s Ringmaster who overtly discriminates against Part 2 members.”
“Ringmaster?”
“Yeah. Landon Pierce is a devil. It’s not just one or two people who’ve fallen for his cunning. Sixx, you know Ringmaster openly ignores Part 2 members, right? He’s the one who labeled you as a thief before. Most Part 2 members thought you didn’t steal, but they didn’t dare to confront Ringmaster. That’s how Ringmaster has discriminated against us. Why? Because nothing happens even if he discriminates. Part 1 members, if they don’t like it here, they can leave. There’s no reason for them to work here and endure mistreatment. Ringmaster can’t catch them. But we’re different.”
Now Sixx understood. No matter how young he was, he couldn’t fail to notice the stark difference in how Ringmaster treated Part 1 and Part 2 members. In fact, until recently, he hadn’t even thought that was strange. Having grown up here, he thought it was natural for them to be discriminated against. But perhaps that wasn’t the case. Ringmaster had called him a monster and mistreated him, but Malon, who was incomparable to Ringmaster, had referred to Sixx as a ‘precious creature’. Of course, it was difficult to say whether Malon’s words were one hundred percent true, but at least his words could be trusted more than the Ringmaster’s. So, it seemed reasonable to conclude that the harsh treatment Sixx had received so far was because Ringmaster looked down on him thoroughly.
“We can’t just leave here easily. It’s hard to find a job elsewhere. So, we’ve stayed here, enduring unfair treatment. Occasionally, some people have been caught by Ringmaster’s weaknesses.”
“Weaknesses?”
“You may not understand since you grew up here, but when he first approached us, Ringmaster seemed like a completely different person. He seemed kind and trustworthy as an employer. Then, he changed his attitude when we decided to settle here. It was the same for others. For example, when Leticia first came here, she entrusted Ringmaster with a necklace left by her mother as collateral and borrowed some money. But when Leticia later tried to repay the money and retrieve the necklace, he suddenly demanded a huge amount of interest. It’s a very precious item to her. The same goes for Paladin and his people from the country. It would have been easy to exploit the weaknesses of their group, who had just immigrated and didn’t know how the world worked.”
“Wait, did you two also lose something?”
“…We have a stepfather. He taught me and Andy acrobatics. He used to come home drunk every day, hit us, and force us to perform acrobatics to earn money. The day he cut off our arms while high on drugs, Andy and I ran away from him. Ringmaster knows about it too. If Ringmaster reports us to the police, we might have to go back to our father.”
He never knew there were such circumstances for the always cheerful siblings. Sixx silently took Corbin’s hand. There was a hint of tears in Corbin’s eyes. He always took care of Sixx, but Corbin was only fourteen himself.
“We can’t lose Andy. Just the thought of losing my sister suffocates me.”
“Corbin, I want to save Andy too. I’ll help. What should we do?”
“……We’ve been preparing a plan for a long time. It’s a very risky plan. But if it succeeds, everything will be much better. It would be great if you could join us. We…”
With tears welling up in his eyes, Corbin spoke firmly.
“We’re going to steal everything Ringmaster has.”
***
Leading the plan, Corbin mentioned, was Leticia. She said that to participate in the plan, one must get her permission. In fact, Sixx was afraid of her. She always looked at Sixx as if he were distasteful, and whenever he had to approach her, she would frown deeply and call his name. Simply put, she disliked Sixx. Corbin explained that she was misunderstanding something absurd. It’s okay. Misunderstandings can be resolved. He said as if soothingly.
“If you explain well, she’ll understand too.”
Would she really? They were waiting for her in the vacant lot a little away from the circus.
“That would be great, but…”
Sixx wasn’t good at talking. Thankfully, Corbin followed, but he was still anxious. It was cold because it was night. After trembling for about twenty minutes, they saw a dark figure approaching from a distance.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
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“E-Even if you don’t trust me, I hope you understand my desire to help Andy. Andy is my precious friend. I know stealing is bad, but if it means saving Andy, I’ll do anything.”
“In fact, it’s not stealing. It’s just getting back what was never given. Are you even getting paid properly by that guy?”
“……Paid? He occasionally gives me a coin or two, but…”
“Tsk, look at this. You don’t even realize you’re being exploited? Hey, sucker. You’re being exploited by Ringmaster. No one works for just that. Even beggars on the street earn more than that.”
“But I sleep here, and I get food too.”
“Damn, you call that food? And is that thing hanging from the ceiling supposed to be a bed?”
He was speechless. In fact, if he hadn’t lived outside, he wouldn’t have known his whole life that others ate warm and delicious meals at every meal and slept in soft beds.
“I understand what you’re trying to say. But, I think I’ll be fine. Saving Andy is my priority. I want to participate in this plan for her sake.”
“Oh, you used to have such a cloudy look in your eyes, but you seem a bit more human now? Oh, what am I saying, you’ve always acted like you’re fine with anything, obediently doing what Ringmaster tells you. What’s the difference between you and a damn dog? Honestly, I disliked you because you were frustrating. But I didn’t want to enlighten you either. What’s the point of helping a dog that doesn’t even have the will to escape?”
Though not entirely wrong, Sixx was somewhat taken aback by the somewhat blunt expression. And he felt a bit envious of her confidently expressing her opinions. Speaking out his thoughts was not easy for the timid Sixx. Corbin jumped in to defend Sixx.
“Lettie, you’re being harsh! Sixx grew up here. Since Ringmaster was like a parent figure for him, it’s natural.”
“Do I have to understand even such trivial excuses? Anyway, we’re not stealing. We’re just reclaiming what we rightfully should have received. Now’s the time. Ringmaster has a lot of hidden money. He must have Andy’s surgery funds too. Combining your share and Corbin’s will be enough, and there’ll be plenty left.”
“So, are you letting me join?”
“…Yeah. As you said, your eagerness to help Andy seems genuine. And, even though I hate to admit it, you’re the talent we need right now.”
“Thank you!”
“But there’s a condition. We’ve been preparing this for a very long time. It’s been literal blood, sweat, and tears. If you’re joining late, you’ll have to pay the corresponding price, I think.”
“Yes, I’ll do anything.”
“Wait a minute, that’s not what we agreed on, Lettie!”
While Corbin raised objections, Sixx thought her words were right. He heard that the plan was already in its final stages. If he were to join now without any conditions, it would be like a free ride.
“Alright. From now on, we’re a team. One team sharing the same goal and plan. Be careful because if the plan gets exposed before execution, it’s over. We have many enemies. Ringmaster, all members of Part 1, and Clay. They’re our main targets. I’ll discuss with the others and inform you of the role you’ll be taking. Let’s go.”
She reached out her hand to Sixx. Sixx hesitated for a moment before taking her hand. It was the first time in his life he had shaken hands with someone. She grinned, revealing her fangs, and said,
“I’m counting on you, Sixx.”
***
As she said, the ‘plan’ was carried out very discreetly. Although more than ten people were involved in the plan, they never gathered in one place. There were already many conspicuous figures, and gathering in one place would attract too much attention. Sixx agreed with this. So, they communicated in a highly limited manner. If one person had something to say, they would pass it on to another, and so on. In this way, Sixx thought they must have invested a lot of time in preparation. There was a reason why they had never been caught by Ringmaster.
A few days later, while Sixx was inspecting the equipment used on stage with Corbin, Sixx’s role finally became clear. As he was carefully dusting off the blades that popped out from a terrifying magic box when a button was pressed, a small man about the height of Sixx’s chest appeared. It was Paladin. At the sound of his cough, Sixx instinctively turned around, realizing his mistake, and lowered his head slightly, meeting the black eyes of Paladin, resembling buttons on a winter coat.
“Ah, hello….”
“Bonjour, Paladin.”
“Bonjour, boys. Even the darkest night will eventually end, and the sun will rise (Même la nuit la plus sombre prendra fin et le soleil se lèvera)!”
“What language is that? French?”
“Aren’t we comrades preparing for a revolution together? We should at least read Victor Hugo’s ‘Les Misérables’ to set the mood, right, Monsieur Corbin?”
“Well, you read the translated version anyway. What brings you here?”
“Because Monsieur Sixx’s role in our rebellion has been decided. I came to inform him.”
“Finally! Hey, Sixx, come closer.”
Corbin pulled Sixx’s hand. In fact, Sixx felt a bit awkward because he had never really had a conversation with this Middle Eastern man. He wasn’t sure how to react to his somewhat unusual jokes… Thankfully, Corbin was there. They went to a corner of the warehouse and sat down together. Paladin took out a candle from his pocket and lit it, placing it in the middle. It felt like they were having a secret meeting (which wasn’t entirely untrue), and Sixx’s heart raced for no reason.
“Corbin, you probably already know everything, but let me introduce the overall plan first for Sixx’s sake. Our goal is quite simple. We’re going to break into Ringmaster, Landon Pierce’s, safe. Leticia said now is the perfect time to execute the operation, right?”
Sixx nodded. “To be more precise, you could say it’s our last chance. Originally, Ringmaster was the type to keep most of his assets in the safe. He distrusted banks so much that even banks were out of the question. But recently, for some reason, he started transferring money to the bank little by little. That’s a big problem for us. We can’t rob the bank. So we need to act as quickly as possible. The plan is really simple. It’s to ambush the trailer while he’s asleep and crack open the safe. It might sound like an easy operation. But in fact, it’s not that simple. We are few against many, and we are the minority. Plus, we need to think about what happens after we rob the safe. So, it’s best not to make a big fuss.”
“So, we’re moving at night?”
“That’s right. We need to steal and run. We classify our enemies into three groups: Ringmaster, Clay, and the Part 1 members. Therefore, on the day of the operation, we also need to split into three teams.”
“But Clay is a Part 2 member, right? Why classify him as an enemy?”
“Oh, I guess Leticia must have told you why she dislikes you so much. Despite being here for almost ten years, you’re incredibly naive compared to how you should be for someone who’s been with the circus for so long. I don’t particularly dislike that aspect, to be honest. Kids should be kids. But it would be better if you didn’t dip your toes into politics when you grow up.”
“Yes, I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Hey, why aren’t you saying anything? Clay sticks with Ringmaster’s side, right? Although Clay is a Part 2 member, he has been loyal to Ringmaster for a long time. Think about it. Have you ever seen him hang out with other Part 2 members even once? Probably not, right?”
Indeed, Sixx had never seen the terrifying man hang out with other members. He thought the man’s constant confrontations and glaring at him were simply because he disliked him. But it might be because he didn’t get along well with other Part 2 members.
“Is that so? He’s incredibly powerful. Ringmaster has every reason to keep him close. Simply put, he’s like Ringmaster’s personal bodyguard, right? Of course, he’s given compensation for that, so there’s no reason for Clay to refuse. We gather in a few barns to sleep, but Ringmaster and Clay each have their own trailer. It’s special treatment. Of course, Clay’s trailer is smaller and shabbier.”
“Oh, I see….”
Suddenly, many things started to make sense. Perhaps he had lived too complacently until now, Sixx thought, scratching his head awkwardly. All these things were taken for granted by him, and he hadn’t even thought to question them. Come to think of it, he had never seen Ringmaster scold Clay like he did with him or Corbin. But if that were the case, wouldn’t it be a big problem?
“So, do we have to deal with that man too?”
Clay’s immense strength was well known to everyone. He possessed the power to bend thick iron bars with ease using just one hand. There was nobody in the circus who could defeat him in a fight.
“Of course, we know we can’t confront that man head-on. That’s why we prepared a plan suitable for him. The first team will take on that role. It was a miracle we managed to come up with the plan. His immense strength was a problem, but what was more troublesome was his extreme paranoia. Do you know how thorough he is? He never eats food made by others. He makes and eats all his food himself and only drinks water from his own bottle. He’s extremely cautious.”
“I didn’t know that. I didn’t realize he was so….”
“Well, it was truly daunting. We planned to put him into a deep sleep on the day of the operation. His trailer and Ringmaster’s trailer are less than 5 meters apart. If he were to wake up and take Ringmaster’s side while we’re repaying our debt to Ringmaster, that would be the end of us, right? So, to ensure he doesn’t wake up no matter how much noise we make, we needed to put him into a very deep sleep. We needed to give him sleeping pills, but we couldn’t find an opportunity due to his paranoia. However, during that time, we finally seized an opportunity.”
With a proud look on his face, Paladin whispered discreetly, “There was just one moment when he detached the water bottle from his body. That’s when he goes on stage. Before going on stage, he always puts his water bottle in his locker and locks it. That’s the perfect moment. We spent two months just to steal and duplicate the key. We succeeded, fortunately…. This is the key.”
Paladin opened his palm to reveal a silver key, reflecting the yellow light of the candle and gleaming in the darkness. He then smiled contentedly as he carefully put it back into his pocket.
“On the day of the operation, we’ll take advantage of the moment when he goes on stage to tamper with his water with sleeping pills. After the performance, he’ll be thirsty, so he’ll have to drink the water. Then, he’ll probably go back to his trailer and fall asleep deeply. If everything goes well, that is. But, we can’t rule out the possibility of things not going well. So, we’ll barricade around his trailer when he falls asleep. We won’t be able to play a major role, but we’ll be able to buy time in case he wakes up and tries to escape.”
“So, that’s the first team’s job, right? …. Am I going to be involved in that?”
“No. That’s the responsibility of me and my friends. We need to quickly set up obstacles, so we need to work well together. And we’ll also include some strong members.”
“Why did you explain it so diligently…. I thought Sixx was on that team.”
Corbin grumbled. Paladin shrugged nonchalantly, “Well, there’s that, but yeah.”
“The second team will deal with the Part 1 members. Well, calling it ‘dealing with’ might be a bit much. In fact, the Part 1 members don’t have any special relationship with Ringmaster. They’re just employer and employees, that’s all. Ringmaster has a few girls he values, but they won’t necessarily value Ringmaster.”
“However, we still need to pay attention to that side because there’s a possibility they might report to the police.”
“Wouldn’t it also be troublesome if the police intervene? But then, Ringmaster wouldn’t be happy either. He’s a person with many problems, after all.”
“Sixx, you’re mistaken about something. The police aren’t guardians of justice. They’re just humans bound by self-interest in the end. They always side with the powerful. Ringmaster has many connections. Every time he moves to a new city, he never forgets to launch attacks on those who control the city. The police ultimately obey the authority. If the police intervene, we’ll be overwhelmingly disadvantaged. They’ll just raise Ringmaster’s hand, whether it’s worth it or not.”
“So, is the second team’s role to prevent the Part 1 members from reporting to the police?”
“Anyway, the Part 1 members will treat us like disgusting monsters or contagious patients, so they’ll tremble with fear even with a little intimidation. But we must not cause a disturbance. Passersby might report it, so our second goal until the operation ends is to monitor them and prevent any disturbances. But this isn’t something you’ll do. Unlike Monsieur Corbin, you’ll join the third team.”
“What’s the goal of that team then?”
“There’s only one thing left.”
As he grinned, his jet-black mustache also curved as he drew lines.
“Breaking into Ringmaster’s room and stealing from the safe. That’s what you’ll do, Sixx.”
“W-wait a minute! How can I have such an important role…”
“I heard you agreed to pay a price, right? This is that price. Of course, it won’t be easy. Moreover, it’s the most dangerous. But if you don’t take on this task, the plan will be delayed until we find another suitable candidate. That wouldn’t be easy for you either. Your friend, Andy—”
As Andy’s name came up, Corbin’s mouth, which seemed ready to retort, snapped shut again. Paladin knew their weaknesses all too well. They were running out of time.
“Well, I’ll take that as your agreement. Ringmaster also takes care of his security as much as Clay does. Ringmaster has installed three types of locks on the trailer’s door alone. Fortunately, that’s been taken care of too. It took a while, but we should be able to get in easily. Ringmaster will be sleeping in the bedroom, and according to Leticia, the safe should be under the desk.”
“So, we just have to open the safe and take everything inside?”
“That’s right. But there’s a problem. We didn’t figure out the safe’s password.”
“What?”
“There was no way to find out just that, no matter how hard we tried. And that’s exactly why we need you. Threaten the Ringmaster to get the password. There was a time when Ringmaster boasted about always keeping a gun by his bedside. It’s dangerous, but I hope Sixx, you can handle it.”
“Wait a minute. That’s ridiculous! How can Sixx overpower someone with a gun?”
“That’s what I heard. A month ago, a big wolf subdued a person causing trouble with a gun in the crater. A wild wolf wouldn’t roam around the city like this… It’s obvious, isn’t it? I don’t know exactly what happened, but you’re like that, Sixx.”
“Sixx was seriously injured in that incident! He had to recover outside the circus!”
“But he survived. Ringmaster isn’t good with guns. Compared to the people Sixx has faced before, it should be a piece of cake for him. Find out the password somehow and get everything from the safe. The sooner, the better. If a situation arises where we have to deal with Clay, it will be a headache. The reason we postponed the plan so far was because we couldn’t find the right person… Among us, there aren’t many who are good at fighting.”
Sixx swallowed hard. In reality, Sixx was entrusted with the core of this plan. It felt burdensome, not just for his safety, but because it was so crucial. Even if all the other teams succeeded, if he failed, everything would be over. Can I do it well…?
“Actually, I’m not worried about anything else. There are not many who can defeat you as a wolf. The problem is with Ringmaster’s tongue. Ringmaster is persuasive. Few of us haven’t been fooled by him. Moreover, since you’re young, you might fall for Ringmaster’s deception. Leticia said that’s the biggest concern. You’ve been obedient to Ringmaster for a long time, so it’s likely. Well, I’m not without worries either.”
“…I understand.”
“So, Leticia decided to go with you. You and Leticia are a team. She will be solely responsible for negotiating with Ringmaster. However, Leticia isn’t accustomed to using force. It would be difficult if we lost her, the chief strategist of the operation. You must protect her at all costs. So say it clearly here.”
There was no trace of playfulness in Paladin’s eyes. He was serious. He was betting on the fate of a twelve-year-old boy and his family. With tightly pursed lips, Sixx once again realized that this plan was by no means a trivial matter. If he failed, everything would truly be over. Not just him, but Corbin, Andy, Leticia, Paladin, Johnny, and all the other Part 2 members would lose everything. Sixx clenched his fist tightly. There was no turning back now.
“So, do you have confidence in our plan succeeding?”
“Yes, I’ll do whatever it takes to open the safe door.”
Sixx’s pumpkin-colored eyes filled with determined light. Thus, the final act began.
***
The operation date was quickly set. Most of what was needed was already prepared, and timing-wise, it was better to carry out the operation when there were fewer variables, before the circus moved to a new city. Sixx and Corbin went to meet Andy the day before the operation commenced. Andy was hospitalized without knowing anything about the operation. They had agreed in advance to keep their mouths shut since it was obvious she would vehemently oppose if she knew. Andy playfully stroked the hole in Sixx’s side while smiling, not looking like a sick person at all.
“Welcome back, Sixx. I was so worried when that person took you away.”
Even though no name was mentioned, Sixx’s heart raced for a moment. Just the thought of that man made something boil inside him. But now he knew its identity. Love. That peculiar feeling kept tormenting Sixx. He forced a smile. Even Andy, in pain, could smile, so he couldn’t help but smile too.
“I’m all better now. Really, I’m fine.”
“That guy seemed oddly fixated on you, so I’m glad you’re back.”
Half true, half false. He didn’t intend to send Sixx away. But it wouldn’t have been because of an obsession with Sixx. If he truly had been fixated on Sixx, he would have come for him at the circus and taken him away to his mansion. Of course, that never happened. It was a bitter ending. He had seen a wealthy man, with a peculiar collection habit, come to Ringmaster and suggest selling one of the members to him. Perhaps Malon’s intentions weren’t much different. Curiosity, or interest. Just that much. His feelings towards Sixx were vastly different from Sixx’s feelings towards him. He couldn’t bear that difference. The longer he stayed by his side, the deeper the feelings would inevitably become.
“He just pitied me and looked after me for a while. That’s all.”
“Yeah, maybe you’re right.”
Andy smiled. Though she didn’t look much different from usual, knowing there was something seriously wrong with her made her seem faint, as if she might disappear any moment. The same seemed to apply to her brother, as Sixx could see him clenching his fist behind his back.
It’s tomorrow. Tomorrow, their fate will be decided. To Sixx, Andy and Corbin were practically family to the orphan. He realized not long ago that he had survived all this time without any major mishaps because they were by his side. Now it was Sixx’s turn to help them. He had never been grateful for his ability to turn into a wolf, but this time he felt lucky to have it.
Andy, I’ll definitely save you.
Thank you for the updates 💕
My boi Sixx is starting to grow 🥺
I’m quite understanding how Leticia felt towards Sixx, actually I dont hate her for that and thanks to her harsh blunt words I thought it really was a wake up call for him to start seeing how his world in the circus actually was. Hope wuri-Sixx grows up well 🙏🥺
I agree with what others said about Leticia. Although there wasn’t a need to treat him so harshly, I definitely see why she would be so annoyed. I’m so scared about what’s going to happen…my hearts beating so fast going into this next chapter!