“Then do you know how to dance?”
She didn’t wait for Sixx’s response. Instead, she swiftly grabbed his hand and led him to the stage. Sixx couldn’t bring himself to shake off her hand and went along with her. Underneath the colorful flashing lights, they stood facing each other. In the center of the stage, a giant disco ball rotated, shooting dazzling lights in all directions.
“I love disco. While listening to it, you don’t have to think about complicated things,” said Lori.
As if to prove her words, she moved her body very skillfully. It was on a different level from Sixx, who could barely keep up with the beat.
“You really seem like a first-timer. People who know this music can’t just stand around like that,” Sixx realized he was being tested.
She wanted to confirm if he was just an average guy or not. There was nothing he could do.
“I’ll teach you then.”
Just like in the quiet garden once before, Sixx learned to dance. Lori was a strict teacher. Thanks to her, Sixx couldn’t rest for a moment and had to move his body as she led. After a few songs ended, all he wanted to do was collapse from exhaustion.
“You did well. Especially for your first time dancing.”
“Then I’m lucky.”
Lori’s red lips formed a smile. They came down from the stage and ordered drinks again. Pouring cold alcohol into their heated bodies felt like adding fuel to a burning house. Seeing Sixx shivering, she chuckled.
“Do you know how you look right now? Just like an excited puppy!”
“Well, you’re not much different either.”
Sixx retorted with a shiver. She was also flushed with excitement. Chuckling, she straightened out Sixx’s messy hair, saying that at least he didn’t look like that. Still, it was fun. So, I’ll tell you about the promise we made. Her mischievous eyes approached closer. She whispered softly. About that special cigarette, where to get it―
However, he couldn’t hear the rest. Because he spotted a familiar face in the crowd. Surprisingly, Corbin was there. He seemed to lurk around suspiciously, then quickly exchanged something with a man who approached him. Witnessing this scene, Sixx instinctively rushed towards him. Was it because he sensed that Corbin was entering a territory he shouldn’t? Corbin quickly left the club, but it was difficult to catch up with him amidst the crowd pouring out from the entrance. When Sixx finally stepped outside, Corbin was turning a corner, about to enter an alley. Sixx sprinted with all his might before he could hide from sight, barely managing to grab his wrist.
“Corbin!”
“I’m sorry, but everything’s sold out to― Sixx?”
Not expecting to encounter Sixx here, Corbin’s eyes darkened with astonishment. Despite everything, Sixx didn’t miss the subtle signs of guilt and anxiety in his eyes. Sure enough, Corbin quickly composed himself and came at Sixx with an indifferent expression.
“Wow, didn’t expect to see you here! Hey, you’ve grown up, hanging out in places like this? Anyway, be careful, there are weirdos in clubs. If you get ripped off anywhere, I won’t even be able to face Andy―”
“Corbin. What were you doing with that guy earlier?”
“That guy? What guy? Sorry, but I don’t swing that way like you do. I was just about to leave since I couldn’t even find a girl tonight.”
“Lies! Are you even lying to me now?”
“What are you talking about, Sixx? I’m tired. If it’s nothing important, let’s just go home, okay?”
“If it’s nothing important? You were exchanging something in the club. Weren’t you about to say ‘everything’s sold out’ earlier? Sold out of what? Tell me. If it’s nothing, then tell me!”
“…I don’t know what you saw, but whatever it was, it’s none of your business. Do I have to report to you every little thing I do? Who do you think you are? My guardian?”
“If it’s not bothering you, you can at least tell me what you did. Answer me, Petrov!”
At the mention of the name “Petrov,” even Corbin’s forced smile vanished. The siblings despised being referred to by their surname and only used it when absolutely necessary. It was because of their hatred for their father. They refused to use the surname he had passed down to them unless it was unavoidable. Sixx knew this fact. He had watched them closely all along and knew better than anyone how much Corbin detested being called Petrov. Despite knowing all this, he still called him that. But even though he received such treatment, Corbin didn’t flinch. Sixx didn’t appreciate Corbin’s attempts to brush off the situation with jokes. He wasn’t a child anymore. He was twenty now, and he knew how the world worked to some extent. It wasn’t difficult to guess that Corbin had exchanged something shady with that man. He had given up on finding out the name of the tobacco shop just to catch up with him. But to lie outright… anger surged through him to the tip of his head. Was he the only one who considered him family?
“Hey, that’s enough. There’s a limit to how much I can tolerate.”
“Tolerate? Were you tolerating me? Is there anything to be thankful for! Then, you don’t have to tolerate me now. Just answer properly. What were you selling? Can you show it to Andy too?”
“Damn it, it’s none of your business! Why are you interfering like this?”
“How can I not interfere? My friend is selling drugs in a club!”
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.
Snfc pera atf qjrrlcu rtjvbk bnfg Jbgylc’r ojmf obg j wbwfca mbcolgwfv Vlzz’r vfvemalbc klatbea j vbeya. Pa kjr lcvffv vgeur. Ktja kjr atf bcis atlcu atja mbeiv yf vlrmgffais agjvfv ilxf atja.
Drugs, drugs! It felt like madness. My one and only friend was involved in drug dealing. If caught by the police, he’d end up spending several years in prison, becoming a serious criminal worthy of remembrance. Surely he hadn’t stooped to that level. Drug dealing was now a more serious problem than simply buying drugs out of curiosity a few times.
“Cgf sbe lcrjcf? Tbe xcbk la’r ujwf bnfg lo sbe ufa mjeuta ys atf qbilmf!”
“P kbc’a ufa mjeuta. Snfgsatlcu’r jqqgbnfv.”
“Approved? Approved by who? Not the police, I’m sure!”
“That’s why I didn’t want to tell you. If you want to live a good and honest life, do it yourself. Don’t interfere with others. Pretending to be good doesn’t work here!”
“Why are you doing this? …Is it all about money, Corbin? Answer me!”
“Damn right, it’s about money. Sixx, everything is about money!”
Corbin exclaimed as if screaming. Without realizing it, Sixx sighed. The ruin had reached an irreparable point. His inner self was slowly collapsing, and after repeated collapses, there was nothing left but despair. A house without pillars is inevitably destined to collapse. But to rebuild the pillars, a lot of money was needed. Enough money to buy newly developed drugs on the market. Since $30,000 wouldn’t just fall from the sky, they worked tirelessly every day. Of course, Sixx knew. That wasn’t enough. No matter how hard they worked all day, the money they got was far from enough. Even so, drugs.
“I’ll work harder to help. I’ll increase my part-time job and do everything I can. Please, stop there. It’s dangerous. You know! If Andy finds out about what you’re doing, she won’t be happy?”
“As long as you keep quiet, Andy won’t know. It’s for her. I can’t stop now.”
“Corbin…”
“Sixx, I’m sorry, but you’re not helping. Even if you work, it’s not enough. You’re already working full-time. There’s no other way to think about it. To save Andy, there’s no other way. If you’re not going to help, don’t interfere.”
His cold assessment from his lips stabbed Sixx’s heart like a dagger. That’s right. Sixx wasn’t helping. No matter how hard Sixx worked, he couldn’t even help the people he loved. Of course, he tried. He went to various places, including banks, to apply for loans. Of course, no one would lend $30,000 to a young man with no assets. But he believed that soon there would be a way. He believed that if he worked hard, something would change. In fact, his leaving the circus was also to become a better person. And for the past seven years, he had struggled for growth. As a result, he received praise from many people and even received envious glances. He thought that was the measure of success. But maybe it wasn’t. What had changed was only the appearance, and he remained just as powerless and weak as before. Sixx bit his lips hard. He was ashamed. He was so ashamed of overestimating himself. He pretended to be a trustworthy adult in front of others, not knowing that his friend was trembling with anxiety about selling drugs.
“I understand that you’re desperate. I know I’m powerless… But this isn’t the way. There must be another way. Let’s find a solution together. This is too dangerous. If you end up in prison, it’s truly game over.”
“There are people watching my back. Even the police can’t touch them. So, just don’t worry about it anymore.”
“Corbin!”
“Kids should go home quietly. Don’t bother Leticia with useless talk.”
Corbin coldly turned away and quickly disappeared into the alley behind. Left behind, Sixx stupidly stared at the spot where he vanished. He couldn’t bring himself to stop him. Even if he did, he couldn’t think of anything convincing to say. Everything he said was true. Sixx couldn’t help him. How long did he stand there, dumbfounded? He felt a presence behind him. It was Lori.
“What’s up? You suddenly went out, why are you here? Don’t tell me you’re into drugs too?”
“…Lori, do you know him?”
“Who, that guy selling drugs? Yeah. He’s the one selling drugs around here. I haven’t bought directly from him, so I don’t know him well, but lately everyone’s been buying from him. They say the quality is good.”
“Darn it, where on earth does he get drugs to sell…!”
“Oh, do you know him? But your friend seems to have a good connection?”
“What are you talking about?”
“That’s how drugs are. If you sell them recklessly without permission, you might as well get shot and die. Dealing directly at clubs like this is what street-level drug dealers do, while those who smuggle drugs from abroad and bring them into the city sit in offices counting the money your friend brings in. Even if an accident happens, it’s people like your friend who get caught. It’s kind of like a pyramid scheme. It’s unfair, but still, they make quite a bit of money, right?”
She spoke calmly as if she understood the ways of the world, but Sixx couldn’t calm down.
“Just a few months ago, someone else was selling drugs, but did your friend perhaps skim some money in between? He seemed to cover his tracks without anyone knowing. And now your friend has come as his replacement.”
For a moment, there was a face that flashed through Sixx’s mind. It was Angelo, who had been hanging out with Corbin a lot lately. It couldn’t be certain, but it seemed like he could be involved in this somehow. He might be the link between the underworld and Corbin. Sixx sighed. It sounded like a decent business deal. As long as Corbin himself didn’t touch drugs, it didn’t seem unreasonable to sell drugs in between and pay a portion to those above. Especially if a large organization was watching his back. But there was no such thing as a free lunch. How did Corbin, who wasn’t even a Chicago native, manage to get that position? Even if it was Angelo who facilitated it, could such a favor be granted based on just a few months of friendship? No matter how much he thought about it, it didn’t seem possible. Corbin must have paid a price in his own way. Or perhaps, one day he would have to pay the price. His chest tightened. He hated himself for being unable to help his friend who was deteriorating. If he couldn’t even properly help his friend, would there ever come a day when he could confront that man? As it was, that day would never come.
“Lori, I’m sorry. I think I should go.”
She stepped back as if she had expected it. “See you next time,” she said simply. It wasn’t until he was almost home that he realized he hadn’t heard where the tobacco shop was. But even if he had known where the shop was, there didn’t seem to be time to leisurely go buy cigarettes. As expected, when he saw the empty bed upstairs, Sixx wrapped his head in his hands. His only friend was in danger. If he continued to leave Corbin alone, he would have no face to face Andy, who was in the hospital. He opened the drawer. Inside, there was a portable radio. Once Sixx’s treasure, it looked intact at first glance, but upon closer inspection, there were traces of gold thinly applied overall. It was something Andy had collected and stuck back together during the time he was locked up with them. On the night before surgery, Andy had handed it to Sixx. Thinking of her painstakingly picking up each piece and putting it back together, emotions overwhelmed him, and tears welled up. Although it didn’t work, Sixx cherished it and didn’t throw it away. Andy was that kind of person. She cherished what Sixx held dear. So, Sixx was determined to protect her treasure with all his might. Her treasure was her brother Corbin.
He deliberated all night. And the answer he came to was not much different from the one he initially thought of.
***
Corbin hadn’t come home for three days. He had told Leticia not to worry too much, but in reality, Sixx was worried too. Where on earth was he and what was he doing? He wanted to believe that nothing serious was happening, but according to Milo, there were people who had seen him hanging out with Angelo in the city. Angelo… Sixx nodded. It seemed inevitable that he would have to start from there. Throughout the day, Sixx speculated about the relationship between Angelo and Corbin. After work, he planned to go to Milo’s and ask where he could meet this Angelo.
“Sixx, are you about to leave work? Can you come see me for a moment? I have something to tell you.”
It was Mueller. He wanted to hurry back home because he was anxious, but since Mueller had already entered the office first, he had no choice but to follow him in. If the conversation seemed like it would drag on, he would have to interrupt. That was Sixx’s resolution. Mueller sat Sixx down in a chair and was silent for a moment. He seemed to be pondering something. Okay, everything’s fine, but, um, I’m a bit busy today, boss. He cleared his throat nervously.
“Uh, boss?”
“…Ah, right. Yeah. That’s it, exactly. Well, you know, I called you because I have a suggestion.”
“A suggestion? What kind of suggestion?”
“As you know, we decided to open a new branch for our shop, right? The date has been set. It’s two months from now.”
Sixx nodded in agreement, offering congratulations as he did so. Since the shop was doing fairly well, Sixx had heard before that the boss was considering expanding the business, hence the search for a location. While it was indeed something to congratulate, Sixx still couldn’t quite grasp the reason why the boss had specifically called him in. The boss smiled gratefully. Then he looked Sixx straight in the eyes.
“The new shop is much larger than this one, so I probably won’t be able to focus much on this side for a while. So I thought it might be a good idea to appoint a new manager altogether. I see you, Sixx, as the right person for the job… Do you happen to have any interest in being promoted to manager?”
“Me? Uh, well, wait a moment, Mr. Mueller. I’m only twenty, and there are people here who have worked longer than me—”
“Age doesn’t matter. I myself managed a record store at a similar age to yours. Sixx, it’s been over two years since you started working here. I’ve seen numerous employees come and go, but none as diligent as you. And I believe you’d excel as a manager. As long as you have enough responsibility.”
“Thank you for your kind words, but, well, I’m not sure if I could handle it…”
“If you become a manager, your salary will increase, and above all, it will be beneficial for your career. Take your time to think about it, and let me know by next week if you’re interested.”
“…I understand, Mr. Mueller. I’ll think about it.”
Sixx put his hat on firmly and left the office. Already feeling overwhelmed with the tangled mess in his mind, he now had one more task added. Manager, manager… Honestly, it was hard to believe it was such a good opportunity. To become a manager at twenty, it wasn’t something that happened often. If Sixx could handle the job well, it would be a career achievement he could proudly present wherever he went. He wasn’t sure how the other employees would feel, but Sixx didn’t have bad relations with most of them. There were even some who would actively support him. If that happened, it wouldn’t be too difficult to establish himself as a manager. With everything set, all that remained was for Sixx to make a decision. Perhaps it was a warmly welcomed offer.
However, Sixx had never walked the same path as others. If he were a selfish person who only thought of himself, he would have thought it was an unparalleled opportunity. But he was now burdened with the problems right in front of him. First and foremost, he needed to get Corbin out of that dangerous situation, and somehow, he also had to find a way to pay for Andy’s medication. There was about five thousand dollars in his bank account. What he could do with that… was probably not much. Sixx sighed. It seemed impossible to handle all these issues while working as a manager at the same time. To establish himself properly as a manager, he would need to devote considerable effort, and he didn’t seem to have time to spare for that with so many tasks piling up. As regrettable as it was, he would have to decline… Corbin and Andy were like family to him. No matter how regrettable it was, it was right to give up on the other side. He said he wasn’t helpful. It hurt to hear, but he had to admit it. Maybe he didn’t even know it would turn out like this. He had no money, lived in someone else’s house, paid rent, slept in a creaky bed upstairs, and didn’t have any impressive abilities to boast about in front of others. But even so, there was one thing he could proudly present. He never gave up. Even if Corbin pushed him away, if he grabbed him again and brought him back, that was enough. He wouldn’t be swayed by his words this time.
When he returned home, Sixx saw Milo watching a stand-up comedy show while eating popcorn. Approaching him with a chuckle, Sixx asked about the shop frequented by Angelo. Instead of answering his question, Milo widened his eyes and grabbed Sixx’s arm, stopping him.
“Sixx, if you’re thinking of meeting Angelo, stop. Angelo is completely different now from the street thugs you usually see. Rumor has it he’s joined Outfit.”
“Outfit?”
“The only crime organization in Chicago.”
Outfit. Now that he thought about it, he had heard of it a few times while investigating La Cosa Nostra. It was said to be a long-established Mafia family dominating Chicago since the Prohibition era of the 1920s. Unlike other cities where family names were derived from the boss’s surname, Outfit had always existed simply as “Outfit”. Cities where the Mafia flourished were broadly divided into the East with New York and Chicago, and the West with Portland. Although traces of the organization couldn’t be found on the surface of these cities, if one looked closely, they would discover that their roots extended into every nook and cranny. And that was precisely what made them so formidable. They were the city itself. To remove them, one had to be prepared for the collapse of the city. Politicians and police were their allies, while businessmen and landlords bowed to them for the preservation of their wealth. In Chicago, at least, there was no one to challenge Outfit. And, even if they used Corbin as they pleased and discarded him like trash when he was no longer useful, no one would dare to object. So, the priority was to get Corbin out of that den as soon as possible. Corbin wouldn’t have any options at the moment.
“I know they’re dangerous. But there’s no other way.”
“Sixx!”
“Milo, please. Corbin is like my brother. I want to save him before it’s too late.”
After hesitating for a while, Milo bit his lip and reluctantly shared the name of the bar Angelo frequented. Red Fox. Angelo and his crew drank and partied there almost every night, and Milo had heard that Corbin had been there before. Sixx stood up immediately.
“Thanks a lot, Milo.”
“Wait, Sixx! Don’t mess with their minds. They might kill you. Seriously.”
“I understand. I’ll be careful. If Leticia finds you, treat her nicely.”
Even though it was spring, the night wind was quite chilly. Sixx put on a black jacket and left the house. A bright full moon was hanging in the sky. Although it had been seven years since he left the circus, whenever he saw that moon, he felt an urge to transform into a wolf. Habit was indeed frightening. The streets at midnight were quiet. The only creatures roaming outside at this late hour were sewer rats and hungry stray cats on a hunt. Despite sharing the same space, the city at night and the city during the day seemed like completely different worlds. Creatures that could only survive in the darkness would gradually begin their activities.
And Red Fox, those gathered here were no different. They thrived in the city’s darkness. Despite the lurking danger beyond the door, Sixx didn’t hesitate and opened the door to Red Fox. As he confidently stepped inside, several gazes turned toward him. He paid them no mind. Angelo was easy to find.
“Who are you?”
Although the sofa could accommodate about six people, only one person was sitting there. It was Angelo. He appeared to be about six years older than Sixx. He gave Sixx a menacing look. Depending on his response, the movements of the men who seemed to be eyeing him as if to kill him would change.
“Are you Angelo?”
“Introductions should come from your side first. You’re a new face. Who told you where I was?”
“I’m Sixx. I’m a friend of Corbin’s. Corbin hasn’t been home for a few days, so I came to see if he’s here. Can I see him if he’s here?”
Although he said that, Sixx already knew the answer. While walking towards Angelo, he glanced around, but Corbin was nowhere to be seen. At least he wasn’t here right now.
“Corbin? …Ah, you mean that lonely guy? Hey, it’s funny how your friend is missing and you’re running around looking for him like this. Instead of meddling unnecessarily, why don’t you go home?”
“It’s because I’m worried about my close friend. Please, just let me meet him for a moment.”
“I said go back home. Doesn’t my word sound like a word?”
The men surrounded Sixx, casting menacing glares at him. Perhaps a single word from Angelo would send a fist flying his way. Sixx felt his breath becoming rougher. Despite not liking it, he wanted to resolve things as amicably as possible with Corbin’s friends. …Of course, if possible.
“I just need to see his face and I’ll leave. I don’t intend to cause a disturbance.”
“That guy isn’t here.”
“But you know where he is, don’t you? Then at least tell me where he is―”
The man standing close to him grabbed Sixx by the collar. He wasn’t much taller than Sixx, so it didn’t suffocate him, but it was equally unpleasant. After forcefully shaking off his hand, Sixx glared at Angelo. If words didn’t work, he was prepared to use force. If he couldn’t handle this level of challenge on his own, he wouldn’t be able to accomplish anything in the future. However, Angelo suddenly chuckled and clapped his hands. It was very suspicious, but he couldn’t understand why he suddenly changed his attitude.
“Okay, let him go. Come to think of it, it’s probably for the best. Did you say your name was Sixx? You know that if you come, you have to go, right? It’s the basic rule of a deal. Even between close friends, a deal is a deal. I’ve helped Corbin a lot lately. I can’t explain it to an outsider like you in detail, but I’ve helped Corbin take a good position.”
Sixx realized that by “position,” they meant a drug dealer. It was absurd to think of it as a good position, but in their world, it might be treated as a kind of job. Moreover, if the mafia was looking out for him, the risk of being extorted or caught by the police would relatively decrease. So, they expressed it as helping. Corbin was just connecting the street drug dealers with the mafia. Sixx nodded. But if that was a perfect job, he would have done it himself.
“So, shouldn’t Corbin help me in return? I was looking for someone to work for a couple of days, and Corbin fit the bill, so I asked him for help. He agreed willingly, you know? Since the reward is huge, it’s actually good for him, as he needs money. Corbin went to work there. He’ll be back soon, so just wait quietly at home, and he’ll come back.”
“Can you guarantee that he’ll come back safely?”
“Well, if he’s lucky?”
Angelo chuckled. Sixx, furious, was about to punch him in the face, but he stopped himself when he remembered he hadn’t found Corbin’s whereabouts yet. Indeed, there was no way that guy just gave away that position. Corbin must have been involved in something very dangerous to get that position.
“But mostly, he’ll come back alive, so don’t worry. Unless he’s very unlucky, he won’t come back as a corpse. Hey, it’s really a good job, you know? Loosen up your face. Would I kill my friend?”
“What’s going on? Where is he? Tell me now―”
“Damn, you’re annoying. It’s just working as a waiter at a party. I can’t tell you where it is. It’s a party attended by important people, so if you go and cause trouble, it’ll be a problem.”
“A party?”
Sixx couldn’t understand why working as a waiter at a party would be so dangerous that even his life was at stake. However, considering that Angelo had asked Corbin to do it, it was clear that it wasn’t just an ordinary party. What should I do? Sixx quickly thought. He had to choose whether to subdue them right now to find out Corbin’s whereabouts or try a little more conversation. He had no intention of quietly going home as Angelo suggested. While Sixx was pondering, Angelo scrutinized him from head to toe. And Angelo was the one who came to a conclusion faster.
“Sixx, if you want to meet your friend so badly, I have a proposal.”
Angelo spoke arrogantly, as if he were giving alms.
“A proposal?”
“Do you want to work at that party too? If you want, I can make a position for you. Your friend is already working at the party venue, so you can meet him right away if you go there. Actually, I don’t know what you’re worried about, but whatever it is, you just need to go there and watch over him. How about it? I don’t make this kind of offer to anyone. It’s just because you don’t look bad. I’ll have to contact them first to get permission, but it’s worth a try.”
Ahhhhh I have a feeling where this is goingggg. But not me sitting over here crying because Sixx gets along so well at his job and has a boss that genuinely appreciates him and recognizes his hard work. And now he’s gonna have to turn down such a good and honest job because of Corbin
Well I should specify that it’s not Corbin’s fault, but this definitely didn’t help
ohhhh my godddd I’m so INVESTED but I’m also so STRESSED 😭 Author/Translators, you’re doing a great job but for my own mental health I might need to wait until I can be sure that everything turns out okay before I keep reading…maybe I’m a bit of a wimp, but angst and drama just GET to me 😥
Sixx is really too innocent and vulnerable