v4: Drugs and the Dominos: Use (pt 2)
Title: Drugs and the Dominos: Use (pt 2)
Series: Baccano! (click here for more info)
Author: Ryohgo Narita
Media type: Novel
Disclaimer: See index for full. Summary: don't distribute without asking me beforehand, just link directly to my journal. Thanks :)


「Use」- pt 2
31st December 1931 Afternoon Close to the Pennsylvania Station

In a small alleyway not far from the station, the three brothers of the Gandor Family were discussing something with a young man.

“Well, let’s go. Who should I kill first? I could only do some light exercise last night, so my body feels rusty. I want to do a job where I can get serious for once.”

This young man said freely to the head of the Mafia family.

Claire Stanfield. Although he grew up under the same roof as the three Gandor brothers, he wasn’t an actual member of the Gandor Family. He was a freelance assassin, with a nickname ‘Vino’, a powerhouse with a mighty reputation among the criminal society. Even assassins would run into many problems if they didn’t conceal their real name, and yet he didn’t think that other people learning of his name would become a hindrance.

If one had to pinpoint just one problem of his, it would probably be his eccentric personality. The exact opposite of killing for enjoyment and breathing lies like air, it was the kind of personality that walked the line between being normal and abnormal.

So when he met up with the three Gandor brothers again today, he said many bizarre things. Originally they thought he still wanted to delve deeper into the conversation topic, but he immediately started walking briskly towards the headquarters of the Gandor Family, as though in a hurry.

"Let's hurry and get this done and over with. After this, I have to look for somebody. Somebody who might marry me, ya know."

Hearing Claire’s words, the three brothers exchanged a look.

“You rascal, did you say something like ‘marry me’ again to someone you met the first time?”

“Something like that.”

"Something like what, you idiot! How many times do you think you've been dumped?"

In response to the words of an astounded Berga, Claire immediately retorted without any hesitation whatsoever,

"Heeey wait a sec, I wasn’t joking, nor was I trying to pick them up. It shouldn't be a problem since I'm serious. And the reason why I've been refused every time until now is definitely because there’s a better woman waiting for me in the future. Because, well, this world--"

"‘Revolves around me', am I right?"

Luck usually cut in at this point. This was likely to be Claire’s most basic thought. According to him, ‘if I died, then this world is just a dream, and I’ll just have to continue dreaming this dream in the real world. That’s the way it is’. Of course, Luck and the others didn’t understand the slightest what this meant.

These sentences were enough to prove he was a man escaping from reality, but he did possess the power to make his dream real. To maintain this power, he worked at it constantly and never slacked off. This was the part of him that gave people the most headaches.

"In any case, Mr. Claire, what I'm trying to say is that you shouldn't trust a woman who accepts sudden proposals."

Unintentionally, Luck called out Claire’s name. But Claire proceeded to say another baffling line.

"Claire’s dead. He no longer exists on official records anyway.”

---Again with this kind of baffling talk. At this, Luck said calmly,

“People who don’t exist officially can’t get married.”

Hearing that, Claire’s footsteps stopped abruptly.

"Aw crap, what should I do? How do I buy a name?"

"I don’t really understand your logic, Mr. Claire. Well then, what should we call you?"

Claire resumed walking, as if nothing of importance was mentioned.

"Well, ‘Vino’------------ or you can call me ‘Rail Tracer'.”

“Lame!”



Luck watched with a somewhat stunned expression as Claire and Berga fought and argued loudly in an alleyway, then drew in a deep breath.

---What a wonderful pair of brothers these two fellows are.

Just as he thought that, Berga’s tooth came flying over. Then, Berga immediately grew a new tooth. Luck broke out in cold sweat, and, pretending that he saw nothing, didn’t say a word.



<==>



“Ye old geeza, walk propahly!”

Gazing at Samasa, who was raising a big fuss, Benjamin intentionally coughed twice.

“It’s all right to pay no attention to such a boorish person. Oh my, Miss, let’s leave quickly.”

“Eh? Ah, yes."

The steward’s words shook Eve out of her reverie. Because she was musing over something, she simply didn’t notice the two’s antics.

--Aah, how will I be able to meet the Gandors?

“Miss, you don’t have to worry.”

“?”

For a moment, Eve was dumbfounded by what the steward said. Did they know what she was thinking?

“As I thought, the food that Samasa and I prepare is making you lose your appetite, is that right? I’ve already contacted a banquet organizer who is a friend of mine yesterday, and requested that he introduce another chef as well as a bartender. They’re coming here on a train today, and I believe they’ll arrive tomorrow.”

“Ah, ah, they even had to specially travel here! And, a bartender…”

The old steward already knew that Eve would ask this question, and so answered with a mischievous smile,

“Under this estate, I discovered a wine store that was here prior to the Prohibition, so I was looking for someone who could manage such a large quantity of wine. Merely ‘possessing’ wine isn’t a crime. And since we have a bar and since it’s such a rare occasion for us to come to New York, we thought we should at least let Miss experience that kind of atmosphere. I will pay the wages. Please forgive your humble Benjamin’s willfulness.”

“Mr. Benjamin.”

“So duncha get all worked o’er the muhney for hirin’ the chef. Right, Miz, we ken now focus on more import’nt things!”

Samasa said with a smile as she patted Benjamin’s back.

“That’s right! Hem hem. An extra person means extra manpower. The domestic affairs can be left to him, and we can concentrate on finding out news about young Master Dallas.”

--These two were clearly people who couldn’t be dealt with half-heartedly.

They truly cared a great deal about her. For no reason, Eve found herself fighting back tears.

“Thank you, Mr. Benjamin and Ms. Samasa, really, thank you very much!”

Faced with her two benefactors, she decided she couldn’t allow herself to make anymore headstrong decisions. But that decision could no longer be changed.



When Eve and the others had finished their purchases and were on the way back to Millionaires’ Row, there was a hubbub in front of a general store.

“Hey, hey, bro, you’re really gonna buy it all?”

“That’s right! Put all of it into the car!”

“Buying all of it! It’s a monopoly!”

The ones speaking to the shopkeeper were a man wearing the ragged clothes of a Western shooter and a young woman in a big, red dress.

“No, no, of course I’m glad you’re buying it all, but, just what’re you gonna do with this stuff?”

“Knock it down!”

“Knock it down, knock it down!”

Watching the distant couple speaking such mystifying things, Eve seemed to recall something.

----Aah, that’s it.

It suddenly came back to Eve- they looked very similar to those two. The ones who turned up in her own home a year ago, the thief-couple who brought her happiness.

Then, walking into the crowds, their figures quickly vanished from sight.

Although she wasn’t certain these two and those thieves were the same people, but a little spark of hope lit up in Eve’s heart.

Now, they had to be bringing some other people happiness.

Thoughts of the incident a year ago and her happiest memories to date awoke at the same time.

Tears filled Eve’s eyes, and she became more certain of her own choice.



<==>



“It’s, been, a while. Have you, been, well?”

Standing in a bypath leading to the train station, two people were conversing.

“Yeah, Begg doesn’t look too bad either.”

Meeting Begg was an old friend of his.

“H-have you, have you met Maiza?”

Facing the shadowed figure that asked the question, Begg gave a light nod of his head. Compared to Begg, who was positively beaming, that shadow seemed a little sad.

“Begg, actually—”

“I heard. The, goods appear, to, have, been stolen.”

“—Yeah. Those explosives can’t be made public- they mustn’t fall into the hands of the police.”

“Of, course.”

“Will I still be hunted? By the Runorata Family…”

Watching the shadow who seemed a little anxious, Begg smiled a little and shook his head.

“Balto, ro, wasn’t, in, volved at, all, in this, inci, dent. I paid, for, ev, erything. You won’t, be, punished.”

The shadow seemed a little surprised at such a response.

“Why—”

“I, heard, about your, situation, from, the, in, forma, tion shop. I, wanted to, help you, but, couldn’t, direct, ly, give you, the, money.”

Hearing these words, the shadow’s expression twisted up.

“You’re such a good person- you haven’t changed at all. Thank you—”

“You’re, too, kind. I know, but, ever, since, I gave, up, being, an, alche, mist, all, I’ve had, to date, is, just, money. The, happi, ness, I, was, seeking, still hasn’t, been found. All, that’s left, I, can do, is, to, make, you smile, like, that.”

On the brightly smiling face of the shadow, a trace of sorrow surfaced in those eyes.

“That’s plenty enough. Thank you!”

The shadow and Begg embraced, and Begg used his left hand to stroke the shadow’s hair.

“Thank you, Begg. For—for not eating me.”

Watching the shadow smile faintly as tears streamed down his face, Begg couldn’t help but also cry.

“If, you, talk about, this, next, time, I’ll get, angry.”



<==>



“Oh, has Berga become stronger? He didn’t get hurt after a fight with me.”

Claire said with surprise. There was no trace of the big fight the two just had. Berga was immortal, so he had regenerative powers, while Claire on the other hand had simply come away unscathed.

Keith and the three others had returned to the office, and there was no one inside besides Tick. Of course, everyone had received the command and was waiting at home for further orders.

“Then, let’s get to the meat of it. Who should we kill? If it was Baltoro, then it’ll require a fair bit of planning. If it’s Gustavo, then doing it by today is OK!”

“Being meticulous, I see.”

“Baltoro’s hired me a few times before. That Gustavo guy doesn’t know a thing about me.”

“…Aren’t assassins supposed to keep their clients’ identities secret?”

“Hahaha, Luck still hasn’t changed, as finicky as ever. Ah, doesn’t matter. You won’t tell others, yeah?”

Luck, as the representative, explained the plan to the excited Claire.

“Then, Claire. First-- don’t do anything. Ah, before I contact you, please go have a stroll around this city.”

“What?”

Facing Claire, who had a somewhat confused look on his face, Luck narrowed his eyes as though scheming something.

“First, display your ‘suppressive power’.”



<==>



At the same time, in a room of a hotel, Gustavo was beside himself with rage.

“You’re fucking kidding me, Begg! They’ve been stolen and you’re just gonna forget about it!? I was looking forward to getting your bombs!”

“The, product, tion, process, has, been, given to me. One, month, and, I can, manu, facture, a batch.”

“That’s too late! Fuck! I want to blow up every bloody Gandor bar, casino and racetrack- now!”

“Is, that so?”

“Cut the crap! It’s useless now! Seriously! Your friend’s a fat-ass loser, huhh?”

Atypically of the usual Begg, he came up to Gustavo upon hearing such words.

“!? Wh-, what?”

“Don’t, insult, my, friend.”

He just said this one sentence and shut his mouth. Pressured for a moment by Begg’s imposing manner, Gustavo clenched his fists without noticing and forced out a line past his constricted throat.

“Ha! What’s up with that? For a businessman to lose the goods he’s trading- doesn’t that make him a downright trashy businessman!”

When he heard this, Begg was silent for a second, then burst into laughter.

“Ha, ha, ha! Really, it’s just, as you, said! I, haven’t, laughed, like, this, in, a while!”

With that, Begg turned and left the room.

“What’s up with that guy?!”

Gustavo didn’t understand in the slightest the real meaning behind Begg’s actions, and just savored the words he said.

For a businessman to lose the goods he’s trading- doesn’t that make him a downright trashy businessman!

Drugs. Roy. Theft. Responsible person. Me.

“Huh?”

He finally realized why Begg laughed, and hurled the third ashtray at the window.

“So he was laughing at me-------!”



<==>



That night, the executives held a reporting conference in the information shop.

“The most notable information today has to be the incident on the ‘Flying Pussyfoot’ Rachel took. It also seems Congressman Beriam is hiding something. I’ve confirmed with a friend from the railway company on the phone, but the information we’ve gathered isn’t complete. The question is about the ‘red monster’ Rachel saw aboard the train- I’m very interested about this. Because it seems the assassin ‘Vino’ was also on the train, so if we can talk to him, we should be able to get a good handle on the information regarding this incident.”

“Vino…… Are we talking about Claire Stanfield? Shouldn’t he have died in the conductor’s room?”

Nicholas’s question was answered with absolute certainty by the voice behind the mountain of information.

“That should be a façade. It’s likely to be someone else. The face was destroyed and burned- this is the first step of the pretence. It appears it was done by that careless guy. Seeing as she, a freeloader, has already been released, she should have obtained the ticket from a certain someone. Stealing the ticket from the dead can’t explain why they let her off the hook so easily.”

“In that case, the only people with spare tickets would be the conductors.”

The person behind the information mountain agreed with Elean.

“That’s right, but both conductors are dead. From this point of view, it’s probable she met Claire, and was threatened into keeping mum about this incident. She’s very particular about this kind of stuff.”

After a pause, he added his own thoughts regarding Claire.

“And, I don’t believe he’d be killed so easily- there isn’t anyone who can kill him. Whether it’s the Ronnie of the Martillo Family, or Chane of the Lemures.”

He listed a few other names as examples, then finally reached the name of the person who was ‘bound to be mentioned’.

“Or— Felix Walken of the ‘Freelancers’. If it were him, there’s a high possibility he would win. Ah, but I’ve heard he’s already retired from assassination scene.”

“Felix Walken? He’s still in this city?”

Nicholas looked astonished at the sudden mention of this name.

“Aye, seems like because of his newly born daughter, he wants to abandon his past… Speaking of which, his most influential work in Manhattan back in the days would probably be opposing Lucky Luciano’s subordinate – Albert Anastasia’s ‘Murder Incorporated’. How can such a person retire when he wants to?”

The director immediately switched topics, to the Runorata-related incident.



“---So that’s that. Back to what we were saying- Nicholas, how’s that black case?”

After sorting out the entire day’s activities, the director started on the confirmation of information that he had yet to be notified of.

“There aren’t any problems. Only that two men went to Lia Linshan’s room. I think it should be her younger brother who had just arrived today, Fan Linshan.”

“They’re both Chinese? What strange names!”

“Their father was British, so perhaps that’s why. But perhaps due to some miscommunication, she and her younger brother had a dispute.”

“And the other man?”

“We haven’t confirmed it yet, but he should be a young man traveling with her younger brother, called Jon Panel.”

“Very detailed- you were able to find out so quickly?”

“Ah, no no no—Because they were both personnel aboard the ‘Flying Pussyfoot’, so this is just a lucky coincidence.”

The executives nodded their agreement. Finally, the director said,

“Then, Nicholas will send people to watch them. Our priority now is to grasp the ‘ceaseless* movements’. Do you still remember the ‘wine of immortality’ from last year? The incident where everything was coincidentally centered around the wine. Ah, the movement of ‘wine’ then wasn’t fully predictable. Compared to that, the movements this time were observable from the very start, so it’s not difficult.”



<==>



“What should I do?”

Sitting in a first-floor room of a small apartment block in Little Italy, Lia Linshan gazed at the black leather case with a troubled look.

Although good friend Edith let me take care of this on her behalf, I can’t always keep it in this room that can’t be locked. But I can’t send it to the police station either- I should find some safer place to store it.

Although Edith said ‘you entrust it to someone trustworthy’, I’m still not sure who to pass it to. Although it’d be best to hand it over to Ronnie and Maiza, Edith said ‘you must keep it a secret from the people in the organization’, so that won’t work either.

It’s still better to entrust it to Ennis. As the thought occurred to her, Lia picked up the leather case, when a knocking sounded on the door.

For a moment, she was frightened, but the voice that came next lit up her heart.

“It’s been a while— It’s me, Sister.”

It was the voice of her younger brother who should be living in a faraway place.



“Ah, sorry for the trouble…”

Her younger brother and the young man traveling with him seemed to be planning to stay the night here.

He said something about suddenly losing his job on the dining car of a train, and that from tomorrow onwards he’d be staying with a rich family in Millionaires’ Row for work.

“Eeh? You’re going to live in their house?”

“Yes. All the luggage can be taken there, and they even have safes, so I brought over all the valuables with no worries---”

Hearing his words, Lia’s troubles could finally be put to a rest.

Because someone who she could trust and who had a safe place had appeared, just like that.