My Second Life as a Mafia Tyrant

Chapter 21: No blunders, no betrayals

Alois learned that the central government agency of the “National Union” had begun investigating the Alois-Victor Network just as the network was fully up and running, and 60 kilograms of Snow Pearl had turned into 120 kilograms.

Victor pays close attention even to the low-level dealers.

　From the start, Victor had taken measures to ensure that no matter how thoroughly he vetted the street dealers, they would never discover the organization’s true existence. He changed the transaction locations every time. He always made sure there were no tailing agents or bugs. And above all, he never allowed Broken Skull members to meet the street dealers.

The transactions were complex and convoluted, passing through numerous intermediaries. Some of those people didn’t even know they were handling Snow Pearl.

　It was time-consuming and expensive. But it virtually guaranteed that law enforcement would never get their hands on them.

Amidst all this, he heard the news that a low-level dealer had been taken in by the state police.

If you paid a cop to look into it, they’d tell you the Drug Enforcement Administration had launched an investigation.

“Is that agent’s name Felix Faust?”

Alois asked over the phone.

　Portable fairy communication hadn’t been put into practical use yet, so they had no choice but to communicate by phone, even at the risk of being wiretapped. But for now, there was no need to worry about that. The other party hadn’t noticed the Alois-Victor Network.

“I don’t know the agent’s name. But it’s certain that the Drug Enforcement Administration is on the move. You promised, right? We won’t screw up. We won’t betray each other.”

“Yeah. From now on, let’s be even more careful with our deals.”

Up until now, we’ve been doing our deals in Reni.

Reni was a paradise for organized crime. The Reni City Police are powerless against organized crime. That’s because organized crime extends throughout the “National Union” and even crosses borders to influence the “Federation.” The Reni City Police are limited to handling crimes that occur within Reni. The Constitution of the “People’s Union” also recognizes the high degree of autonomy enjoyed by free cities.

Should we continue conducting transactions in Reni?

Reni is certainly a convenient place for transactions. It’s perfect.

The problem is that the Drug Enforcement Agency’s investigations extend to Reni. If the Reni City Police have sufficient evidence, they’ll likely be forced to cooperate.

　So, we’ll have to start considering deals in cities other than Reni as well.

“Let’s change locations frequently. Even within Reni, don’t stick to the same spot—let’s change the location for each individual transaction. It might be a hassle, but I won’t screw up. I won’t betray you.”

“Got it. How will we communicate?”

“We’ll use the contact we’ve been keeping. Let’s set a code word to verify that they aren’t undercover agents. We’ll change the code word at least once a month, but for now, ‘Samael’ is the response to ‘Paradise Lost.’”

“What’s that?”

“It’s a classic.”

Alois doesn’t believe in God, but he finds what’s written in the scriptures amusing.

The man and woman who ate the fruit of knowledge and were banished. Apparently, God feared that they would eat the fruit of life as well and become beings equal to Him. The idea that people all over the world worship such a petty God is so ridiculous it makes him laugh.

“The contact has no criminal record. He’s just a messenger. He probably won’t be on the Leni City Police’s radar. But don’t let your guard down. Even without a record, if he acts suspiciously, he’ll be flagged by both the Leni City Police and the Drug Enforcement Agency. Make sure to check for bugs.”

“Got it. We won’t let anyone get in the way of our business.”

“Yeah. We’re raking it in right now.”

Broken Skull is skillfully peddling drugs. Thanks to that, the operation is expanding, and a fortune is pouring into Alois’s pockets.

We can’t let the Alois-Victor Network be taken down. At the same time, the “National Union” must not find out that Alois is at the center of the operation. Unlike other cartel bosses, Alois keeps his face hidden.

　He has no desire to be hunted down once his true identity is exposed.

“Well, it looks like the Drug Enforcement Administration is finally sticking its nose in.”

Alois sets down the phone and falls deep in thought.

“There’s a guy at the DEA. Agent Felix Faust. He’s going to kill me. I have to do something about this before that happens.”

　The idea of using Broken Skull to kill Felix crossed Alois’s mind. But he immediately dismissed it. He had learned in his first life that if he laid a hand on a police officer or investigator from the “National Union,” a painful retaliation would be waiting for him.

They wouldn’t stay silent if one of their own was killed. They would find the mastermind by any means necessary and make him pay the price.

　Therefore, Broken Skull would likely refuse to cooperate in killing Felix, and for Alois himself, killing Felix would be too rash—not to mention, he feared the retaliation. After all, Alois had not yet secured power.

Even if he did gain power, he would not dirty his own hands by killing Felix.

To achieve that, the Kuste Cartel and the Schwarz Cartel must be allowed to survive. He would frame one of them for the murder of the DEA agent. And if that led to their destruction in retaliation, the Wolf Cartel’s dominance would only grow stronger.

It was Alois’s job to create a motive for the killing. He had a plan.

“The Reni City Police are weak against organized crime. That said, they aren’t exactly on good terms with the ‘National Union’ central government either. It’s a veritable paradise for organized criminals. Market expansion in the West is centered around Broken Skull and Leni.”

Then Alois looks at the map.

“Even if the DEA manages to crack down on low-level or mid-level dealers, it’s set up so they can’t reach Broken Skull. Victor is a shrewd man. But the problem is if he gets caught and names me as part of a plea bargain.”

　Alois knows full well just how many safeguards Broken Skull has put in place to protect the Alois-Victor network. Drawing on his experience from his first life, Alois had offered various pieces of advice.

“Build multiple barriers between you and the street dealers. Don’t fix the distribution network. Even so, if law enforcement gets their hands on a street dealer, shut down the route leading up from that dealer.”

　Money can be laundered clean no matter how much there is, but drugs are a different story. Alois has currently set up six drug collection points on the “National Union” side, and drugs are randomly funneled to Victor from there.

　But even so, just in case.

　In his first life, the man who took down Alois was Felix Faust. I can’t let my guard down. The Drug Enforcement Administration has talented people like that.

“I won’t let myself be killed twice. This time, it’s your turn to die, Felix Faust.”

Alois made that resolution and went to university to study pharmacology again and to increase the number of drug dealers.

Alois felt a sense of urgency, but his expression gave nothing away.