My Second Life as a Mafia Tyrant

Chapter 23: Information Shared Over the Phone

　That day, too, Maverick had barged into Alois’s room.

　Alois himself found talking to Maverick more soothing than hanging out with other women, so he hadn’t seen Elke much lately. Despite having shown such intense obsession with her, once he actually had her, he no longer cared.

“You’ve changed a bit, haven’t you?”

“Have I?”

“You’ve become a bit more manly. You look like you’ve been through a real ordeal.”

“Hmm. An ordeal, huh.”

He was probably referring to the deal with Broken Skull.

　The Alois-Victor Network is still operational. To keep it running, Alois has even crossed borders himself to meet with Victor in person. Perhaps because of that, Victor places a great deal of trust in Alois.

But that’s all in the past.

I haven’t run into any real “battlegrounds” lately.

No, wait—I have.

　The Drug Enforcement Administration has made its appearance.

The DEA’s arrival instantly brought back memories from ten years ago for Alois. Namely, the memory of Alois being killed by Felix Faust.

Alois is trying to overcome his past and thwart the actions of his future enemy.

That is truly a life-or-death situation.

“I might get killed in the future. Thinking about that makes my face tense up a little.”

“The end for guys in the drug business is usually pretty miserable. But you know that going in, right?”

“That’s true. But I didn’t willingly step into the drug business. I was dragged into it against my will.”

　Heinrich, Dominic, Werner, Karl. If only there weren’t power struggles among the bosses of those damn drug cartels. If only the Wolf Cartel empire didn’t exist, he could have studied pharmacy at the “National Union” university, worked in the pharmaceutical industry, and eventually owned a small pharmacy in the village of Neue Netesheim.

　No matter how profitable the drug business might be, he had no desire for such a miserable end—being hunted down for criminal activities and shot dead.

Alois had always felt that way.

On the other hand, he also harbored a fear that the drug business might actually suit him.

The Alois-Victor Network didn’t exist in his first life. Alois had built it from scratch. Surpassing even the expectations of his father and mentor in the drug trade, Heinrich, the Alois-Victor Network was turning a profit.

Did he possess this kind of talent? Or was it just luck?

While praying it was the latter, Alois couldn’t believe even to himself that he was seeking the power of the former in order to gain authority.

“You’re doing something dangerous, aren’t you?”

“Yeah. I’m doing something dangerous. Are you really not going to break up with me?”

“Nope. I like dangerous men. And dangerous women, too. Both are hot.”

Maverick said this as she wrapped her arm around Alois’s shoulder.

“It’s really dangerous. I’m not confident I can protect you.”

“I’ll take care of myself. I’ve lived my whole life without needing anyone else to look after me. I’ll keep doing that, whether I’m with you or not.”

“You really are something.”

But Alois realized that having Maverick by her side was what gave her a sense of security. Maverick didn’t run away when he saw her darker side, nor did he try to dominate her. That felt good.

　It was at that moment that the phone rang.

“Excuse me a moment.”

Alois let go of Maverick’s hand and walked over to the phone.

“Alois speaking.”

“It’s me. Victor. Can you talk right now?”

“Sure. Is there a problem?”

Alois replied as he watched Maverick eat a delivery pizza.

“I told you before that the DEA had launched an investigation, right? Here’s an update.”

“What kind of update?”

“The DEA agent you mentioned, Felix Faust—he’s the one. But he got into a huge fight with the state police and walked out. Do you think that means the DEA investigation is over?”

Felix Faust. So he was involved after all.

　And no matter how I looked at it, Felix Faust wasn’t the type to give up so easily.

“It’s a trap. They’re probably staging this to make it look like the State Police and the DEA are at odds. Don’t fall for it. Felix Faust is cunning. If we show even the slightest weakness, our network will be destroyed in an instant. We can’t afford any mistakes. We can’t betray each other.”

“Got it. I’ll have someone inside the police force keep an eye on things. I’ll continue to be careful with the deals. You don’t screw up either. Don’t betray me.”

“Of course. For the sake of our mutual benefit.”

“That’s right, brother. For our benefit.”

The call from Victor ended there.

Alois pondered.

　He wondered if Felix had noticed the gang’s informant within the police and had deliberately staged a rift. If that were the case, even if Victor used his informant planted within the police, he wouldn’t be able to obtain investigative information from the Drug Enforcement Agency.

That said, Victor’s informant had never provided any information that went beyond the surface level—such as which dealer had been arrested or which dealer had agreed to a plea bargain.

　To what extent is Broken Skull under suspicion? Have law enforcement agencies caught on to the Alois-Victor network? Has the location of the Wolf Cartel’s drug storage facility been exposed? That kind of critical information hasn’t been provided.

But it’s worth investigating.

Felix isn’t the kind of man who would fall out with the state police and give up on an investigation. Alois knows that man well. He knows he’s a dangerous man who will pursue his prey like a hunting dog. He knows he’ll use any means necessary to achieve his ends.

The corrupt officers in the state police are already under surveillance.

The information will likely be fragmented and inconclusive.

But right now, Broken Skull is the only influence Alois has over the “National Union.” Alois holds no other power within the “National Union.”

He must find a way to infiltrate the “National Union.”

Fortunately, Alois had one strategy up his sleeve.

“Were you talking about something dangerous? You don’t look too good.”

“Well, it’s rare for anyone to look good doing this kind of work.”

Alois said that and downed his beer.

“Was the person on the other end of the line Broken Skull?”

“You really aren’t an undercover agent for the Drug Enforcement Administration, are you?”

“Do I look like that kind of cheapskate to you?”

“No, you don’t. But you’d better stay out of this. You’re dealing with a dangerous man.”

I can still remember it.

The sound of a 9mm bullet fired from Felix’s magic-powered pistol. The sensation of it piercing Alois’s abdomen and passing through. The sensation of myself slowly dying.

I never want to feel that way again.

“To me, you seem like a dangerous man enough.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m just an ordinary guy.”

Alois shrugged and took a bite of his pizza.