My Second Life as a Mafia Tyrant

Chapter 8: At Your Own Risk

　My relationship with Maverick ended up lasting surprisingly long.

　“Long” might be a stretch—it was only two weeks. But for Alois, that was more than long enough.

“It might be dangerous to be with me.”

“Because you’re selling drugs?”

“Yeah. That’s exactly it.”

In a room of the apartment they’d rented near the university, Alois said this while making coffee for a half-naked Maverick. He was about to head to school to study pharmacology again—and sell drugs.

Neither Alois nor Maverick used drugs. They were satisfied with other things. Even without drugs, his days with Maverick were thrilling.

“I like dangerous men. The hotter the risk, the more I get fired up.”

“You’re a handful. I wonder what on earth you’re studying in the university’s literature department.”

Alois handed Maverick the coffee she’d brewed Southern-style. She’d recently learned that Maverick was from the South and a member of the “National Union.”

She harbors many secrets. Sometimes, even when Alois asks, she doesn’t answer.

　A narcotics investigator for the “National Union”? That’s unlikely. They’re not so idle as to waste their time on small-time dealers peddling cheap drugs like Snow White dregs.

Just like the international situation, a cold war was currently raging between the cartels.

　The Kuste Cartel is demanding complete independence. Their wish is to be allowed to handle a wider variety of drugs. But Heinrich refuses. The Kuste Cartel is connected by sea to the “National Union” and the Southwest Continent. This generates immense wealth, but at the same time leads to further violence. And with that comes power.

　The Schwarz Cartel has maintained a policy of non-interference with both sides, but with the recent increase in drug dealer arrests, they had begun to suspect Heinrich—who served as both the boss of the Wolf Cartel and a federal prosecutor.

The Greif Cartel believed Karl was plotting something. He was making preparations for betrayal.

　All of this is information Alois obtained by leveraging the scandals and connections he’s amassed over the past ten years. Money and violence breed power. Information gives power intelligence. It transforms a tyrant into a wise emperor.

The Drug Enforcement Administration is likely busy analyzing this Cold War-style structure right now.

Alois believes that Maverick, at the very least, is not a threat to him.

“I like dangerous things. Violent, destructive things. Literature satisfies that craving. Because the world of literature is free. Whether you kill people, cheat on top of cheating, lie, betray, or abuse children—you’re free.”

“True. Literature is free. At least within this capitalist camp.”

“Long live the free world. ‘Drop dead, you commie bastards,’ right? We have the freedom that the communist countries don’t. Freedom in literature is one of them. I love this country’s literature. Maybe because of its long history of oppression, it’s warped. I bet the people of this country used literature to satisfy their desires instead of drugs while their homeland was under oppression.”

“‘Our land is red because the blood of our ancestors and the blood of our enemies has flowed upon it.’”

　The “Federation” had endured a continuous series of hardships as a nation.

A fierce war of independence waged by the settlers, followed by a long and insidious civil war. Political and military intervention by the “National Union” and political colonization. The indigenous civil rights movement. The military’s suppression of it. This country’s soil is drenched in blood.

“Arnold Auler. I love stories about war. Especially those that recount this country’s tragic revolution and civil war. They expose the violence hidden behind the cheerfulness of the people here.”

“That’s quite the analysis—typical of a literature major.”

Alois found the days he spent with Maverick to be enjoyable.

　She had a refreshing personality, was highly independent, well-educated, and capable of building a relationship that was enjoyable without relying on drugs. He hadn’t met a woman like this in his first life.

“Ultimately, what literature demands is beauty and entertainment. As long as it’s beautiful and entertaining, literature will tolerate it no matter how far it strays from the path of humanity. Works that are pure sex, drugs, and violence are the ones being praised.”

“It’s just like cooking. As long as it tastes good, any ingredients will do.”

“No, that’s not quite right. No matter how delicious a dish is, you can’t mix in human flesh or drugs. But literature doesn’t care about that. It’s truly free.”

“Were you a libertarian at heart?”

“That’s right. I’m not like those hippies who pander to the Reds. I’m a true libertarian.”

Maverick is an anti-communist.

　As for Alois, he was neither one way nor the other.

　Those tainted by communism are fools, but they can still be business partners. Even in a capitalist society, drugs are a source of business. Ultimately, if it brings wealth, Alois would do business with communist guerrillas in the Southwest Continent, or even with a military junta.

　Alois believes only in money and violence. And in power and reliable information.

　The drug business doesn’t care about political ideology.

But Alois had no intention of dealing with the communist bloc right now. He didn’t want to inadvertently benefit the communists and draw the attention of the “National Union,” the leader of the capitalist bloc.

After all, it’s the narcotics investigators from the “National Union” who are coming to kill Alois.

“Come to think of it, there are some guys in the Literature Department who are hooked on your drugs, too.”

“I do business across all departments. Besides, I’ve been hiring people lately. I don’t keep track of every single deal.”

If Alois were the only dealer, sales would be limited.

He had to move more drugs.

　Especially among the wealthy students of the “National Union”—he needs them to keep seeking drugs even after they return to their home countries, turning them into future customers. At least until one of them overdoses and ends up in a coffin.

“Someone’s going to die eventually.”

“It’s their own fault.”

Taking drugs is their own responsibility. Alois isn’t forcing them on anyone.

Of course, he’s not saying drug dealers are blameless. But the weakness of mind on the part of those who use them should also be called into question. That’s what Alois believes.

Society loses nothing if the kind of people who can’t even rebel against their parents or the state without relying on drugs end up as rotten junkies. Especially those hopeless cases who pay lip service to peace, attend college on their parents’ money, rebel against those very parents, and neglect their studies.

Alois is maintaining excellent grades while helping out with his parents’ drug business, steadily making progress. He’s nothing like the stupid hippies Maverick talks about.

　If things continue this way, Alois will graduate from college a year early. He has enough credits even if he skips a grade, and he’s already started working on his thesis. Ideally, he wanted to go on to graduate school to do research on pharmaceuticals, but that wish will never come true now.

Even though he’s shouldering such an absurd ordeal, Alois doesn’t care if there are people out there buying drugs with their parents’ money and getting hooked.

Or so it should have been.