“Michael.”
Federico called out to Michael, who was standing motionless in front of the mansion’s swimming pool. Marsha, who had been pushing Federico’s wheelchair, positioned him beside Michael before moving away.
Stars twinkled brilliantly on the water’s surface. Michael was gazing down at them, his face lost in deep thought.
“Child.”
Federico called him once more in his hoarse voice. Only then did Michael turn his gaze.
“You seem to have a lot on your mind.”
Michael knelt down and kissed his hand. Is it because of this alliance proposal? Federico asked, gently caressing his pale face.
Michael didn’t deny it, he just smiled faintly. Hmm. Federico stroked his own chin.
“I know war will break out again. That’s exactly what I wanted.”
Michael brushed off the dirt from his knees casually and responded, “There won’t be any war.”
His tone was resolute. Federico’s eyes sharpened. There won’t be a war? he murmured in his raspy voice.
“Didn’t you assure me you could defeat Hunter?”
But if there’s no war, how can you possibly defeat him? The undertone of reproach was directed at Michael.
“I can win. In the game between you and him.”
Isn’t that more enticing than victory in war? Michael whispered.
Federico fell silent. It was Federico who had been drawn to propose a game during his first meeting with Hunter. He seemed somewhat surprised that Michael mentioned the game that only Hunter and himself were supposed to know about. But soon he smiled with satisfaction.
“As expected, you know about it.”
Still, saying there won’t be a war makes it all seem pointless. Federico clicked his tongue in disappointment. After all the effort to escalate the situation.
“Something more interesting will unfold, so don’t worry.”
Michael smiled broadly. It was an infinitely innocent-looking smile. But Federico’s expression hardened, displeased by something. With Michael’s significant words and his enigmatic smile added to it, it was impossible not to be suspicious.
“What dream have you had that’s got you so excited?”
Michael held up one finger as if he’d been waiting for this question.
“Just one person.”
Federico barely managed to put strength into his almost closed eyes. With Michael’s following words, a bit of life returned to his dull pupils.
“In my endlessly repeating dreams, only one person was sacrificed.”
“······Sacrifice, you can speak of death in such noble terms.”
Federico covered his mouth and laughed.
“Then who exactly will play this glorious role?”
Michael sealed his lips. Federico, accustomed to his reluctance to speak, didn’t pry further.
Tension surrounded the two of them. As the heavy silence settled deeply, Federico spoke again.
“Child, don’t you resent me?”
Michael, who had been gradually unbuttoning his shirt despite the chilly wind, opened his eyes wide. Resent? Federico laughed, seemingly surprised by his puzzled reaction.
“There’s not a single child sold in the prostitution market who doesn’t resent me.”
“Then you must also resent your father, Marsha?”
Michael looked at Marsha with a hint of amusement. Marsha, standing alone in the distance, showed no particular reaction. Federico glanced at her and said:
“I can easily read her mind. I’m not sure about others, but those eyes are like a predator watching for an opportunity. After the momentary confusion of losing her leader, she’s lowered herself to be a footwiper with considerable judgment.”
“If you know that, why keep her alive?”
“If I am her prey, then she is my hostage.”
She was the first child Hunter took from me. Federico recalled the past.
Around the time Hunter officially began his activities at Gostin, Federico took him to a brothel in Nevada. At that time, the prostitution market was generating profits incomparably higher than Federico’s other businesses, so he wanted to introduce it first.
Federico liked those lacking morality. Those with a scarlet letter etched on their hearts that couldn’t be erased by the hypocritical judgment games of others were even more welcome. Hunter was someone who met both of these conditions.
There were many other reasons why Federico liked Hunter. Federico thought that if he had a brother left, Hunter would be most suitable for that position. That’s why he introduced him to his most cherished prostitution market.
Since prostitution was legal in Nevada, establishments operated corporately by Gostin were predominant, but in several covertly run places, child victims were piled up like mountains. Moreover, the facilities weren’t very good, and children sold from various places were locked in cages. Seeing that sight, Hunter only frowned, showing no sympathy for the children or contempt toward Federico.
As they strolled slowly through the place, Hunter, who had asked the coldly calculating question of “what percentage of the overall prostitution market profits does this place account for,” stopped his footsteps at the sound of a humming song from afar.
Federico became curious when he caught a glimpse of Hunter’s perplexed expression. Following him to where the singing was coming from, they found a girl of about twelve years old crouching in a cage. It was Marsha.
When the moon and stars pour down, bury me straight in the mud, singing a song of compassion.
Hunter seemed interested in her mumbling as if entranced. But seeing him turn away without saying much, Federico withdrew his sparkling eyes. Still, just in case, he told the pimp to keep an eye on her for a few weeks, and sure enough, a few days later, Hunter returned and personally took her out of the cage.
Federico was convinced that their trust was deeper than what was visible. Although they were both extremely awkward in expressing emotions, Hunter entrusted his mansion and Michael to her, and she accepted all of Hunter’s orders without complaint. Even just looking at that, one could tell how deep their relationship was.
The Hunter I’ve known so far is not the type to easily abandon his people. Federico muttered, staring at Marsha as if he would devour her.
“I don’t resent my father.”
Why would I need to resent him? Michael added.
“After all, hatred is just one of many emotions.”
“So you’re saying you don’t even want to waste such emotions on resentment.”
Federico laughed heartily. That’s disappointing.
“Then you don’t resent anyone? You’ve never felt hatred or disgust?”
Michael smiled.
“I only resent one person.”
Federico and Michael’s gazes clashed sharply in mid-air. The two men with smiles lingering on their lips looked as dangerous as the calm night sky before a storm.
