도 모르게 날 죽이려는 거예요? 아니면 내가 총을 들고 다니는 게 마음에 안 드는 거예요? 어쨌든 그건 안 돼요. 총은 내 생명이니까요.”
루크는 내 대답에 약간 놀란 듯 보였지만, 곧 침착하게 말을 이었다.
“좋아, 그럼 두 번째 조건. 샌프란시스코에서 머무는 동안 우리 사우스 형제단의 규칙을 지켜야 한다. 우리 갱단원들과 충돌하지 말고, 우리의 활동을 방해하지 말아야 한다.”
“그건 뭐, 당연한 거 아니에요? 저도 싸움 좋아하는 건 아니니까요. 그냥 제 할 일만 하고 떠날 거예요.”
루크는 고개를 끄덕이며 마지막 조건을 말했다.
“그리고 마지막으로, 이 일이 끝나면 샌프란시스코를 떠날 때까지 우리의 눈에 띄지 말아야 한다. 우리의 비밀을 알고 있는 만큼, 우리도 자네를 신뢰할 수 있도록 해야 한다.”
“아, 그건 문제 없어요. 제가 여기서 뭘 하려는 것도 아니고, 그냥 제 일만 하고 떠날 거니까요. 그럼 이제 협상 성립인가요?”
루크는 잠시 생각하더니, 마침내 고개를 끄덕였다.
“좋아, 협상 성립이다. 하지만 자네가 약속을 어기면, 그땐 정말로 총을 겨눌 거야.”
“걱정 마세요, 시장님. 저도 목숨 걸고 일하는 거니까요.”
그렇게 나와 루크의 협상이 끝났다. 이제 샌프란시스코에서의 임무를 마치고 무사히 떠날 수만 있다면, 모든 게 순조로울 것 같았다. 하지만 이 도시는 언제나 예상치 못한 일들이 벌어지는 곳이었다. 과연 이번에도 모든 일이 계획대로 될지는 아무도 알 수 없었다.
“You’re saying you’ll kill me without even knowing why?”
Just because we’re sitting in the same carriage and chatting amiably, it’d be a huge mistake to think we’re on good terms.
In Luke’s head, he’s probably filled with thoughts of tearing me apart right this second.
But…
“What would I gain from killing you as you are now?”
Luke, with his usual poker face, flatly denied having any such thoughts.
“What I’m worried about is you, armed with a gun, causing a scene.”
“……”
Somehow, Luke’s tone was quite firm.
It felt like he was saying there’d be no cooperation going forward if his conditions weren’t met.
So, I had no choice but to…
Tap, tap.
I took the gun from my holster and placed it in front of Luke.
Luke carefully watched as I took out all my guns, then gestured to Emma beside me and said,
“I’d like your secretary to hand over her gun too.”
“Emma, give him your gun.”
“…Yes.”
Of course, Emma had no choice but to surrender her gun as well.
‘Looks like I’ll have to live as a knife wielder for a while.’
But what are the chances of needing to shoot in San Francisco anyway?
Since we’re not dealing with outlaws, I handed over my gun without much thought.
“Alright, I’ve handed over all the guns. What’s the second condition?”
“The second condition is…”
Just as Luke was about to state the second condition…
Halt.
Suddenly, the carriage stopped…
“Mayor, we’ve arrived at the daycare.”
The coachman’s voice came from the front, announcing our arrival at the destination.
“Ah, we’re here already? Noah, sorry, but I’ll tell you the second condition later. Wait here for a bit.”
“Huh? No, just tell me quickly…”
“I’ve got a schedule at the daycare. Can’t keep the kids waiting.”
With that, Luke collected all my guns.
Then, leaving only Emma and me inside, he got off the carriage with his aides and bodyguards.
“These guys will be guarding outside, so it’s best not to do anything foolish.”
“…You’re really annoying.”
“And, belatedly, welcome back to San Francisco.”
Thud.
With that, Luke closed the carriage door, leaving only Emma and me inside.
Not exactly free, though.
Outside, South Brotherhood gang members stood guard with guns, so it was kind of a semi-detention.
“Ugh, that sly fox. Just let it slide.”
Still, with only Emma and me in the carriage, I immediately lay down on the sofa to relax.
But…
“…Boss.”
“Hmm?”
Even in this space with just the two of us, only I was at ease.
Emma, perhaps still not adjusted to everything that had happened since arriving in San Francisco, asked me with a stiff face.
“The mayor of San Francisco… is actually the leader of the largest gang in the West?”
“Yeah, that’s right. Sorry to the citizens of San Francisco, but it’s true.”
Not that I care since I don’t live in San Francisco anyway.
When I answered nonchalantly, Emma, still with a serious face, asked me,
“…Then how do you know that, Boss?”
“……”
“…What exactly is your identity?”
…Is it just me?
Today, Emma’s eyes seemed to hold a hint of wariness towards me.
Not liking that, I got up, chuckled, and replied,
“…What do you mean? I’m just your boss.”
“……”
“You don’t need to know anything else. I’m just your boss.”
Boss.
Whether it’s Justice Town or San Francisco.
To Emma, I’m just her boss, and that’s enough.
“……”
Swoosh.
As I was about to lie back down on the sofa, something popped into my head, and before I forgot, I warned Emma.
“Oh, and Emma, don’t call me Kid here.”
“…Kid. Isn’t that your nickname in Justice Town? Why…”
“Just don’t call me that.”
Emma might not know, but I wasn’t just called Kid in Justice Town.
If the name Kid comes up in San Francisco, there’ll be quite a few people frowning.
My goal is to finish the job quickly and get out of San Francisco.
Not wanting to stir up unnecessary trouble, I told Emma not to call me Kid.
**
Just moments ago in the carriage, it wasn’t just Emma who was confused.
“…Mayor, who was that man just now?”
Billy, the aide who didn’t know Noah’s identity, approached Luke heading to the daycare and whispered in his ear.
“…Somehow, he knew your true identity, Mayor. Since he’s disarmed now, if you order it, we can quietly take care of…”
“What? Take care of Noah? Haha.”
“…Mayor?”
At the suggestion of taking care of Noah, Luke laughed as if it was absurd.
Billy swore it was the first time he’d seen Luke laugh since starting as his aide.
Seeing Billy’s bewildered expression, Luke returned to his poker face and said to her,
“Billy, don’t you recognize that guy? You’ve probably met him before.”
“…I’ve never seen that frivolous man before. Really.”
Billy prided himself on having above-average memory.
And the man named Noah had a handsome face with dark circles under his eyes.
A face you couldn’t forget once seen.
Billy was certain he’d never seen Noah before.
But Luke shook his head with a slightly stiff expression.
“No, you’ve definitely met him before. You just don’t recognize him without his usual look.”
“…His usual look? So normally…”
Normally, he covers his face or something… Wait.
“……”
A bad feeling crept over Billy, his face stiffening.
Luke, as if stating an unavoidable fact, told him,
“That guy is Kid.”
“……!”
As the mayor’s aide, Billy always had to maintain a cool rationality, and he usually did…
But Kid.
Thud.
The moment he heard that name, Billy froze as if roots had grown beneath his feet.
