Black Bear was a mountain of a man.
Nearly six and a half feet tall, he wore a tailored black suit that strained against his massive frame.
Around his neck hung a thick gold chain that looked heavy enough to anchor a boat.
Before he even spoke, he flashed an ingratiating smile and bent slightly at the waist.
“Good evening, Mr.
Satō.” “I’m Black Bear.” “I work for Bloody Jansen.” Alvin didn’t even acknowledge him.
Instead, he waved him aside as casually as someone brushing away a fly.
A drug dealer introducing himself to the principal of a school?
The conversation wasn’t worth having.
Black Bear’s smile twitched.
A dangerous glint flickered through his eyes, but he swallowed it and stepped aside, revealing the nervous young man behind him.
Alvin took a slow draw from his cigar.
In his previous life he’d been a heavy smoker until his son was born.
This time around he’d lost the cigarette habit, but developed a taste for cigars instead.
He rarely smoked inside Peace Restaurant.
Tonight was different.
Negotiations required a little theater.
If his clothes couldn’t project authority…
The cigar certainly could.
A ribbon of smoke drifted lazily between him and the gang members.
With an easy smile, Alvin asked, “So…” “Which one of you is James Lancer?” “The leader of the…” He glanced sideways.
“JJ?” “The ZL Gang.” “Oh, right.” Alvin nodded.
“The ZL Gang.” “Is Mr.
Lancer here?” A skinny white kid with neon-green hair shuffled forward.
He looked like he’d spent years abusing anything he could get his hands on.
“Mr…
Mr.
Satō…” “I-I’m James.” “You can just call me Jimmy.” Alvin handed his cigar to JJ.
Suppressing every instinct screaming at him not to touch the filthy-looking kid, he warmly shook Jimmy’s hand.
“Pleasure.” “I’m Alvin Satō.” “Principal of the Hell’s Kitchen Community School.” He smiled politely.
“One of your boys was injured on campus today.” “My daughter was responsible.” “We treated the wound immediately.” “It wasn’t serious.” “Still…” “As her father, I feel obligated to compensate him.” “I think two thousand dollars is fair.” “What do you think?” Jimmy nearly collapsed.
Even Bloody Jansen’s lieutenant had greeted Alvin respectfully.
Black Bear himself had been dismissed without a second glance.
Yet Alvin was speaking to him politely.
That could only mean one thing.
Something terrible was about to happen.
“N-No…” “No, sir.” “My guy made a mistake.” “You punish him however you want.” “It’s only a scratch.” “If you chopped his arm off…” “I wouldn’t complain.” “No compensation.” “Please.” “Really.” Behind them, Jason sat frozen in his chair.
He stared at his own boss in disbelief.
“You…
Boss…” Jimmy didn’t even look at him.
He pretended not to hear.
Thankfully, he’d skipped the drugs today.
His survival instincts were functioning perfectly.
Alvin calmly withdrew a wet wipe from his pocket and meticulously cleaned the hand he’d just shaken.
He tossed the wipe into a nearby trash can.
JJ returned the cigar.
Alvin took another puff before speaking.
“Don’t misunderstand.” “I’m not threatening you.” “My daughter injured one of your men.” “I’m paying for it.” “That’s fair.” “I’m a fair man.” JJ handed him a stack of cash.
Twenty crisp hundred-dollar bills.
Alvin folded them neatly and tucked them into Jimmy’s shirt pocket.
Then, with almost obsessive care, he straightened the young man’s crooked collar.
Pat.
Pat.
He gently tapped the pocket holding the money.
“There.” “Everything’s settled.” “Wouldn’t you agree?” Jimmy’s brain had completely shut down.
He nodded mechanically.
“Yes…” “Everything’s settled.” Alvin smiled warmly.
“I knew we’d understand each other.” “You’re a reasonable man.” “My daughter made a mistake.” “I apologized.” “I compensated your organization.” “That’s fair, isn’t it?” “Y-Yes.” “Absolutely.” “It’s over.” Alvin nodded with satisfaction.
“Excellent.” “Now…” “Let’s discuss Mr.
Jason.” He pointed toward the teenager slumped in the chair.
“Earlier today, Mr.
Jason shoved Mrs.
Wilson.” “A sixty-five-year-old teacher who’s earned nothing but respect.” “Fortunately she wasn’t seriously injured.” “Professor Wilson even asked me not to punish him.” He paused.
“But afterward…” “Mr.
Jason insulted me.” “And then insulted Mrs.
Wilson again.” He looked thoughtfully at Jimmy.
“In my personal opinion…” “Mr.
Jason lacks the character necessary to remain a member of the ZL Gang.” “What do you think?” Jimmy’s face had turned ghostly white.
“You’re right.” “Absolutely.” “From this moment on…” “Jason isn’t one of us.” “He has nothing to do with the ZL Gang.” “You can handle him however you want.” “I won’t interfere.” “Please…” “I didn’t know anything about what happened at school.” Alvin looked from the broken-looking Jason…
…to the equally broken-looking Jimmy.
He took one last puff on his cigar.
“Then…” “Goodbye.” Jimmy fled.
He abandoned Black Bear without so much as a backward glance.
Within seconds, his car disappeared around the corner.
Alvin watched him leave before rubbing his chin.
He turned toward JJ.
“Am I really that scary?” JJ’s eyelid twitched.
“One of the kids who ran away had been inside the restaurant earlier.” “I heard him muttering something.” “‘Meat grinder.'” “‘Cesare.'” He thought for a moment.
“Boss…” “If anything like that needs doing again…” “Send me.” “You really shouldn’t dirty your own hands.” “It doesn’t suit someone in your position.” Alvin nearly choked.
He’d thought he was channeling The Godfather.
Turns out…
Jimmy hadn’t been terrified by Alvin’s performance at all.
The idiot actually believed Alvin was the man who’d turned the Cesare family into hamburger.
Alvin suddenly realized he was receiving credit…
…for someone else’s massacre.
The real killer wasn’t about to object.
And everyone who might’ve wanted revenge was already dead.
Still…
It was an awkward misunderstanding.
After coughing twice to hide his embarrassment, Alvin beckoned Black Bear over.
The giant approached just as respectfully as before.
“So…” “Mr.
Satō.” “Since everything’s settled…” “What else can I do for you?” Alvin smiled.
“Don’t call me ‘boss.'” “I’m speaking to you as a school principal.” Seeing Black Bear’s skeptical expression, Alvin added, “I’m serious.” “Hell’s Kitchen Community School.” “I’ve even got the certificate.” Black Bear almost laughed.
A man who effectively controlled three city blocks insisting he was just a principal…
That was genuinely amusing.
“Very well.” “What can I do for you, Principal?” Alvin nodded approvingly.
“That’s better.” “As principal…” “I’m responsible for my students.” “My school has one simple rule.” “No student is allowed to participate in drug trafficking.” His smile remained pleasant.
“So I invited you here to ask for one thing.” “Investigate your organization.” “If any of your runners are students…” “Or minors…” “They’re done.” Black Bear’s eyes narrowed.
His expression turned cold.
“I don’t remember your school having that rule.” “It does now.” Alvin smiled.
“I make the rules.” “I’m the principal.” Black Bear let out a cold laugh.
“You’ve crossed the line, Alvin Satō.” “Neither Bloody Jansen nor I are going to accept your ridiculous demand.” He glanced toward JJ standing behind Alvin.
Then smiled without warmth.
“Unless…” “You’re looking for a war.” “The Vipers aren’t Kingpin.” “If we fight…” “A lot of people in Hell’s Kitchen will die.”