At 7:55 PM, Richard and Franklin arrived behind the Vinewood Cinema.
This was a dead-end alley, with the cinema’s loading dock on one side and an abandoned public restroom on the other.
Two streetlights were broken, leaving only a dim yellow sodium lamp at the entrance, illuminating the entire alley like a crime scene—in a way, it was.
Franklin parked the car in the shadows and turned off the lights.
“Why did you insist on coming along?” Franklin asked.
“I told you, boredom.”
“You don’t seem like the type to get bored.”
Richard didn’t respond.
He looked through the car window at the alley entrance, counting down in his mind.
According to the game’s plot, Michael would drive in from the right in a black obey, then be stopped by Franklin, and then the two would fight over an “awkward misunderstanding”—no, in the game, Franklin was supposed to repossess Michael’s son Jimmy’s car, Michael refused, and a conflict arose, but Michael eventually realized Franklin was Simeon’s man and instead proposed cooperation.
But in the game, Franklin came alone.
Now with Richard, would the plot change?
He didn’t know.
The only thing he could do was play it by ear.
Seven fifty-eight PM.
A black obey turned into the alley from the entrance, not fast, with a low engine hum.
The car stopped, the headlights went out, the driver’s side door opened, and a man in a gray suit got out.
Bald, beer belly, walked with a slight hunch.
Michael De Santa.
Richard’s heart gave a fierce thump.
The game character was standing right in front of him, a hundred times more real than on the screen.
He could see the fatigue on Michael’s face, the wrinkles at the corners of his mouth, the…
fear in his eyes?
No, not fear, but a kind of “I’ve seen everything, I don’t care” indifference.
Franklin got out of the car, Richard followed behind.
“Are you sent by Simeon?” Michael appraised Franklin, then looked at Richard, “Two of you?”
“One.” Franklin pointed to himself, “He’s a friend.”
“I don’t care who’s who.” Michael pulled out a cigarette from his pocket and lit it, “I haven’t decided if I want to sell this car yet.
Is Simeon getting anxious?”
“He said you’ve been two months behind on your car payments; either pay up or hand over the car.”
Michael exhaled smoke and smiled: “You tell Simeon I’ll transfer the money before the end of the month.
Now, move aside.”
Franklin didn’t move: “Simeon said the car must be taken tonight.”
Michael’s smile vanished.
He slowly stubbed out his cigarette and took a step forward.
The distance between them was less than a meter.
“Friend, how old are you?”
“Twenty-five.” Follow the newest chapters on g.com.
“Twenty-five.” Michael nodded, “When I was twenty-five, I was already robbing banks.
Do you know what’s most important when robbing a bank?”
“What?”
“Knowing when to step aside.”
The air was taut like a string.
Richard could feel Franklin’s back muscles tensing, his right hand unconsciously reaching for his waist—where the pistol was tucked.
Richard knew that if this continued, the two would really fight.
He had to do something.
He stepped forward, standing between Michael and Franklin, and offered a harmless smile: “Mr.
De Santa, Mr.
Simeon’s patience is indeed limited.
But I think a person of your stature wouldn’t want to get into trouble with two errand boys like us over a few thousand dollars in car payments, right?”
Michael narrowed his eyes at Richard: “You know me?”
“Who in Los Santos doesn’t know the De Santa family?
Your daughter Tracey has been on reality shows several times, though they were all the parts that got cut.” Richard deliberately brought up Tracey, wanting to see Michael’s reaction.
Michael’s expression indeed changed.
It wasn’t anger, but an irritated feeling of “being poked in a sore spot again.”
…What exactly do you want?”
Richard quickly concocted a plan: “How about this, we’ll go back and tell Simeon that you’ll keep the car for now, and before the end of the month, you’ll either pay the money or hand over the car.
We guarantee no one will bother you during this period.
In exchange, could you…
do me a favor?”
Michael raised an eyebrow: “You’re asking me for a favor?”
“A small thing.
I have a friend who wants to learn how to drive a semi-trailer.
I heard you’re an expert in that area.”
Michael stared at Richard for five seconds, then suddenly laughed.
There was no warmth in that smile; it was more like a mocking, “I’ve lived most of my life, I’ve heard every crazy story.”
“Are you Richard?” Michael suddenly asked.
“Yes.”
“I’ve met many Richard people in Los Santos; most of them are very smart and don’t get involved in this kind of thing.” Michael flicked his cigarette ash, “Since you know my background, you should know I’m not to be trifled with.”
“I didn’t mean to offend you.” Richard said sincerely, “I just think, Los Santos is so big, it’s always better to have more friends than enemies.”
Michael was silent for a long time.
The alley was quiet, with only the occasional engine sound from the distant highway.
Franklin hadn’t spoken, but the look in his eyes changed from tense to…
trusting?
Finally, Michael threw his cigarette butt on the ground and stepped on it.
“You’re interesting.” He pointed at Richard, “More interesting than anyone Simeon has sent.
Alright, I’ll remember you.
As for the car, I’ll deal with it before the end of the month.
As for your’semi-trailer’ request—we’ll talk about it when I’m in a good mood.”
He pulled open the car door, got in, and started the engine.
Before leaving, he rolled down the window and said something to Richard:
“Kid, in Los Santos, having more friends is indeed a good thing.
But you need to be sure if you’re making a friend or another enemy.”
The black obey backed out of the alley, its turn signal flashing twice, then disappeared into the night.
Franklin finally let out a sigh of relief: “Brother, are you crazy?
Negotiating with someone like that?”
“What kind of person?” Richard countered.
“I don’t know.
But I don’t think he’s an ordinary debtor.
The way he talks, the way he looks at people…
he’s done big things.”
Richard didn’t deny it.
He just thought to himself: Franklin, you’re right.
He’s done big things, and you’ll do even bigger things with him.
His phone vibrated.
System notification:
[Main story event triggered: [Vinewood First Encounter].
Michael De Santa’s favorability +15 (Current: 15).
Team mission updated: Help Michael resolve the car loan issue, unlock the cooperation line.]
Richard turned off his phone and smiled at Franklin: “Let’s go, Lamar will definitely be disappointed when we tell him there was no fight tonight.”
“He’ll be even more disappointed that he didn’t get Korean fried chicken.”
The two got back into the pickup and drove out of the alley.
Richard watched the Japan sign of the Vinewood Cinema get smaller in the rearview mirror, thinking about Michael’s eyes just now.
There was a sentence in that look that Michael didn’t say out loud.
That sentence was: “I’ve seen too many people, and they all want to use me.
You’d better not be one of them.”
Richard said to his reflection in the rearview mirror: “I’m not using you.
I’m trying to save you.”
But he wouldn’t say that to anyone for now.