Event Story – Heroes with Dirty Faces, ch.13

[kozvme]

Mafia boss: Jay Kidman...

Jay: ......

Mafia boss: ...... Congratulations on your full recovery!!!!!

Mafia associates: Huh......?

Mafia boss: Maaaan, I worried myself sick when I heard you were considering retiring.
Come closer, let me take a look at that healthy face, my hero!

Jay: Ahaha, sorry for worrying you. As you can already see, I have a lot of pep.

Mafia boss: Why have you been such a stranger, Jay. You should have come to me when that happened.
I don't know if I could have helped, but I wanted to be your pinch-hitter. Just like you back then.

Mafia associate C: U- Uhm, Boss...?

Mafia boss: I'm sorry these low-lifes treated you so rudely, Jay.
If people know you're acquainted with someone like me, they might spread nasty rumors, which is why I kept quiet, but it seems to have backfired.
... Jay saved me from a life-threatening situation long ago. I basically owe him my life.

Mafia associates: Your life!?

Jay: It all happened a long time ago. I was still a rookie at the time.

Mafia boss: I was involved in a building collapse in Central 17 years ago. At the time, Jay got me out of the rubble I was trapped in.
Not just me. Many were asking for help and Jay didn't give up until every last one of them was safe.

Mafia associate A: Everyone...? Epic...

Mafia associate C: That's amazing, Jay Kidman...

Jay: Enough flatteries. I simply carried out my duty as a hero.

Mafia boss: To you, I might be just another face in the crowd, but to me, you're a lifesaver. And that will never change.
Besides... you probably don't lose an arm every time you help someone, do you?

Jay: That's...

Mafia associate C: !! You're not talking about the huge earthquake that caused that collapse accident, are you...?

Mafia boss: That's the one. Secondary disasters followed the earthquake a substance caused.
During the rescue operation, yet another earthquake occurred while the substance was being retrieved.
Jay got his right arm caught in the rubble because of that... and sacrificed it to hurry to the injured.

Mafia assosiate B: Uwah...

Jay: Oi, we're getting off track a little too much. Enough about the good old days, listen to what I have to say.

Mafia boss: Haha, sorry. It's been a while since you showed up, so that made me happy.
Now then, what made you decide to risk it all to come to a Mafia hideout?

Jay: Well, actuallyー



Mafia boss: ーI'm sorry for getting you involved in such absurd nonsense, Jay.

Jay: Not at all. Just as I thought, using your name was some punks' doing, so I'm actually relieved.
We even caught them... It seems I was anticipating all sorts of trouble for nothing.

Mafia boss: Not only my name was used for wrongdoing such as gambling, but your junior was threatened as well.
I'll put severe restrictions on them myself, so if there's anything else you want, just say the word.

Jay: Come now, did you forget I'm a hero? There's no way I can accept such an offer!

But if you're really taking what I want into account, then you should hand those punks over to the police.The people playing this game should also be made aware that they were involved in such an event.

Mafia boss: Haha, that was the plan all along. It was just a little joke.
After you saved me 17 years ago, I had a change of heart. I won't do such immoral things, even if we're dealing with thugs.

... By the by, I also have a great deal of influence in the police, so I could also lock 'em up in jail for life. What do you think?

Jay: Thanks, but no thanks...

Mafia boss: Haha. Same ol' softy, I see.

Jay: ......

Mafia boss: I'm not here to criticize you. That's what makes us different...
You're a hero of justice for a reason.

To Chapter 12 | Chapter 14