BIA Ch. 26

Yes, he understood that but was there really a need to knead his entire body like this? He could simply sit beside him and talk.

He couldn’t very well ask why this was happening to him, someone who wasn’t even the his lover and it was driving him crazy. What was most annoying was the fact that none of the Kalisz family members seemed to care. Just how many times had this sort of thing happened before that they wouldn’t even glance over, even with it happening right in front of him?

Well, there was one person watching. It was Gilman, who, since earlier, had barely touched his drink. Leaning against the unlit fireplace, he was glaring in their direction. The rest paid no attention. Bran, in particular, seemed completely uninterested. Since moving into the living room, he had done nothing but discuss business with his subordinates.

Just like at dinner, Bran and Chester’s men never intermingled. There was an invisible line between them. Based on this line, they had thoroughly divided themselves into their own groups, sitting together and conversing only amongst themselves.

Cedric sat in an armchair in the middle of the living room, smoking a cigar and observing the scene. In one hand, he held a glass of whiskey. The old man, savoring the cigar’s aroma as he drank, set down his glass with the last sip remaining.

“Now that everyone is assembled, I have something to say.”

The boisterous chatter in the living room abruptly ceased. Cedric carefully surveyed the faces of the thirty or so subordinates looking back at him, then stubbed out his half-smoked cigar in the ashtray before speaking.

“I told you I would be stepping down soon, didn’t I? I said I would settle my affairs and hand over the business to either Chester or Bran. I had originally intended to announce my decision after my sister’s funeral, when everyone would be gathered the day after tomorrow. However, due to some legal matters I need to discuss with my lawyer, I’ve had to postpone the announcement.”

“H-How long will it be postponed?”

Before Cedric could finish, Chester blurted out, rising to his feet.

“It won’t take long. Perhaps two or three days.”

Chester’s grin stretched almost ear to ear. His men exchanged silent, celebratory glances.

In contrast, Bran’s men, though trying to appear composed, couldn’t mask their unease. It was understandable. Whether two days or three, the postponement itself suggested a shift in Cedric’s thinking. Who would be happy when a perfectly set table had been overturned?

Cedric, seemingly aware of the atmosphere, spoke calmly.

“Don’t jump to conclusions. My decision remains unchanged. The delay is simply due to the time required to finalize the paperwork.”

This statement could have been true or false. Even if true, it offered little comfort to Bran’s men. From their perspective, Bran should have become the head of the Kalisz faction today, at this very moment. They had already lost two days due to the funeral and now faced another postponement. Bran’s men, who had been anticipating the immediate ousting of Chester’s faction and the takeover of their operations, understandably struggled to conceal their disappointment.

And Bran…

“….”

Isaiah took the opportunity while Chester whispered something to Manny, to observe Bran’s expression. Bran had remained seated on the grand piano bench by the window. Like the others, he held a cigarette in one hand and a glass of something in the other, listening to Cedric. His face was an impassive mask, revealing nothing.

Indeed, what significance did his expression hold? Bran wasn’t one to betray his thoughts through facial expressions. No matter how frustrated he might be, he would never openly display it.

Even so, it still sucked. Now that the one who had nearly threatened his life was a nineteen-year-old kid who didn’t even know how to hold a gun, it was absolutely in Bran’s best interest to be appointed the next boss as quickly as possible. After that, he would confiscate Chester’s businesses under some suitable pretext, distribute them among his subordinates and ship Chester off to somewhere far away like Texas or Portland. Then, it would all be over.

“Anyway, set aside those stray thoughts and drink your fill tonight. That’s how we mourn my sister. I won’t tolerate anyone causing a disturbance.”

Cedric left this warning and then went up to the second floor.

The chaotic atmosphere persisted even after Cedric left the living room. However, no one was foolish enough to disobey the boss’s repeated warnings and cause trouble, especially not at a wake. Besides, what they held in their hands was alcohol, the elixir of oblivion. The serious conversations they had were brief. Soon, the living room was filled with the clamor and raucous laughter of drunkards.

Chester, in particular, could not contain his glee. He was pouring drinks down his throat with such enthusiasm that anyone would think he had already been named the next boss. Chester, who had downed an entire bottle of strong brandy straight without even a splash of water, was now half-blind. He pulled Isaiah onto his lap and began showering him with kisses. Chester’s men, who had previously pretended not to see what the two were doing, now whistled and cheered, either drunk or caught up in the revelry.

It was irritating to be the drunken mafia’s entertainment but it was also not particularly pleasant that the sober members of the mafia weren’t even paying attention. Throughout the kissing with Chester, Isaiah’s senses remained acutely attuned to Bran. Still, it was hard to endure. Or perhaps, that was precisely why it was even harder to bear.

Finally, Isaiah wrapped his arms around Chester’s neck and whispered in his ear,

“Stop it. Your aunt is watching. What will you do if she finds out that her beloved nephew is gay?”

“Aunt? But my aunt passed away…?”

Chester blinked slowly and mumbled in a slurred voice. Isaiah, with a serious expression, replied, “What are you talking about?”

“That’s just her physical body. The soul doesn’t just vanish like that. It lingers in this world for a while. Then, if the wavelengths align, it can re-enter the body and bring the person back to life. That’s why you sometimes hear about those news stories where there’s knocking from inside a coffin during a funeral and when they open it, the person they thought was dead is alive and well.”

“There are… articles like that?”

Chester’s pupils, which had been unfocused a moment ago, widened.

“Haven’t you seen them? Or do you just not read the newspaper?”

“…”

“Chester, please read the newspaper.”

Isaiah clicked his tongue in frustration then said, as if giving up,

“You believe in God, right?”

“Of course. I’ve even heard God’s voice before.”

Chester answered quickly. Judging by his confident tone, he had probably had some drug-induced hallucination near death.

“Right, then look at Jesus. The Bible says he rose from the dead three days after he was killed. What does that mean? It means his soul wandered among us and then he was resurrected after three days. It’s something like that.”

“No, but that’s…”

Chester started to speak but then closed his mouth. He seemed to want to argue but the alcohol prevented him from forming a coherent rebuttal. He gently placed Isaiah back in his seat. Then, muttering to himself, he finished the remaining alcohol in his glass. Although it wasn’t entirely clear, he seemed to be saying something about how terrifying Aunt Angelina was when she got angry.

Having successfully detached himself from Chester, Isaiah headed for the bathroom. Unfortunately, all the bathrooms were occupied, and there was even a queue. Cedric’s house was two stories, and there were four bathrooms on the first floor alone, which was a common area. But with so many people, all of whom were drinking heavily, the situation was hardly surprising.

Apparently, some people were even using the bathrooms in groups of two or three, given how drunk everyone was. However, Isaiah, being sober, wasn’t comfortable with that.

Manny, observing Isaiah’s repeated failed attempts to find a vacant bathroom, said.

“There’s a bathroom in the garden.”

“Really? Where?”

“You saw that dome-shaped sunroom earlier, right? The biggest one.”

“The one with the tea table and chairs inside?”

“Yes. Right next to it, there’s a cabin that looks like something out of a dwarf village. That’s the bathroom.”

Initially, Isaiah wondered why such a thing would be there but upon arriving, he realized Manny’s description had been accurate. The cabin, covered in ivy, did indeed resemble a dwelling from a dwarf village.

He had worried the interior might also resemble a dwarf’s home but thankfully, it was a perfectly normal, modern bathroom. Equipped with a bidet, a hand dryer, and even a vanity, it was likely intended for guests invited to Grace’s tea parties.

Best of all, either because no one knew about this bathroom or because they were too drunk to walk all the way out there, both stalls were empty. Isaiah was able to relieve himself comfortably, wash his hands thoroughly and dry them.

Leaving the bathroom with a newfound sense of ease, Isaiah noticed someone else approaching the secluded spot with unsteady steps and stopped in his tracks.