If You Can't Solve the Problem, Solve the Person Who Raised It

Peppy was shocked to see V with Su Xiao and Jack.

He tried hard to look as though nothing was wrong.

"How did you three end up together? Where did you run into each other?"

Jack folded his arms across his chest. "Don't bother pretending, Peppy. I know everything."

Peppy was startled. He looked at V. "You told Jack everything?"

V spread his hands.

"No, I just briefly explained why I work for Kirk."

Jack was furious. "What the hell is wrong with you, Peppy? How dare you deal with Kirk? Everyone in Heywood, even the informants, knows he's a piece of shit!"

Peppy said helplessly, "My brother just got out. Wasn't I supposed to celebrate?"

"Then if you needed money, why couldn't you come to me? Do you even see me as your buddy?"

"Fuck! Jack, your mom already gave me a job. She kept a grown man like me from having to dig through trash like everyone else, or join a gang like the other people in Heywood. How could I possibly have the nerve to borrow money from you again?"

After his emotions settled, Peppy's tone softened. He lowered his head. "I know I was being stupid."

"Good that you know. Next time you're short on cash, just ask. You've got a mouth on your face—isn't it there so you can ask for help when you're in trouble?"

Jack thumped his chest. "All right, leave this to me. I'll deal with Kirk."

When evening came, Kirk walked into Wolf Bar, only to find a young man he had never seen before standing behind the counter instead of Peppy.

He could not help feeling puzzled.

"Hey, I'm asking you, where did the bartender who used to work here go?"

Su Xiao shook his head.

"I don't know. It's my first day on the job, so I don't know anyone else."

Kirk understood.

That bastard Peppy had probably gone into hiding.

He had originally agreed with V that as long as V got that supercar, he would wipe out Peppy's debt.

But the supercar was still sitting safely in the underground parking lot of Ember Nightclub.

In other words, V had failed.

Naturally, Peppy's debt could no longer be written off.

And today's interest had to be added as well.

Kirk was in no hurry.

He knew Peppy could hide for a while, but not forever.

Peppy was a good person.

Although he had been born in Heywood, he had not joined the Valentino Gang like everyone else.

For all his towering, muscular build, he was actually very timid.

He did not dare hurt anyone.

All those muscles were completely wasted on him.

Peppy would not be able to survive out there.

So Kirk figured Peppy would hide for a few days at most before coming back.

When that happened, it would not be too late to collect both the principal and the interest from him.

Kirk ordered a bottle of liquor and carried it upstairs.

As soon as he reached the second floor, he saw two people sitting in the prime window seat where he often sat.

He took a closer look.

They were both familiar faces.

Clearly, they had been waiting for him.

Kirk put on an indifferent expression and walked over.

"V, how come you didn't get the supercar? You even caused a citywide uproar."

V unceremoniously tossed the unlocking device Kirk had given him onto the table in front of Kirk.

This was the thing that had bypassed the Rayfield's system authentication and unlocked the car, but it had also triggered the alarm and brought the NCPD rushing over.

"It's all because of your piece-of-shit gadget. It almost got me killed."

Kirk naturally refused to admit that it was his fault.

"You must have used it incorrectly. Don't pin that on me."

"We agreed that if you got me the supercar, I'd wipe out Peppy's debt. But I haven't seen the supercar, so naturally, that debt..."

Jack, sitting beside him, gave a heavy snort.

Kirk acted as if he had only just noticed Jack.

"Well, if it isn't Heywood's pride, the young master of Wolf Bar, Jack Wells. What brings such an important figure here?"

Jack rolled his eyes.

If it were not for Peppy, Jack would not even have wanted to deal with Kirk.

Someone like Kirk was a complete disaster waiting to happen.

Who knew how he had managed to survive until now?

He could not be bothered to waste any more words on Kirk and got straight to the point.

"Waive Peppy's interest. I'll repay the principal for him. If you want money, I can give it to you right now. How about it?"

Jack dared to say this because he knew the principal Peppy had borrowed could not be much.

But Kirk lent money to people at loan-shark rates.

Interest piled on interest, growing like a snowball.

The interest would soon exceed the principal.

If the debt was not repaid, the interest could grow to the point where even selling a kidney would not be enough.

Kirk grinned.

"Do I look like some charitable priest to you? I'm a businessman. If you borrow money, you have to pay it back—with interest. No matter how much it is, that's only natural, isn't it?"

"He broke the rules, so why should I hurt my own interests?"

If he only collected the principal, would that not mean he had worked for nothing?

V cut in. "A loan shark talking about rules? Why don't we discuss world peace instead?"

Kirk's expression darkened.

"If you don't know how to speak like a human being, get the hell out!"

Jack angrily stood up.

"You can fool Peppy, but you can't fool me. You don't have a gang backing you. I came from the Valentino Gang, and they've never even heard of you."

Kirk had been exposed, but he showed no sign of panic. Instead, he looked like a dead pig that was not afraid of boiling water.

"That's right, I tricked Peppy. So what? People need money, and I lend it to them. Did I do something wrong?"

"What's that saying again—helping people in danger and taking pleasure in aiding others? City Hall ought to give me a medal."

The veins bulged on Jack's forehead. "So, Kirk, are you saying you absolutely refuse to let this go?"

Kirk casually lit a cigarette.

After blowing out a smoke ring, he flicked away the ash.

Seeing that Jack was on the verge of exploding and would come over to grab him by the collar and lift him up at any moment...

Kirk finally deigned to speak.

"We'll see."

"What do you mean?"

"If the two of you are willing to do something for me, I'll agree to wipe out every penny Peppy owes me."

V spread his hands. "Don't tell me you want us to go to Ember again?! I'll be honest with you, Kirk. I can't do that job. Your piece of junk is useless! All it does is bring the NCPD running!"

"Of course not. I'm slick Kirk, not brain-dead Kirk."

Kirk flicked away more ash. "I can't think of anything at the moment, but I can still agree not to bother Peppy for now. However, you two must come whenever I call."

"When I call you, don't hang up on me, and don't fail again."

"As long as you get the job done, Peppy's debt will be settled. How about it? I'm being reasonable, aren't I?"

Jack did not agree right away.

He merely walked away angrily.

After only a few steps, as if unwilling to accept this, Jack turned back and roared at Kirk.

"You knew he was penniless, yet you still lent him money. What could he possibly use to repay you? You fucking idiot!"

Kirk took off his tinted glasses and wiped the specks of saliva from his face.

"Let me put it this way, Jack. If people weren't penniless, why would they come to me for a loan—or rather, a loan shark?"

Watching Jack and V descend the stairs, Kirk's face filled with a smug smile.

He had suddenly gained two capable mercenaries he could order around.

He had to make good use of them.

Although Jack had not agreed immediately, Kirk was certain that Jack would give in obediently.

Just as Jack understood him, he understood Jack.

Jack was a loyal man who would go through fire and water for his friends.

So he would agree.

Chapter Nineteen: If You Can't Solve the Problem, Solve the Person Who Raised It

Su Xiao was standing behind the counter when he saw Jack and V come down the stairs, looking gloomy.

Seeing them with the defeated expressions of beaten roosters, Su Xiao knew the discussion had clearly gone nowhere.

The two men sat down on the stools in front of the counter.

Although Mrs. Wells had told him to avoid pouring Jack drinks whenever possible, today had been a difficult day.

Su Xiao still filled a glass to the brim for Jack.

"What about you, V? What would you like to drink?"

Su Xiao had also worked in a bar in his previous life, so he handled the job with ease.

"One tequila, please."

After pouring drinks for both of them, Su Xiao finally asked,

"All right, tell me what happened."

Jack said nothing.

V took a sip of his drink and bitterly told Su Xiao what they had discussed with Kirk.

"He wants you to do something for him? And you agreed?"

Su Xiao did not know Kirk.