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

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

He tried hard to act as though nothing was wrong.

"How did you guys end up together? Where did you meet?"

Jack folded his arms across his chest. "Drop the act, Peppy. I know everything."

Peppy looked at V in alarm. "You told Jack everything?"

V spread her hands.

"No, I just briefly explained why I was working for Kirk."

Jack was furious. "What the hell is wrong with you, Peppy? How could you deal with Kirk? Every man and woman in Heywood, even the undercover informants, knows he's a piece of shit!"

Peppy sounded helpless. "My brother just got out. Wasn't I supposed to celebrate?"

"Then why couldn't you come to me if you needed money? Do you even consider me your friend anymore?"

"Fuck! Jack, your mom already gave me a job so a grown man like me wouldn't have to dig through trash like other people, or join a gang like everyone else in Heywood. How could I have the nerve to ask you for money on top of that?"

Once his emotions settled, Peppy's voice softened, and he lowered his head. "I know I was an idiot."

"Good. Next time you're short on money, speak up. That's what your mouth is for, isn't it? Asking for help when you're in trouble?"

Jack patted his chest. "All right, leave this to me. I'll handle Kirk."

That evening, Kirk walked into the Wolf Bar and found a young man he had never seen before behind the counter instead of Peppy.

He couldn't help feeling puzzled.

"Hey, tell me something. Where's the bartender who used to work here?"

Su Xiao shook his head.

"No idea. It's my first day. I don't know anyone else here."

Kirk understood.

Peppy had probably gone into hiding.

He had agreed with V that he would wipe Peppy's debt if she got him that supercar.

But the supercar was still sitting safe and sound in the Ember Nightclub's underground parking garage.

That meant V had failed.

Naturally, Peppy's debt couldn't be written off.

And today's interest would have to be added, too.

Kirk wasn't in a hurry.

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

Peppy was a good man.

Despite being born in Heywood, he hadn't joined the Valentino Gang like everyone else.

He might have been big and burly, but he was timid.

He couldn't bring himself to hurt anyone.

All that muscle was going to waste.

Peppy couldn't survive out there.

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

It wouldn't be too late to collect both the principal and the interest from him then.

Kirk ordered a bottle of liquor and took it upstairs.

The moment he reached the second floor, he saw two people occupying his usual prime spot by the window.

He took a closer look.

Both were familiar faces.

They were clearly waiting for him.

Kirk walked over, acting as though nothing was wrong.

"V, how come you didn't get the supercar, but still managed to cause such a stir?"

V irritably tossed the unlocking device Kirk had given her in front of him.

That thing had bypassed Rayfield's identity authentication system and unlocked the car.

But it had also triggered the alarm, bringing the NCPD down on her.

"Because of that piece of crap you gave me. It nearly got me killed."

Of course, Kirk wasn't about to admit it was his fault.

"You must have used it wrong. You can't pin that on me."

"We had a deal. You get me the supercar, and I wipe Peppy's debt. But I don't see a supercar, so naturally, that debt..."

Jack, sitting beside her, let out a heavy snort.

Kirk acted as though he had only just noticed Jack.

"Hey, if it isn't Jack Wells, the pride of Heywood and the young master of the Wolf Bar! What brings an important man like you here?"

Jack rolled his eyes.

If not for Peppy, he wouldn't have wanted anything to do with Kirk.

People like Kirk were nothing but bottomless pits of trouble.

God only knew how he had survived this long.

Jack couldn't be bothered wasting words on him and cut straight to the point.

"Waive Peppy's interest, and I'll pay his principal. You want money? I can give it to you right now. How about it?"

Jack dared to make that offer because he knew Peppy couldn't have borrowed much in the first place.

But Kirk lent money at usurious rates.

The interest compounded, piling up on itself.

It could soon exceed the principal.

If you still didn't pay, the interest could snowball until even selling a kidney wouldn't cover it.

Kirk grinned.

"Do I look like a priest running a charity? I'm a businessman. You borrow money, you pay it back, plus interest. Doesn't matter how much. That's only fair, isn't it?"

"He's the one who fucking broke the rules. Why should I take a loss?"

If he only recovered the principal, wouldn't all his work on this deal have been for nothing?

V cut in. "A loan shark talking about rules? We might as well discuss world peace."

Kirk's face darkened.

"If you two can't talk like decent human beings, get the hell out!"

Jack stood up angrily.

"You can fool Peppy, but you can't fool me. You don't have a gang backing you. I used to be in the Valentino Gang, and they've never even heard of a nobody like you."

Exposed, Kirk didn't panic in the slightest. Instead, he looked utterly shameless.

"That's right, I lied to Peppy. So what? People need money, and I lend it to them. What did I do wrong?"

"What's that saying again? Helping those in need, finding joy in helping others. City Hall really ought to give me a medal."

Veins bulged on Jack's forehead. "So you're saying you won't let this go no matter what, Kirk?"

Kirk casually lit a cigarette.

He blew a smoke ring, then tapped off the ash.

Jack was on the verge of exploding, ready to grab Kirk by the collar and haul him up at any moment...

Only then did Kirk finally deign to speak.

"Depends."

"What do you mean?"

"If you two are willing to do a job for me, I'll agree to wipe everything Peppy owes me."

V spread her hands. "You're not asking us to go back to Ember, are you?! I'm telling you straight, Kirk, I can't do that job. Your shitty gadget doesn't work! All it does is bring in the NCPD!"

"Of course not. I'm Kirk the slick, not Kirk the idiot."

Kirk tapped off more ash. "I can't think of anything right now, so I can agree to leave Peppy alone for the time being. But you have to come whenever I call."

"When I call, no hanging up on me, and no failing again."

"Get the job done, and Peppy's debt is settled. How's that? I'd say I'm being pretty reasonable."

Jack didn't agree right away.

He simply walked away indignantly.

After a few steps, apparently unable to swallow his anger, Jack turned back and roared at Kirk.

"You knew he was flat broke, and you still lent him money! How was he supposed to pay you back, you fucking moron?!"

Kirk took off his tinted glasses and wiped the flecks of spit from his face.

"Let me put it this way, Jack. If people weren't flat broke, why would they come to me for a loan-a high-interest loan?"

As he watched Jack and V head down the stairs, Kirk's face was covered in a smug smile.

Just like that, he had gained two capable mercenaries to order around.

He would have to make good use of them.

Jack hadn't agreed immediately, but Kirk was certain he would fall into line.

Just as Jack understood him, he understood Jack.

Jack was a loyal man who would go through hell for his friends.

So he would agree.

Chapter 19: If You Can't Solve the Problem, Solve the Person Who Raised It

Standing behind the bar, Su Xiao saw Jack and V come down the stairs looking glum.

Seeing them looking like a pair of defeated roosters, Su Xiao knew the talks must have fallen through.

The two sat down on stools at the bar.

Although Mrs. Wells had told him to avoid serving Jack alcohol whenever possible.

Today had been a rough day, after all.

Su Xiao poured Jack a full glass anyway.

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

Su Xiao had worked in a bar in his previous life, so the work came naturally to him.

"A tequila, thanks."

Only after pouring their drinks did Su Xiao ask.

"All right, tell me what happened."

Jack said nothing.

V took a sip of her drink and, with a bitter smile, told Su Xiao what they had discussed with Kirk.

"He wants you to work for him? Did you agree?"

Su Xiao didn't know Kirk.