1932: Volume 4, Chapter 2 translations
asfjlaksfj You guys are probably all sick of seeing these posts on your flists, but this will be the last entry for a while, promise! These are some translations from the 2nd chapter of the 4th volume. The full third chapter is here.
I translate backwards. Um. Yeah. 8D But, uh, at least there's context for the 3rd chapter to fall back on now?
My usual disclaimers apply; I'll post any updates in the comments of this entry and put a note above the cut when I do.
Once again, apologies for the spam! *___*
UPDATE LIST:
19/4: (930pm) Posted 10/30 pages. (948pm) Made a timeline correction; thanks, laylah! (1145pm) Posted 20/30 pages.
'Things are becoming more and more interesting,' a low voice said from behind a stack of materials. Nicholas, Elean and Henry were in the Daily Days' Director's office. After hearing reports from everyone, the Director organised the events as they appeared before him.
'Elean has told Miss Eve Genoard about the Gandor Family, I've told the Gandors the inside story about the Runoratas and Nicholas has informed the Runoratas of Roy Maddock's situation. Not bad, all in all. What about you, Henry? I heard Roy came looking for you.
'My deepest apologies, but since we couldn't fix a price, we didn't manage to make at trade. He left without buying any information." Henry replied, wearing a secret smile.
'I guess it can't be helped, then. Nicolas, send a guy to check on Lia. That black folio could really turn out to be a kind of trump card.'
----------------
'That bastard!' Edith cursed angrily.
After giving the black portfolio to Eve, Edith'd hurried to the Gandor Family's bar to start work. When she'd reached the club, she'd found that it'd been ambushed. Although no one knew who had done it, she couldn't help but feel that the Runoratas were somehow responsible.
Because she'd been late, she'd avoided most of the carnage. After helping everyone clean up the mess, she'd started work as usual. It'd been practically light out by the time she got off work, and once she hit home --
'That useless ass, he's confusing the hell out of me! What's he thinking...?'
In Edith's grasp was a note from Roy. He'd written that he didn't want to implicate her, so he was going to go off on his own. If the situation wasn't resolved, he wasn't going to come back....
----------------
'This should be the place.'
Far from Mulberry road and Fifth Avenue was a park in a place that Roy wasn't really familiar with. Other than taking the nearby subway, he'd never been here. Moreover, the capitalist-hating Roy would rather have avoided this place anyway.
The place was full of plush residences, all filled with villas and high end apartments, earning its nickname as the "rich man's district".
Wearing clothes totally incongruent with the wealthy air of the area, Roy felt his own inferiority very acutely. Going by the address that Henry'd given him, he found the place. Even though it was a bit smaller than the surrounding houses, it still obviously wasn't the average joe's kind of place. It wouldn't have been an exaggeration to call the antique-looking place "impressive".
This house was the Genoard's original home - even though it wasn't where they stayed any longer, it was still a statement of the Genoard Family's wealth.
'So this is it, huh?'
Even though he was at the doorstep, Roy had no idea what he was going to do next. All things considered, he couldn't just walk on in -- what was he going to say? And even though he thought of just storming in -- that should really only be the last resort. Any woman living in such a luxurious place probably had a few bear-like bodyguards to look after her. At the very least, he had to wait till she was alone, and then sneak closer...
Not knowing what else to do, Roy could only go a few more rounds about the house, continuing his watch.
----------------
'How are you feeling, miss?'
'I'm all right, Mr Benjamin. A bit tired, that's all. I'm really sorry to cause you trouble!'
'Whatever are you saying -- If there's anything I can do to help, I, Benjamin, will do my utmost to help you recover. This is our duty.'
Eve laughed quietly. In her heart, she made a quiet decision.
She'd go find them. The Gandor Family. And after that, she'd find out what really happened. If her brother was really dead, if that could really be confirmed, then she would -- for her brother's sake---
She definitely wasn't thinking of killing anybody, but at the very least she'd get the police to arrest the ones responsible.
-- If Dallas-nii-san really had been killed by them, and the ones who'd killed her father and elder brother were also—
They were sunk in a car in Hudson bay. No idea if that had been murder, or if it was merely an accident. There had been no way to prove either case --
Hope and prayer wouldn't call them back.
Right now- she could only trust in her own strength. That was the only way she could repay her brother.
If she said anything to Samansa or Benjamin, they'd surely restrain her, and ask her to let them handle things themselves. That was not acceptable! This was her own sacrifice to make.
If she got killed by the Gandors, Benjamin and Samansa would be sad and feel like they'd failed – but her sitting here being worthlessly idle, simply waiting to die -- that was also as good as betraying their good intentions.
Eve felt her heart constrict, but the choice - in her eyes - was an easy one. In other words: the choice to survive.
Even though Eve knew it wouldn't be easy getting to the bottom of things, she'd really been living cut off from the world for most of her life. She had no real idea of how vicious the world of the Mafia could be.
The original plan was to return to New Jersey by the beginning of next month. As such, she'd have to find the Gandor family before that time. She had to clear things up. That was the first and most important objective.
----------------
A few "customers" were in Gustavo's eatery. Those visitors were really representatives of Manhattan's five big Families.
'So, that's how it is. We regard Mr Baltoro as a very important man, Mr Gustavo. Pease don't cause him any more trouble.' With that final, ironic statement, the visitors walked out. Gustavo's lips were almost bleeding - he'd bitten them in an effort to hold his temper while seeing the men out.
'Fuck! They're just too much...'
Their earlier words still resounded in Gustavo's mind…
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'Ah, we only have one motive in coming here today. It's to warn you.'
(ed: one line here deleted; I had no idea what it meant; didn't seem too relevant anyway)
'What you do with the Gandors and Martillos is none of our concern. However-'
'You don't want to forget that those families border our territories--'
'If we have even the slightest disturbance on our turf, we'll take it as a provocation from you.'
'We won't wage open war against you, but we will give our objections to your boss, Mr Baltoro. And if that happens, what'll happen to your standing? It must be very clear to you, mustn't it?'
'We don't care how small an incident it may be. Even if the Gandors come to us, we won't permit you operating in our territory.'
'There are only three places which you can do what you like. The Gandor family's territory, the Martillo's territories and at the Daily Days. Those three places alone. Oh, and at the back of the police station - ha, do what you like there!'
'And we only count the information agency because the Daily Days neutral ground.'
'Originally, we weren't going to suggest you even touched these three places.'
'Of these three territories, do you know which ones we don't have a foot in?'
'If we really wanted to interfere, we could do so at any time.'
'It's only that we don't want to disturb the peace. Oh, and because the Daily Days is an unusual exception.'
'To the mafia, the Daily Days is practically a public service.'
'We don't even know when that company started up.'
'It's definitely been around before us.'
'Our bosses and Mr Baltoro often go to that place to get a few things sorted out.'
'But you should not. You had best not disturb that information agency.'
'In summary, just don't annoy us.'
'Also, regarding your "new medicine", you'd better not let it turn up in our territory. Take care where you put your hands.'
'We've already talked with Begg-san. It's got nothing to do with you.'
'Please don't let any more than the agreed amount surface in the market.'
'Those are the expectations we have of you; you'd best rise to them!'
'We're only doing this to maintain good relations with Mr Baltoro, mind. Not you.'
'If you think you actually control this piece of land, think again.'
'In other words, we want you to think before you act. Consider the consequences.'
----------------
'Those damned bastards... did they come here just to humiliate me?' Gustavo was angry enough to want to beat those men up, but he knew that they were too much for him. Not to mention the fact that they were amongst those trusted by Mr Baltoro.
But why would they want to humiliate him - their subordinate? Did they doubt his loyalty to the Runorata Family? He had to show them the work he was doing for Mr Baltoro, otherwise they might decide to get rid of him.
Gustavo's loathing of the Gandor Family burned inside of him. 'I'll get revenge for today's humiliation when I stick it to those Gandor assholes!'
Thinking as much, Gustavo grabbed an ashtray and flung it at the wall in anger.
----------------
1931, December 20th. Night.
Martillo territory; an underground gambling den.
The den's manager, Firo, listened to Berga as the man continued to play. This in spite of Berga having been robbed blind by the house.
'Firo, can't you make this damned roulette round go any eaiser?!'
'You're saying something like that in someone else's gambling den? That's pretty daring!'
It wasn't common to see the leaders of other families in this place, but the three Gandor brothers had practically grown up with Firo in the same neighbourhood. Because of that, they'd never sell each other out.
'Berga, do you know how late it is? Why are you still here? I heard you and the Runoratas are coming to a standoff.'
How did news of that spread so quickly to the Martillos? It'd only happened yesterday.
'Hey, if I just stay in Gandor territory, we'll get ambushed pretty easily. But if I hang out here, there's no way the Runoratas will be stupid enough to try and break through your ranks too.'
'Go home, man. Don't get us involved too.' Firo took Berga's chips and headed inside.
Then he overheard something that caused him to start:
'Claire? Is -- thatClaire</i>?'
'Do you know any OTHER Claire?'
'This... You look really happy about this. Are you sure he's going to turn up? Ha! Then the Runoratas are done for!' Firo shook his head as he thought of the chaos that Claire would bring down on the Runorata's heads.
'Eh, you can't say that for sure.'
'Yes I can! The genius killer is back! Right now, no man on the street hasn't heard of the name "Vino". If you can lose with him on your side, then you're probably just dumb.'
A man had been slowly approaching Firo and Berga during the course of their spirited exchange. The man withdrew a thin needle from his tie, and - without any warning - moved to strike at Berga's heart and back.
'Anyway--'
Firo suddenly stuck out a hand, grabbing the would-be attacker by the arm. With one hand on the man's elbow, he grabbed the man's shoulder with his free hand. In a flash, the man was twisted a 180 degrees around, his face to the ceiling, his body hitting the floor. As the man groaned helplessly, a foot slammed down onto his pericardium.
'I won't tolerate idiots like these trying to act on Martillo territory. Get him out of here!'
'Aaah, yes. Sorry!' Berga grabbed the attacker and left the den before Firo could get any angrier.
'This is going to make Tic smile...' Bringing Tic's innocent face to mind as he thought of how the man would react to this "present", Berga couldn't help but feel pity for the guy.
But "forgiveness" was never really something that he exercised...
-------------------------
'Have you found that asshole Roy?' Gustavo glared at his underlings. 'No? Why haven't you caught him and brought him over?'
The subordinate stammered in response, 'He, he's n-not actually in Gandor family territory right now. He's in "售人区".' (ed: sorry guys, I don't know how to translate that - or what it even means! *___*)
'?!?! You're afraid of that?'
'B-but, sir! W-when we were looking for Roy, we got found out... Of course, we weren't actually that obvious, but... Five guys in black just appeared and they said, 'this is not your playground, but do you want to help? We will pay you!'
'And afterwards, you crawled back here?'
'No, w-we left a man to continue observation. Roy doesn't seem to have any relationship with the people in that area. But, that asshole, he's memorised all of our techniques and can spot us even when we're really far off! Really, that arhgghhg--'
The sad little man hadn't even finished when an ashtray flew towards him.
'What now, then? You little bastards, you're making US out to be idiots!' Gustavo vented his anger on the subordinate, beating him up and swearing loudly. 'Scum, you really are scum...'
Seeing Gustavo in a rage, everyone else tried to get out of his line of sight.
'Get lost! All of you, get lost!'
The subordinates all fled from the room, but forgot to report the most important thing. Or maybe they forget it on purpose.
The place they'd found Roy in front of... was really the Genoard family's villa.
-------------------------
1931 December 31st, afternoon. Near Pennsylvania station.
In an alleyway not far from the station, the three Gandor brothers and a youth were talking.
'Hurry up, let's go. Who should I kill first? I only had some light exercise on the train last night, I'm feeling kinda rusty. Can't wait to work on a real job this time,' the youth said to the leader of the three mafia man.
Claire Stanfield.
Even though he'd lived with Gandor brothers under the same roof, he wasn't a member of the family's ranks. He was a freelance assassin going by the name of Vino. He had quite a reputation amongst the mafia. Even though he was an assassin and should really be worried about his real name being broadcast for fear of it causing problems, Claire didn't really care.
If there was really any problem, it was probably that personality of his. Unlike those predictable people who just killed for fun or lied endlessly, Claire had both a perfectly normal and completely incomprehensible attitude towards life.
And so it was quite unsurprising that he was saying some pretty strange things to the Gandors that day. The brothers thought that Claire would've wanted to talk and catch up, but the man seemed to be in some sort of rush. They ended up heading straight for the Gandor's offices. 'Let's finish this up quickly. I need to find someone - it's the person who's going to end up marrying me.'
The three brothers shot Claire a look.
'You didn't actually go up and say "marry me" to someone you met for the first time AGAIN, did you?'
'More or less, yes!'
'This is not a MORE OR LESS kind of thing, you idiot! How many times have you been rejected now?!'
Claire didn't blink in the face of Berga's shouting. Without hesitating, he retorted: 'Wait, wait, wait. I've never joked around when I propose, nor have I been doing it just to act rebellious. I mean it when I say it, so there shouldn't be a problem. And if I've always been rejected up till now - it just means that there are better women waiting for me. Anyway, this earth--'
'-- you're trying to say, "this earth is made for my convenience", yes?' Luck cut in. This was, unfortunately, Claire's fundamental approach to life. According to him: "I can't die. This world is really just a dream, and I am the only real thing allowing it to exist."
Luck and the rest didn't really understand any of it.
This may have made Claire out as someone running from the realities of the world, but in truth he had the strength and dedication to actually pull it off. He always kept himself in perfect shape, endlessly forging onwards and never slacking off. This was what made him such a headache to everyone around him.
'Come on, Claire. I can't believe any woman would agree to marry you so easily.' Luck let slip Claire's name.
Claire followed up with a phrase that made them all shake their heads: 'Claire's already dead. Or, at least, the person registered name to that name no longer exists.'
-- more mysterious things to screw with people's heads.
Luck pointed out , quietly: 'Dead people can't get married.'
Claire stood came to a sudden stop. 'What, really!? Can I buy a new identity, then? Can I?'
'You really haven't figured anything out, have you, Claire!? If this is how it is, what do we call you?'
Claire started walking again, nonchalantly saying, 'Ah, how about "Vino"? Or Rail Tracer, maybe.'
'LAME!'
Watching Berga and Claire quarrel and fight in the street, Luck pulled a face, and sighed. -- they were really a good pair of brothers, those two.
At some point, some of Berga's teeth flew past Luck. Berga just grew another new one and kept going.
Luck sighed again, and pretended that he hadn't seen anything.
-----------------
'Walk PROPERLY, you!'
Benjamin coughed twice, purposefully. 'Pay no heed to these crude people. Shall we move on, Miss Eve?' (ed: context is an animal that isn't talking to me right now; I don't know who Samansa and Benjamin are referring to here...)
'? Oh, sure.' The chamberlain's words broke Eve out of her ruminations. She'd been too distracted to notice what was going on around her.
-- ah, how on earth do I find the Gandors?
'Miss, you don't need to worry,'
'?'
Hearing Benjamin's words, Eve panicked for a moment. Had they seen through her and her plans?!
'It's my and Samansa's cooking that has caused you to lose your appetite, is that not so? Well, I called in a favour from a friend yesterday, and I asked him to introduce a chef cum wine specialist to us. The man's coming on today's train, and should be here by tomorrow.' He pre-empted Eve's question and said, mischievously: 'I discovered there was a cellar put down below this house, back from before the Prohibition. I was looking for someone to catalogue the large amount of wine there for us. "Possessing" wine isn't an offence. Moreover, we don't come to New York very often, so I thought I'd do something to make this experience memorable for you. Please forgive me if I've overstepped my bounds.'
'Mister Benjamin...'
'About the salary for the newly-hired chef, don't worry about it. Well, Miss, now Samansa and I have our hands free to help with more pressing issues.'
Samansa laughed and patted Benjamin on the back. 'That's right! Hehe. One more man is one more hand to help around the house. Now we can dedicate more time to listening out for Dallas.'
-- these two were so alike each other. They were both really attentive, caring people.
Without any explanation, Eve suddenly had to fight to hold back her tears. 'Thank you both, Benjamin and Samansa, thank you!'
In the face of people who cared so much about her, Eve almost felt incapable of going through with her risky plan. But it was too late to turn back now.
They stopped to pick up some groceries on the way back. As they were shopping, they heard a sort of commotion:
'Oi, oi, mister, do you really want to buy all of this?'
'Yes! All of it, get all of it into the car!'
'All of it! For us!'
The shopkeeper was talking to a shabbily dressed man and a girl in a red dress.
'You buying all of this makes me happy, but what on earth are you going to do with--?'
'We're going to topple them!'
'Topple! Topple!'
Watching those weird people from afar, Eve thought of something. -- ahh, right!, Eve suddenly recalled. Those two were very similar to the two thieves from last year who'd brought fortune and joy to her house.
The two had already disappeared into the crowd. Even though she wasn't sure if they were those same thieves, a sliver of hope blossomed in Eve's heart.
They must be bringing joy to some other people right now.
Thinking of the events from a year ago, she recalled some of her best memories -- and reaffirmed her decision to find the Gandors.
----------------------
'It's-been-a-long-while. How-are-you?'
Two people were talking and heading towards the car park.
'I'm fine. You don't look too bad yourself, Begg.'
The one with Begg was an old friend of his.
'Have-you-seen-Maiza-yet?' Begg nodded gently at the shadow. Contrasted with Begg's smiling countenance, the shadow seemed a bit tragic.
'Begg, truthfully--'
'I-heard. Seems-as-though-the-goods-were-stolen.'
'-yeah. Those explosives can't be allowed to reach the public. And they mustn't end up the hands of the police, either.'
'Yes-definitely.'
'I don't know if I'm still being pursued. Pursued by the killers hired by the Runoratas…'
Seeing the figure shifting uncomfortably, Begg laughed slightly and shook his head.
'Baltro- is-very-stupid- about-these-things. He-hasn't-interfered at-all. I was - the one - who - put out - the money. You - don't - need - to - fear-punishment.'
The figure was surprised to hear this.
'Why-'
'I heard - about your - situation - from-the-information-agency. I wanted-to-help you, but-I couldn't just-give-you-cash- like that.'
The figure seemed slightly taken aback upon hearing this. 'You're still a good man; that hasn't changed. Thank you-'
'You're- being too-polite-about-it. I know-know, but, since I first - gave up - being an alchemist, I-'ve managed-to -earn a lot of -money -since -then. But the happiness and fulfilment-that-I -sook -- I - never-found. From-here all-I -can-do is - to -help you- smile.' In spite of the smile on his face, the figure looked sad.
'You've done more than enough already. Thank you!'
The figure and Begg hugged. Begg's left hand was on the figure's head.
'Thank you, Begg. For - for not eating me.' The figure was both crying and smiling.
Seeing the man like that, Begg couldn't help but let fall a few tears of his own. 'The next- time - you say something - like that- I'll - really - get- angry.'
----------------------
'Oh, you've got stronger, Berga!' Claire said with some surprise. 'If you actually managed to fight me and not get really injured.'
The two had fought a great deal, and yet neither of them had sustained any injuries. Berga was an immortal and had regenerative abilities, which explained things, but Claire was purely mortal - he'd managed it out of sheer skill.
Keith's party of four were back at their headquarters. There was no one there but Tic; everyone else had heard the orders and were waiting at their homes for further instruction.
'Right, to business. Who should I kill first? If it's Baltoro, you're going to have to give me more details. If it's just Gustavo, I can do it today, no problem!'
'Listen to the details first, at least!'
'Baltoro's hired me a couple of times. Gustavo's never even realised.'
'… shouldn't a hired assassin keep information regarding their clients confidential?'
'Haha, you haven't changed, Luck! Still so attentive to detail! Oh, it's not a problem - you guys won't tell on me, right? Right?'
Luck explained the situation to Claire, who looked visibly excited. 'For now, Claire, do nothing. Why don't you go out and have fun exploring the city until I contact you.
'What?'
Luck regarded the confused Claire with a speculative look in his eyes. 'For now, we want you to demonstrate your ability to show... restraint.'
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At the same time…
Gustavo was storming about the guestroom. 'Don't screw around, Begg! How can I just FORGET about the stolen goods? I've been waiting for that bomb from you for too damned long already!'
'The technique - for its - construction - has been passed - to me. I can - make you - another - in a - month's time.'
'A month is too late! Fuck! Right now I just want to storm the Gandor Family's clubs and gambling dens and blow their establishments to bits!'
'Oh-really?'
'Shut up! It's all useless now! Really, your friend is such a useless, useless ass!'
Upon hearing that, Begg turned to face Gustavo. His face was serious as Gustavo'd never seen it. 'W-what!?'
'Do not- belittle - my friends.' Begg said that and nothing more.
Momentarily stunned by the pressure of Begg's gaze, Gustavo clenched his fists together and blurted out, 'Ha! What's up with that? If he's a merchant and his merchandise is all gone, then that makes him fucking useless merchant, doesn't it!'
Begg seemed to hesitate before he suddenly laughed out loud. 'Ha-ha-ha! it's-as-you-say,-yes! I-haven't-laughed like - this in - a long -while!' That said, Begg turned and left the room.
'What the hell is up with that guy?'
Gustavo couldn't understand what Begg'd meant at all this time. He only had the aftertaste of his own words in his mouth.
---- merchandise all gone, that is a damned useless merchant!
Drugs. Roy. Theft. The one responsible. Me.
'Ah?'
He finally understood why Begg had laughed like that! Gustavo threw his third ashtray at the window.