Lucky Dog 1 translations 10 Bernardo route 03 best

Part 3: Daivan

Chapter 10 Best

Joy Ride

In the end, I get dragged out by Bernardo…

With guards in tow, we leave through the hotel’s front entrance. Sitting there … is a tomato-red car, gleaming like stars under the night sky…

Bernardo’s Subordinate A: Please be careful, Comandante.

Bernardo: Yeah. I will temporarily be away. I’m counting on you. We’ll be at … probably the Keyside.

After giving his orders to his men, he heads towards the scarlet car. The red sports car … is a blast from the past. It’s the Alfa Romeo from that time.

Gian: I see how it is. You liked it so much you went and bought it anew.

Bernardo: Yeah, though I can’t use it for any job that requires a chauffeur. But … I’m sure it’ll be absolutely fantastic for a night like this. Get in.

Gian: …I see. I see where you’re coming from. I know why you like this Alfa.

Bernardo: Hm?

Gian: Steering’s on the right.

Bernardo and I pop open the tiny doors to the sports car and slide in. …After riding in a sedan with a separate section for the driver, this thing’s tiny!

The engine starts on the first go. …Did Bernardo tune that up, too? After a bit of warm-up, the engine starts a rumbling purr.

Gian: Oh!

Headlights reflect off the front glass window, which is also as tiny as tiny can be. The guards’ cars, huh… They’re probably quietly tailing us. Of course, why wouldn’t they?

The engine and the body of the vehicle tremble as the speed presses up against our bodies. The crimson Alfa enters the night city and smoothly merges into the line of lights on the street.

Bernardo: What a good night! Aah, it’d be amazing if we could go out on a drive right now.

Gian: I wouldn’t mind, ya know?

As I chew on my gum, I slump back into the seat. Bernardo, with his usual crisp, beautiful Judgment Behind the Wheel swerves through the congested traffic and slips onto a different road.

Gian: So, what’re we doing? We gonna take the same route as before and and treat ourselves to a feast under the stars?

Instead of answering, Bernardo veers around a crossroad with quite some speed.

Bernardo: Nnnope, I’m in a mood for drinks tonight. If we’re not going to ossify ourselves silly tonight, then when?

His voice lilts like a humming melody. It’s rare to see Bernardo like this. Did we really earn that much with what happened back there?

The Alfa turns at the nth intersection into the neon-filled entertainment district and parks in front of a shop that looks like a full house, judging from the number of parked cars out front.

Bernardo: Let’s go. It’s in the basement.

He probably knows his men are following him. No way he would’ve left such a high-class car behind in street parking otherwise. Without a spared thought, Bernardo enters the establishment marked with a great neon sign saying, “CAFE.”

The café up top isn’t in business anymore. Instead, the inhabitants of the shop don’t look legit no matter how you squint.

Bernardo greets them before heading down the stairs in the back. I follow after him… …Hm? I hear something…

When the door flings back with a whoosh! it’s like a whole different world’s spread out before us.

Gian: Holy wow! Nice place you’ve got here, eh?

Bernardo: It’s been a long time since I’ve been here, too. Oh, this is one of my shops, so feel free to relax.

I follow Bernardo further into the establishment.

There’s no real bodyguards coming up to posture in our faces, and no owner to come up, hands shuffling in anxiety…

We sit down at one of the tables inside. From here, I have a clear view of both the glittering bottles lined up on the counter and the small stage.

Bernardo: Anything’s fine.

And here, again, the waiter coming to take our orders doesn’t bow first like they usually do… Bernardo gives his order and, as usual, he clasps his fingers together and buries his face in them.

Bernardo: Would you … have preferred a flashier store? One with ladies and such…

Gian: Let’s save that splurge for after the war. It’ll be at Luchino’s shop … and on his dime.

Bernardo: I suppose you’re right. …Mm, I’m getting excited now, too!

As we laugh, the booze and dishes get laid out before us. With a flair of ‘Prohibition? Whassat?’ there’s Canadian whisky and glasses to match, soda with ice, water, and thinly sliced roast beef sitting on the plates.

Gian: I like how this place is so laissez-faire.

Bernardo: Don’t you agree? I really like the performances here, too.

…Now that he mentions it, I realize what I’m listening to. A small band is playing jazz onstage. …No, this isn’t jazz…

It’s not swing, either. What is this…? Plus, now that I look closely, the person playing the sax is an older black guy. That’s a pretty rare sight here in Daivan.

Bernardo: It’s the blues. It’s good, isn’t it?

…Blues? Ah, so such a thing exists. I don’t really listen to records and such, so I wouldn’t know… But, this is a good performance. A good voice.

And so, like everyone else in the place, we relax ourselves oh so naturally into the easy, lazy pace…

Bernardo pours the alcohol, and we clank our glasses in a toast.

Bernardo: To our good fortune.

Gian: Bottoms up.

Though we toast, neither of us drain the glass off in one go. Instead, we sip at it bit by bit. …How to put this…

It’s like all that irritation and agitation from just a half a day earlier, so much that I thought the CR:5 was going to collapse right then and there, was a lie…

Gian: …This whisky’s really good.

Bernardo: Liquor always tastes better after something good’s befallen you.

Gian: You might be right. …So, did we really earn that much earlier?

Bernardo: …Yeah. I’m dealing with quite a sum of money, even for the family… To earn so much, and by my own hands…

Bernardo: …It’s a first. To be honest, I still can’t believe it.

Gian: Perchance it be but a dream?

Bernardo: I’d be fine with that, so long as it puts me in a good mood and I can go out with you like this.

…Damn bastard, spouting such cheesy phrases straight out…

Gian: Hey, so … can I ask … just how much our profit was?

Bernardo: A good four … no, as much as five, I think.

Gian: Eh?! Aw, c’mon, in thousands?  That’s it? With you bouncing off the walls like that, I thought it’d be—

Bernardo: I’m speaking in millions. Of dollars, of course.

Gian: Whuh? …Um. Eh…

…5,000,000 dollars… …What’d we do, take over the national treasury…?

Gian: …You’re not serious.

Bernardo: I’m very serious. Of course, we’ll have to first mark off the amount going to the Chicago Boss and the amount necessary for laundering, but…

Bernardo: …even if we discount those, we’ll have more than two, I think. …You really are quite amazing.

Gian: All … I did was step on the phone line… Wow, exchange sure is amazing. Can’t believe you earned that much…

Bernardo: I never thought that those francs, bills worth about as much as paper scraps, would suddenly explode in value with such good timing. And that, in that instant, we’d be able to score so much money…

Bernardo: If I told this story to anyone else, I’d be branded a fool and laughed off the street. Even I have trouble believing it, still.

Gian: But, I wonder why the francs suddenly started soaring like that. Maybe the French discovered a hidden oil well?

Bernardo: It appears that, according to the news overseas that morning, there were … rumors leaking in about how something suspicious going on with their neighbor, Germany. I think that was the reason, though ultimately the information was bogus.

Gian: That’s it?

Bernardo: That’s quite enough. The Nazis are currently making a mess of Germany. There’s not a place in Europe that’s not on eggshells. Germany’s misfortune is ambrosia to the other countries.

Gian: My teacher back in the orphanage said, ‘Once you start savoring the taste of other’s misfortunes, you’ve gone off the deep end.’

Bernardo: Your teacher has it right … though it’s not a tenet gangsters follow. Even I… If it weren’t for you, Gian, I would’ve been drowning in losses, too.

Gian: Ah, right… If I hadn’t jerked the line out then…

Bernardo: I would’ve sold the francs when the market was cheap, and then afterwards, see news about the rate boom and then become swamped in debt… I probably would’ve wanted to off myself afterwards.

Gian: …Holy fuck, exchange market is a fucking scary place…

Bernardo: Right on! That’s why I’ll never try my hand at it anymore. …Plus, if you engage in speculation with other people’s money and score big … the consequences are frightening.

Bernardo pours my empty glass full of whisky again, looking at me with those ever-smiling eyes…

…always looking. …What’re you thinking now, ya bastard?

Gian: What is it? …You that happy now that you’re drowning in easy gold?

Bernardo: Yes, on Cloud Nine. Money doesn’t make you happy … but if you don’t have the money you need, you will most certainly be unhappy.

Gian: Hmm.

Bernardo: The CR:5 will be steeped in cash, just from what we earned today. We could fight on for ten years like this. My own wallet has also grown rather fat and content, as well.

Gian: …You talking ‘bout the kickback? Well, doesn’t matter what it’s called, I suppose.

Bernardo: It’s called ‘I’m expressing it a different way.’ …What about you, Gian? Would you like me to funnel some into your account as well?

I mull the thought over a sip.

Gian: Nah, forget it. I’m fine. How to put it … I’m not used to walking around with more cash than I need for a day’s meal and some gum. I mean, I don’t even got a bank account.

Bernardo: …Pff, haha! What a boss we have! …You don’t have any ambition… I suppose that’s why…

Gian: Why what?

Bernardo: No, just … you know. Hahaha…

Bernardo chuckles, and as he does so, stares straight at me. …What’s been up with him this whole time…?

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