Chapter 19.2

Norton lost interest in the unfinished list, no longer feeling any urgency to complete it.

He seemed to care only about the fact that Mo Zimu had signed the prison transfer application. Leaning back, he frowned and told Berrick to bring Mo Zimu over. When Mo Zimu stepped inside, Norton fixed his gaze on him and said, “Seven, I thought we had an understanding.”

“This doesn’t change anything between us, boss,” Mo Zimu said with a smile. “Aren’t we getting closer to freedom?”

Norton furrowed his brows,”Young man… you lack patience!” He stood up and poured himself a drink, then continued, “Seven, you’re a smart person, and the biggest mistake smart people make is being indecisive…”

Mo Zimu smiled lightly. “Like you, perhaps? Ivan may be competent, and the Bonanno family holds him in high regard. But Henry Bonanno is still the heir. Even though he kills his siblings and flatters his father to earn his favor, he’s still the son. If you helps Henry eliminate Ivan at this point, I think it would be a huge favor. Most importantly… no one will share that money with you!”

Behind his gold-rimmed glasses, Norton’s expression shifted to one of panic. Though it was brief, he couldn’t help but spill some of his drink. He lowered his voice and asked, “Who told you this? Was it Ivan?”

“No, no, Boss. That was just my guess. If Ivan thought so, he wouldn’t be working so hard for your deal, would he? Ivan is the Noah’s Ark you gave me, so I can’t help but overthink things for him. Maybe I’m just worrying too much,” Mo Zimu said with a smile.

Norton smiled faintly and slowly replied, “Seven, I forgive your youthful ignorance for the things you just said. Do you know that there are many who lose their lives simply because of a moment of reckless words?”

“You’re right!” Mo Zi Mu smiled again and said, “Boss, I have no other pursuits. You know, I just want to get out of here alive!” He bowed respectfully before turning to leave.

Norton watched his back, his expression changing from one of indecisiveness to something harder to read. He muttered to himself, “Seven, you’re too clever. I wish you could leave here alive. Why can’t you be just a bit more careful?”

—

After that, the two never met again, though Berrick had unexpectedly transformed into Mo Zimu’s ally.

Teabag had become much more subdued under Berrick’s suppression. Coincidentally, Adolf, Teabag’s backer, was in a bad mood and didn’t have the time to care about his subordinates’ frustration. Ivan rarely showed up, and Mo Zimu seemed to be safe for the time being.

But none of this changed the fact that the weekend was fast approaching.

On a quiet Saturday morning, Ivan woke Mo Zimu with a kiss, whispering in his ear, “Stay put at Norton’s tonight. See you later, baby.”
Mo Zimu kept his eyes closed as Ivan kissed his forehead and left.

Only after his footsteps faded completely he slowly open his eyes, staring at the white wall ahead with a faint smile.

—

That evening, Ivan didn’t return. Instead, Norton sent Berrick to summon Mo Zimu.

Berrick’s gaze toward Mo Zimu carried a hint of strangeness. Walking a short distance, Mo Zimu turned back and smiled. “Are you surprised to see me on the Hunter list again?”

Berrick’s beady eyes flickered, and he replied, “There’s no Hunter event tonight!”

Mo Zimu leaned in closer and said quietly, “This is a new arrangement from Boss Norton. He’s having me meet the Geoffrey family heir for a private deal.”

Berrick seemed to grasp something, and let out a sneering chuckle. “That explains it. Adolf’s been nowhere to be found all afternoon. No one’s mentioned a Hunter event tonight, but Norton did call the watchtower to inform them that a few prisoners would be leaving the gates tonight.”

Berrick took a deep breath. He knew that many secrets lurked within Mammon, with the Hunter event merely serving as a cover for certain transactions. However, there always seemed to be a veil separating him from these secrets, leaving him with an unshakable feeling of being excluded from the center of power.

Still, he was sure Mo Zimu was closer to these secrets. Norton frequently met with him late at night, which must be tied to whatever was going on.

The itch of curiosity gnawed at Berrick, though he also understood that in Mammon, some things were better left unknown.

Mo Zimu chuckled lightly. “It’s a private transaction secret. Don’t tell anyone else.”

Berrick, confirming his suspicions, couldn’t help but feel a rush of excitement, as if he had uncovered some of Norton’s private affairs. He was glad he had foreseen this and established a good relationship with Mo Zimu.

He leaned in and whispered, “So, this Hunter event is fake?”

Mo Zimu laughed softly. “Would he invite me to dinner before a Hunter event if it weren’t?”

Berrick exhaled deeply. “The Geoffrey family…” He is somewhat envious. In Mammon, every senior prison guard had their connections. It was the reason why he, a newcomer, was always being sent on tasks, working hard but earning so little.

“Seems like the boss is looking for a new backer,” Mo Zimu said nonchalantly.

“The warden’s been working with the Bonanno family for too long, hasn’t he?” Berrick whispered, clearly pleased to share a tidbit of hearsay he’d heard before.

Mo Zimu gave a meaningful smile.

Long-term partnerships often carried accumulated grudges, and Berrick responded with a knowing grin.

“Adolf has been wanting to meet the young master of the Geoffrey family for a long time,” Mo Zimu whispered.

Berrick’s expression shifted uneasily. “He… he has…?”

Mo Zimu said, “Of course. He’s desperate to get close to Young Master Geoffrey. Norton knows that very well. Otherwise, why would he send you to deliver the ‘prey’ today? He’s clearly unhappy that Norton chose to use me instead of him to approach Young Master Geoffrey.”

Berrick spat to the side and sneered, “That big-mouthed Froggy only knows how to climb up the social ladder.”

Mo Zimu chuckled lightly. “True, not many people get the chance to meet with Young Master Geoffrey. Every time he comes, he’s just killed someone and left.” He paused for a moment before continuing, “If it weren’t for Adolf’s backing from the Bonanno family, do you think he’d be as untouchable as he is now?”

“You’ve got that right!” Berrick gritted his teeth, hoping for Adolf’s downfall. But instead, Adolf always appeared unscathed, stirring up more chaos in the prison, which only fueled his hatred further.

“Do you know how Powell died?”

“Powell? Wasn’t he—”

“I blinded one of his eyes, but it was Adolf who finished him off. Powell may have ranked one level below Adolf in terms of authority, but Norton originally gave him equal power. It was Adolf eliminating him that paved the way for his current dominance. Boss, you and I both need to watch out for that big-mouthed Froggy.”

Berrick scowled. “He only has Bonanno’s backing, nothing more!”

“Exactly. So, boss, if you had Geoffrey’s backing, things would be much easier.” Mo Zimu patted him on the shoulder with a hint of regret. He suddenly changed the subject, speaking softly, “Bring my former cellmates here later. These people always act hastily, and I don’t want their lack of courage to ruin things and upset Young Master Geoffrey. I certainly don’t want to mess up Norton’s plans on my first go.”

Berrick nodded absentmindedly, hesitating for a moment before speaking. “Seven, can you do me a small favor…?”

“What is it?”

“Introduce me to Young Master Geoffrey!”

Mo Zimu’s eyes widened in surprise, “Boss, are you joking? If Boss Norton or Adolf finds out, I’ll be in huge trouble. You will be too.”

Berrick replied, “Seven, you know how deep the grudge is between you and Teabag in B Block? While you were in the infirmary, Jude happened to come out. Do you know how much danger you’d have been in if that hadn’t happened? Ivan might be the leader of A Block, but he’s still a convict. He doesn’t have the power that a guard has. You know that! If you help me, I’ll make sure to take care of Teabag for you.”

Mo Zimu frowned and shook his head. “I may have had some small disagreements with Teabag’s partner Jude, but it’s not a big deal. I can handle it by yielding a little.”

Berrick took a deep breath and said, “Seven, you’re not naïve, are you? This is Mammon. It’s not a place for innocence. You know the difference between giving a favor to a warden and offending one, don’t you?”

After a moment of hesitation, Mo Zimu’s face showed reluctance. Finally, he said, “Then wait for my signal before you make an appearance.”

Berrick was overjoyed. “Deal!”

As they reached the building’s entrance, Mo Zimu said lightly, “I think you should stop here. Norton doesn’t seem to like having others enter his space.”

Berrick nodded in agreement. He clearly remembered the sarcastic, contemptuous tone Norton always used during their meetings. Mo Zimu nodded and stepped into Norton’s palace.

Berrick murmured, “I’ll wait for you.”

Mo Zimu smiled faintly and strode down the corridor.

Norton sat quietly at one end of the dining table, watching as Mo Zimu entered. His black hair, tousled slightly by the night breeze, added a carefree touch to his usually calm demeanor.

He took a deep breath and exhaled fully. His mood was like a sky full of rainbows suddenly interrupted by a brief rain shower. Not exactly sad, but undeniably dampened.

The table was lavishly set, looking more like a New Year’s feast. As usual, the butler was absent. Norton seemed to prefer not to reveal too much in front of his close servant, so whenever Mo Zimu was present, the butler was not.

Mo Zimu quietly took a seat, and Norton poured him a glass of wine.

“Would it be alright to have some music?” Mo Zimu asked.

Norton withdrew his hand and smiled. “How about Faust Symphony?”

“Much appreciated,” he replied.

Norton sighed, stood up, and retrieved the record, placing it into his phonograph.

As the symphony began to play, Norton remarked, “Seven, I’ve always thought that in some ways, we are quite alike. That’s why I admire you.”

“You flatter me, Boss. How could I possibly compare to you?”

Norton gestured toward him. “No need to be modest. What I mean is, we’re both different from the typical people of Mammon, those crude, savage fools. We both appreciate art, yearn for something more sacred, and yet we’re both forced into dealing with sins we despise the most.”

Mo Zimu listened silently. Norton shook his head and closed his eyes as he continued, “If there’s anyone in Mammon who could understand me, it has to be you, only you!”

“I’ll do my best, Boss. Should I finish the remaining Bonanno list tonight?” Mo Zimu asked.

Norton let out a long sigh. “No, Seven. The plan has been canceled. Don’t think about that list anymore. We’re both like Faust, dreaming of dealing with the devil, only to always get something far from what we desire.” Nodding to himself, he added, “Seven, I know you’re smart, but sometimes we have to accept the hand fate deals us, don’t we?”

Mo Zimu smiled faintly. Slowly raising his gaze, he said, “You mean tonight, when Ivan asked you to look after me, but what you really want is to get rid of me, don’t you?”

Norton frowned slightly, and Mo Zimu casually downed his glass of wine. “Actually, your real backing has always been the Bonanno family’s heir. That’s why he threw Ivan into this prison in the first place. The Bonanno family needed their financial overseer here to monitor all the operations involving dirty money, while the heir needed you to keep an eye on Ivan. But when you got your hands on that list, you changed your mind. You decided to collaborate with Ivan instead. After all, even though Ivan is imprisoned, he still holds the trust and real power of the Bonanno elders. Using the American Bonanno family against the British Geoffrey family is quite a clever move, isn’t it? Ivan wants to flip the table, and you want to make a fortune.”

Norton’s face darkened slightly. Mo Zimu stood up, grabbed the wine bottle, and poured himself another glass. “But cowards… cowards are always timid and greedy. You’ve taken a billion dollars from Geoffrey, thinking it’s better to keep it all for yourself rather than split it with Ivan. And, you have the guts to blackmail the faraway Geoffrey family in Britain, but not your old masters, the Bonanno heir. Compared to the entirely criminal Bonanno family, Geoffrey, a semi-legitimate British arms dealer, is much easier to extort, isn’t he? Geoffrey paid one billion dollars, but it wasn’t just to get back a list. What he wanted was to destroy all the evidence. And that evidence is Mammon. So you and Ivan divided the work. He rounded up the prisoners and sent them on their way, while you were the one who sold their identities. Am I right?”

Pausing briefly, Mo Zimu smiled faintly and muttered as if to himself, “Tonight Hunter event… it’s Geoffrey’s request, isn’t it?”

Norton remained perfectly still, unmoving in his chair. Mo Zimu turned his head back and smiled. “Ivan left me here as a hostage, but do you know why he’s so confident leaving me in your care? Because Mike gave me a special drug. I slipped it into your wine just now. Your inability to move is all thanks to him. You think Mike is siding with Geoffrey? You’re wrong. From the first time I saw him, I knew he wasn’t at least one of Geoffrey’s people. Isn’t that right, Mike?” Mo Zimu turned his head, glancing toward the dark end of the hallway.