Mr. Consultant

At around five o'clock in the evening, Cesare finished his work in the old city and returned to his cheap apartment in a narrow alley.He was wearing a warm brown corduroy jacket and gray and black trousers. From the collar of the jacket, you could see the white skirt of the shirt.He still stepped on the pair of badly worn old leather shoes, and walked up the potholed stairs with vigorous steps.The light in the corridor was dim, making his overlapping footsteps look like flashing pictures.

And Cesare, the cornerman of the old town, actually has a brother named Carlo, who is two years younger than him.Although there is no blood relationship between them, the life of wandering together in the old city since childhood has given them a friendship that is better than family affection.

Moreover, Carlo, like Cesare, both benefited from Antonio's favor and dedicated their abilities to the Barone family.He is responsible for the audit of all bookkeeping offices in the old city, and will organize regular patrols to ensure that their business is in compliance with the regulations and there is no situation of embezzlement.In this way, together with Cesare, he managed everything in the old city in an orderly manner, provided Giuseppe with considerable manpower and material resources, and became the base camp for the consultant to rectify Barone.

And when Cesare opened the creaking door with the key in his pocket, he saw Carlo taking the fried rice for dinner out of the kitchen.Cesare was suddenly a little inexplicably moved, and even praised from the bottom of his heart the life of the two bachelors who hugged each other for warmth.He threw the folder in his hand on the sofa, and piled it crumpled aside together with his fleece jacket.

Carlo heard him, raised his head and greeted Cesare.He was a tall, blond, blue-eyed youth, probably in his early twenties, with almost plain features but bright eyes.He had an airy, rather gentle air about him.This temperament made him look more like an employee of a serious company.At this time, he was staring at the folder that Cesare brought, and tilted his head to think about it, and then said to the cornerman in the old city in fluent Italian with a slightly northern accent:

"Is that what the advisor wants?"

Cesare nodded. Giuseppe asked him to investigate Albert's affairs before the New Year, and tried to find out where the big fat man had embezzled and recover the property he had embezzled.The consultant explained his doubts about Albert in great detail. He trusted Cesare, even unreservedly.

However, just a week ago, the advisor who trusted Cesare overturned all assumptions without warning.He believed that in the family, there should be a certain accomplice of Albert, someone who had been manipulating that fat man behind his back.

Cesare didn't understand why Giuseppe had such an idea, and at the same time, he felt that this idea was really absurd.But Giuseppe's swearing eyes made him say a little rebuttal.So he had no choice but to work diligently, continue to inquire about Albert's relationship, and try to find out some suspicious problems.

"Yes, the feud between the adviser and Mr Abbott is not over."

Cesare replied in Italian, then took a spoon for himself, and sat at the dining table to eat without saying a word.

After hearing what he said, Carlo felt that things were a little weird.So he had no choice but to pull out a solid wooden chair and sit face to face with Cesare.At this time, Carlo's brows were knit together, and he tried his best to express his master's disbelief, and even his movement of rolling his sleeves slowed down.

"I don't understand, Albert has gone to hell, what else does the consultant want?"

said Carlo, and pouring himself a cup of tea from the teapot, he added to Cesare:

"Counselor, we are all aware of his nature, and I am afraid that something terrible is going to happen."

Cesare was taken aback by his words, and with the fried rice still in his mouth, he explained vaguely: "No, no, Carlo, my brother, I can swear to Christ, things are never what you think like..."

Carlo was a little suspicious, looking straight into Cesare's eyes.Unlike this horned man, he doesn't have much, fragmentary affection for Giuseppe.In his eyes, Giuseppe is undoubtedly the object of respect and allegiance, but he will not regard the consultant as some kind of gentle and kind character.

But Cesare, he is different. For some rather stupid reasons, this cornerman has always believed that Giuseppe is a good man, and also believes that he chose the path of the Mafia out of helplessness.Although Cesare is [-]% smart and not familiar with Giuseppe, he still can't change this huge misunderstanding, and even wants to promote the virtues of the consultant to Carlo from time to time.

And as for the rather stupid reason that led to all this, let's talk about the time when Antonio died.Antonio, the former advisor of Barone, was not only like a father to Cesare, but also a model of worship, a god-like idol.Therefore, when he died, the young Cesare even thought for a time that the world would be destroyed, the earth would stop, and the sun would turn into ashes.He cried almost to death at Antonio's funeral, and he stood out among the red-eyed family members fighting back tears.

Giuseppe was still very young at the time, but he had already been confirmed by Don Barrone as Antonio's successor.He was wearing a pure black suit, and his expression was full of stern and respectful feelings, like a slender and powerful machine, supporting all of Barone's behind-the-scenes operations.

Everyone is congratulating him, whether true or false, congratulating him, and telling him about their situation.And at this moment, Giuseppe saw Cesare who seemed to have nothing to do with the surrounding affairs and only wiped his tears.He finds it funny, but with some deep sympathy,

After all, Antonio is like a father, a role model, and an idol to him?

Giuseppe understood this grief in an instant. He thought his feelings were weak, but maybe it was just his self-deception.So almost subconsciously, he took out the handkerchief from his arms and handed it to the blond boy who was still immersed in crying, thus starting the years of friendship with Cesare.

As for Cesare, he is actually quite clear that this kind of third-rate novel-like plot is not worthy of his many years of concern, and even the consultant himself may have long since left it behind.But he was still stubborn, grateful for Giuseppe's inexplicable kindness, and regarded this kindness as the soft truth of the consultant.

Carlo obviously knew this, but unfortunately, he felt that Cesare was just superstitious about the devil's disguise.So with a sincere attitude, he suggested to the horned man:

"Okay, Cesare, it's almost time for you to recognize Giuseppe's face. Besides, he seems to be doing something with Xavier. Are you going to compete with your boss for a man? Cesare, give up , you have no chance!"

Cesare, the poor cornerman, was heartbroken by his certainty.However, he had no way to refute this, so he could only try his best to convince himself to eliminate this unrealistic idea.He bowed his head and took a few mouthfuls of seafood fried rice made by Carlo, and then just as he was about to put away the tableware, the phone in the entrance rang.

Cesare is used to this, because although he has the protection of the labor law, while the workaholic Mr. overdraws himself day and night, he will inevitably involve other employees.And as Giuseppe's old friend for many years, Cesare can almost always receive untimely summons from the consultant.

But even so, he didn't dare to show the slightest negligence, so he quickly stood up from his seat, and then picked up the phone receiver.

But unexpectedly, the voice from the phone was a little strange,

"Cesare, sorry to bother you at this time, but I need you to do something for me."

Cesare was stunned for a moment. It took almost all his imagination to realize that the person who was speaking now was the hysterical workaholic himself.He had never known that Giuseppe could have such a rigid, announcer-like voice.Not only that, but his overly polite remarks also made people feel sincerely inexplicable.

But fortunately, Cesare knew that Giuseppe was a model of pretending, so he immediately replied with a good attitude: "Consultant, if you have anything to do, please order it casually, and I will swear to do it."

"No, no..." Giuseppe interrupted him a little rudely, and said to him again: "Is there anyone else in your apartment?"

"Carlo is here, but I can trust him."

Cesare had some bad premonitions in his heart. He knew that what Giuseppe was about to talk to him was extraordinary, and he didn't want to hear the name of someone who was about to die from the bottom of his heart.And Carlo, who was packing up at the table, also heard his answer, so he quickly cast a questioning look at him.Cesare saw him, but waved to him with a sullen face, signaling him to keep quiet.

"Cesare, listen, I need you to go to those old warehouses by the lake in the north of the city, and then..."

When the consultant said this, he suddenly paused and took a deep breath, as if he was deciding on something big.And Cesare's heart beat wildly because of this, he had not seen Giuseppe like this for a long time.He realized that the consultant was flustered and hesitant, deciding something that even he himself didn't know the result.Cesare fell silent instinctively, he didn't want his own voice, the sound of breathing, or even the sound of his heartbeat to interfere with Giuseppe's judgment.

At the same time, Cesare carefully discerned Giuseppe's tone.Moreover, he can now be sure that something earth-shaking must have happened, something that deserves Giuseppe's helplessness to be in this situation.Hell, Giuseppe's low, announcer-like voice was meant to cover up his trembling!

And Cesare couldn't imagine that there was anything in this world that could make that consultant feel so scared.He remembered that Giuseppe had never shown such fragility when he was assassinated, when Don Barrone died, or even when he recovered his life from the gun during the war.The consultant seems to be strong, fearless, and omnipotent.

But now, such a tempered soul reveals a crack of helplessness and despair.Thinking of this, Cesare couldn't help being infected by that emotion of fear, and even had the illusion that he was going to tremble a little.Because he knew that he had been named by Giuseppe, so no matter how terrible the thing was, he had no choice but to face it head-on.

Giuseppe finally spoke, and he continued to use the slow tone of a blunt knife cutting flesh, and added word by word:

"I need you, as soon as possible, to find Xavier."

"Okay, no problem, I'll send someone to do it right away."

After hearing his answer, Cesare's mind went blank for a few seconds, and he was startled by the disappearance of the young master.But he still tried his best to gather all his rationality, and quickly responded to Giuseppe's request, because he knew that he had no time left to be dazed.But he thought about it again, and couldn't help but say some comforting words:

"Giuseppe, please rest assured that I will definitely find him. But if you can tell me what happened, I think it will help him a little bit."

"This matter... I don't know how to briefly explain it to you. But I want you to go to him alone and don't tell any of your subordinates. This matter will be settled between you and me."

"It's between you and me." Cesare repeated Giuseppe's words meaninglessly. He knew that the matter had developed to this point, and the issue about Xavier was by no means as simple as disappearance.He took out two magazines from the cabinet in the entrance, put them on the table, and signaled Carlo to fetch him a coat.As he stuffed the magazine into the inside pocket of his coat, he heard Giuseppe say:

"Yes, between you and me... Cesare, please remember, this is my personal debt to you, and I will definitely thank you for your help. But right now, but right now I hope you will treat Xavier as your The only leader, you must find him..."

After Giuseppe finished speaking, he fell into a long silence.Cesare didn't dare to hang up the phone, so he had to hold the receiver and wait for his order.He didn't know how long this period of time was, it might have been a few seconds, or it might have been a few minutes, and then he heard the consultant muttering hoarsely as if he had collapsed:

"Even if you find a corpse, you must be the first to tell me."

Cesare understood everything at once.

The author has something to say:

I can finally start running the relationship line, hey~