20 Ivan the prince of crime

Ivan, the seasoned criminal, took notice of something amiss with the child. "Hm? What's wrong with the child? Is he not feeling well?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.

"I dunno," Vin replied, "he's probably just upset about everything that's happening."

"Ah, life can be hard sometimes, but he'll grow out of his traumatized state, won't he?" Ivan mused, hoping to reassure Vin.

"Huh? Wha- ye-yeah," Vin stuttered in response.

"I was once like him," Ivan continued, "lost, alone, and struggling to find my place in this world. Maybe I'll tell you a bit about my story if you don't mind, Vin."

"Oh, yeah, sure! Take all the time you need. It's rare for my clients to have a long chat with me like this," Vin said, eager to hear Ivan's story.

"I was the son of one of the commissars," Ivan began, "but despite being the third son, my family ignored and despised me, treating me like the clown of the family. I used this freedom to commit crimes, from robbery to murder, and even orchestrated a small riot. I was pretty well known back in the union as a criminal."

Vin's eyes widened in shock at Ivan's confession, but Ivan pressed on. "Long story short, after my father died, the position of commissar was open, and as a loyal friend of the premier at that time, they honoured his wish for one of his sons to obtain the position. But I was already a criminal and a shame to my family. I was guaranteed no way of taking the position, so I sought to kill my brothers and take the position for myself."

Vin couldn't believe what he was hearing. "But you don't seem like a bad guy," he said.

"Ah, you think? Then you're probably not cut out for being a bounty hunter," Ivan retorted with a deep, dark voice. "In all your experiences in your work, surely you've learned not to trust someone so easily and to always be on guard. It may all just be deception."

Vin's mind went blank as Ivan's words hit him like a ton of bricks. "I- I..." he stuttered, struggling to find his voice.

"Anyways," Ivan continued, seemingly unfazed by Vin's reaction, "after getting caught, I was convicted and sent to the gulags, set to work until I fell. Punishing you for everything you do... it was hell on earth. In just a few days, I was on the brink of death. But then, a kind man helped me. He saved me from death."

Katsu flinched at the mention of the kind man. The story was all too familiar.

"After saving me, I thanked him, and in return, I had to listen to what he had to say. He told me the secrets the governments are hiding. After that, on the very next day, he was executed. I knew that the government would find and target me next. Using my expertise in persuasion, I staged a small mutiny. Through the chaos, I escaped onto a ship headed for the city of Landon. But in the streets of the empire, I wanted to change. Due to the past that I could not overcome, I wasn't able to turn back."

Ivan took a shot of liquor, and then continued to speak in a deep, raspy voice. "I became a wanted man, just like in my old life in the motherland. I could not escape my past. That's why I have created this band of criminals. People who left their old lives and now accept their fate." He took another shot of liquor, and then slouched over the couch.

Bon was intrigued by Ivan's story and asked, "Your friend who welcomed us here said that you want to help the Katz Reich to invade the mainland. Why would you want to do that? Haven't you seen the numerous atrocities they've committed?"

Ivan thought for a moment before answering. "It's true that the Katz Reich has committed many unspeakable things. However, we have amassed thousands of manpower, and we still can't rival the government. At any moment, they can strike. But more than that, I am an anarchist. Of all people, I know you'd understand. And the Katz Reich welcomes any defectors."

Bon nodded, but he was still skeptical. "But aren't cats and dogs enemies since the dawn of time?"

"That's what the government wants you to think," Ivan replied cryptically. "But I don't want to tell a bounty hunter any more of our top secrets."

After a moment of silence, Bon announced that he needed to use the bathroom. Vin offered to escort him, but before they could leave, Ivan grabbed Vin's arm tightly with an angry, creepy expression on his face.

"Where do you think you're going?" Ivan asked in a low, threatening voice.

Vin was sweating in fear, but he did not reply. After a tense moment, Ivan let him go and ordered him to be quick.

As the two left, the room fell silent except for the crackling of the wood in the fireplace. Ivan poured himself another shot of liquor and Katsu sat in silence.

"Now, it's just the two of us," Ivan said, breaking the silence. "You've heard my story, and I've heard yours."

Katsu remained silent for a moment, contemplating what to say. Finally, he spoke. "I know why you want to invade the mainland. But you need to know that the Katz Reich won't succeed. The government has powerful allies, and they won't let the Reich take over."

Ivan smiled wryly. "We'll see about that."

The clock strikes twelve, and the operation continues.

End of chapter 20.