You don't even want to call me godfather

The Godfather's body has been placed in the coffin, and the undertaker has been embalming him for the past two days. He doesn't even look like he's dead, but just sleeping.

“People need hope. Even in the face of failure, what can help people survive better than hope?”

Koshe took the microphone handed to him by the priest. As the godfather's son and the only surviving relative, he should say something.

"Regrets and partings always make stories more profound," Koshe lowered his head slightly and looked at his feet, "Look around us... those who helped us grow. We will carry each other's hopes and enter the next stage of life, reminding us who we are and who we want to be."

Looking at the godfather in the coffin, he was a little absent-minded.

"Godfather, Ulysses Cascade... my father," Koshei was silent for a moment, then he spoke the name he hadn't said for a long time, "I couldn't grow up without him, but now, he's gone... Someone once asked me if I could afford the price of becoming the Godfather. At that time, I didn't know how to respond, but now, if I were asked this question again——"

He raised his head, glanced at the party members, and continued, "A friend of mine once said that she would repay anyone who hurt her with an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, and would hurt that person in the same way. The government killed the godfather, and they made the Cascade family lose its leader. Even if I killed William today, this hatred will not be easily let go. The Bible says that the righteous will rejoice when they see their enemies punished. We must wash our feet in the blood of the wicked."

After Koshe finished speaking, he handed the microphone back to the priest.

"Let us finally remember our dear Godfather Ulysses, who taught us a lot and benefited us greatly forever. At the same time, let us congratulate the new Godfather, Ulysses' blood relative, Koshe, who will continue to lead us."

As the sling slowly lowered, Godfather Ulysses' coffin gradually sank into the dug grave, and the soil was pushed into the pit, burying the coffin.

From today, from now on, there will no longer be the respected Godfather Ulysses in Syracuse.

A person cannot be in poverty forever. Ulysses was once in poverty during a period when his family was powerful, but he survived and achieved glory.

But it is impossible for a person to be glorious forever, and his departure is the herald of the rise of a new generation.

From now on, Koshei will rule the world.

Seeing the end of the Godfather's funeral, Koshe also announced the end of the funeral. The Cascade family's business still needed cadres and party members to maintain it, and he couldn't take up too much of their time.

Just as he was about to leave and took out his cigarette case, he saw an unexpected person emerging from the dispersing crowd.

"Anjie?"

Koshe put away the cigarette box. Ever since the first time he accompanied Angelina to deliver a package, he knew that she didn't like the smell of cigarettes, and he had never smoked in front of Angelina.

"Mr. Koshe..." Angelina was a little nervous. She explained, "Well... it was Mr. Jose who told me that I could come to attend the godfather's funeral. He said... Mr. Koshe might need me."

"Jose... that guy, really."

Koshe sighed helplessly. Ever since the Godfather's accident, Jose had been involved in more and more things. It wasn't that it was a bad thing, not to mention family matters. He just didn't want Jose to interfere too much in his private affairs, especially those related to Angelina.

"Um, I was also present at the press conference at noon..."

Angelina knew that Koshe was now Syracuse's new godfather. Compared to when he was still a godson, in her eyes, Koshe had once again become the inaccessible person he was when they first met.

So she felt nervous.

Koshe didn't say anything. Almost all the people in Syracuse knew that he had shot William with his own hands, but he was also worried about what kind of impact this incident would have on his image in Angel's eyes.

"No, that... Actually I don't care," Anjie said quickly, as if she saw what was on Koshei's mind. "I know Mr. Koshei won't kill people casually, so... So I believe there must be a reason for this."

Looking at Angelina, Koshe felt the distance between them. He wanted to move forward, reach out his hand, and tell her like he did before that she didn't need to care so much.

But he did not take that step. He just said in a low voice, "Go back. The funeral is over."

He didn't dare to look into Angelina's eyes. Even though William was guilty, he didn't know what he was thinking. Instead, he wanted to escape from this embarrassing situation.

Angelina opened her lips slightly, she felt a little lost, Koshei had changed, but she couldn't tell where he had changed.

Finally, she had no choice but to turn and leave.

Looking at Angelina's departing back, leaving him with her cold long hair, Koshei felt a complex feeling in his heart, familiar yet strange.

This feeling suddenly made him doubt whether everything he had done so far was right or wrong.

He didn't want to think about it.

Chapter 51: Desperate

Watching Anjie leave the cemetery, Koshe felt a little depressed.

He wanted to smoke, but he just put his hand in his pocket and touched the cigarette box before giving up.

He wasn't even in the mood to smoke.

"Koshe Cascade."

When he walked out of the cemetery and passed the iron gate, a figure leaning against the square pillar beside the iron gate, with his arms around his chest, called him.

"Bartley Patrick?"

Koshe stopped and looked at William's son with a serious expression.

To be honest, he had no animosity towards Bartley. He killed William because he killed his godfather. Besides, he could understand the feeling of having his father killed.

"Let's talk while we walk," Bartley said, uncrossing his arms from his chest, and walked past Koshe. "Don't worry, I've calmed down."

Koshe was speechless. He walked silently beside Bartley, always paying attention to his behavior and the pistol hanging on his waist.

I'm so tired, so alone

"You know, Koshei, I respect my father very much, just like you respect your father," Bartley said calmly as he walked in front of him. "My father was a great man. He took over the government of Syracuse and made Syracuse what it is today."

"Now Syracuse is in ruins, and the citizens are walking alone, unable to see the way out. When they look around, they see only a mess, full of acne and old things. Is this what you mean?"

Koshe's merciless words undoubtedly slapped Bartley hard in the face.

"Maybe you have some prejudice against my father, but it doesn't matter," Bartley did not refute anything, but continued, "I just feel a little pity."

"What's a pity?"

"My father used to compare you and me, 'The Cascade Kid', he always called you that, and I've always been looking forward to the day I'd meet you," Bartley said, "but I didn't expect to meet you in this way."

"What do you want to say?" Koshe frowned. He began to not understand what Bartley meant. "I don't think that after something like this happened, you would still want to talk to me calmly about our fathers, let alone make friends with me."

"Hmph..." Bartley sneered. He turned his head and looked at Koshei and asked, "Why didn't you let your men kill me at the press conference at noon? You should know that keeping me here is not a good thing for your family."

"William killed the Godfather, and I just took revenge," Koshe said lightly, "and I will not kill people who have nothing to do with this matter, at least not now."

"You are more stupid than I expected, Koshe." Bartley stopped and stared at Koshe. "One day, you will understand what kind of trouble your actions have brought upon yourself. Just like your revenge on my father, the death of my blood relatives will not allow me to have the slightest mercy on you, and I will never become like you, just like what you did to me."

"If you want to kill me, I'm standing in front of you now." Seeing Bartley's words, Koshe also became serious. He pointed a finger at his head and said, "And you only need to pull out your gun, aim here, and pull the trigger to avenge your father."

"...Aren't you afraid of death?"

Bartley didn't understand why Koshe could talk about such a serious topic in such a casual manner.

"Different hearts are moved by similar thoughts. Some choices can make people more united, while some choices are the opposite," Koshe said. "The relationship between the government and the family will never be reconciled. If you come to me for revenge, then I will stand here. Your gun is at your hand. You don't need to think too much, just pull the trigger and it will all be over."

"...No, I don't understand. You can't just give in like this. Besides, you are the new godfather of Syracuse. How can you allow yourself to die like this?"

Bartley looked at Koshe who was so calm, he couldn't help but take a step back and asked back.

"Never compromise, this is the difference between us, Bartley. I will not compromise while I am alive, and I will not regret or complain even if I die now," Koshe said in an emotionless manner, "If you don't take action, then the contradiction between us will never be resolved. There is no need to pity a self-contradictory person."

The two men stood there, looking at each other, in a stalemate, and Bartley was also caught in a self-contradiction about whether he should shoot here.

“What are you doing?” Msisha’s voice appeared in Koshe’s mind. “What if he really shoots?”

"I have you here, so I feel relieved."

"…This is so reckless. If I wasn't here, you would have been killed right here."

'I just want to see if this son of William is the same as me.'

"What's the same?"

'He is the son of the prime minister, and his position in Syracuse is similar to mine. His family background, upbringing, experience, and even his character are similar to mine. I am curious about this person who is like another me in every aspect.'

“…Forget it. I really don’t understand you.”

Bartley seemed to have a long inner struggle, then he suddenly pulled out his pistol and pointed it at Koshe.

He was very hesitant, his finger not even on the trigger. William's death appeared before his eyes, constantly urging him to kill the man in front of him, the murderer of his father.

After a while, two children ran past them, playing with each other.

And Bartley also put down the gun in his hand.

"Ok?"

"Koshe, you are really scary," Bartley said with a gloomy face, "I have never seen a lunatic as crazy as you. You actually gamble with your own life."

"To be precise, this is probably the second time I've gambled with my life."

The first time was the bet with Lappland at the door of the bar, about Chaos, the alcoholic infected person.

As for Bartley, Koshe and him, these two people put together can't even make a pair of parents. Koshe still has some conscience and has given him enough opportunities.

But he didn't seize the opportunity.

"To be honest, you disappoint me a little, Bartley," Koshe continued. "If it were your father, William Patrick, he would not miss any opportunity to benefit himself, even if it meant killing someone in the street."

"Like you killed my father in front of all the people of Syracuse?"

Bartley said unkindly.

"If that's how you want to understand what I said, then I have nothing to refute," Koshe stepped forward and patted Bartley on the shoulder. "It seems that William still has a lot to teach you. Sometimes, whether you can achieve a breakthrough or not often depends on a little bit of determination. Since you can't start, then I can only say that I hope you will give me more guidance in the days to come."

"..."

Bartley held the gun, his hands hanging at his sides, and said nothing.

Koshe withdrew his hand and walked away from Bartley.

After walking a few meters away, Bartley suddenly turned around and raised his gun.

"I still can't forgive you, Koshei. Maybe I can understand what happened between you and my father, but I will never condone you."

He seemed to have made up his mind, and this time, his finger was on the trigger.

"Msisha."

Koshe called softly with his back to Bartley.

The next moment, Bartley pulled the trigger.

"boom!"

But the bullet did not hit Koshei, and Msisha's hounds did not appear.

Koshe turned around and there was no trace of Bartley behind him. He only saw a small part of Bartley's struggling leg exposed in an alley on the side, and in an instant, it seemed as if someone had forcibly dragged him in.

He hurriedly ran towards the alley and looked inside.

A man in a large cloak strangled Bartley's neck with his arms. No matter how he struggled and punched and kicked the man, the man did not let go.

Bartley tore her sleeve, revealing her arm inside the sleeve, which had a few tiny Originium crystals on it. He looked at Koshei and stretched out an arm to him as if asking for help.

During the struggle, the man's hood slipped down a little, revealing part of his face.

"boom!"

The second shot was not fired by Bartley.

As the gunshots rang out, Bartley stopped struggling completely, and his outstretched arms fell down weakly.

The man loosened his arms breathlessly. She noticed Koshe in front of her and also noticed that her hood had been pulled down. She turned around and tried to escape as if stimulated by something.

But when Koshe looked at her exposed face, the call that came out of his mouth made her stop.

"Destiny?"

Chapter 52: Same People, Different Thoughts

"Destiny?"

Koshe looked at the girl in front of him with some disbelief. Although her temperament had changed, that face...he couldn't have mistaken her.

Destiny quickly dropped Bartley, slammed his hood back on, and tried to run away.

"No, wait... Destiny, don't go..."

The joy and surprise of seeing his sister again made Koshe feel very complicated, and he was even speechless for a moment.

"..."

Destiny stopped, she turned slowly and hesitantly and looked at Koshe.

Her expression looked a little embarrassed, and there was a hint of pity in her eyes, which made Koshei want to go up and hug her.

“Don’t come over here!” But Destiny reacted greatly to Koshe’s approach. She shouted and took a few steps back, but she immediately realized her excessive behavior and said in a low voice, “I am…not fit to be close to my brother…”