"Where are you taking me, mate? I thought we were going to join the Savino family?"
"Who do you think we are? Do you think the most powerful crime syndicate in this city is just going to accept two unknown punks like us? Even if they do, we will only be associates. Do you know what happens to associates? They are expendable pawns thrown to the wolves when things get rough."
"So… What are we doing here outside a barbershop? How does this get us into the Savino family?"
Two men were standing on a rather quiet street. Before them was a small barbershop. The sign on the side of the shop said, Maxhall Barbershop.
"Dude, do you know the owner of this barbershop?" The first man asked.
"Uh… a barber?" The second man answered.
The first man facepalmed and shook his head.
"You truly don't know anything, do you? The man who owned this place used to be a capo from the Savino family. He is not just any capo. He is the legendary Harrison Maxhall."
"Do… Do you mean the one who they call the mad demon…?"
"Huh. I see you are not entirely oblivious," the first man said.
"But… But what is a legend like him doing as a common barber?" The second man asked.
The first man shrugged. "The word on the street is he has retired."
"Retired? This is the first time I have heard someone retire from the syndicate. Isn't it normally until death do they retire?"
"He was allowed to retire because he fulfilled an impossible task that the Savino's Don gave him. You do remember the underworld of this Fortune City used to be ruled by three crime syndicates, don't you?"
"Yes, the Savino Family, the Tuton Family, and the Zeron Family."
"I guess you are not entirely hopeless. Nowadays, there are only the Savino Family and the Tuton Family. The Tuton Family is rapidly declining. That's why we have a better future joining the Savino Family. Anyway, there used to be the Zeron Family, but we never hear about them anymore. Do you know why?"
"Uh… Does it have to do with the mad demon?"
"How do you think he got the nickname? He single-handedly breached the Zeron Family's headquarters and slaughtered the Don, the underbosses, and most of the capos. The damage was so severe that the family disbanded afterward."
"Isn't that a bit too unbelievable?" The second man said. "Plus, winning his freedom by doing an impossible task for the Don. Why does it sound so much like the plot from that movie?"
"What movie?" The first man asked.
"That movie… Ah, I forgot the name. Anyway, do you think this legend will vouch for us?"
"Hehe. You underestimate me, mate. Where do you think I cut my hair these past few months?"
"You mean, your hair is cut by the legend?"
"Hehe, the legend and I are practically best friends by now. Follow me in, I am sure he will help us put in a good word with the Savino Family."
The two went into the barbershop.
Inside were two people, the barber and his customer. The barber was a large man in his fifties. Although he wore loose clothes, one could still perceive the muscles under those clothes. Half of his face was covered by a thick beard. His eyes glanced at the two young men entering his shop before returning to his customer.
"Hiya, Harrison. How are you doing today?"
"Didn't I just cut your hair last week, Bob? They don't look long yet," Harrison replied. His hands never stopped the scissors that were cutting his customer's hair.
"I'm here for another reason, mate. I hope you can do us a favor."
"Don't call me mate, mate. Address me as Sir! What do you need other than having your hair cut? Do not say you want to borrow money. I will kick you out for that."
"Nah, mate… I mean, Sir," Bob said. "We were wondering if you are willing to put in a good word for us to your pals in the Savino Family? I mean, we wish to join them."
"Ho…," The customer, whose hair Harrison was cutting, remarked. "We got ourselves a syndicate wannabee, I see."
"Mind your own business, old man," Bob said to the customer.
Harrison stopped cutting. He put down his scissors and turned to Bob. When Bob looked into those eyes, he felt as if his soul had chilled.
"Listen to me, kid," Harrison said. "You might think the life of a syndicate person is all glory or that shit, but you better believe me that every punk who ends up joining one will wish that they don't. Now, you better get out of here before your mama comes asking me why I sent her son to a death sentence."
"We are grown men, old man! We don't need our parents' permission!" Bob's friend exclaimed.
Harrison picked up his scissors. "You raise your voice on me again, I will make sure you never leave this place, punk!"
"Yo, yo. Chill, man!" Bob said. "We are leaving. We are leaving."
Bob pushed his friend to the exit, and the two scurried out of there. Harrison watched the two from the window as they argued while walking away.
"Hehe. Didn't expect there are still kids who wish to join the underworld these days," the customer chuckled. "Takes me back to when we were young."
Harrison went back to cutting his customer's hair.
"You are not wrong there, though. I also believe every punk who joins would have wished they didn't. Still, we didn't have much of a choice back then, did we?"
"When are you quitting that life, Steve?" Harrison asked.
Steve chuckled. "Are you kidding me? Do you think I am you? If I tell the Don I want to retire, he will retire me for good, into my grave! Nah, man… I think I'm married to this life for good."
"You can disappear," Harrison suggested.
"And where do you think I should go? My entire life is in this city. Everyone I know or care about is here. If I go somewhere else, what's the difference between that and dying?"
Harrison wanted to say there was always a way to start over, but the sound of the bell from his door opening stopped him. Did those two punks return? He turned to the door and saw a little boy. A boy he knew.
"What are you doing here all by yourself, Will?" Harrison asked.