vncnus Page 44
Page 44
Michael wiped away the tears of laughter. "Three grown men, and combined they don't even have the most basic financial knowledge."
Ethan suddenly remembered something and snapped his fingers. "I know someone who might be able to help."
Victor looked at him suspiciously. "Who? Your cousin who works at the convenience store?"
"No, that's an idiot, a moron who only wants big planes."
Michael's eyes lit up; he understood Ethan's meaning. "He's talking about Blair Parfait!"
Viktor looked completely bewildered.
"Blair Parfait!"
Michael repeated, "A finance newbie who studied in Chicago's South Side, graduated from Wharton Business School, and is now interviewing on Wall Street in New York, is he smart?"
You mean that white man?
Victor's expression shifted from confusion to disbelief: "He can help us?"
"Frankie knew him quite well before and had helped him resolve many issues!"
Ethan nodded in confirmation, "Although his reputation isn't great, that guy's quick-witted."
Victor's eyes lit up: "Let's see how much money we have left?"
“I can come up with four thousand two hundred US dollars.”
Ethan didn't have much savings, but Michael did: "I have six thousand seven."
How come you have so many?
“I’m in charge of Viktor’s meals, so of course my salary is higher than yours!”
"You also took kickbacks!!"
Victor didn't want to dwell on the matter: "I'll put up $40,000, you put up $10,000, let's give it a try?"
"Give it a try!"
"Then give it a try!"
Ethan said enthusiastically, "Then let's find a lawyer to help us make a decision!"
Victor suddenly remembered someone, a downtrodden lawyer: "I recommend Jimmy McGill, a former hoodlum from Chicago's South Side who's now a lawyer in New Mexico, but only has a dressing room."
Michael's expression shifted from confusion to disbelief: "Oh, he's a disgrace to the South!"
"It's him,"
Viktor nodded in confirmation, "Although his reputation isn't great, that guy is quick-witted, and... how should I put it, he's particularly good at operating in the gray area."
Michael added, "Last year he helped Tommy's son get rid of felony charges using methods that even the judge had to admit were 'creative'."
Ethan stroked his chin thoughtfully: "So you mean, you want to find a lawyer with a terrible reputation to help us with the investment?"
"It's not about helping us invest,"
Michael corrected, "It's about helping us find safe ways to invest. Jimmy knows a lot of people, including some...less traditional investors."
Victor added, "Mainly because he's cheap, and he's currently struggling to survive in the South and needs someone to take him in, otherwise he'll have to go back to New Mexico."
The three fell silent again, each considering the pros and cons of the proposal.
On the television, the protagonist of an old movie is giving a victory speech, with the background music gradually becoming more rousing.
"I think it's okay!"
The three finally reached an agreement: "But we need to be careful. First, contact this Jimmy, then contact Blair to sound him out, and say that we have some money we'd like to invest."
Michael took out his contacts and started looking through them.
"Oh my god, this guy is something else, he has his alternate accounts everywhere."
Victor shook his head. "It sounds like we're considering working with a madman."
"In this crazy world,"
Michael found the number, looked up with a sly smile, and said, "Sometimes all you need is a madman who knows how to play the rules."
He pressed the dial button, placed the mobile phone on the coffee table, and turned on the speaker.
The dial tone before the call connected sounded unusually loud in the quiet living room. The three men held their breath in unison, as if this call would open a new chapter in their lives.
······
Ethan made the call and put it on the pager.
Shortly after, the phone rang back.
"Hello, this is Attorney Jimmy McGill. I'll take care of anything for you."
“Jimmy, this is Ethan Lee.”
"Oh, hello, dear Mr. Ethan..."
"Fuck you! Jimmy, it's Ethan. I was the one who kept watch for you when you went to steal tacos from the Mexican shop!"
"Oh my god... Ethan!!! You fucking bought a Motorola?? I can't believe how rich you are!"
“Come to the South Side, 2131 North Walls Street, you can earn $200. If you’re interested, we can give you a contract.”
"What's the problem now?"
"It's 6:40 PM now. The sky and the surroundings are the colors of the South District's most skilled at hiding. Forgive me for not having a car and not being able to drive at 90 km/h."
"That's a problem. So, will my brother Michael come to pick you up?"
Is it urgent?
"It's quite urgent."
"Are you trying to trick me into coming here so you can kidnap me?"
"How could you think of me like that? If that's the case, I wouldn't have needed to warn you in the first place, and then let those Mexicans stuff your flower into an avocado!"
“Okay, Ethan, I’m at the homeless shelter downstairs. Come pick me up, and bring a taco and an ice-cold Coke if you can. I’m starving.”
"You're really having a terrible time!"
"Thank you for the compliment, but I don't live in the South District."
"Fakyu! Just wait!"
Chapter 36 Jimmy and Blair
Jimmy McGill stood in front of 2131 North Walls Street, dragging his worn-out suitcase.
One of the suitcase wheels was broken, making a screeching sound, just like his mood at that moment.
He looked up at the three-story apartment building with its red brick facade, the paint peeling off as if it had a skin disease.
Four years ago, when he was released from prison, he fantasized about standing in front of a high-end office building, not in this dilapidated apartment on the edge of a slum.
The door suddenly opened, and three tall figures squeezed into the doorway almost simultaneously.
"Jimmy McGill!"
The man in the middle, with black hair, a chin as thick as a bucket, and a body like an autumn brown bear, extended his hand. "I am Victor. Long time no see. This is Ethan, my brother."
Jimmy noticed that all three of them were wearing faded T-shirts, and Victor's right knuckles were covered in calluses, the marks of long-term hitting of the punching bag.
How did you meet Michael when you got on the bus?
Michael's left ear was missing a small piece—well, that's because Michael had an ear piercing, and Joe just ripped it off.
Ethan and Victor, on the other hand, looked completely different and were unrecognizable.
Jimmy pointed at Victor: "How did you become like a bear?"
Viktor didn't speak—such gentle words, everyone else said Viktor looked like a fat pig, he just looked outside, as if something was moving in the darkness.
Perhaps it's a natural talent.
"Come in, Mr. Lawyer."
Ethan took his suitcase so gently that Jimmy could barely feel the change in weight.
The interior of the apartment was better than the exterior; at least it didn't smell musty.
The living room contained a secondhand sofa and several plastic chairs, and the walls were covered with posters of boxing matches and training schedules.
The aroma of coffee wafted from the kitchen.
Victor stood outside the door and fired a shot into the air—a blank. The loud bang instantly echoed around them, startling Jimmy. Meanwhile, footsteps quickly moved away from the darkness outside the door.
"He's truly gifted; you can't even see him without a strong light!"
Viktor walked through the door, locked it from the inside, then opened the iron gate and went inside.
“You’ve been targeted by a scavenger.”
Ethan handed Jimmy a cup of black coffee, without sugar.
Jimmy's fingers tightened on the cup.
In the southern district, it is not uncommon to see thugs who specialize in stalking released prisoners or homeless people, robbing them of their meager income, and even killing homeless people to sell their organs.
Illegal immigrants actually live a very miserable life here.
"They knew I had taken a legal aid case with a thirty-dollar reward..."
Viktor nodded and took an old-fashioned revolver from the coffee table drawer, his movements as practiced as if he were handling a remote control.
"Take this. The trash in the South District can only be cleared with gunpowder. Finish this coffee, take this, and you can use it for self-defense next time. Plus, your skin has a huge boost."
Jimmy wanted to say something, but the bitterness of the coffee spread across his tongue, just like his life over the past four years.
After being released from prison, he studied desperately, experiencing the ecstasy of passing the bar exam, followed by countless rejections:
"We need lawyers with clean records!"
"Customers will not trust people with criminal records."
"I'm sorry, but you haven't even done your own criminal defense work. How are you going to convince the client?"
Jimmy had reached a point where he had no choice but to seek refuge with his brother, who had treated him very badly; one can imagine the predicament he was in.