Chapter 91: Carl [2]

Lorenzo raised an eyebrow.

"A clothing store?"

"Yes. He’s a decent man. He’s alone and has no family. He lives peaceful life."

"So you’re suggesting I leave him with your acquaintance?"

"Only if you’re comfortable with it, Young Master. I wouldn’t recommend someone I didn’t trust."

Lorenzo considered the suggestion.

It sounded promising.

Still, he wasn’t going to hand the boy over without knowing more.

"What’s his name?"

"Gerhard Müller."

"How old is he?"

"Sixty-three, I believe."

"Okay, I’ll check it out myself. Let’s go now."

Salvatore nodded and took out his phone.

"I’ll contact him first. It would be rather rude to show up at his shop without warning."

"Do that."

While Salvatore made the call, Lorenzo crouched slightly to bring himself closer to Carl’s eye level.

"Hey."

Carl immediately raised his head.

"Yes, Young Master?"

Lorenzo frowned.

"Don’t call me that. Call me Lorenzo"

The boy looked confused.

"I don’t want to, Young Master sounds more nice then Lorenzo"

’Is he dissing on my name?’

Lorenzo let out sigh and said.

"Fine, do whatever you want."

"Good."

Lorenzo studied his face for a moment.

"Do you know where we’re going?"

Carl shook his head.

"No."

"Do you have any questions?"

The boy opened his mouth, then closed it again.

After a few seconds, he quietly asked, "Am I going to be sold again?"

Lorenzo’s expression stiffened.

"...What?"

"Will that old man buy me?"

Carl’s voice was remarkably calm. It was as though he were asking about the weather.

Lorenzo stared at him.

He had expected the boy to be confused, frightened, or perhaps even curious about his new surroundings. He hadn’t expected such a question.

"No."

"Then... why are we going there?"

"To find you a place to live."

Carl lowered his eyes.

"Will I have to work?"

"That depends on what you want to do."

The boy seemed unable to understand the answer.

Lorenzo sighed.

"Listen, Carl. You’re not going to be sold to anyone. Nobody is going to force you to do anything. Understand?"

Carl nodded slowly.

"Yes."

But Lorenzo could tell that the boy didn’t entirely believe him.

Perhaps that was unavoidable.

After everything he had experienced, expecting him to trust a stranger simply because that stranger had rescued him would be unreasonable.

This is going to be more troublesome than I thought.

Lorenzo straightened up.

Fortunately, Salvatore finished his call a moment later.

"He’s expecting us, Young Master. His shop is in the commercial district, about twenty minutes from here."

"Then let’s go."

Twenty minutes later, the three of them arrived in a quiet commercial district.

Unlike the bustling streets of Nova City, this area was relatively peaceful at night. Most of the shops had already closed, and only a few restaurants and convenience stores remained open.

Salvatore led them down a narrow street before stopping in front of a small clothing store.

A simple sign hung above the entrance.

MüLLER CLOTHING.

The shop was modest, with several mannequins displayed behind the glass windows. Men’s suits, coats, and casual clothing were neatly arranged inside.

Lorenzo glanced through the window.

"Is this the place?"

"Yes, Young Master."

Salvatore walked toward the entrance and knocked twice.

A few seconds later, the lights inside brightened.

The door opened, revealing an elderly man with neatly combed gray hair and a slightly wrinkled face. He wore a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up and a dark vest.

His eyes immediately settled on Salvatore.

"Well, well. If it isn’t Salvatore."

He smiled.

"It’s been a while, hasn’t it?"

"Indeed, Gerhard."

The two men exchanged a brief handshake.

Gerhard then noticed Lorenzo standing behind him.

His expression changed slightly.

"Is this...?"

"Allow me to introduce him. This is Lorenzo Riina, the young master of the Riina Family."

Gerhard’s smile disappeared.

He straightened his posture and looked at Lorenzo more carefully.

"...The young master?"

Lorenzo gave a small nod.

"Nice to meet you."

Gerhard quickly stepped aside.

"Please, come in. I wasn’t expecting such an important guest tonight."

"Sorry for coming so late."

"Don’t mention it. I was about to close anyway."

As Lorenzo entered, Gerhard’s gaze shifted toward Carl.

"And who’s this young man?"

"This is Carl. We found him during a mission in Berlin."

Lorenzo paused briefly.

"He’s been through a difficult situation. I’m looking for someone who can provide him with a proper home and education."

Gerhard looked at the boy.

Carl stood behind Lorenzo, his hands clasped together and his eyes lowered.

The old man’s expression softened.

"I see."

He crouched slightly.

"Hello there. My name is Gerhard Müller. What’s yours?"

"Carl."

"That’s a nice name."

Carl didn’t respond.

Gerhard didn’t seem bothered by his silence. Instead, he stood up and gestured toward the chairs near the counter.

"Why don’t we sit down? I’ll make some tea."

"That would be nice."

Lorenzo sat down, while Salvatore remained standing nearby.

Gerhard disappeared into the back room and returned a few minutes later with a tray of tea.

After placing the cups on the table, he took a seat opposite Lorenzo.

"So, what exactly happened in Berlin?"

Lorenzo briefly explained the situation, leaving out certain details that weren’t necessary. He told Gerhard about the children imprisoned by the Hiroshi Family and how Carl had been among them.

Gerhard listened without interrupting.

When Lorenzo finished, the old man remained silent for a while.

"...I understand."

He glanced at Carl again.

"Poor child."

Then he looked at Lorenzo.

"May I ask what you intend to do with him?"

"That’s what I came here to discuss."

Lorenzo took a sip of tea.

"I don’t want him growing up in the underworld. Bringing him to the Riina Family residence would only expose him to the same environment he escaped from."

He paused.

"And I don’t want to send him to an orphanage either."

Gerhard nodded thoughtfully.

"So you want him to have an ordinary life."

"Something like that."

Lorenzo placed his cup on the table.

"You are also getting old and I believe you might need some help across the shop."

"Okay, fine. I’ll look after him Young Master."

Lorenzo nodded his head.

"Thank you old man, I owe you one."

Gerhard nodded his head and then looked towards Carl.

"..."

"..."

"Do you know how to read and write, kid?"

"... No."

Both the old man and the Carl stared at each other uncomfortably.

"Sigh... let’s start with the basics."