Author's note: So it's a long time coming… I said I would rewrite Meet the new Boss part 2, and I procrastinated for a month. Tbf I have a lot in my life, so it's absolutely justified since I also have no obligations to update the story in a fixed time cycle.

That being said, the chapter comes to around 5600 words.

"I honestly didn't think I'd meet you here." I said as I chewed on a pizza.

"What can I say? A man knows his ways." He chuckles.

The man sitting opposite to me is Luis Carolina. And he's here, with presumably several body guards waiting outside to ambush me if I step on a landmine.

It's a show of force, huh?

"Nice to meet you, Luis. Is there anything I can help you with? As you can see, I'm a bit busy." I asked him as grabbed a soda and drank it.

"Look," He leans forwards, "The person you're serving is dead. My brother is dead." He says ominously.

"Uh-uh. And?" I calmly replied as I put up a smirk on my face.

"What do you mean 'and'?" He scowls, "Your boss is dead" he states loudly, causing the other customers to turn towards us.

"Boss? I think you might be mistaken. He's not my boss and never will be," I said as I wiped my mouth, "Probably because he's dead now." I grinned.

I may look uncaring on the outside, but I am really saddened inside.

Mostly due to the fact that I won't get a lot of money from selling overpriced firearms to him anymore. That is, unless Luis wanted to sign another contract, which, judging from his personality, is probably as unlikely as world peace.

"Look, Luis. If you have something to say to me, just say it."

Huffing, he leaned back and crossed his arms, "Fine. I want you to find my sister."

"Finding your sister? You have an entire army at your disposal. Why ask me?" I snickered.

"Look," He leans in with a stern face, "It's too obvious. Rival families will latch on our internal affairs and try to take advantage of us. You, on the other hand, are newbie in this city. No one knows you, and you don't know them. Which makes it perfect for someone like you to assassinate a person without raising suspicion."

"… And what if they assume that I'm being paid to do so?" I leaned back and crossed my arms, "People aren't stupid, you know that? Maybe in novels they do. But this is real life."

"You don't have to ask for the details. I just want you to assassinate my sister. That is all." He pauses, "For a price, of course."

A grin formed in my face, "How much is it?"

"I'm being very generous and reasonable today. I'm willing to pay you a million LMD." He states, staring me in the eyes.

"Come on, you could do better." I chuckled, "You're asking me to kill someone. And that goes against my belief."

"And I'm certain you're very devout," He sarcastically scoffs, "A million and a half."

"That's a bit low, isn't it?" I looked outside the window before facing him again, "two and a half."

He seems to think about it, before deciding that it's better to agree, "Fine. I'm expecting a quick completion."

"It's a deal then." I smiled.

"Sure. Whatever, I'll drop the money to your hotel room." He says as he looks over to the other customers, who were listening intently on our conversation it seems.

Luis then stands up and menacingly threatened the other customers, "Look, if information leaks 'bout this meeting. Rest assured, I will come for you and your family!"

That seemed to frighten the customers enough. Looking grumpy but satisfied, Luis left.

And after an hour or two, I paid for my meal, apparently, I got an 80% discount, so that was convenient.

By now, it was nearing midnight, and the rain didn't seem to slow down. Might as well retire to the ol' hotel room. Since tomorrow would be a fun time… not.

Next day

It's 5 AM and I'm already doing paperwork. While it may just be a plain white paper being scribbled on, it contains my future plans. Especially when Fantasma died. I need to find a new client.

A loyal client. Someone who is willing to buy my weapons that I offer them at a slightly higher cost than average. Meaning it has to be someone desperate enough to do so. Or someone rich, that could work.

Oh yeah. First of all, I need to replenish my stock… that shouldn't be too hard, right?

Now that I think of it, why not contract DWL and Raythean? Surely they won't mind some… under the table dealings. A sufficient enough LMD would lure them in… heck, why not get them to license their products to Liberico?

Hmm… yes, I got it. Sherry would probably be pissed, though.

Setting that aside, I contacted a private investigator that would help me locate Fantasma's and Luis' sister, Mary. I would meet him in at his office, some couple blocks away from here.

I should get ready.

And yes, I will be carrying both my briefcase and guitar case.

It wasn't raining, at least, not a heavy rain. Just a gentle drizzle that painted the city streets with a shimmering sheen. The air was filled with a delicate mist, casting a mystical aura over the surroundings. Pedestrians hurried along, clutching their umbrellas tightly, their footsteps echoing softly against the wet pavement. Or maybe they just fear what the mafias have in store for today.

The walk to the private investigator's office was uneventful.

I quite enjoyed the walk, however. The urban landscape seemed to take on a different character in the misty drizzle. The towering imposing buildings of Siracusan architecture that normally exuded an air of dominance now appeared softened and mysterious, their edges blurred by the haze.

Especially in this time of day, the streetlights that illuminate the city is getting turned off one by one, signalling the turn of a new day.

I arrived in front of the private investigator's office building. It's nothing too remarkable. Bar the graffiti on the walls.

I entered the building through the front door and walked up the stairs, eventually reaching a door with a sign that said "Antonio P. Sarkozy, private investigator."

Well, Mr. Sarkozy, let's see how good of a private investigator you are.

I knocked on the door. And soon enough, the door opened and revealed a tall Lupo man with a dishevelled appearance.

"Anything you need?" He said in a tired voice.

"Yes. I need a private investigator." I state.

"Ah! Then you've come to the right place! Come in, my friend!" He brightens up and steps aside and gestured to me to get in, revealing the absolute state of his office.

What the hell?

Pizza boxes strewn about on the table and on the floor, an ashtray that I'm pretty sure is 200% full — it stinks of cigarettes by the way, bottles of alcohol everywhere, and what the hell is that supposed to be? A couch? That shit is straight up stolen from a garbage yard!

"Uhm… where am I supposed to sit?" I asked this Antonio fellow.

"Oh right…" he walked up to a pile of… I'm not sure those are trash, more like… randomly discarded items.

He then rummaged through it and pulled a wooden chair from the depths of that pile and put it in front of his desk.

"There." He said as he put it down.

"Great." I quietly mumbled.

"So… Whaddya need me for?" He said as we both sat down.

"I need you to find someone."

"Someone? Are they important enough that they must be found quickly?" He said as he poured a bottle of vodka into a wine glass.

"Yes, I will not elaborate further." I stated.

"Hmm. Suit yourself." He shrugs.

"Are you really a qualified private investigator?" I asked with a hint of suspicion.

"Hey man, look, I get that a lot. But the thing is, if I was bad at my job, I'd be dead by now." He laughs, "but ya know… this job, it'll cost ya."

"How much, exactly?"

"Fifty thousand LMD upfront and a 100K upon completion! How 'bout that? Pretty cheap right there."

"..." I stared at his confident smiling face, "yeah… no. I'd be better off finding someone else."

"W- wait! Look, you pay a lot for quality service, right? That's why I set a 150k price tag! I am a professional private investigator with years of experience under me!"

"How old are you?"

"63"

"How old are you?"

"Alright, alright! I'm 20." He waves his hands.

"Uh-huh. 20 and you're working a private investigator in this mafia-ridden city? And you wanted me to pay for a total of 150k LMD?" I raised my eyebrow.

"Look, man! I need money to pay for the bills okay? I've hit some hard times and I want to get out of this hell!"

I sighed, this man may very well be crazy or something, or insane, "20k upfront and 50k upon completion. How's that?" I offered.

"It's a deal!" He grabbed my hand and shook it, "So who are we finding?"

"Someone called Mary Carolina."

"C- Carolina?! No way… are you their lackey?"

"What are you on about? The Carolina famiglia depends on me to survive." Not anymore… I didn't let that slip out.

"Then… are you… do you not work for them?"

I chuckled, "They wish. In all actuality, they are the ones working for me."

"Well… are there any clues?" He asked.

"Yes," I took out the photographs Luis sent me and set them on the desk, "she was last seen last week near the Volsinii courthouse." I tapped on the photo that displayed her walking in the rain In Front of the courthouse, "The famiglia noted that she was seen talking to Miss Lavinia Falcone, before disappearing."

"So… Do you think that the judge has anything to do with it?" Antonio said as he inspected the photo.

"I don't know, you tell me. You're the investigator here." I replied.

"Hmm." He inspected the other photos, before tapping on one, "here. What's she doing at the Bellone estate?"

"What do you think?" I crossed my arms.

"There are rumours about the Bellone wanting to increase their power. Y'know, being the family that implanted the judge to where she is now. So my guess is they kidnapped Mary so they could blackmail the Carolinas to be subordinate to them."

"hmm…" Yeah, no. I could already guess Luis wouldn't even care for a bit, "I think we should ask the last person she interacted with."

"You wanna talk to the judge?"

"Yes… but I have a bit of a… history here with the law." I cleared my throat aa bit.

"Hah. Don't we all?" Antonio snickers.

"Right. I kind of have an arrest warrant against me. And look, I have a plan, and it involves you. So listen closely."

"I'm listening..." he leans in.

The plan was simple.

She would obviously not talk to a convicted criminal on the run like me. Maybe a few taunts here and there, but she obviously wouldn't share the details about Mary's location.

I would send her a mail, asking to talk things out. And no doubt, she'll try to arrest me then. And this is where Antonio comes in. Since the meeting place would be at a café she frequents, he would hide inside his car and wait for my signal to come in and put a chloroform infused wipe cloth to her face and kidnap her.

This should be easy. If not for the fact that she brought someone else to the meeting!

"Mr. Valero, I hope you didn't wait too long?"

"No, not at all." I stood up to shake her hand, "And this is…?" my gaze shifted to the man beside her. I already knew who he is, Antonio told me about the major families of the Siracusan mafia.

"Leontuzzo Bellone." Spot on. He shook my hand with a tight grip.

I kept a welcoming smile in my face, "Well, have a seat then. I wasn't expecting Miss Falcone to bring someone else." I heartly chuckled, "Uhh, I didn't order a drink for both of you."

"No worries, we won't be long." She said as they both sat down, "Now, Mr. Valero, I think there's much to discuss."

"Indeed. I wanted to let you know that I paid my bail and my charges were dropped." I stated.

This happened. I had Antonio pay off my bail to drop all charges against me. Come on, it's a corrupt nation built on a corrupt system with less-than reputable people running it, it's a failed nation anyways.

it's more or less a bribe… like it isn't already, anyway.

Unfortunately, that came at a cost of 75K LMD. I'm not rich enough to throw away money like that.

Upon me stating that I got bailed, she raised her eyebrow, "Oh? By who?"

"A concerned relative."

"Really now? A concerned relative? And not one Antonio Pepi Sarkozy who walked into the courthouse, paid the bail, and left." She states, "I don't see the familial connection between him and you."

"He's my adopted co-"

"He was born in Siracusa and his family migrated to Columbia. You on the other hand, are born in Iberia and- " This time, Leontuzzo said, raising his voice a bit.

"Ahem, " I interrupted him, "I need to go to the bathroom for a moment." I said as I stood up to leave for the bathroom.

"Don't think of escaping. We have you surrounded." He threatens.

Yeah, that's my guess. Didn't realize the oh so virtuous judge would require the help of the mafia to capture me.

I made my way to the bathroom and called Antonio.

"What is it? You didn't give the signal."

"Look. Change of plans. After I end this call, you're gonna come in and bag her."

"Wh- why? What happened?"

"She brought her fucking boyfriend and his gang. Little lady's smart. Oh yeah, we're surrounded by mafiosos."

"What?!"

"You remember the location, right?"

"Y- yeah?"

"Alright… After this call ends, come in here and nab her. I'll deal with the mafioso."

I promptly ended the call after saying that. Really, that was just annoying, isn't it? Bringing someone else to your private meeting. And heir to a mafia family at that. I thought she was the more virtuous judge?

Fuck it. might as well.

I checked my revolver to see if it was loaded and ready shoot. It was.

I got out of the bathroom and sat down on the table. Antonio was just walking in the café.

"By the way. As you know, I am friends with Alessio Carolina." I decided to talk with them for a bit more, "And I wanna ask something. As a friend of Alessio and as a concerned citizen."

"Oh? What is it? Pray tell." She responds.

"That is… where is Mary Carolina? His sister."

"… I believe that, for personal reasons, and for the safety of Mary, you aren't allowed to know."

"Shame." I said as I stood up, my right hand on the revolver still concealed.

In one swift motion, I yanked out the revolver, its metallic glint catching the dim light. I squeezed the trigger, unleashing a bullet aimed straight at Leontuzzo. Yet, he sensed the impending danger, evading the projectile with lightning reflexes. Simultaneously, he retrieved his own revolver, retaliating with a rapid succession of shots that tore through the air.

"Fuck!" I threw the table to the floor in an attempt to distract him.

Meanwhile, Antonio did his job and managed to put a cloth at the judge's face.

"Get away from her!" Leontuzzo launched himself to save and shield the judge. He forcibly knocked down Antonio, paying the price with a searing pain in his shoulder as a bullet found its mark.

Seeing the need to salvage the situation, I rammed my body into him so that Antonio could pick up the unconscious body of the Siracusan judge.

"Come on! Go!" I yelled at Antonio.

"What about you?!"

"Just get the fuck out of here!"

Antonio complied and swiftly escaped from here with the judge.

I stared down at the fallen Bellone, gripping the weapon tighter, I prepared to deliver the final blow, my finger ready to squeeze the trigger.

Alas, fate intervened cruelly, mocking me with a simple sound.

CLICK!

Damn! Out of ammo!

Reloading now isn't ideal. A luxury I cannot afford. As the wounded lupo rose to his feet, his eyes narrowing as he aimed his revolver at me. The air crackled with tension as he fired relentlessly, each shot tore through the air and closing in on its target.

"Gah! Fuck off!" I yelled after a bullet found its mark and tore through my chest, an unwelcome visitor carving a path of destruction. Luckily, it missed the vitals, I would live to see another day.

Seeing this as an opportunity, I rammed and collided my body with him, knocking him down and made a run for it out of the café.

Only to be surrounded by many mafiosos all pointing heir crossbow at me.

"Well… shit." I gripped my chest as I looked around and saw absolutely no way I could breakthrough.

"You bastard! Why did you take her?!" Leontuzzo's angry voice came from behind me.

I turned around and saw him aiming his revolver at me, visibly angry.

"It's complicated." I merely replied, "Don't worry, she won't die or anythi-"

My body reacted quickly as he interrupts me by shooting a bullet at me. Luckily, he missed and shot the ground. Though it did startle me.

"Now that's rude. This is still early in the morning."

"Drop your gun." He points to the revolver in my hand.

"And if I don't?" as I said this, the many mafiosos locked their crossbows at me, "guessed so…"

I cursed myself.

"… fine." I dropped my revolver to the ground.

At this moment, many mafiosos rushed towards me and apprehended me forcefully at that. Shortly after, I was forced inside a limousine, my hands tied. At least do something for my wound!

I sat in the middle of the back seat. On my sides are Leontuzzo Bellone and… a red-haired tough guy.

"… Where are you guys actually taking me?" I tried asking them. But was met with silence, "You know I still have that judge, right?"

"Shut up." Came the harsh retort from Leontuzzo.

For some reason or another, I felt sleepy when I'm in the limousine. Maybe it was because the adrenaline was wearing out. Or it was just my body telling me to rest. Or it might be the excellent air-conditioning this limousine has.

I tried staying awake. Not gonna lie, falling asleep like this somehow feels… relaxing.

I let out a yawn. Which was followed by the guy with the red hair, and Leontuzzo. So it really is contagious, huh?

After about 10 minutes of keeping myself from falling asleep, we arrived at presumably the Bellone estate. Oh, I see now. Gonna take me as prisoner now, eh? Or is he gonna torture me?

You know, prisoner and torture are basically synonymous for these types of people anyways.

I was led inside the mansion, gone up a floor, and we arrived in front of a room. To which Leontuzzo knocked before coming in.

And there, as I walked in, I saw the unmistakable brown-haired lupo, definitely related to Fantasma, named Mary Carolina.

I was forcefully sat down on a couch by the red-haired guy while Leontuzzo went off presumably looking to get his wound treated. There's someone else wounded too, you know? Wonder who that is.

Oh yeah, then there's the big middle-aged man with a receding hairline. Bernardo Bellone, if I'm not mistaken. The Don of the Bellone family.

Seeing as nobody would talk, I decided to ask Mary, "scuse' me. Are you Mary Carolina?"

She takes a sip of her tea, before putting it down and she crosses one leg over the other, "And I assume you are the assassin my brother sent to kill me?"

"I will do no such thing. It's against my religion to kill people."

"Mhm. Despite the fact last night you made a deal with my brother in Pizzeria Martino to assassinate me?"

Oh crap did It leak?

"…Who?"

Suddenly, from beside me, an arm forcefully wrapped around my neck and strangled me. Causing me to gasp for air.

"You better admit it or else I'll pop your eyes off!" a threatening yell came as the grip tightened.

Even if I wanted to, I can't say anything. I can't even gasp for air at this point.

"… Let him go, Demetri."

After what felt like an eternity, I was released from that death grip. And I loudly gasped for air, like my life depended on it. And it did.

Bernardo leaned in and asked with a menacing voice, "Tell me, do you serve as a hired hand for Luis Carolina, tasked with the purpose of snuffing out his very own sister?"

"… If I'm not?" I managed to respond, "I still have your judge."

"Really?" A slight smirk appeared in his face, "And… are you certain you got her?"

"… What do you mean?" I raised my eyebrow.

Simultaneously, the door opened, and the unconscious body of Antonio was thrown in. hands tied to his back. Legs tied up.

The judge, Leontuzzo, and… a familiar face entered.

Well… fuck. Is it too late to consume cyanide?

"Okay… ya got me. Yay." I shook my head in defeat, "Can I get treatment for my bullet wound?"

"Alter Valero, you are hereby apprehended on charges of fraud, murder, attempted murder, theft, kidnapping, causing public disturbance, drug abuse, and possession of illegal firearms."

"Aren't you the one who paid Penguin Logistics to move a container into a warehouse?"

"Okay. First of all, half of what you're accusing me is simply unfounded baseless claims." I looked at the two, "And you, thank you for delivering that large container. That's a glow up." I said, referring to what she's wearing now compared to then.

"Lavinia, please. We're having a talk here." Bernardo huffed, "As I was saying, Valero…"

"Please, refer to me by Valor."

"Valero—" Lavinia wanted to say something, before being interrupted.

"Valor…" Bernardo interrupted as he looked up to the Judge in annoyance, "It appears we might find an understanding here…"

"Sure. Let's hear it." I am in no position to decline either way.

"I want you to turn on Luis and assassinate him." He states.

"Sure. For a price." I casually responded, "Luis offered me… about 4 million LMD."

"Then I'll pay you five."

I just nodded my head, "Alright, alright." Hah. Bastard, "In any case, can I get treated for my bullet wound here?"

"Right here," Texas replied, positioning herself to attend to the bullet wound on my chest.

"Ah, thanks. Texas, right?" see I remembered.

"Hmph. You're going with me." Leontuzzo huffed.

"Fine, whatever. But what about Mary and Antonio?" I yawned, dismissively waving my hand to shoo him away, "I mean, I assume you're not helping her out of the kindness of your heart?"

"That's right, I didn't know you were the reincarnation of Sherlock Holmes."

"… right. So how are we doing this?" I turned to Leontuzzo.

"… We'll standby on top of a building across from the pizzeria and wait for the signal to kill Luis." He explains, "You then use your sniper rifle to shoot him in the head. We'll handle the rest."

"How did you… Oh right…" Yeah, I forgot they confiscated my sniper rifle huh… shouldn't have trusted it to Antonio.

I glanced at the still unconscious and tied up body of Antonio. And a thought crossed to my head.

His middle name is Pepi?

"You did not just bring them here with us… What… What is your line of thinking?"

"I am tasked with supervising all of you so you don't escape. Especially you, Valor." He points his finger at me, "Plus, I'm not alone."

Yeah, I get it. There's about a dozen mafiosos guarding this building.

"Are you kidding? Have you seen me fold you in that café before?" I decided push him over the edge a little.

To my disappointment, he responded with a huff, "Hmph. Just get ready for the signal."

Welp. It's gonna be a while.

I spotted Mary sitting leaning alone on the railing and decided to talk to her about the situation a bit.

"Hey," I said. I took a pack of cigarettes and offered it to her, "You smoke?"

"No thanks. I don't actively seek for cancer, thank you very much." She declines, "So, you're the guy my brother talks about, hmm?" She looked at me up and down.

"What do you mean?"

"He trusts you; you know. Since you helped him deliver weapons, helped grow his influence abroad, and most of all, he found someone who would come to his aid if he dangles enough money around. Is it not correct?" She smirks, "You came here because he promised you money, didn't he?"

"...Yeess? And what's wrong for a man who wants to make an honest living?" I stored the pack of cigarettes back to my pocket.

"Sorry to break it to you, he already died. He never sent you a letter." She shrugs.

"Come again?" I mean, I had considered that possibility, not surprising but still shocked me a bit.

"That's right. And I was the designated heir to the Carolina family… until my other brother had other ideas," She turned to the pizzeria, "You know, he's the introverted type, my other brother."

"What, was he not supposed to lead the family?" I questioned.

"No. But circumstances demands it." She turns towards me and closed the gap between us, "Did you know why and how brother Alessio died?"

"I-… Carbombed? A hit and run? A shootout—"

"Nope. It was 1AM in a rainy day. My brother was busy reading a book or something." She begins to explain, "And suddenly, due to the explosive planted under his desk, he was… vaporized. Well, his legs did atleat."

"That's… well that's good… he survived, didn't he?" I raised my eyebrows, "How did he die then?"

"Well, he was alive. Unfortunately, I shot him multiple times with a 9mm." She smiles, but quickly her face turns into dissatisfaction, "Unfortunately, that other brother of mine, as cowardly as he is, he still insists to be in on the family business. Which is why he walked in on my shooting at my brother. Thankfully the Bellones sheltered me, it seems they want another puppet for their plans."

"…"

I was speechless. Fantasma didn't die to some lowly mafia assassin, nor did his brother, who has my suspicion of killing him, actually killed him. Instead, it was the beautiful brown haired inconspicuous lupo girl, that shared the same bloodline as him.

"… Why?" I carefully said.

"Hmm. Here's the thing…" She takes a step closer, "I have a dream… I yearn for a world where the shackles of society crumble, and individuals are unencumbered by the chains of authority. A realm where equality reigns, unfettered by the poisoned tendrils of racism, discrimination, and class warfare. A society stripped bare, devoid of all constraints. Envision this, and you shall witness the birth of anarchy..."

She pauses, and takes two steps closer to me, "Now my brother, both of them, lack the ambition to bring the family to greater heights. They content themselves with existing in the shadows of an impotent government. They obediently dance to the tunes of those feeble laws they make. They wield honour as a pathetic shield to avoid engaging in conflicts with rival families. do you know the abhorrent truth behind Siracusa's fractured mafia families? It is because their very compliance to the Pistole en Ordine that is in dire need for reform." She chuckles, "If fate had deemed me worthy. If I were to fill in the shoes of my late brother. If my other brother didn't walk in on me. I would have fulfilled my ideals to the fullest extent, by any means necessary. The concept of 'family' is a mere façade, a cunning tool to dominate and manipulate those ensnared within my grasp. The 'family' holds the key to absolute supremacy, upon which the foundation of Siracusa shall be unified."

Her face is now very close to mine.

"And I shall present you a proposition," She smiles, "I want you to become my Consigliere. My right-hand man, responsible for my future endeavours."

"I… okay, wait…" I thought about it for a while. A Consigliere is someone who is basically second in command, right? like an advisor of sorts, "Fuck it, sure why not?" I gave my answer to Mary.

She smiled, "I knew you had a little more sense in you."

"Yeah well, that dream or ideal of yours isn't going to get realized when we're still essentially being held captive here." I sighed.

"Oh don't worry~" she said with a reassuring tone as she wrapped her arms around me in an unexpected hug. I was flustered as she suddenly hugged me, but it immediately became clear as to why she hugged me in the first place. She reached for my holster and removed my revolver and aimed It at Leontuzzo, who was leaning in on a railing and eyeing the situation across the street very closely.

She didn't hesitate in discharging several bullets into his back. And another to guarding mafioso, and another, and another. Until the ammo runs dry.

"You were saying?" She handed me my revolver back.

Then she starts making her way to the downed Leontuzzo and grabbed one of his revolvers.

I went to him too, mostly because I want to get my sniper rifle back, and God knows where my foldable assault rifle went.

After I obtained my sniper rifle, I knelt down to the downed Leontuzzo, and said, "Look, sorry man. I was hired by somebody else; you know how it is, this is strictly business." I placed a cigarette near him, "Here, if you want to take your mind of things."

I stood up and went to Mary, who is waiting for me near the fire escaped beside the building, "Where are we going to go?" I asked.

"Your influence in Lungmen had helped the famiglia to consolidate itself, no? We're going there and create a splinter group of the famiglie."

We descended the flight of stairs and once we reached the bottom, several mafiosos started to arrive.

Armed with their crossbows… against an AW50. Which, at point blank range, will vaporize anyone that dared to step into its line of sight.

"Come on!" Mary grabbed my collar and dragged me away whilst shooting at the mafiosos. We eventually reached a car, and Mary shoved me into the driver's seat, "DRIVE!"

Say no more. I immediately pressed on the gas and bolted right outta there.

They don't seem to be pursuing us, which is good.

"So… are we gonna go straight to Lungmen-" I asked Mary as I adjusted the rear view mirror… and found an unexpected guest, "-What the?!"

It was Antonio. No, from now on, I'll call him Pepi.

"The fuck are you doing here?!" I shout.

"Hey… friends…" He chuckles, "Look, can I come with you all? I'm in a serious pickle here…"

"What do you mean by that?" Mary questions, as turned around to point a gun at him, "You have a minute to explain. Go."

"Ey! Look. I- I have… a debt to a certain family… and right now, I don't have that money. I can't go back or else I- I'll be killed!" He raised his hands as his gaze is nervously fixed on the gun pointed at him.

"…Hmph. I know how you can be of use to me." Mary simply states as she put away the gun, "But you're going in the front."

"Wha-?!" cried Antonio.

Mary then went to go into the passenger's seat. Not without causing a ruckus first. She almost made me crash into a truck!

Antonio was then pushed into the front passenger seat.

"Great. Now I can see the both of you." I saw Mary smirked as she said that through the rear-view mirror.

A luxury casino in downtown Lungmen.

Henry Kallen is a simple man.

Receive orders from above, execute them, and drink.

As an underboss of the Carolina famiglia tasked with ensuring the family's operations in Lungmen is smooth and stable.

Whether it's the honour, the thrill, or the loyalty, he always takes pride in it. As the top dog of the currently biggest mafia family branch in Lungmen, he can pretty much do whatever he wants.

Provided of course the LGD doesn't get involved too much. And that money minting Liberi gets spoon fed thousands of LMD, he would shut up and do whatever he tells him to do.

"Ah! Mr. Kallen." A voice Henry came to tolerate after some time working with it came from behind him.

Henry turned around and saw that Liberi as expected, "Mr. Valor. What brings you to this fine establishment? Here for a round of poker?"

"There's been a shift in organization, and I don't want to take my chances. But I'll tell you about it later, " Valor waved it off, "Now, let's play, shall we? I'm feeling lucky today."

Henry smiled, "Of course," he turned to the waitress dressed in a bunny suit to lead the way.

Perhaps it was indeed Valor's lucky day, or an act of revenge by rival families, that Henry Bartholomew Kallen's body was found by the LGD beheaded and tied up in a sack and left to rot in a dumpster.

Author's note: So I have a few ideas on how the next chapter would be. Probably a collection of short stories revolving around the people around Valor, and after that he would go to somewhere. I'm not telling.

Which… I spent 40 pulls in the Reed alter banner, only to get the fucking Silverash patriarch. This is bad because he is a he and I want a women.

In other words, I would soon watch Oppenheimer and Barbie in the same day.