“It hasn’t been that long since we last met, but you’ve gotten so pale. Is it because you haven’t been able to see your lover for over a week?”

 

In the Blue Moon Nightclub, where the jazz guitar melody of Wes Montgomery flowed, Carmine’s teasing voice mixed with the calm music. 

 

Like a ripple on calm water, the corner of Liliana’s mouth trembled.

 

“Ah, haha… Pale? That can’t be.”

 

“It seems right on the mark to me. Worrying about whether your lover who went on a long journey is doing well, tsk tsk. I guess you haven’t been able to sleep at night.”

 

She gritted her teeth at the joke full of mischief. 

 

Why does this guy keep bringing up Theodoro? 

 

It was the moment all her painstaking efforts to push thoughts of him out of her mind were rendered futile.

 

After what happened with Silvano the previous day, Liliana had completely blocked out any thoughts of Theodoro or Silvano. 

 

Because if her thoughts deepened, it seemed the conclusion she might reach was perhaps only one. She couldn’t bear to face that conclusion, so she chose to turn away instead.

 

But the man sitting across from her just had to drag out a story about Theodoro.

 

Liliana tried hard to focus only on the question he had thrown at her, and delivered her answer as calmly as possible.

 

“No. We were in touch just this morning… You know well he’s not someone you need to worry about.”

 

She meant it in the sense that he wasn’t someone whose personal safety would be threatened. 

 

But it seemed Carmine interpreted her words differently.

 

“True, there’s no need to worry about his dealings with women.”

 

“…What?”

 

“From what I heard from Theodoro… Judith, that precious only daughter, seems really angry? I’m not sure exactly what happened. He said he’d rather die than coax and appease a proud young lady for something that could probably be resolved that way.”

 

As a faint smile turned toward Liliana, a warm flush spread across her cheeks.

 

“Ah, well… yes…”

 

Unable to find the right words, Liliana only moved her lips slightly. 

 

The handsome 40-something crime boss, looking at her as if he found her cute, let out a light laugh and took a sip of his drink.

 

“So. I assume the reason you wanted to meet today is related to that matter? Unless your business is something else… I didn’t think Miss Moretti would have any urgent reason to see me otherwise.”

 

Liliana nodded inwardly, surprised. 

 

He had been making lighthearted comments about young people’s romantic relationships, but indeed, the intuition of a leader who commanded a family was not to be underestimated.

 

“That’s correct. I contacted you for a meeting because I have a request to make and a proposal to offer.”

 

“Then let’s hear the request first.”

 

Meeting Carmine’s relaxed gaze, she calmly began to speak.

 

“I’ve heard you share a deep personal friendship with Ernest Hoover. I would like to ask you to arrange a meeting with him.”

 

“I had a feeling it might be a request like that. But, hmm… Hoover is completely unexpected? I thought you would want to negotiate with the prosecution or the courts, not a senator.”

 

True to his words, Carmine wiggled his eyebrows as if genuinely taken aback. His reaction wasn’t strange. 

 

At first, Liliana had also considered that avenue. But she soon sensed that they wouldn’t make good allies.

 

The investigative agencies and judicial branches had long maintained close ties with Luciano. 

 

Moreover, Luciano, in preparing for this matter, had likely already generously greased their palms.

 

Even if Theodoro’s side offered a tempting, large sum, from their perspective, it wouldn’t be easy to betray Luciano.

 

For that reason, Liliana is not directly involved in the current case. 

 

‘We should choose someone whom Luciano wouldn’t have touched.’

 

Having heard that much, Carmine stroked his chin with an interested glint in his eye.

 

“Right, Ernest Hoover is unrelated to this matter… but the problem is, isn’t he too unrelated?”

 

“Even if he’s not involved in the investigation or trial, it seems he could still exert influence on Andrew Whitmore.”

 

“Hmm.”

 

He snorted and lifted his chin, as if telling her to continue. 

 

Liliana continued speaking in her calm tone.

 

“Andrew Whitmore… isn’t he deeply connected not just to the Benedettis, but to many families? His greed for material wealth and power is certainly considerable. If that’s the case, then there’s a very high probability that he desires a position beyond his current one, namely, a federal judgeship.”

 

“Haha!”

 

As if finally understanding her point, Carmine’s hearty laughter rang out. 

 

Isn’t Ernest Hoover one of the hundred senators involved in appointing federal judges?

 

“This is truly unexpected. So, you plan to pressure Andrew using his ambition as leverage?”

 

“Correct. If he wants his path to success paved smoothly, he won’t have a choice.”

 

“Haha, hahaha! Truly, there’s no place like our great nation of law and order.”

 

Carmine shook his head, laughing, his satisfied expression evident.

 

“Whose idea was this? Did Vincent bring it up first?”

 

“No. I proposed the opinion and sought permission from Mr. Vincent.”

 

“And Vincent said it was a good idea and gave his permission?”

 

“To be frank… he said that you, Mr. Carmine, would find it very amusing. It seems Mr. Vincent’s prediction was correct.”

 

“Amusing. It feels like even my long-standing sluggishness is finally clearing up.”

 

He finally collected his laughter and languidly leaned back into his chair.

 

“So, what exactly are you proposing to me?”

 

Although it was phrased as a proposal, Liliana knew very well what it really meant—what would he do for her in return for adding her strength?

 

“Silvano Giacone. You saw him a few times when he was with Theo, right? I’ll make that man cooperate with Lombardi.”

 

“Cooperate… what kind of cooperation?”

 

“You know. What Silvano does best.”

 

That was all she said, but a glint flashed in Carmine’s eyes as he immediately gauged her underlying meaning. He slowly narrowed his eyes and looked at Liliana.

 

‘…Hmm?’

 

It seemed like the conversation had been going well so far. 

 

The atmosphere seemed quite good too… didn’t it? Was offering up Silvano somehow not enough? 

 

Just as Liliana was swallowing a gulp of saliva nervously.

 

“Not Hoover. We’ll set up a meeting with Warren Canyon.”

 

“What?!”

 

A shrill voice escaped her involuntarily. Liliana hastily covered her mouth and stammered a question.

 

“By any chance… is that the person I’m thinking of?”

 

“Yes, that Deputy Attorney General. If I’m going to step in anyway, I should bring in someone more certain.”

 

Her heart pounded rapidly as if it would burst any second. 

 

Warren Canyon? 

 

Not a senator involved in screening federal judge candidates, but none other than the Deputy Attorney General. 

 

The Deputy Attorney General who ‘recommends’ those candidates.

 

For a moment, Liliana was unable to utter any words. She just pressed down hard on her surging chest, putting all her effort into accepting this thrilling outcome.

 

The eyes watching her fondly gleamed with intellect for an instant.

 

“However, there’s one more condition.”

 

“What… condition?”

 

A question rose over Liliana’s pale face. 

 

And the answer that followed was a proposal she truly never expected.

 

“Let’s include Miss Moretti with Silvano.”

 

“M-me…? In an assassination operation…?”

 

“Haha! How could that be? I was thinking about you working with me from now on.”

 

“…!”

 

“I’m very excited about the future. We can’t afford to lose talent.”

 

It was a powerful compliment and acknowledgment, far more meaningful than a hundred trivial words. 

 

Hearing that, how could one possibly remain calmly composed and maintain dignity?

 

Liliana’s jaw just dropped.

 

💫

 

Two days after that, Phelps, New Vernon.

 

A man, beaten to a pulp and sprawled on a chair, was surrounded by dozens of gang members.

 

In the very center stood a tall man. He was about the same height as the 188cm Theodoro, but with a slimmer build.

 

Though pushing almost 60, he carried an aura sharpened like a blade. He was Alan Goldberg of the Syndicate.

 

“…I didn’t expect to see you here.”

 

“Ugh, ahh… A-Al… an…”

 

He lifted the chin of the man rendered a tattered wreck by persistent torture.

 

“You should know the roots of the ‘Company‘. It came from my head, and I was one of the five founders.”

 

“Hha, hhu…”

 

“A son of a bitch should know who his master is, shouldn’t he?”

 

“Sor… sorry… aghh… ugh…”

 

Every time the man opened his mouth, sticky blood mixed with saliva stretched out like mucus. 

 

As the crimson fluid flowed over the back of his hand, Alan’s sharp eyes narrowed slightly.

 

“So Gasparo tells you to… and you think it’s okay to come here and start shooting things up?”

 

“Hh, c-couldn’t… help… it… di-didn’t… wan… ugh.”

 

The man, who seemed on the verge of death at any moment, struggled to force out his voice. But the eyes looking down at him were utterly cold, enough to make one’s hair stand on end.

 

Alan straightened his back and jerked his chin towards the gang members.

 

“Take care of it.”

 

The men in black suits began moving all at once. 

 

Without even a glance their way, he turned his head towards the right side of the desolate warehouse.

 

His gaze led him to a blue container placed in the corner. 

 

To be precise, it was Theodoro, leaning against the container, smoking a cigarette with a bored and weary face.

 

Bang…!

 

Ignoring the loud gunshot that rang out behind him, Alan walked towards him.

 

“Quite an unexpected harvest. He wasn’t part of the reason for coming here at all. I owe you one this time.”

 

“The timing was good. We caught him just before you arrived.”

 

Theodoro pushed off from the container and added a question.

 

“Are you heading back to Demercy now?”

 

“I have to. My business here is done… Aren’t you returning to Demercy soon too?”

 

Theodoro nodded with an expressionless face, then glanced sideways at Joseph Bucio, who was talking with crew members on the left side of the warehouse.

 

“I plan to discuss a few more details of the ‘operation‘ with Joseph and depart first thing tomorrow morning.”

 

“Is there a need to go in such a hurry? You must have had a tough time chasing after Gasparo’s lackeys. Why not take it slow? I heard, by the way, that you wrapped up that matter quite well.”

 

“Ah.”

 

Upon hearing that, a wave of drowsiness hit Theodoro, he squeezed his eyes shut and then opened them.

 

“…So I’ve heard.”

 

“Whitmore dismissed the arrest warrant for John Bruno, didn’t he? I heard your lover put in the effort. Must be quite a relief.”

 

“Haa…”

 

He let out a deep sigh. He didn’t deny it, but his voice that followed was thick with mixed feelings.

 

“Whether it’s bold or reckless…”

 

“Why? I thought it was quite excellent.”

 

Unable to simply laugh, the corners of Theodoro’s mouth twisted, revealing his discomfort.

 

What a fearless woman. Not only did she properly insert herself into the assassination operation, even involving Silvano, but she also met with the Deputy Attorney General—someone even Theodoro had never seen—and managed to pull John Bruno out.

 

He stomped out his cigarette with his shoe and muttered irritably.

 

“Well… if I’m to praise her and say she did a good job, I should get going quickly.”