How Lilies turn Black Chapter 66 - Legal Illegality (7)

Liliana clenched her small fist, her smooth palm crumpling.

“…I’m not leaving.”

Her eyes, which had been fixed on the floor, now turned toward Theodoro, radiating a tenacious will to live like the green leaves in the height of summer.

“I will never leave.”

Her resolute determination, an unshakable decision, was conveyed to Theodoro once again.

 

At that moment, the corners of his eyes twitched slightly. As if some inexplicable discomfort had stirred from the depths of his heart.

‘What’s… this?’

Instead, it was her stomach that twisted. 

 

Theodoro—why was he making that face?

 

Even when she had shot Antonio, it had been the same. He had placed the gun directly in her hand, yet when she finally pulled the trigger, he had stared wide-eyed as if witnessing something unbelievable.

This time was no different. 

 

It was Theodoro who had asked if she felt pity for Jimmy McKenna, if she was having regrets now. It was Theodoro who had pressured her, telling her to leave if she couldn’t go through with it.

 

So why was he now wearing an expression as if he’d just heard something unpleasant?

Could it be that he pitied her, watching her lose her ‘nobility’ and ‘purity’? Was there a part of him that secretly hoped she would break and run away?

 

Liliana found his hypocrisy, his pretense of worrying about her future, just as disgusting today as it had been before.

‘It’s you who clings to misplaced sympathy…’

 

As her gaze, laced with venom, silently turned toward him, Vincent’s calm voice cut through the heavy silence, addressing them both.

“Paul has already gone to persuade some members of Inter Press’s board and executives. Even if the young lady refused to interfere with the relay information, nothing would have changed.”

 

“…”

 

“I appreciate you suggesting such an interesting idea. Now, little one, all you have to do is quietly watch how Inter Press gets devoured.”

 

That’s just how things were going…

 

There was no need to feel more frustrated or empty. 

 

What she had to do was willingly accept the ruthless mechanics of this world—and soon, embody that ruthlessness herself.

 

Liliana kept her gaze fixed straight on Theodoro as she answered, moving only her lips.

 

“…Very well.”

 

And then Theodoro turned his head away as if disgusted, leaving behind nothing but a hollow, forced laugh slipping through his lips.

 

The deliberate provocation in that gesture was not lost on Liliana, and the eyes fixed on him grew drier, more brittle. She decided then not to dwell on why he made that expression or why he acted that way. It didn’t matter anyway.

 

‘Vincent told me to watch how the Inter Press saga unfolds within Benedetti. Right… I’ll proudly watch, as if I’ve truly become one of them, down to the bone. It doesn’t matter how you react, Theodoro.’

 

Stripping Inter Press of its proprietary assets without a trace? She hadn’t intended it, but if that was how this world worked, then so be it.

 

And when they successfully reclaimed Inter Press’s position… Theodoro would be the one who solved the long-standing problem plaguing the Benedetti family.

 

‘You might believe this is for the family, for your brother, but it won’t be.’

 

Because in doing so, Theodoro would cement himself as the second-in-command—powerful enough to threaten the boss’s position.

 

That was all that mattered to her.

 

‘So, Theodoro. Stop worrying about me and start worrying about your own future.’

 

💫

 

The takeover of Inter Press was carried out swiftly and quietly. 

 

Under the name of the Benedetti family, the newly established ‘Demer All-Time News Service’ emerged without a sound and began exerting its influence starting from the west side of Demercy.

 

Why the West first…?

 

“Long time no see.”

 

Sean O’Connor lifted a white-enameled mug, its coating chipped, and took a sip of coffee. 

 

It was the heart of winter, and the office was freezing. 

 

Even bundled in a thick jacket, he hunched over as if still trapped in poverty, despite the money flowing into district reconstruction.

 

“You said you wouldn’t collect tribute for two months. Changed your mind? Though, looking at this place, there’s nothing to take anyway.”

 

“That’s not why I’m—”

 

“Liliana?!”

 

The door burst open as Enya stumbled in noisily. 

 

Word of Liliana’s visit must have reached her. Beaming with a bright smile, she rushed over excitedly.

 

How have you been? After what happened with Antonio, I was worried… Her words spilled out in a flurry, but Sean cut into their conversation.

 

He scolded them, saying small talk like greetings should wait until after important matters were settled. When Enya retorted that he had zero humanity, he shot back that her face was even more trivial than small talk.

 

The sibling-like bickering ended, as usual, with Sean’s victory… and with idle chatter pushed aside, the conversation returned to the main point.

 

“Haa… So, why are you here? You didn’t come just to see my face, did you?”

 

“I have a favor to ask.”

 

“A favor? What could I possibly do for you people?”

 

“Of cours,e there’s something. The gambling dens in West Peal—get them to use the Demer All-Time News Service.”

 

“Demer All-Time, what?”

 

Liliana spoke clearly once more to Sean, who was frowning.

 

“Demer. All-Time. News Service. It’s a new company established by the Benedettis. They’ll be broadcasting horse races from now on, so we need the gambling dens to switch to our service.”

 

She pulled a pamphlet from her handbag and handed it to him. Sean, sitting with his legs spread and fingers laced together, reluctantly took the paper.

 

As he skimmed through the contents, Liliana continued, “From the bookies’ perspective, not much will change. The service quality won’t drop, the broadcasting fees won’t get more expensive… Everything stays the same as before.”

 

“Nothing changes, huh?”

 

Sean muttered under his breath, then looked up from the pamphlet at Liliana.

 

“Hey, think about it. If everything stays the same, why would they bother switching? You really think they’ll just roll over and accept it?”

 

“They’ll have to, whether they want to or not. Otherwise, Theodoro will send his men.”

 

“…What?”

 

He fell silent in front of Liliana, who merely shrugged. There were no elaborate explanations, but the implication was clear—it would be a ruthless, forceful approach.

 

Of course, Liliana herself wasn’t entirely comfortable with what was coming. 

 

Even if she had anticipated some level of coercion, she wasn’t the type to take such things lightly.

 

But what choice did she have?

 

“I’m asking you like this to prevent any unpleasant incidents before they happen.”

 

“…Hey, this isn’t a request. It’s a threat.”

 

A bitter smile flickered at the corner of Liliana’s lips.

 

“Do we really have to use the word ‘threat’ between us? Let’s just call it a ‘request.’”

 

“…Nice excuse. Is it the same for the other districts?”

 

“Yes. All of them. It’s the Benedettis’ will.”

 

The will of Benedetti. The will of the ‘Benedetti Family,’ which holds the greatest power among the five major families of the Demercy Mafia.

Who would dare defy that will?

 

Sean, seeing his future as clearly as if it were written in stone, covered his face with both hands and let out a sigh heavy enough to sink in the earth.

Just as Lilia had predicted, ‘Demer All-Time News Service’ secured exclusive broadcasting rights for 60% of the horse racing matches at Demercy’s gambling outlets—all within less than three weeks of the company’s founding.

 

Of course, not every achievement was as ‘peaceful’ as Sean O’Connor’s—won through mere ‘conversation and persuasion.’

Though Lilia and even Theodoro personally visited other families to make their requests that weren’t really requests… some operators still foolishly ignored the ‘suggestions’ handed down from above.

 

“P-please, spare me! I-I admit I was wrong… sniff!”

The gambling den was already in ruins, with shattered objects scattered across the floor.

A few unlucky gamblers, caught in the crossfire, rolled around in pain, and some scrambled to flee as soon as they regained their senses.

 

But the most terrified of them all was the owner of the establishment.

Cowering in a corner, he trembled violently as he watched a man approach—Silvano, lazily strolling over with a cigarette dangling from his lips.

 

“P-please… Aaah!”

“Hey, you dumb bastard.”

Silvano grabbed the man by his hair and yanked his head back without mercy.

 

“Ack—! Ugh!”

“So why the hell didn’t you listen when people told you nicely? Now you’re bawling for your life? Doesn’t make sense to me.”

“I—I was really about to—!”

“Cut the crap. Seriously, I’m asking ‘cause I don’t get it… What’s the harm in just obeying from the start?”

 

Thick cigarette smoke wafted into the man’s face as Silvano spoke in a bored, mocking tone.

The owner shivered like a leaf, his eyes darting up at Silvano in terror—

 

“Y-you…! The profits…!”

 

Just then, one of the employees, seizing an opportunity, lunged at them. The sudden commotion made Silvano pause mid-drag and glance sideways.

 

“Huh?”

 

The moment he caught the glint of a blade slicing through the air, his body moved on instinct.