It was unclear whether Luciano’s will was involved in Theodoro stepping forward…

 

‘I have a feeling about this.’

 

A faint, sardonic smirk twisted Gasparo’s lips.

 

“I take it you couldn’t reach an agreement?”

 

But Luciano was not a man to be easily pushed around either. He was not about to give a compliant answer to Gasparo’s probing remark.

 

“Whether or not I reach an agreement with my brother is hardly the point, is it?”

 

“…”

 

“Your source of income has dried up, I assume? I’d recommend diligently planning a new business venture. Or, work hard to squeeze more out of the establishments you already have.”

 

The warning was delivered in a refined tone, laced with blatant sarcasm.

 

He had countered the attack on the Benedettis with one of his own, alluding to the fact that the Corella family had conspired with Inter Press.

 

Unfortunately, it wasn’t a significant blow to Gasparo. His pride was certainly wounded—it couldn’t feel good to be rebuked by a young punk.

 

Nevertheless, a smile began to creep slowly across his lips. 

 

There had been a point to showing his face at the party, even while treading carefully.

 

Although his pride had taken a hit, he had discovered something meaningful enough to justify abandoning the wired communication business.

 

‘It seems you’re not too pleased with your brother, Luciano?’

 

No matter how much Luciano tried to hide it, the fact was clear as day to Gasparo.

 

Gasparo had lived at least ten years longer. 

 

Moreover, unlike Luciano, who was born with the noble title of Benedetti’s eldest son, Gasparo had clawed his way up from the stinking back alleys to his current position through sheer struggle.

 

It meant he had developed an eye for seeing the ugliest truths hidden within a person.

 

“And, you know, I have a younger brother too.”

 

Yes, Gasparo had a younger brother, just like Luciano’s Theodoro.

 

Nicolas Corella… While not the family’s underboss, he was a younger brother who had secured the position of vice president on the truckers’ union committee.

 

How fortunate that, though he took after me with his radical and fiery temper, he was blessed with a stupidity I thankfully lacked. 

 

If Nicolas had been even slightly smarter, Gasparo would have killed him long ago.

 

So, how could he not understand Luciano’s feelings? 

 

Suppressing the twitch in his lips, Gasparo spoke nonchalantly.

 

“Don’t worry. Money comes and goes, doesn’t it? But more importantly… if the underboss’s influence grows too strong, Don Benedetti would be in a difficult position.”

 

Look at those eyes of Luciano, rippling with faint waves. 

 

Just the sight of it was exhilarating.

 

Gasparo ran his tongue over his dry lips and smiled faintly. One more well-placed remark here should be enough to unsettle Luciano.

 

“We brothers know our place very well… Nicolas is good at that. He understands the importance of not overstepping his bounds.”

 

“…”

 

A cold silence fell over the reception room.

 

💫

 

Around that time, Silvano was hiding in the hallway near the reception room. 

 

Getting any closer was nearly impossible. 

 

Right outside the reception room, Luciano and Gasparo’s subordinates were idly waiting around, cracking jokes and fooling about.

 

His eyes, alternating between the reception room’s curtained glass window and them, burned with irritation.

 

‘Those bastards. If they’d just shut their mouths for a second, I might have been able to hear something.’

 

He couldn’t remember a time when the pistol at his waist had ever felt so desperately needed. His whole body itched with the urge to shoot every last one of them dead.

 

Especially a few familiar faces. 

 

Friends who had shared hardships with him back when he was part of the Corella family…

 

The image of them laughing and carrying on happily like this, while he was rotting away alone after being exiled to North Wellington, was so vivid it made his vision turn crimson.

 

“Phew…”

 

There was only one reason he could suppress the murderous urge welling up inside him.

 

Was it because he had some measure of patience? 

 

Absolutely not. It was because of what Liliana had said while they were preparing for this wired communication business.

 

“Do you still have any feelings left for Gasparo?”

 

“Feelings? Lili, are you seriously looking for feelings from me? Well… if wanting to grab him by the collar and jump into hellfire together counts as a feeling, then I guess that’s a feeling.”

 

“Good. This operation will involve targeting the Corella family. I want to see them broken down until they have nowhere left to fall. And I want you to be with me on this.”

 

“I have no reason to refuse, but why would you? Didn’t you say the goal was to put Theo in the capo position? There shouldn’t be any need to involve Gasparo.”

 

No answer came to the question… but Silvano didn’t press further. 

 

After all, the reason wasn’t important to him.

 

Gasparo’s money, Gasparo’s honor, Gasparo’s power. The only thing that mattered was the future where he would see all of that trampled into the dirt.

 

‘She’s a more cruel and ruthless woman than I thought.’

 

Silvano quietly clicked his tongue as he thought of Liliana.

 

Anyway, if she was going to create that future with her own hands, suppressing his current murderous intent was nothing. He was confident he could do it easily.

 

The problem wasn’t whether to kill the small-fry guards at the door or not, but the fact that he couldn’t eavesdrop on the conversation between Gasparo and Luciano at all…

 

‘Ah, damn… What to do? I’m not some damn monkey— I can’t just climb up and stick to the window.’

 

He was about to click his tongue again and look around when—

 

Click—

 

The sound of the drawing-room door opening drew Silvano’s gaze back in that direction. 

 

As Gasparo stepped out, Silvano hid his body deeper in the shadows and controlled his breathing.

 

Whatever conversation had taken place, Gasparo looked relieved, while Luciano wore an expression of extreme indifference as they exchanged brief farewells.

 

From within the shadows, beast-like eyes gleamed as the two men walked off in opposite directions, each going their separate way. 

 

And Silvano….

 

“Gasparo, you son of a bitch. Looks like you’re still alive and well. What have you been eating to not age a day?”

 

Without a second thought, he started following Gasparo. 

 

It wasn’t so much a calculated decision as it was an almost instinctual action. 

 

There was no particular reason for it.

 

It didn’t take long for Silvano to realize that following him was an excellent choice.

 

Gasparo had been walking down the hallway with a pleased look on his face. Then, suddenly, one of the organization’s members approached him. 

 

The moment Gasparo heard what the man had to say, he let out a shout.

 

“What?! Who’s looking for me? That… that damn bastard.”

 

Then, as if his good mood had vanished instantly, his face darkened, and he started running in a hurry.

 

To anyone watching, the atmosphere clearly suggested something exciting was about to happen.

 

“What’s this? What’s all the fuss about? I want in on the action, too.”

 

His eyes gleaming, Silvano quickened his pace.

 

After leaving the villa, Gasparo and his entourage moved stealthily, sticking to deserted paths. 

 

Silvano had no choice but to follow them from a distance, afraid that the slightest sound would give him away and get him caught by the scruff of his neck.

 

After a considerable time, the place where Gasparo’s group finally arrived was near the wall of another mansion in the vicinity, where the faint sound of music from the party could be heard.

 

And who revealed himself from the bushes there…?

 

‘Huh?’

 

Silvano’s eyes widened as he stared intently at the man’s face.

 

‘It’s that guy from earlier.’

 

No matter how I rubbed my eyes, it was Jimmy McKenna, the man who had been driven out after being cursed at.

 

“G-Gasparo, sir…! Wh-why… are you here…. You s-said you definitely wouldn’t be attending the investor party-.”

 

“Since when am I obligated to report my schedule to you in detail?”

 

“No… Ah… You absolutely must not go back—”

 

“And you, what’s your reason for being here? I’m sure I warned you.”

 

“Ugh, ah…”

 

He anxiously moved his lips, then suddenly clutched his head and let out a scream of agony.

 

“Ahhh!”

 

“Shut your mouth! I told you not to do anything!”

 

The desperate scream subsided as Gasparo struck Jimmy’s head with a fist clad in brass knuckles.

 

If it were the usual Silvano, he would have watched nonchalantly, thinking, ‘That guy, even at his age, has a terrible temper.’ 

 

But he had some sense. He knew this wasn’t an ordinary matter.

 

‘Ah, what is it? What’s going on?’

 

Hiding behind a large tree, Silvano stole anxious glances at them. 

 

However, because Gasparo crouched down on his knees in front of the collapsed Jimmy, their conversation became nearly inaudible.

 

“…the villa… avoid…”

 

“…Theodoro… I warned enough…”

 

“…anyway, soon…”

 

Only a few words were caught. 

 

Whether unfortunate or fortunate, that was enough to grasp the general situation.

 

Silvano’s face grew uncharacteristically stern. Gasparo, who seemed to have heard the details, started to throw another punch but stopped and stood up. Then, without looking back, he began running toward the villa.

 

Even his attendants swarmed after Gasparo… 

 

Soon, only Silvano and Jimmy were left alone in the spot.

 

“Ah, damn it…”

 

Silvano glanced at the brightly lit villa and then rushed urgently over to Jimmy.

 

“Hey, hey! Get a grip. What did you do?”

 

He yelled, slapping Jimmy across the face. 

 

But Jimmy, already out of his mind, couldn’t even focus his eyes.

 

“Who… are… you?”

 

“I’m the one asking the questions, you son of a bitch. What did you do at the party?”

 

“The… party? Ha, h… hheh…!”

 

A bizarre laugh, mixed with bloody spittle, escaped from between Jimmy’s lips.

 

“Too late… anyway. Soon… khhehe!”

 

“This bastard has really lost it.”

 

“Fir… fireworks… hhahaha!”

 

“…Fireworks?”

 

At that moment, Silvano straightened up abruptly.

 

‘Ah… shit.’

 

Without hesitation, he threw Jimmy over his shoulder and ran toward the party venue.

 

He didn’t know exactly what was going to happen, or on what scale. 

 

But three things were clear.

 

First, he couldn’t leave Jimmy behind. Second, he had to find Theo. And third, he had to get Lilia out of there immediately.

 

The closer he got to the mansion, the brighter the surroundings became. The flood of light spilling from the place seemed to reach out with shimmering waves.

Silvano gritted his teeth and sprinted toward the brilliant light.

 

If he had just thirty more seconds, he probably could have at least reached the threshold of the garden entrance.

But before he could get there, it happened.

 

KABOOM!

 

A deafening explosion roared, and a powerful shockwave swept across the ground.