Even as I walked toward Theodoro with the liquor bottle, each breath I exhaled seemed thick with the scent of alcohol.

 

But now, I felt more clear-headed than ever. Then again, it would have been stranger if I hadn’t sobered up immediately.

 

After hurriedly straightening my clothes and opening the curtain, what was the first thing Vincent, who had been waiting, said? 

 

He squinted his drowsy eyes at Liliana, whose cheeks were flushed red, and at Theodoro, who was maintaining his composure as best he could, and then uttered just one phrase.

 

“…Youth sure is something.”

 

I wanted to crawl into a hole and hide. I immediately thought about going to Mauricio to tell him I wasn’t feeling well and needed to rest today.

 

Unfortunately, when Theodoro said he had something to discuss with Vincent, that included Liliana. 

 

Meaning there was no escape.

 

And so, Liliana had to attend a meeting with the man who had been touching her chest just five minutes earlier, and another man who had a general idea of what the two had done. 

 

And they had to do it at the very private table where ‘that indecent act’ had taken place.

 

Was it a blessing or a curse? 

 

Because the matter at hand was by no means minor… shortly after the meeting began, all of them had no choice but to push the events of a few minutes ago to the back of their minds.

 

“Mr. Luciano… is planning a hit on Benjamin Wolf?”

 

The name was not unfamiliar. 

 

He was a man who had also been mentioned during the investigation into the assassination attempt on President Findel.

 

Benjamin Wolf, the operational leader of Murder Inc. and a major force in the national labor unions. He, too, had been involved in the presidential assassination plot.

 

And now, this same man had become Luciano’s assassination target. 

 

What kind of sudden, unexpected news was this?

 

Vincent added an explanation, seeing Liliana frown with incomprehension.

 

“I heard Wolf’s people are planning to hijack a cargo ship arriving at Chamber Harbor at 8 PM on December 31st. The cargo is supposed to be transported by truck to a warehouse… It seems certain that Wolf will personally visit the warehouse to inspect the goods. The hit squad plans to pose as the cargo transporters and take Wolf out when they arrive at the warehouse.”

 

Whether he had already heard this or not, Theodoro showed no particular change in expression. He simply maintained the grim face he’d had since the meeting began.

 

Liliana was the only one showing bewilderment, unable to find words. She couldn’t understand why they would suddenly decide to assassinate Wolf.

 

That question began to be answered through the conversation between Theodoro and Vincent.

 

“Were you able to check on what I asked?”

 

“Ah, that. I’m afraid so… It’s certain that Corella is involved in this hit as well.”

 

“…What exactly happened?”

 

“It was no coincidence that Luciano’s hit squad is posing as cargo transporters. It seems Gasparo’s side bribed a few people from the truck drivers’ union… With their help, they plan to steal the trucks that will be used in the hijacking.”

 

It’s the truck drivers’ union… 

 

Yeah, Liliana knew better than anyone that the Corella family had close ties with them. 

 

After all, Angelo was quite active in that union, making his voice heard.

 

‘Anyway, it seems Gasparo also leveraged the truck drivers’ union to get involved in this matter…’

 

That alone was shocking, but there was one more surprising fact.

 

“Has your brother still not said anything specific about it?”

 

“…That’s right.”

 

Even while assembling a hit squad to kill Benjamin Wolf, Luciano had not consulted his Consigliere, Vincent, even once. Consult was the wrong word—he had kept it completely secret, not even mentioning it. 

 

Apparently, Vincent had only learned all this by chance, overhearing it from another member of the organization.

 

“Sigh…”

 

Only then did Liliana understand.

 

Why had Theodoro been in such a bad mood today, as if he couldn’t see straight? 

 

And why, around the time he let her go, he had muttered, “What am I even doing in this situation…?” with a self-deprecating laugh.

 

Probably, Theodoro had been thinking the exact same thing she was now guessing.

 

“Could it be that Signore Luciano… has formed some kind of secret alliance with Gasparo Corella? To keep… Signore Theodoro in check.”

 

But even if Theodoro had predicted that point, it was not something to be said out loud. 

 

The moment the words left her mouth, a piercing gaze shot her way, sharp enough to make her break out in a cold sweat.

 

“Don’t make reckless assumptions.”

 

“It’s not… an assumption. The one who stands to gain the most from assassinating Benjamin Wolf is Gasparo.”

 

I didn’t think that was incorrect. Gasparo was the boss of Corella, while also holding the position of second-in-command in Murder Inc. Benjamin Wolf could be considered the head of that company.

 

There was no reason for Gasparo not to covet Benjamin’s position. 

 

But what about Luciano?

 

“I don’t know the details, of course… but is there any reason for Mr. Luciano to take the risk of eliminating Benjamin Wolf? No matter how I think about it, this benefits Gasparo the most… I can’t help but think some kind of deal was made between the two of them—”

 

“Enough.”

 

Theodoro raised his hand in a weary gesture, cutting off the words. 

 

His face, shaded with unusually deep shadows, looked utterly exhausted, as if even listening was too much for him.

 

“Let’s… put that conversation aside for later.”

 

“But—”

 

“Isn’t the important thing right now to stop this hit, no matter what?”

 

He completely dismissed any talk related to Luciano and continued with what he had to say.

 

“Whether they joined hands or not… if Benjamin Wolf dies, the real power in the company will pass to Gasparo. We can’t let such immense authority fall into Gasparo’s hands. Let’s focus on solving that first.”

 

Then, Theodoro concluded the discussion by announcing that he would personally meet with Benjamin Wolf.

 

Although she had much more to say about the alliance between Luciano and Gasparo… 

 

Liliana had no choice but to fall silent at that point.

 

And even Vincent, who was so discerning, added nothing further about Luciano.

 

That day was December 28, 1961. Three days before Benjamin Wolf’s hit was scheduled to take place.

 

💫

 

And December 31st. De Lucia Bar.

 

“Ahh… Is it finally today?”

 

Silvano, who had been sitting in a chair, stretched and grinned. 

 

His nonchalant demeanor showed no sense of crisis at all, as if killing and being killed meant nothing to him.

 

Instead, he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying the situation.

 

“I had no idea things would get this big when I came back to Demercy. It’s just so much fun.”

 

“…You really don’t have a care in the world, do you?”

 

Liliana, who was sitting on the table in front of him, glanced at him with a look of pity. 

 

Silvano listened to her scolding with one ear and let it go, muttering indifferently.

 

“But I wonder what Luciano sees in Gasparo to team up with him. What use is a guy with a terrible temper who’s ignorant?”

 

“Well, isn’t it precisely because he has a terrible temper and is ignorant?”

 

“It works like that?”

 

“It can work like that.”

 

Even though she answered lightly, Liliana truly believed that was the reason.

 

Until now, it was no exaggeration to say the Benedetti family’s strength came from Theodoro. 

 

If Luciano wanted to oppose a man like that, he would need someone whose violence and cruelty surpassed even Theodoro’s.

 

‘After all, even Silvano clicks his tongue in disbelief at Gasparo…’

 

According to her speculation, Luciano must have proposed to greatly assist in the hit on Benjamin Wolf to win him over.

 

‘So this hit… will be the first collaborative work to solidify the alliance between the two.’

 

From Gasparo’s perspective, there would have been no reason to refuse Luciano’s offer.

 

It was a chance to rise to the head of the company, and with the two brothers fighting each other… the Benedetti family’s power would naturally weaken.

 

‘He must be aiming to conquer Demercy’s underworld with that in mind.’

 

Of course, things wouldn’t go exactly as he planned, but a man can dream all he wants… 

 

It was no issue at all.

 

Liliana picked up the glass on the table and wet her lips, her eyes staring into space with a cold chill.

 

Truthfully, she was immensely pleased by this situation of the two men joining forces.

 

To her, both Luciano and Gasparo were people who deserved death, and if they were to join hands, wouldn’t it be possible to take them down both at once?

 

Perhaps the task would become even easier. 

 

The only problem was… Theodoro would find the current situation terribly hard to bear.

 

“Liliana.”

 

A low voice sounded without warning. 

 

The fact that the owner of that voice was the very man she had just been thinking about made Liliana jump up from her seat in shock.

 

“Signore Theodoro?!”

 

When on earth did he arrive? 

 

The man who had appeared stealthily like a ghost narrowed his eyes at the glass on the table, not at her.

 

“Alcohol?”

 

“Ah…”

 

“Don’t drink today. Don’t give me any flimsy reasons like it’s for the New Year or anything.”

 

“Pardon? Why suddenly…”

 

His dry, emotionless eyes stared straight at her.

 

“Why? I think you should know the reason best. If you insist on drinking, I’ll take it as you wanting to start something more with me.”

 

“…!”

 

She flinched, hugged herself, and took a step or two back. She shook her head vehemently with strong denial.

 

Instead of her, with her lips pressed tightly together, Silvano was the one who exploded, shouting.

 

“‘Something more’?”

 

“…”

 

“Hey, you immoral bastard. What did you do?”

 

Theodoro’s eyebrows shot up sharply.

 

“Watch your language. It’s not that I lack the mouth to say vulgar things too.”

 

“Stop bullshitting and tell me what you did. I mean, what the fuck, huh?”

 

The venting, which seemed like it would continue for a long time, abruptly cut off. 

 

It wasn’t by force either. 

 

Silvano suddenly clamped his mouth shut, then, without even looking back, ran towards the green room.

 

“What… what is it?”

 

“…”

 

Theodoro also frowned, twisting the corner of his mouth as if he found it absurd.

 

But soon after, when a bell rang from the doorway, when the two of them turned around and saw the man standing there.

 

“Ah…?”

 

Only then did they understand the reason for Silvano’s sudden, bizarre behavior. 

 

It was Gasparo Corella.