Chapter 94
The atmosphere within the Giuliano organization was tense, like walking on thin ice. It had become even worse after Chiron’s body had been delivered.
“Bring more alcohol!”
“Yes, sir.”
The boss of the Giuliano group was already on his second bottle of liquor.
Since they had kidnapped Mrs. Starr with the intention of launching an all-out war, it didn’t matter if his identity was exposed.
But if the kidnapping had failed, the situation would have been entirely different. It would have been a scenario with far more losses than gains.
“Has that bastard Rex come to his senses?”
“Yes. Should we bring him here?”
“Bring him here immediately.”
One of the members had discovered Rex trembling, tied up in the mountains, and had brought him back to headquarters.
A short while later, Rex, utterly demoralized, was dragged inside by another member.
‘I might have been better off dying in the mountains.’
He didn’t want to die at the hands of Matteo, a boss infamous for his cruelty.
“Rex.”
“Yes, Master Matteo.”
Rex answered, bowing his head and trembling.
“I still don’t quite understand, so I called you. Is it really acceptable that you couldn’t keep an eye on a single noblewoman?”
“Th-That’s because Laminis…”
“My niece?”
‘Damn, maybe I shouldn’t have mentioned Laminis.’
Rex swallowed hard.
“That poor girl lost her life simply because you couldn’t properly guard one woman.”
Matteo never showed mercy for his niece. This was all just a preliminary tactic to pressure Rex.
“She was much more skilled than we expected. She subdued Laminis immediately and escaped, so…”
“Enough.”
Matteo interrupted Rex for the second time.
“You didn’t even check how capable the person you were supposed to kidnap was? You should have known she could use a gun.”
Rex felt frustrated—wasn’t that why they had checked her belongings and separated the gun? But arguing would be pointless.
He’d just be labeled a fool who botched a job against an unarmed woman.
“This whole ordeal made me realize something clearly. The captains of Giuliano’s organization are far worse than I thought.”
Hearing this, the other members present nervously swallowed.
“I was foolish to think I could use such men to deal with Killian.”
Nigel, the underboss standing behind Matteo, watched him with concern. Amidst attacks from other organizations, the boss’s position had become increasingly unstable.
It seemed unlikely that he would be elected as the next committee head in the upcoming meeting.
Though Rex had been called for punishment, Matteo surprisingly let him go without trouble. With so many members already dead or injured from repeated attacks, they couldn’t afford to lose even one more person.
“Th-Thank you!”
Rex, lucky to have survived, bowed repeatedly.
“Shut up and get out quickly.”
“Yes, sir!”
As the other members left, only Matteo and Nigel remained in the room.
“Boss,” Nigel called.
“What are your plans regarding the next committee head?”
“I’ll register as a candidate. We can deal with the others later.”
As expected, a very Matteo-like plan.
“But three organizations have formed an alliance. Isn’t it too risky to act against them?”
“Or should I just kill the next committee head and take the position myself?”
Matteo chuckled, sipping his drink. That was also a good idea.
“So, you won’t appear at this committee meeting either?”
“Yes. You go in my place. I’ll sit behind a mask.”
Nigel was not pleased that Matteo would hide his identity even when the committee head was being selected.
“You’ll be at a serious disadvantage.”
But Matteo’s resolve remained firm.
“It’s not yet time. I’ll manipulate the situation to my advantage before making a move.”
Since the previous boss brought Matteo in as the next leader, he had always operated wearing a mask. Particularly the ones worn outside were made of human skin, similar to Chiron’s, making them difficult to notice.
The reason Matteo hid his identity so carefully was that he had a separate public persona in the legitimate world.
Finally, the day of the committee meeting arrived.
The four major mafia organizations and seven other mafia organizations gathered in one place.
Inside the conference room, only the bosses, underbosses, and consiglieres could sit. Everyone else waited outside.
“You talked big, but this time Giuliano’s group sent only an underboss instead of the real boss.”
“And just you wait,” Messina whispered to Andymeon.
She believed that among those brought by Nigel, the real boss of the Giuliano organization would be present. Especially on a day as important as registering committee head candidates.
Meanwhile, Killian, Giovanni, and Pete entered the meeting room.
“Have you arrived?”
Andymeon recognized them first and greeted them.
“Hey, Killian!”
Messina welcomed them as well.
The Starr family entered, shooting cold glances at the Giuliano side before taking their seats.
“I’m glad your wife is safe.”
“You’ve also done well.”
Seeing the friendly atmosphere among the other three organizations, the remaining seven began calculating their moves carefully. The Giuliano members, however, remained unreadable.
“Let’s start by selecting the committee head candidates.”
Marcello of the Bondea organization, one of the seven minor groups, presided over the meeting.
“Those registering as candidates, please place your seal in this box.”
All bosses could theoretically apply, but in practice, only the four major organizations registered.
“Wait.”
Messina stopped Nigel from placing the seal and addressed Marcello.
“I have an objection.”
Everyone was surprised by Messina’s sudden move.
“Shouldn’t an underboss be prohibited from registering as a candidate?”
She looked directly at Nigel.
“Especially for a group like Giuliano’s, who ignore committee rules and commit crimes at will.”
“Watch your words, Messina.”
Nigel glared, but Messina didn’t flinch.
“You’d better shut up and sit still. If the Starrs wanted, they could strike you down right here.”
She was referencing the kidnapping of Emily.
“I won’t let this slide.”
Pete of the Starr organization added calmly.
Nigel sighed and spoke.
“We apologize. It was the junior members who acted thoughtlessly. We weren’t aware of it.”
“Ah, so you’re trying to wiggle out, huh?”
“But didn’t your organization’s members kill our people? Three organizations conspiring to intimidate us like this—isn’t that despicable?”
“Coming from you, that’s really funny.”
Messina laughed incredulously and looked around.
“Anyway, no one wants to vote without knowing the candidate’s face, right?”
People murmured and glanced toward the Giuliano side. Public opinion seemed to sway with Messina’s statement.
“Nigel, tell your boss clearly.”
Killian’s low voice rang through the room.
“Stop the nonsense and reveal your identity. Until then, attacks won’t cease.”
Killian’s gaze landed on Matteo, sitting next to Nigel, hiding his identity.
“Now that I look closely, the mask covering the face is quite flimsy.”
Nigel looked in surprise at Matteo beside him. How did Killian notice?
“Are you the boss of Giuliano’s group?”
The room murmured at Killian’s words.
“Hmm, and why do you think that?”
Matteo, wearing his mask, asked.
“I saw your expression change just now, but your facial muscles didn’t move at all.”
“You’re sharp, indeed.”
Killian frowned, feeling a sense of familiarity in Matteo’s voice.
“Seems like you’re starting to guess who I am from my expression.”
‘What? That voice… I’ve heard it before.’
Killian tried to recall but couldn’t place it.
“Oh dear, you can’t remember, can you?”
Mocking him, Matteo turned to Messina.
“Messina? I never liked you from the start. I hated the idea of a woman being called a boss of one of the four major organizations alongside me.”
“What can I do if I’m skilled and you’re weak?”
Messina ignored his words.
“Skill? I gave you a chance with an open mind, and you still failed, didn’t you?”
“You’ve failed more than I have, so don’t talk.”
“In the meantime, you shamelessly sided with Starr. This is why you shouldn’t use women in major operations.”
Messina had heard this kind of rhetoric too often to be affected.
“Did you hide behind a mask to appear loyal? You only handle big matters in the restroom, don’t you?”
The room erupted in laughter.
Giuliano members, instantly mocked, clenched their fists as if ready to draw their guns.
“Fine,” Matteo surprisingly stepped back.
“Our Giuliano family will not register for the committee head. So it’s fine if my face isn’t revealed today, right?”
“Are you really never going to reveal yourself? That won’t end well for you either.”
“I’ll show my face when I choose. Now is not the time.”
Andymeon glared at Matteo, thoroughly disgusted. A boastful man leading one of the four major organizations—it was a disgrace to the mafia’s reputation.
“Seeing you desperately hide your face, you must act under a very different persona outside.”
Pete’s eyes glinted sharply.
“Are you active in society?”
