Make Our Family Great Again – Chapter 1

To put it simply, the door that opened for me was made of gold. Thanks to that, I’m enjoying luxuries I didn’t even think were part of my destiny.

But the problem was that the golden door was smeared with blood.

‘Wolf’ Vito Felini.

He was a Mafia who picked me up, discarded in one of their rendezvous spots.

Wolf was not only his nickname but also referred to orphans raised from a young age to be killers in the Mafia.

Vito Felini was a legendary figure among these wolves and was, in effect, the executioner of the Five Families that ruled the city.

To sum it up in one sentence, it was an orphan picking up another orphan. No need to elaborate on my childhood.

Of course, time flew by like grains of sand.

“….”

“What? Is it already over?”

A woman sprawled on a huge bed, utterly unresponsive. I left her to seek the corner of the dark room.

Pop!

I opened a previously prepared whiskey, pouring it into a crystal on-the-rocks glass with just the right amount of ice.

The moment I drank the light brown liquid, the old thirst vanished. I was used to the pleasure of sharing a bed with women and drinking this kind of liquor, yet it was always thrilling.

“…Luke, me too.”

At her words, I poured whiskey into another glass and handed it to her. She wrapped her long tail around the glass instead of using her hand to take it.

“It’s always fascinating to see.”

I had touched it a few times. The texture of the dragon scales densely covering her tail was incredibly tough.

Dragons weren’t a common race in this city, but I hadn’t seen a dragon more beautiful than her.

Ah, but that didn’t make me any different.

I was an elf, not a human here.

Long slender limbs and pale skin that glowed faintly. Strongly defined pointed ears. Though I was a bit short…

Removing that part, I didn’t particularly dislike anything else.

“Thank you, little one.”

She responded with a cheerful smile.

“Shut up. By the way, how long are you planning to stay here?”

“That’s what I should be asking. Can you really just be here with me on a day like today?”

“….”

As she said, today was a significant day.

It was the day to celebrate my father, the new ruler of the city, Vito Felini’s victory.

*

“Where’s Luke? Why can’t I see him?”

There was a woman in another location asking the same question.

Her name was Elena Felini. The only biological child of the new Godfather.

“Ah, he said he had something else to do. Besides, goods are arriving tonight.”

“…Can’t that be left to his men?”

“Well, this is an important deal, so it wouldn’t hurt to be cautious. People are waiting for our goods all over the country.”

The man responding to Elena was the Godfather’s nephew. Not the biological nephew, of course, since the Godfather himself was also an orphan. He perceived that Elena seemed dissatisfied with everything.

“By the way, Elena, don’t you trust your husband too little?”

“…Shut up.”

“What’s wrong? Luke should handle it well.”

Vito shrugged. At the Godfather’s words, the two immediately ceased their argument.

These three sitting at the same table were all Mafia. Of course, it went without saying that they had a facade in daylight.

Especially Vito had been posing as a respectable businessman since dominating the Five Families.

Most importantly, an award ceremony for the Entrepreneur of the Year was about to take place in this building, and the recipient had already been decided.

It was only natural since the Godfather had influence over both the city mayor and the entire judging panel involved in the award.

“….”

The Godfather seemed to savor his anticipated victory, swirling the wine glass he held.

“This is the most boring event of my life. Every time I come to an occasion like this, I ask myself, what am I doing here?”

But his words startled Elena and his nephew.

“But it’s still for your father, you know.”

“My daughter. Remember this. The people who came here today have no interest in us. What they want is only the money they can make through us.”

“That’s the same for us anyway.”

“Oh, finally, the mayor has arrived.”

Vito’s nephew pointed to a man walking into the award ceremony.

With multiple aides and assistants flanking him, he attracted everyone’s gaze as soon as he entered. He was the mayor of Hebili.

The mayor stood at the podium and began talking about results that were already predetermined.

*

While events like these were occurring elsewhere, I was escorting a lady.

Felicita had long been a member of the Five Families, deposed by my father.

The counterpart I was to meet was a little wolf who succeeded the new Godfather as the leader of the wolves.

It’s hard to believe that someone who couldn’t mix like oil and water would have this kind of relationship.

While growing up under my new father’s rule in this world, at first, I just tried hard to not get involved with the Mafia’s affairs. But gradually, I became accustomed to that life. Killing when the father ordered it, blocking those who challenge him, and solidifying my position.

Our elves have sharper senses and quicker reflexes than humans. This was a considerable advantage in the world of crime.

As time passed, I earned my father’s trust, and he gained the confidence of the Five Families.

The important thing was what happened afterwards.

My father refused to live merely as a tool for the Five Families. He frequently told me this.

“Luke, don’t leave it to others to decide what kind of being you should become.”

Years later, my father and I defied the Five Families.

We were exhausted from the competition and rivalry among ourselves, but subduing them was no easy task. What happened to the Five Families today? They’ve fallen to mere branch heads of our family.

That’s why today was a very important day.

It was an occasion to declare my father’s victory after subduing the Five Families and establishing a foothold in daylight…

But I wasn’t there by my own will. The excuse of having goods delivered tonight was just that—a pretext.

In other words, it was my small rebellion against my father’s decision.

Even before we brought down the Five Families, I had managed the port of this city. Then, I went into the Academy, supporting the operations my father was preparing with the vast wealth earned there.

But what came back to me was,

“What?”

“From now on, Elena will manage the Academy instead of you.”

It was an unexpected announcement.

As the Academy, which was in my jurisdiction, passed to Elena, I also ended up marrying her.

We had grown up together since childhood, practically family; yet our relationship was strained.

I had received more love from my father than his biological child, and Elena always envied and resented that.

In that sense, meeting Felicita was like choosing the moon over the sun.

The sun dazzled too much to look at and would burn me to ashes the more I loved. Unlike the sun, the moon isn’t blinding; it may not illuminate everything but can softly light my path.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t see you off today.”

“It’s okay. I’m not one to be upset by such things.”

She said, swiveling her tail, which peeked out from under her clothes.

“….”

“Luke, there’s something I want to tell you before you leave.”

“What is it?”

“Today, there might be those targeting the wolves.”

….

“What? Why are you just telling me this now?!”

“I wanted to spend a little more time with you.”

That kind of response wasn’t really what I was hoping for….

“Wait, where did you even hear that?”

“From my father.”

Felicita insisted I remember the reason she was telling me this now. She and her father were not involved in today’s events.

I headed straight for the phone.

Felicita watched me for a moment before vanishing without a trace.

As I picked up the receiver, the operator answered.

“Chamber of Commerce! Call for the Chamber of Commerce!”

“Yes, please hold on a moment.”

“Hurry!”

“….”

Moments later, someone picked up the line.

“Mr. Luke, this is Armo.”

A calm yet heavy voice. It matched his sturdy build; however, now was not the time to consider that.

“Armo! Get my father and Elena out of there right now.”

“What?!”

Armo was trying to explain to me why that couldn’t happen, emphasizing how important that place was….

“Marinelli Family. Information obtained from them. They said there are people targeting my father today! Tell my father immediately and bring everyone here!”

“…Wait a second. Hold on.”

Why would Marinelli Family, one of the Five Families, leak this information? Especially from Felicita, the Godfather’s daughter.

If I were to consider the ones who most despise my father, it would be them. Surely they must be hoping to avoid chaos following my father’s death by not participating in the plans of the other Families.

“Brother, is something wrong?!”

Just then, my subordinates appeared. I couldn’t rely solely on Armo.

“You, take your men and go to the Chamber of Commerce.”

“Yes?”

“Now!”

“Ah, got it. Fine.”

I didn’t stop there. I called the capo in charge of the area’s closest territory to the Chamber of Commerce as well.

“Someone’s targeting my father. I’ve sent my men, so you go there right away! Got it?”

“Understood.”

If it were up to me, I would have left too. But just then, the goods began to arrive at the port.

One of the wolves came to pick me up.

“Luke, the goods have arrived.”

“…Okay.”

*

Meanwhile, the Chamber of Commerce was still bustling.

“Father, excuse me for a moment.”

Elena abruptly stood up. Maybe it was because she drank too much to calm her boiling anger. She suddenly felt the urge to head to the restroom.

“Uncle, congratulations in advance.”

“Thanks, you’ve been working hard too.”

“…Rather than me, Luke has had it tougher. So, we should probably start clarifying the succession narrative.”

“….”

There was a reason why Vito’s nephew brought up that topic.

Little Wolf Luke was once considered the successor of ‘Wolf’ Vito, but changes had recently occurred in that dynamic. Elena, being the biological child of Vito, was now managing the Academy.

Many thought that, after all, a parent’s heart was unavoidable.

However, Vito’s nephew believed that Luke should lead the organization over Elena.

“Yeah, you’re right. It’s time to sort things out.”

The nephew’s phrasing of ‘sorting out’ sounded particularly ominous. The one saying it was a legendary Mafia, after all.

But no one knew Vito Felini’s true intentions.

*

Meanwhile, I was meeting with the handler of the organization supplying the goods.

“…Long time no see.”

“Little Wolf! You’re still small as ever.”

“Hey, don’t call me small in front of the boss!”

We knew each other for a long time, so there was no reason for us to get heated. Though my subordinates got angry on my behalf when he poked fun at my height, it was no big deal.

“Sorry for being late. Had a little issue with the ship.”

“That’s fine. That kind of thing happens all the time. Send regards to your boss.”

“Oh, my boss will be so pleased to hear that. Haremo!”

“Yes.”

Suddenly, he called out to someone. A brown-furred wolf-human appeared from among his subordinates and stevedores.

“This guy will be my successor.”

“What? So he will come from now on?”

“No, that might be too soon. But you’ll see him more often so he can get used to it. Haremo, this is Luke Felini. You know without me telling, right?”

“Yes, of course! Nice to meet you, Mr. Felini.”

The much larger wolf-human leaned down to match my height… but it was a bit too exaggerated.

It looked as if he was mocking me. It did reflect that I was that much shorter, though.

“….”

“Haremo, that’s enough. That’s sufficient.”

The handler noticed my expression and interjected. As his men and the stevedores unloaded the goods, we chatted in the sea breeze.

“…Luke, I hear some unsettling news floating around lately.”

“What? That I’m no longer the successor?”

“No, not that. The succession issue is something every organization has to deal with.”

What was he trying to get at?

“Boss!”

“What?”

“….”

Suddenly, the gaze of the subordinate approaching us seemed off.

“What is it? What’s going on?!”

Another subordinate hurried in with a radio.

“B breaking news!”

The urgent voice from the radio began. The following content was shocking.

The mayor of Hebili, and Vito Felini, who was to receive the Entrepreneur of the Year award, along with his nephew.

Only the words mentioning their deaths echoed throughout the midnight harbor.