On the day I was supposed to meet the movie star who wanted to interview me, I had my hands full with various tasks.
First, I had to be attentive to my two wives, who alternated their time with me, and I managed to seize control of the Academy with considerable effort.
I inevitably clashed again with the Russo Family, who couldn’t let go of their greed.
Naturally, we emerged victorious. But the Russo scum probably didn’t expect me to mobilize toward the Academy so quickly.
After taking over the Academy, I entrusted its management to Sarina and Kambara Zakaya. Sarina was in charge of anything needing a heavy hand, while Kambara handled the more cerebral tasks.
As it turned out, Kambara, despite being a crocodile man, seemed quite adept with accounting and office work.
“Luke.”
“Yeah?”
While waiting for the movie star, I was spending a moment on the top floor with Elena.
“How’s things at the Academy?”
“All smooth. I’ve acquired the Humanities Department and others, and I’ve dealt with the Russo guys for good.”
“…I didn’t think they were interested in the Academy.”
“Exactly. They probably thought this was their chance now that we’re retreating to the port.”
Darius Russo, the boss of the Russo Family, was a difficult man to read. Of course, his looks didn’t make it any easier to understand him.
He was larger than other vampires and had a wild physique. And for some inexplicable reason, only his face always appeared to be ablaze. Hence, his nickname, ‘The Burning Vampire.’
“If we completely take over the Academy… should we hit the Russo first?”
“No, that seems a bit premature.”
The Russo Family was one of the Five Families in this city.
And they had a safety net. They held only a small territory in the northern part of Hebili. However, they possessed a territory several times larger outside the city.
In the event of an all-out war between the two families, they had a way to escape.
“So what should we do?”
“Ambushes would be more effective than a full-on war.”
Just like what happened to my father. And for us mobsters, the death of a boss has effects beyond what meets the eye.
Many families choose peace with rival organizations rather than revenge when their boss is killed — it’s not without reason.
“Or we could incite them to fight among themselves.”
“Do you think that’s something we can orchestrate easily?”
Unlike the Marinelli Family, the Russo Family had… a rather hostile dynamic among its members.
This was due in part to the vampire’s unique polygamous tendencies.
Well, it’s not just vampires among the mixed races of this city that practice polygamy.
I wouldn’t know about Russo being a lecher. Instead, the Russo Family had favored a peculiar strategy since ancient times.
“Let others fight. You, happy Russo! Get married!”
This audacious motto was their family creed. There were similar families in the world I lived in — like the Habsburgs, famously known for their jutting jaws.
Come to think of it, Goryeo’s first king Wang Geon was said to have had 29 wives.
I’m not sure about the exact number of his wives, but I’ve heard that the number of Russo’s wives exceeds two digits.
Not every polygamous relationship is overflowing with discord, but the Russo Family was definitively full of strife. Russo kept his many wives and children competing against one another.
As a result, it was common for wives and children to kill each other.
Ironically, even Darius Russo, at the moment, got rid of his father and siblings with the help of my father, so he could ascend to power.
They say parents are mirrors of their children, right? His children were repeating their parent’s mistakes.
“I’ll have to try, even if it’s tough.”
I can’t just abandon my father’s revenge.
While Elena and I discussed how to tackle the other four families, it seemed the actor had arrived.
Suddenly, the phone rang, and I quickly picked it up.
“Boss, the handsome actor has arrived at the hotel. Shall I bring him to the restaurant? Or…?”
“Have him wait in the restaurant. I’ll be right there.”
As Kambara held the actor up, I headed to the restaurant with Elena. Of course, Felicia wasn’t going to miss this moment.
“What’s this? You following me?”
“Why? Is there any reason I can’t?”
“…Today is Luke’s day with me. Don’t forget that.”
Though Elena said Felicia was being a bother, Felicia paid little mind. As soon as the elevator doors closed, she crossed her arms and wrapped her tail around my waist.
“….”
It felt like she was testing how long Elena’s patience could hold out.
*
Since Elena was practically a ticking time bomb, I hurried to get both of them out of the elevator when we arrived at the restaurant.
“Don Felini, what an honor to meet you!”
Just as I was about to step into the restaurant, a tall, handsome elf approached me.
Seeing Kambara behind him, it was obvious this guy was the actor wanting to meet me.
“Sorry, but I’m not the boss.”
“Excuse me?”
“Luke.”
As I enjoyed the actor’s flustered expression, Elena shot me a look. Looking back, it wasn’t truly helpful information to share.
“Then perhaps this lovely lady here?”
“….”
“Let’s not stand around talking and go inside.”
“Oh, yes.”
Come to think of it, both Elena and I shared the last name Felini, so it was the same on both our parts. Strictly speaking, since Elena is a woman, it should be Donna Felini, not Don.
“Anything you’d like to drink?”
“I’d love some wine.”
I found it intriguing how this guy remained calm even with mobsters by his side. Of course, he was probably just as fascinated by us.
“Oh, sorry for the late introduction.”
“I already knew. Luke Felini. Who in this city wouldn’t know you?”
“And your name?”
“Antonio Gelaba. I’m here to meet you because my upcoming film is related to the mafia.”
“In this chaos, it seems there would be fewer people to watch the movie. Are you sure it’s alright?”
Felicia, who stood beside me, questioned Gelaba.
“…Honestly, it’s a bit tough.”
“Considering the actor came to meet me for material research, that says it all.”
“Haha, that’s true.”
Gelaba began asking me all sorts of questions, most of which revolved around the mafia and crime.
“You don’t need to know that.”
“Excuse me?”
I firmly dismissed anything I couldn’t reveal or that might endanger him.
“I’m starting to get the feeling I understand more.”
“What do you mean?”
After wetting my throat with the wine Gelaba had brought, I asked.
“It seems there are many similarities between guys like me, the actors, and you all, the mafia.”
“Could you give an example?”
The previously quiet Elena inquired.
“That the more you hide, the more intriguing you become?”
I agreed with his first point, but the second felt vague. Wouldn’t it be more accurate to say that it feels threatening rather than attractive?
“So, are there any more questions left?”
“Nope. You’ve provided enough information, so this should be sufficient.”
With that, Gelaba abruptly got up from his seat.
“Though it’s not a proper repayment, there’s something I’d like to inform you.”
“…What is it?”
“Mr. J. P. Hagen wants to meet you.”
“….”
The expressions of Elena, my two wives, and everyone else in the room changed in an instant.
“What’s your deal?”
“As I mentioned earlier, I’m just a movie actor.”
He then handed me a business card. The name on that card wasn’t Antonio Gelaba, but… John Pierpont Hagen.
The business card of the finest entrepreneur in this city, known as Financial King Hagen.
“Then I’ll take my leave.”
“Kambara, see him off.”
“Yes.”
Gelaba was escorted out of the restaurant by Kambara and the other members. What remained on the table was Haggen’s business card.
Upon closer inspection, it had a specific date and place written on it.
“What does Hagen want with me?”
“Well, it doesn’t seem like a bad thing.”
Felicia said while resting her chin on her hand. Although she noted it was still early to be certain, it was a woman’s intuition.
“Intuition, my foot.”
Elena gave her a snappy retort, but she agreed to meet Hagen.
“I have no idea what he wants to discuss, but it is Hagen, after all.”
“Right. There isn’t another big shot in this city quite like Hagen.”
His followers dubbed him “the man who elevated economics and finance to the realm of science.”
What’s there to say?
He predicted who would win the civil war in this country, buying up bonds from the victorious side and got rich.
In a war between two powerful nations happening across the ocean, he believed in the resilience of the losing nation, and when everyone else sold their bonds, he bought every single bond and became even richer.
Once, Hagen was just an upstart, known as the rich grandson of a banker.
But look at him now. Financial firms, railroads, steel companies — he owns dozens of companies.
One of his steel companies was once valued at the highest market cap in the world. Just how commanding was his influence that people simply referred to his steel company as ‘that company?’
Perhaps Hagen is the strongest goblin in this country.
*
The interview with Gelaba was a sort of cover for me.
But the meeting with Gelaba was itself a guise. A disguise that would lead to my meeting with Hagen.
I decided to meet Hagen based on my two wives’ opinions.
However, since Hagen specifically requested me, I would go alone. I sought prior consent from Elena regarding this part, and she agreed without any fuss, but with a different tone than before.
“Thanks, Elena.”
“If you’re that grateful, why not choose me this Sunday?”
“Ah, that’s a bit…”
“Luke!”
Elena didn’t miss the chance and tried to lay a claim, but I somehow twisted my body away to escape.
Between Elena and Felicia, both are like the sun and moon to me. Neither would approve of my attitude, but both my wives were equally dear to me.
The armored car I boarded departed from Lupus Carlton Hotel, heading towards the port, and picked up Sarina and Kambara as we passed the Academy.
“…The car seems a bit sluggish.”
“It’s not me, it’s this guy.”
Sarina pointed at Kambara, sitting in the passenger seat. It looked like the passenger seat was quite cramped for him. It felt like seeing a crocodile trapped in a cage smaller than itself.
“We’re heading to meet Hagen now.”
“Yes, I heard from Kambara.”
“…Is he the Hagen I know?”
It appeared Kambara had no idea.
“Sure, there are many people named Hagen in this city, but the wealthy and goblin Hagen is the only one.”
“….”
Kambara’s expression was purely astonished.
After all, even my father had never met Hagen directly. I was very curious about why this Hagen wanted to meet me.
“Why does that goblin want to see Luke?”
“Honestly, I’m not sure. Let’s just hope it’s not a bad reason.”
“Well, if it is, we can take the opportunity to kill him.”
“Hagen?!”
“Why not?”
When Kambara, shocked by Sarina’s words, questioned her, Sarina countered.
“I heard there are golem bodyguards all over Hagen’s mansion.”
“But Hagen isn’t a golem. So there are plenty of opportunities.”
Listening to their conversation, I couldn’t help but laugh.
Kambara looked at me with a puzzled expression, but Sarina chuckled along with me.
However, that laughter was short-lived. We arrived at our destination — none other than Hagen’s mansion.
“It looks like a palace fit for a king.”
“Well, he is a king, after all. The Financial King.”
Kambara’s comment held some truth. Afterward, I stepped out of the car as Kambara opened the door for me.
“Alright, let’s see what awaits us.”
“Yes.”
It was the moment I was about to meet the most prominent goblin in this city.
