Make Our Family Great Again – Chapter 30

The four families, excluding the Carmen Family, gathered in one place.

The venue was a restaurant in the west side of the city, just like before.

The difference from the last meeting, which had ended in chaos, was that Rita Carmen, who had been pointed out as the Godfather’s murderer by Eddie Sanchez, was not present.

“So what’s the deal today?”

The four bosses.

To be precise, Mikhail Dragovich was the first to speak, joined by three bosses and one of their sons.

“Are you really asking for help in the war against the Carmen Family?”

In place of Vito Marinelli, who was a bit out of it, his eldest son Manfredi voiced his concern regarding the meeting’s purpose.

“No, I can handle that woman myself.”

“…Still full of hot air, huh?”

Sanchez shot back as soon as Dragovich quipped.

“What? What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You can’t even catch the biggest woman around here, yet you talk like a tough guy.”

Dragovich’s mention of size referred both to physical stature and the potential influence of the families.

The Carmen Family had relatively few official members due to their characteristics, but many associates could sever ties at any moment.

“Is it really necessary for the Five Families to fight each other?”

“Shut it, Manfredi.”

With Felicita absent, Manfredi was indeed the real power of the family, but he wasn’t the boss. It wasn’t like Sanchez got to act out just because of that.

“The west side hasn’t had a single quiet day because of you and that woman.”

“Funny coming from someone who hung out with her until recently.”

“What about deploying more forces?”

“Great idea, Russo!”

Sanchez sneered at Russo after Dragovich’s statement.

“What’s the point of deploying Golems? Might as well slap a name tag on them. Russo, have you even been to this neighborhood?”

The Carmen Family’s territory largely coincided with the area inhabited by Dark Elves.

The whole neighborhood followed her and cooperated with her. It was nearly impossible to target Rita Carmen directly with Golems or other races, as Sanchez mentioned.

Moreover, they couldn’t just wipe out the entire area where the Dark Elves lived.

Meanwhile, Dragovich was carefully listening to the conversation between Sanchez and Russo. Similar signs were showing, as he had similarly broken ties with Rita Carmen.

“Do I really have to keep listening to the street fighter’s nonsense?”

“Let’s cut that out.”

Manfredi stepped in at an appropriate moment, bringing the two bosses’ argument to an end, but one thing was clear.

For the Sanchez Family, the Russo Family was of no help in dealing with western problems, and it was the same the other way around.

The Russo Family was locked in fierce battles with a plethora of new organizations that filled the north of the city, as well as outsiders flooding in and Caporegimes slipping out of the Marinelli Family’s influence.

Meanwhile, the Marinelli Family, which had long been in conflict regarding the Academy, nearly seized control of the eastern city.

Both bosses were anxious but had no way out; naturally, Sanchez was devising his own solution and achieving results amidst it all.

In the brief moment of silence, the aides each boss brought with them approached their bosses, delivering one significant piece of news.

“What?!”

“Is that even possible?”

The doors of the restaurant swung open, and two men walked towards the bosses.

Luke Felini. And the other man.

It was Kazin, the guy who had visited the bosses regarding drug supplies not long ago.

“Are you messing with me right now?!”

Darius Russo immediately shot up from his seat.

The heat on his face was burning more than ever, prompting the surrounding bosses to step back.

“How dare you crawl in here?!”

Russo aimed a gun he pulled from within his coat at the two unexpected arrivals, while they merely gazed at the bosses as if it were irrelevant.

“Hey, Vampire buddy. You may want to reconsider. If you pull that trigger, drugs will never flow into this city again…”

“Shut that mouth!”

Russo was one who rarely calmed down once he was fired up.

[Anger is a disease that overwhelms all evil. The best way to shake it off is to do nothing. To save oneself from anger, one must coldly observe others who are angry.]

The blazing flames in Russo’s head suddenly formed letters. Maybe this was something only I could see.

Of course, it wasn’t the best time to pay attention to that guy’s words.

“…What does that mean?”

“Russo, put the gun down.”

Dragovich’s question and Sanchez’s firm voice followed.

“Now!”

Russo seemed to glare at me. But… with his whole face on fire, I couldn’t even tell where his eyes were.

“…Fine. Just know you won’t leave here alive. Remember that!”

“Isn’t that a bit harsh? The one who touched the child who lost his parents was you. The reason you all gathered today is that I have a proposal for you.”

“…”

“But if that guy shoots me, as Kazin said, there will be no drugs and no proposal.”

“Hmph, you don’t seem to be lacking in courage. Looks like a wolf is indeed a wolf.”

I took Dragovich’s words as a compliment.

“So, what’s your proposal?”

Sanchez didn’t seem particularly flustered by the situation. Of course, he didn’t know what my proposal entailed, just like everyone else.

“A compromise among the Five Families. No, maybe now just four? Anyway, if you promise not to touch the central area and the Academy, we’ll sell you a surplus of drugs.”

What I was saying was not my sole decision. Furthermore, it wasn’t my intention for Kazin to accompany me.

The day before the bosses’ meeting, Kazin and Haremo had sailed over to us.

According to Kazin, his boss had heard about the actions of the Five Families and was truly furious.

His anger led to the decision to unilaterally supply drugs exclusively to our Felini Family. This meant the other families would have no way to secure large quantities of drugs besides directly buying from us.

“Just so you know, whether you kill me or reject my proposal, the outcome will be the same.”

“Even if I can’t go back alive.”

As soon as my words finished, Kazin added.

“If this guy doesn’t show up, you’ll be cut off from Tyrenia. And if I’m not here, you’ll be cut off from him.”

The money generated from drugs is remarkable. Not being able to rake in a single cent from that is a huge loss, especially in times like these when both money and everything else are in short supply.

“What’ll it be? Vampire guy, will you choose thousands of pounds of drugs? Or will you kill one Elf?”

“Ha, I’ll kill one Elf!”

Russo shouted without a moment of hesitation. Meanwhile, the other bosses all bore expressions of deep contemplation.

Looking at their faces, the outcome of this meeting was already set. They weren’t fools.

“Russo, don’t forget.”

Sanchez began speaking on behalf of the other bosses.

“Before the Godfather, there was a time we handled things like this. We used to vote, and when the votes were counted, we swore to abide by the results.”

“Yeah, sounds good! Let’s vote then.”

Kazin and I merely watched as the bosses cast their votes.

“I’m voting to kill that guy.”

With exaggerated gestures, Russo raised one arm. But nothing happened.

A pathetic spectacle with no response from anyone.

Kazin and I looked at the other bosses, and they too observed each other’s reactions, but not a single person raised their hand.

“Damn it, what’s wrong with you all?! I know what you’re plotting, you greedy bastards!”

No matter how much Russo yelled, Kazin couldn’t hold back his smile. I was still managing my expression.

“That guy killed my Caporegime and intercepted our drugs meant for us! Are our rules and revenge less important than cash?!”

“…”

“This bastard deserves to die on the spot!”

Hearing such words in my face was starting to infuriate me. The notion that I had intercepted drugs meant for the four families was comical.

“Hey, Russo.”

Sanchez was the first to speak. As Russo’s gaze turned towards Sanchez.

“Shut it. I care about the drugs.”

An alliance that provides no assistance has no value. Compared to that, the possibility of coexisting with drugs and the Wolf’s heirs.


Deciding what to choose was easy.

Sanchez expressed his intention and proclaimed that he supported my proposal. Dragovich and Manfredi raised their arms in agreement.

One vote to kill me, and three votes in favor of my proposal.

“Then it’s settled. Wolf, our four families won’t touch the central city or the Academy. We promise.”

“Alright, then I’ll take my leave.”

I exited with satisfaction as Sanchez spoke. I added that further details regarding drug supplies would be communicated through Kazin.

Unlike me, who turned and left without a trace of hesitation, Kazin lightly bowed his head to them. After all, they were still bosses, at least for now.

Russo stood there, just watching Kazin and me disappear, looking quite pitiful.

*

Kazin and I took my armored car to the port.

I had no idea what was discussed among the bosses in the aftermath of our visit. Perhaps Russo threw a tantrum over the voting outcome, and the other bosses tried to calm him down.

“Luke, did Sanchez and Russo say they were allies?”

“Yeah. But it seems that’s not the case anymore.”

Kazin seemed to think so as he asked me.

“They might go wild over this. They could clash with the Carmen Family.”

“An alliance reversal, huh…”

The Russo Family, which teamed up with the Sanchez Family, against the Carmen Family.

The Dragovich Family, now allied with the Carmen Family, against the Sanchez Family.

It was indeed a scene befitting the Five Families. Many people think of the Five Families as a single entity, but that’s a misunderstanding.

I, too, thought that way until I adapted to this side of the world.

The Five Families have long been in conflict and at odds with each other. While there were minimum rules and regulations to resolve disputes, like the voting Sanchez mentioned earlier, it was still a fragile arrangement.

“By the way, it’s not like I have anywhere else to stay, right?”

“Why? Are you asking to crash?”

Staying at the Lupus Carlton Hotel was merely a room. Thanks to Kazin, my proposal was better received, so I could offer this much.

“Yeah, go ahead. Feel free to stay at the hotel where Elena and I are until we go back.”

“Looks like I’m racking up another debt, huh?”

I shrugged at Kazin’s words. I felt like I had quite a few debts piled up with those guys already.

“By the way, how much are you planning to supply them?”

“Half of the quantity we bought from you. That should suffice.”

The other half was to be sold directly in our territory. Ah, but of course, the amount we sold to the Marinelli Family was separate from that.

Speaking of which, Vito Marinelli’s acting was truly impressive.

Everyone must have been focused on the flaming head of Russo. Meanwhile, Marinelli sat alone, absent-mindedly staring into space while drooling.

As we chatted about this and that, we soon arrived at the hotel.

I headed straight for the top floor and instructed the hotel staff to show Kazin and Haremo to their room.

Ding-dong―!

Today was the day I would stay with Elena.

But as soon as the elevator doors opened, both Elena and Felicita peeked out.

“….”

Elena tried to shut the door as soon as I stepped toward her room, while Felicita wedged her shoe in between the door frame.

“Aren’t you going to take off your shoes?”

“How about you take some energy out first?”

“Elena, at least let me inside.”

I calmed the two wives who were engaged in a battle of wills and led them inside.

I thought I’d let them know what had happened in the bosses’ meeting right away. However… Elena also had something to show me, just like I did.

“This is completely different from what I saw last time.”

Elena had the new work from the Black artist she had requested a portrait from me. I couldn’t remember the artist’s name.

Perhaps because she explained it would be hung next to my father’s portrait, it seemed to have turned out as a rather decent likeness.

“What do you think? Do you like it?”

“Yeah, it’s nice. But knowing you could draw like this from the start makes me feel a bit sour.”

Then again, she should’ve been good from the beginning!