The armored car I was in headed straight for the Academy in the east.
It was a short journey across the city from the western part, where the Carmen Family resided, through the central area where my mansion was located, all the way to the eastern side where the Academy stood.
There was a fleeting thought about stopping by the mansion for a moment before passing it, but it couldn’t be helped.
I had a lot to handle at the Academy, and many things to listen to. I figured I could drop by on my way back.
Of course, I had promised Veronica, so I had to stop by the mansion before heading back to the Carmen Family’s territory.
Neither Elena nor Felicita would want that, though.
The arrangement of two people taking turns monopolizing my attention daily hadn’t changed since I moved from the Lupus Carlton Hotel in the eastern part of the city to my mansion in the central area.
Today, I would share a room with Elena, and tomorrow with Felicita. Meanwhile, Sundays were the day when all four of us, including Veronica, got together.
However, now that Veronica had become the boss of the Carmen Family.
It was highly likely that it would just be Elena and Felicita fighting over me.
“Contact Carso as soon as we arrive.”
“Yes, Brother. I’ll park and do it right away.”
“No, you don’t have to do it yourself. Just tell the others to have Carso come to the Academy.”
“Understood.”
The driver quickly responded to my instructions.
There were things I needed to take care of at the Academy, and it wasn’t absolutely necessary for Carso to be there. But for checking on the situation of Viola in the northeast and the people dispatched from the Russo Family, I did need Carso.
That was more efficient than pulling Viola away from the front lines where she was commanding our forces.
After all, Viola was supposed to report to Carso periodically.
“We’re almost there.”
“That was quicker than I expected.”
“Yes, it seems like there are unusually fewer cars today.”
“Everyone must be home watching the hearings.”
“Is that so? I can see that for the first day or second day, but it feels like it’s just those still interested nowadays.”
Those interested in politics wouldn’t miss this hearing.
But I felt that the average citizens were hoping the chaos in the city would pass swiftly.
Moreover, recently, Rita Carmen had been fueling the hearings with plenty of fire.
Really.
Whether in the House of Lords or the House of Commons, during a hearing organized by Congress, a boss of one family, let alone one of the five families, disclosing information about another organization was unprecedented.
She was probably discussing the Sanchez Family and the Dragovich Family even today.
Of course, with this phenomenon continuing, some bosses expressed their concerns.
Like Vito Marinelli or Darius Russo. But Senator Paroni and Senator Porter were keeping things under control to ensure that Elena wouldn’t let the hearing go off track.
“Brother, we have arrived.”
“Ugh… why does the Academy feel so far away this time?”
“It really does seem like quite a while since you last came.”
As I was getting ready to step out, the driver called the members outside to inform them of my arrival. The wolves and members of my organization sprang into action at the announcement.
I could’ve just opened the door myself, but another member hurriedly opened it for me.
“Is Kambara in the Union Office?”
“Yes, Sister Sarina is there as well.”
“Is that so?”
It was obvious who she’d been waiting for. I might not know when I’d pop by, but she must have been coming here and waiting around whenever she could.
After I got out on the Academy grounds and headed toward the Union Office, I found members from the Felini Family casually enjoying drinks and chatting inside.
Among them, Kambara was drinking malt beer, a sweet beer with low alcohol content, which was different from the drinks others had.
“Brother, do you really enjoy that stuff kids drink?”
“Right? Things like that just ruin your taste, don’t they?”
Kambara didn’t seem to care much about what the members inside were saying.
Considering the role he held at the Academy, getting drunk in broad daylight wouldn’t do him any good. It’s not like he could completely avoid drinking, so he just settled for the malt beer.
“Well, it’s better than turning out like my sister…”
“Shut up! Quit babbling nonsense and get back to your seats!”
Sarina’s words were hardly heard; the only thing she noticed was that she was tipsy and slightly swaying.
“Sister! Wait! Sister…”
Yet, no matter how tipsy, a wolf is a wolf. Sarina got up from her seat and began to punish the members who looked down on her.
Even amidst all of that, Kambara maintained a certain distance from Sarina and the other members while savoring the sweetness of the malt beer.
Knock knock knock. Someone knocked on the Vice Chairman’s office door at regular intervals.
“Vice Chairman.”
“Uh, come in.”
A union member entered the office.
Despite the chaotic appearance of the office, the member approached Kambara without a care.
On paper, he was a member of the Academy faculty union, but in reality, he was a junior member of the Felini Family.
“The Godfather has arrived. And the Underboss is also on the way.”
“Is that so?”
Hearing the union member, Kambara immediately ordered the alcohol to be cleared away.
“What? Why are we clearing away the drinks?”
“Sister, he says that the Godfather has arrived.”
“….”
While he didn’t mention anything about the Underboss, Sarina promptly returned to her seat and sat properly upon hearing Kambara’s words.
The other members, observing her, briefly stiffened but then followed Kambara’s orders to tidy up the Vice Chairman’s office.
A moment later, when I entered the office, it was hard to believe that a drinking party had just taken place moments ago.
“….”
Except there was something odd. All the windows in the office stood wide open.
“Brother, welcome.”
“Why are the windows wide open?”
“Ah, we just wanted to air it out for a bit.”
And the smell emanating from Kambara and the other members.
To Kambara, it was just a sweet scent. But as I passed by other members, the unmistakable smell of alcohol hit me.
“These crazy bastards. Were they drinking in broad daylight?”
I didn’t raise my voice. Instead, I kicked the shins of the members, excluding Kambara, with just enough strength.
“….”
None of them dared to open their mouths to complain, but clearly, they were trembling from the pain.
I ordered them to leave the office, leaving only Kambara and Sarina behind.
“Yes!”
*
“Kambara, why is Sarina acting like that?”
“Well, she’s been drinking a bit too.”
“…This doesn’t look like just ‘a bit’.”
“To be honest, she drank the most among us.”
I couldn’t help but frown at that. I hadn’t expected Kambara to be able to stop Sarina.
“Kambara, from now on, no drinking parties in the Vice Chairman’s office. Got it?”
“Yes, Brother. I’ll remember that.”
Kambara seemed to have drunk just enough not to let it interfere with his work. No, he might have been drinking something else altogether.
After that, I sat down in a nearby chair next to Sarina.
“The Godfather has arrived?”
“What? When did you start calling me that?”
“That rock said I should pay you some attention now.”
As I looked at Kambara, he shrugged, seemingly clueless.
“That’s probably a caution to be careful around others. And it’d be best not to use the title Godfather. No need to announce that I’m the important one.”
“…So it’s okay to call you by name then?”
“Of course.”
“Luke!”
Sarina dashed over the moment I finished my words. Compared to Elena, she wasn’t that heavy, so I could easily handle it.
“Seems like you’ve had a bit too much.”
“I’m not drunk!”
“….”
Kambara didn’t say anything to her unconvincing rebuttal.
“I get it, so just sit down properly.”
“Yes.”
She listened to me well, like some big puppy.
“So, how’s everything in the northeast?”
“…The Alini Family and the Dwarf gang are all fine.”
“What about the remnants of the Viper and Michael?”
“Hold on a second.”
Sarina, despite her buzz, tried her best to answer my questions. She then found a map and started marking things.
Looking at the map she marked… it seemed like Michael and the serpent woman Angela had finished organizing their respective areas.
Reflecting Sarina’s information, it appeared to be like this. Recently, it seemed Granada in the central city had expanded his territory southward.
“Sister, couldn’t you have just told me instead of drawing this?”
“Ah….”
If there weren’t specific areas still needing organization, Kambara was right.
“Anyway, glad to hear there weren’t any issues.”
Moreover, it was good news that Michael and Angela had completely organized the former territory of the Palmas Family.
“You have no news about the Russo side yet?”
“I’ve heard some things from the Alini Family and the Dwarf gang.”
According to Sarina, the ones currently leading the offensive for the Russo Family were Caporegime Vesus Russo and Consigliere Damar Russo.
It seemed clear that the offensive led by Darius Russo’s two younger brothers was successful.
“Are you sure about that?”
“I don’t know for certain….”
“I guess we’ll have to ask Carso about it.”
“That guy?”
“I just called him here.”
Actually, I hadn’t just called Carso; I had called Elder Leonhart too. But the chances of both arriving at the same time were slim.
And just as I mentioned Carso, the Vice Chairman’s office door swung open, revealing a familiar figure.
“Carso, welcome.”
“Brother.”
Our family’s Underboss greeted me and exchanged pleasantries with Sarina and Kambara.
“I have a lot to ask you. But first, I’ll tell you what I need to say.”
“Yes, go ahead.”
“To get straight to the point… the Carmen Family has been taken over by Veronica.”
“…Really?”
“Yep, it went smoother than I expected thanks to Rita Carmen and Paula Carmen. I met with some high-ranking officials as well, and while it’ll take some time, she’s gradually gaining control of the family.”
“I see.”
As Carso and Sarina thought about it, Kambara replied.
“The problem is… Veronica can no longer be involved with the Academy since she’s going to be busy managing the Carmen Family.”
“So, does that mean you’re going back to managing the Academy?”
“No, I plan to hand it over to Kambara this time.”
In response to Carso’s question, I pointed at Kambara.
“Excuse me?!”
“Luke, I think that guy might still be a bit too early for that.”
Sarina said that while glancing at Carso. However, Carso didn’t seem to mind the way Sarina addressed me as we were alone.
“Your sister is right. Managing the Academy may be a bit….”
“Don’t worry. It won’t be much different from now. You’re still the Vice Chairman, and I’ll just drop by occasionally.”
“…Is that so?”
Of course, now that I had become the Boss, it was uncertain how often I would actually show up at the Academy.
“Luke, what do you think about me taking it?”
“But you still have your own area to handle. You and your wolves have a lot of other matters to deal with.”
“That’s alright.”
“What do you think, Carso?”
“….”
As soon as I asked Carso, Sarina shot him a glare.
“Well, Sarina’s territory is just north of the Academy, so it seems like it’d be okay.”
Upon hearing Carso’s words, Sarina appeared satisfied and relaxed her expression.
“And since Kambara’s good at thinking but not very strong, they should make a good combination with Sarina.”
“What? Hey, what do you mean by that!”
“Sarina, calm down and sit back down.”
“Hey, hurry up and explain!”
Sarina nearly jumped up again but sat back down upon my command. Yet, she still demanded an answer from Carso while sitting.
“No, I’m just saying that’s how it is.”
“Carso, I heard a bit about the northeastern situation from Sarina.”
“Is that so?”
I confirmed what Sarina had informed Carso about.
Michael and Angela’s area stabilization had been completed. And currently, the Alini Family and the Dwarf gang were assisting the Russo Family in defeating the Vipers.
“Oh, it seems like the Russo Family has expanded their territory quite extensively.”
“Really?”
Those guys seem to be enjoying themselves even while dealing with the Vipers. Meanwhile, Carso began marking something on the map where Sarina had written various notes.
“Solomon and Marinelli have also seen some changes.”
“I heard Dragovich has made some moves as well.”
Once Carso finished marking, I and the others gathered to check the map.
The Marinelli Family had expanded their territory even further south, and Dragovich had also encroached onto the border regions of the Carmen and Sanchez Families.
“Solomon has expanded quite a bit too.”
“Yeah, but those Russo guys are getting in the way. Carso, make sure they don’t think about moving further south.”
“Yes, understood.”
“And one more thing. Prepare another armored car with the same specs as the one Elena and I use.”
“Luke, why do you need another armored car?”
“Veronica is a boss now too. She’ll need one, won’t she?”
“….”
Sarina displayed a slight discomfort at that statement, but that was all. Afterward, we had a lengthy discussion.
It wasn’t often we had the chance to gather like this.
However, before Carso and Sarina could leave the Vice Chairman’s office, Elder Leonhart arrived.
