Make Our Family Great Again – Chapter 73

As I headed north to meet Viola Carmen,

Elena and Felicita were having an unusually friendly chat in their husband’s room.

“This room is always such a mess.”

“What?”

Since it was just a conversation between the two, the atmosphere was a bit more hostile than usual.

“Luke isn’t really the messy type, is he? You… well, just look at this room.”

“…What can I do? Luke makes a mess every time he’s with me. I guess he doesn’t do that with you?”

“Well, I’m pregnant, so I’m trying to take it easy, you know.”

Elena paused at Felicita’s words.

If Luke had been there, the tension would have escalated to the point where he’d want to run away immediately.

“Enough. That pregnancy is just an excuse.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Let’s face it, you’re just a stand-in for me in Luke’s life. I can’t believe you don’t see that.”

“Yeah, that part’s true.”

“…?”

Felicita, being someone who would never admit that, Elena thought.

“Still, I’ve been with Luke for a longer time.”

“I don’t care. And it’s not really a relationship—it’s an affair. You’re boasting about hooking up with a married man?”

“Could I have even called you Luke’s wife back then? I don’t think so at all.”

A tactical retreat for some forward movement.

Of course, Elena wasn’t one to back down easily, and she continued expressing her thoughts.

Just then, the phone in the room rang loudly. Despite having a lot to say, Elena stood up.

It might have been something important after all.

Above all, it had been a while since Luke headed to the Academy with Veronica. He might have uncovered something.

“Alright, I’ll escape like this.”

“Can you shut your mouth?”

“Boss, it’s Kambara.”

Before Elena could respond to Felicita’s provocation, a gentle voice came through the receiver.

“Kambara, Luke must have gone over there. What exactly happened?”

“There was a bomb explosion at the Union Office. Fortunately, it exploded when no one was there, so there were no casualties.”

“…Did you figure out who did it?”

“According to witnesses, it was the Dwarf Gang. I think your brother suspects it’s the Palmas Family behind it.”

“Aside from the Palmas, there aren’t many other options. So what’s Luke doing now?”

“He went to meet Viola Carmen. Maybe he’s planning to warn the Palmas about something?”

“…And Veronica?”

Elena didn’t ask more about Luke.

She believed without a doubt that Luke would handle the revenge against the Palmas bastards believed to be behind this incident.

“She’s right next to me.”

“Is that so? I thought he might have taken her along since he went to meet Viola.”

“Oh, and your brother made some changes to the Union organization.”

“Changes? What changes?”

Kambara reported every detail about the decisions made by Luke Felini to his boss without missing a beat.

Luke Felini is stepping down from the Vice Chairman position of the Academy staff union.

In his place, Kambara Zakaya would become the new Vice Chairman.

To express this in the Financial King Hagen’s style, the plausible reason was for image-making, taking responsibility for incidents linked to the Academy Union, including the recent explosion at the office.

The real reason was to manipulate the Academy Union from behind the scenes while putting more distance between Luke and the public eye.

Additionally, Kambara mentioned that he would continue to manage the union’s finances and other existing responsibilities while the actual duties of the Vice Chairman would fall to Veronica.

“Veronica?”

“Yes, your brother instructed me to do so.”

“What do you think about that?”

“She may not have experience managing a union, but she has managed her organization before. If I or the others guide her a bit, I think she’ll handle it well.”

As Kambara spoke smoothly, Elena decided to let it slide this time.

“Got it. If any problems come up, let me know immediately.”

“Yes.”

After hearing Kambara’s response, Elena hung up the phone.

“….”

Felicita was curious about the conversation but didn’t ask Elena first.

“Apparently, there was a bomb explosion at the Academy’s Union Office.”

“…What?”

Before Felicita could even ask, Elena spoke.

She was confident she wouldn’t be surprised by anything she heard, but this was different.

“I think it was the Palmas bastards.”

“The Dwarves?”

“Yeah, if not them, then it must have been Russo’s crew. They’re not stupid enough to do something like that.”

“….”

“Why? Do you have something to say?”

“What about Luke?”

“This matter will be handled by Luke. Don’t worry, just leave it to him.”

“I’m not worried.”

The common ground between the two women was not just that they were both married to Luke, but that they both trusted him unequivocally.

*


Meanwhile, at that moment, I, who was enjoying my wives’ overblown trust and affection, arrived at my destination.

“Boss, we’re here.”

“Thanks.”

Michael, one of my wolves in the passenger seat, handed over a hot dog he had bought nearby.

Michael was one of the wolves under me and was the reason our family started several ventures at the Academy.

That’s because his girlfriend was a professor there.

“What? No ketchup here either?”

“Boss, in this town, there’s probably no one who puts ketchup on a hot dog.”

Hevili-style hot dogs.

For some reason, hot dogs in this town never, ever come with ketchup.

And there were seven essential ingredients.

Sport pepper, pickled vegetables, yellow mustard, tomatoes, pickles, onions, and finally, celery salt.

As I took a bite, the taste of pickles sliced long and thick enough to cover the sausage and other ingredients hit me strongly.

Michael, the driver-wolf, and I.

The three of us devoured two or three hot dogs before entering Viola’s stronghold.

“Boss, haven’t you eaten yet?”

“I have.”

“Why ask that? If you want to eat, just eat.”

Michael reacted as if the other wolf’s comment was irrelevant.

The other guy said he only asked because my hot dog-eating speed was unusually fast.

“Alright, I’ve filled up, so let’s go.”

As soon as Michael opened the door for me, I stepped out of the car.

Even without announcing my arrival, the area in front of her stronghold was filled with organization members gathered to greet me.

“So they already knew I was coming.”

“Probably. Where else would Viola go?”

As Michael said, if it was the meticulous Viola, she must have already known about my arrival.

She likely knew about the armored car I was driving too.

“Underboss.”

As Michael and I approached the stronghold, Viola’s subordinates greeted me.

“Yeah, I hate standing out, so disperse now.”

“Yes.”

At my command, the members quickly returned to their positions.

Aside from those who would guide me to Viola, no one was left.

“The boss is waiting for you.”

“Alright, let’s head in.”

We followed Viola’s subordinates into the stronghold.

Meanwhile, they asked me about Veronica. It seemed it wasn’t only Viola who was interested in her.

I had nothing to say about that, other than the fact that she was at the Academy.

Viola’s stronghold covered the entire Anglewood area, and it was a social club. Choosing a social club as a base was very much a choice befitting Carmen’s sister.

Though she technically wasn’t part of the Carmen Family anymore.

“Welcome.”

“Viola, long time no see.”

As soon as I entered her office, she welcomed me and Michael.

Kambara must have informed her that I was coming, so it wasn’t a sudden visit.

“I’ve heard the news.”

“Yes, I heard the Palmas bastards have messed with the Academy.”

Viola said that and readily admitted it was her mistake.

“It’s okay. I also didn’t expect them to have the nerve to come to the Academy. But what’s the situation now?”

According to Viola, it was somewhat mixed.

The Alini Family was struggling, but the Dwarf Gang was pushing the Palmas Family hard.

A situation unfolded contrary to my predictions. I never thought the Alini Family would be lesser than the Dwarf Gang.

“The Alinis are losing? Is that guy really that incompetent?”

“No, I doubt that since he was the bodyguard of that crazy hatmaker.”

Viola said that but indicated that it was the problem.

“What do you mean?”

“It’s natural for there to be backlash now that a bodyguard has suddenly become the boss. It seems like the opposition is rallying around the children of the deceased Kario.”

“Is it for revenge against their parents…?”

“Yeah, that’s likely.”

Albert Kario, the former boss of the Alini Family. That guy was taken care of by me and Sarina directly.

It was something that could be done because of the betrayal of that guy’s bodyguard, Alini.

“Make sure to tell those bastards and the Palmas that Kario has been executed and Antonio Alini has become the boss of the family by the decision of the Five Families. Let them know who they are messing with.”

It was necessary to remind them that they were defying the big shots of this city.

“Yes, I will send my subordinates.”

Viola called upon her subordinates to relay my message.

Though not the Palmas, Alini’s opposition could slaughter Viola’s subordinates outright. Still, Viola didn’t seem to care at all.

Viola and I exchanged various stories, including Veronica.

When Viola asked about Veronica, I informed her that the girl was currently at the Academy.

I wanted to bring Veronica with me this time, but I added that I had other matters to attend to.

“That’s too bad.”

“Yeah, but even though she’s a niece, she’s not really my blood; what would I even say to her when we meet?”

“Well, talking is one thing… but I’m after the information she might have.”

As expected, just as I thought.

“Michael, take the kids and head straight to the Alini Family.”

“Yes.”

Regardless of how the opposition responded, I was determined to handle Alini’s dissenters.

With Michael and my wolves, I thought it would be sufficient.

After that, while I was deep in conversation with Viola, one of her subordinates informed us of Granada’s arrival.

“Granada?”

“I summoned him. Whether or not the Alini opposition is involved, we need to repay the Palmas bastards.”

“I didn’t expect Granada to come in person.”

While Viola focused on Granada, I had different thoughts. Granada’s importance was secondary to the explosives and bombs he was bringing.

I planned to blow them all up in the Palmas Family’s area.

Meanwhile, before Granada even reached Viola’s office, her phone rang loudly.

“Alright, got it. Just come back for now.”

“….”

“The Palmas guys say they’ll acknowledge that Alini is the new boss of the family.”

“Really?”

“Yes, and they want to speak directly with you, the young lady or the underboss.”

“What about Alini’s opposition?”

“They haven’t been killed but were turned away at the door.”

Well, it couldn’t be helped. If they wanted to learn the hard way, I’d have to grant them their wish. I instructed Viola to inform Michael and the wolves, who would be in Alini’s territory.

Children wanting to avenge their parents. I understood them well since I and Elena were in the same boat.

Such people must not be allowed to live.

“Crush all the Alini opposition.”

That was the command I gave to my wolves.

The command of the wolves, and now the command of the Five Families as well.