Make Our Family Great Again – Chapter 74

Michael and my pack of wolves headed to Beverly South to carry out the orders from the Five Families.

I planned to spend my time alone at Viola’s Social Club.

“Please escort the Godfather to the room.”

“Viola, it’s all good, but I’m not a Godfather.”

“Since you’re the husband of the Godmother, it’s only right to call you the Godfather. Besides, regardless of what anyone says, you’re certainly the Son of the Godfather.”

“….”

Well, if you put it that way, it’s not wrong.

Still, I told her to refrain from using the title Godfather since it could lead to false perceptions about me being the Boss of the family.

“Understood.”

Viola complied without fussing when I made my point clear.

Afterward, I followed Viola’s men to the room and turned on the radio that was in there.

“Hey, can I ask you for a favor?”

“Yes, just say the word.”

“Bring me a newspaper.”

Not just any newspaper would do.

There’s a hostile morning newspaper that’s been against the mafia since the beginning, and that’s exactly what I wanted.

Viola’s henchman said he’d bring it as quickly as possible, though I imagined he was a bit put off inside.

Tap.

While they went to fetch what I wanted, I decided to listen to the radio.

Of course, I had no intention of tuning into just any channel. I focused on the channels that covered important news, especially incidents happening in the city.

“The Special Investigation Team is set to intervene regarding the series of shootings and murders that occurred at the Port and the Academy.”

They were talking about something that had just happened recently.

“….”

I couldn’t help but chuckle.

The cop handling the Special Investigation Team was on our payroll.

The captain must have been in cahoots with Salmo, the Consigliere, long before this.

“The Hebili police have announced that the Dwarf Mafia is involved in the explosion incident at the Academy’s faculty union office.”

The events at the Academy were already making it to the radio.

Comparing it to the world I lived in, there was still a long way to go, but things were definitely improving.

“The faculty union of the Academy has stated that Vice Chairman Luke Felini will resign, and they plan to elect a new Vice Chairman.”

It seemed the changes I told Kambara about regarding the union organization were progressing well.

As I listened to various news summaries on the radio, Viola’s men brought me the newspaper I requested.

“Pretty quick.”

I continued to read the newspaper while still listening to the radio.

It could be a bit confusing at times, but I didn’t mind losing track of time.

Meanwhile, the newspaper was brutally addressing incidents happening all over the city.

There was a cartoon poking fun at the shooting of Black people that occurred at the Port a few days ago, depicting how they vanished without a trace.

It showed a dumb-faced cop asking about their whereabouts, while a black skull was poking its head out of the sea, shouting, “We’re right here?!”

“But does the skull need to be black just because they’re Black?”

Anyway, it was clear this city’s folks were steeped in racial and ethnic discrimination.

As I read through the newspaper, a topic I couldn’t ignore came up on the radio.

“…The infamous Mafia boss Albert Kario’s son, Julian Kario, was brutally murdered just moments ago in Beverly after being shot multiple times. Kario, who had been under police surveillance for a long time….”

This wasn’t the news the radio intended to convey.

However, one thing was clear. Michael and the other wolves were carrying out the orders from the Five Families quite well.

Thanks to that, the police in Beverly were sure to have some overtime coming up.

“Hmm.”

This pretty much solved the problem on Alini’s end. Michael and the wolves would systematically eliminate the opposing factions of Alini after Julian Kario.

I exited the room and headed to Viola’s office.

“Viola, it’s me.”

“Come in. Is there something bothering you?”

“No, just relay to Alini. We took care of Julian, so don’t worry and just handle the Palmas guys properly.”

“Yes, I’ll pass that along.”

Viola didn’t seem surprised that Julian was dealt with in an instant.

Though she was Rita Carmen’s sister, she must have known the skills and caliber of our wolves quite well.

“And one more thing. Do you know anything about the Palmas guys?”

“I only know the basics. What are you curious about?”

“…Let’s start with their boss.”

Johnny Palmas. That was the name of the Palmas Family boss.

“He’s a cautious and conservative man.”

“Is there a Dwarf who isn’t?”

“Isn’t Granada a good example?”

“Oh.”

Viola brought up a fitting example that completely contradicted the typical image of Dwarfs.

Yeah, that bomb fanatic was somewhat not your average Dwarf.

“He doesn’t flaunt any extravagance and is rather unremarkable.”

“But he’s still the Boss.”

At my comment, Viola nodded. The fact that Johnny was the Boss was the most important thing.

Viola continued her story about Johnny Palmas.

He originally started as a low-ranking mob member and gradually rose through the ranks from mobster to Caporegime, and then to Boss.

“Self-made man.”

“Well, what’s certain is that he had the skills to beat the other competitors.”

“Good, so how did you plan to deal with the Palmas?”

“I was thinking of cutting off their money supply first.”

Viola stated that the main income source for the Palmas Family was through garbage collection in the Northeastern part of the city.

Like other Mafia families, they held significant influence in that field and industry.

Then she brought up another character.

“Do you know a guy named Salido?”

“No. I don’t really know.”

I answered Viola like that, but I began to wonder if I was missing something crucial.

After all, there wouldn’t be a reason for Viola to ask me about him.

“He’s one of the members of the Palmas Family.”

“Just a member? Not a higher-up?”

Viola’s expression seemed a bit vague at my question. Then she continued her story.

“While he isn’t a Caporegime, he’s somewhat of an upper-level member.”

“A member treated like an executive, huh? So, is he Johnny’s right-hand man or something?”

“Yes, and there’s another important reason.”

“What’s that?”

“Salido used to be a Wolf.”

“…What?”

I should have picked up on it when she didn’t mention his last name.

But something felt off. I didn’t know a Salido among the Wolves.

“He quit during the time of the Godfather.”

“When exactly was that?”

According to Viola, it was before Elena was born. Oh, then it made sense that I didn’t know.

A former Wolf turned powerful boss from a lowly member onwards.

The story of Johnny Palmas was indeed fascinating.

“So, what was your reason for mentioning Salido to me?”

“Salido is the one managing the garbage industry that the Palmas Family is involved in.”

“A Wolf doing such work, huh.”

“Yes, and it seems he might also be Johnny Palmas’s driver.”

His right-hand man was no ordinary right-hand man. A key industry expert + driver + former Wolf.

At this point, I could guess what Viola was going to say next.

“You’re planning to target Salido now, right?”

“Yes, since it seems the problems on Alini’s side have been resolved thanks to the Wolves.”

Viola stated that she’d mobilize her men and even the Alini Family and Dwarf Gang to take the Palmas Family head-on.

She planned to kidnap Salido beforehand.

“My guys will help you out.”

“Having the Wolves help me out feels very reassuring. So, could I possibly have some assistance from the Wolves in kidnapping Salido?”

Viola said it would be perfect if she could add a few wolves to the ones already preparing for the job.

I readily accepted her proposal.

I decided to leave the operation in the Northeastern part of the city to her.

“Alright, let’s wrap up the discussion here.”

“Are you heading back to the hotel?”

“Yeah, I should. Our Godmother is waiting for me.”

Viola nodded in agreement with my words.

Fortunately, there was no food or drink at Viola’s Social Club, which was a relief.

Even I thought I had eaten quite a bit today.

*

While Michael and the wolves swept away Alini’s opposition and prepared to kidnap the key figure of the Palmas Family, Salido.

I was riding in a bulletproof car heading to the Lupus Carlton Hotel by the port.

I felt bad for Veronica, whom I left at the Academy, but reporting to Elena about the new information came first.

On my way back, I looked out the rear seat window at the scenery outside.

Unlike before, it was quiet since Michael wasn’t there, but there was nothing wrong with that either.

Sometimes it was necessary to have some time alone, just to let your mind wander.

“Brother, we’ve arrived.”

“Okay.”

But such moments didn’t last as long as I thought.

I didn’t need someone else to open the car door for me; I did it myself and headed towards the hotel lobby.

Wolves and gang members standing guard at the hotel entrance showed me their respect, and I responded as I always did.

“Which floor are you going to?”

“Top floor.”

When the elevator arrived, the bellboy inside asked which floor I wanted to go to.

Now that I thought about it, he was someone I hadn’t seen before. If he was a bellboy originally working at this hotel, he wouldn’t be unaware of who I was or where I was headed.

Ding-dong―!

After reaching the top floor, I headed straight for Elena’s Room.

Unlike usual, Felicita and Veronica were not in the hallway. Though Veronica was at the Academy, seeing that Felicita wasn’t around meant she must have stepped away.

“Luke?”

“Yeah, it’s me.”

As soon as I stepped into the room, a different voice came to me.

It had a light and natural feeling that didn’t care about the boss’s dignity or decorum. There were probably not many people who could hear Elena’s voice like this.

“I heard you met with Viola.”

“Yeah, since the Palmas guys have pestered us, I figured we should respond. But more importantly, I have something to tell you.”

“Really? So do I.”

She said she had something to tell me.

What I needed to say to Elena was also important, but I was even more curious about what she wanted to say to me.

“Then you go first.”

“….”

Elena took her sweet time as I gave her the opportunity.

I wondered what on earth could be so important that she needed to stall like this.