Chapter 28 - The Don and The Second Root 1 (1/2)
The Scily island divided by two powerful clans. The eastern side was under the protection of the Verdugo household whilst, the western part was under the Archnemesis.
Italia had four seasons however, there was a peculiar event that made the island changed the climate on this island. It had happened five years ago when a powerful mage cast a spell that created a strong miasma against the mages of the Archnemesis. A war between the Archnemesis and Corleon clan which lasted for only six days. Despite the powerful clan emerged victorious against the invading forces of the Corleon, four of the important family members and their relatives died under suspicious circ.u.mstances.
With that unexpected event, the youngest among the three children of the previous Don of the Archnemesis inherit the throne and he became the first of his generation to be bestowed the title of the new Don of his clan at the age of ten,
And, now, a new war would begin after the last mafia war. That would force a young man to fight for his way to rise from the top, unintentionally.
The sun had disappeared as the night dominated the field. Citizens returned to their homes, vendors closed their stores, and the guards who were stationed in the district had started to patrol. The lights of the posts illuminated the street, every window of the buildings closed, and the lovely chirping sounds from the crickets could be heard.
Two shadows appeared from the corner, the black-haired scarlet eyed masked man wearing white sleeves covered by his black coat and black pants that covered his lower body was neatly fit. His neck covered by his red scarf made him looked, appearance-wise man. His intimidating appearance made the bystanders looked away from his sight and to those people, they crossed immediately gave way whenever he closed in a distance.
Hermes Archnemesis was the name of the young lad. He was a transmigrator or more specifically known as reincarnator in the present era. It was one week earlier when he transmigrated inside the gaming world. Despite the fact that every man dreamed to be reincarnated in a fantasy world, the truth that this world was against his character's fate was giving him false hope. With additional transparency of cruelty and despair for his life that would kill him someday, he was still displeased to live on this planet.
Behind him who was his personal attendant, his name was Justin. He was usually in his custom-made butler suit but since it was still winter season, he was in his winter coat and a scarp hanged around his neck. He had no surname since he was a mere servant of a 'small-time family.'
Despite his good looking face and an aura of an angelic man who wouldn't do any harm to anyone, he was a ruthless, pragmatic, and cunning man. He was a manipulative servant of his and he would do anything to his power to wipe out his master's enemies with or without his orders.
Why they were outside of the street?
Hermes Archnemesis had received a 'favor' from Chief Zamor. The old man told him that the remnants of the bandits had still lurking at the night and they were causing too much trouble in their territory. His representative voluntarily wanted to help out however, he told them that he had someone to wipe them out. And that was Hermes.
Hermes pulled out his handkerchief, he sneezed. He wandered his eyes, looking for something that would lead him to his targets' whereabouts. Even he was worried and cautious strolling around, he didn't feel scared at all.
”Justin, what's the status on your radar?” asked the young Don, turning his gaze at his butler, ”Any hostiles?” he added.
His butler, Justin, used his skill, [Agenda], and he sadly found nothing. ”Forgive me, sir. There's no one willing to show up yet. ”
Hermes halt. He sighed, crossed his arms across his c.h.e.s.t, and leaned his back against the wall. ”I guess. It can't be helped. This place looks very 'protected'.”
”Sir, why are we here again?” asked Justin, carefully examined the field within his range. He was worried about his master's wellbeing. It was January and the cold breeze of the night could still kill a single person albeit the snow hadn't been fallen on their island for the past five years.
The young Don raised his eyebrows and he replied, ”We're going to whack out some stupid morons that were causing troubles in this district. Remember the bastards we fought? His men are still doing some nasty stuff in my territory. They might be thinking that they could take his role as a new ganglord after his death. So, we have to do something before they could rise from power.”
”Forgive me, sir. So, that's how it is. So this is a small favor from that Zamor. I know your not the type of person who would do something like this without taking some benefits from this.” Justin praised his master.
Hermes simpered, ”Of course, there are a lot of benefits after this favor.”
”Sir, someone's coming. It's two people who are coming in this way.” His servant led the young Don to the hidden place.
Two lights from their lamp carried by the guards colored the path. A brown, old-style, and two emblems of their village's official logo pinned in their shoulders had appeared. Their hat was rag but well-mannered that could be mistaken as a soldier's official cap.
”Hey, do you think we should go in here?” one of the patrol guards asked.
”Why not?”
”Y' know. This is one of the territories of those bastards though? I think we should move away from here before one of them shows up,” he suggested.
”Y-y-you're right. But, their leader had been murdered three days ago. And even the old Caption. Captain Mattia died as well. We shouldn't be worrying about them at all. Right?” his companion shivered after he said that.
”Right, however, they are still a powerhouse in this district. We shouldn't be fighting them since they might kill our family as well.”
His companion fretted, ”No way. I guess we should move somewhere else. I pray that they died before they could hit my family. I don't know what would I do if someone tries to hurt them at all.”
The light disappeared after they left.
The young Don and his butler appeared from the shadow, gravely watching them from afar.
Hermes pulled out his toothpick, removed his mask for a while, and used it, like cigar without a smoke during the night.
”My Don, the situation isn't worse than we expected. The villagers are probably no more or no less weak than I thought. The guards are still afraid to face these morons. No wonder that jerk asked for your help. But oh, well. You have something in your mind to accept it. Its a favor of course so this mission isn't free at all. I guess we can use this as an excuse to execute your scheme,” said Justin, smiling.
Hermes raised his right eyebrows and turned his gaze at his servant. He questioned inside his mind what was he meant, Scheme? What was the scheming anyway? He had no idea what's inside this person's mind, but he might be misunderstood his help for something else.
All he wanted to do was to delete his bad reputation from this place. Not only that, but he also planned to turn the village into a safe haven before he exiled himself somewhere away from this place.
Although it was against the wishes of the villagers, the game was still set against their own agenda. They would only bring home a hopeless fight against his rival family. It wasn't a traitorous act but it was a wise choice indeed for himself.
It was an unfortunate fate but he didn't care since he would be freed from the disaster.
”Well, it'll change the flow of the story but who cares. It doesn't change the fact that this place will be annexed by that clan anyway. I'm just helping them to get in a different way,” he muttered aside that only he could hear himself.
He wore his mask again after he tossed aside his broken toothpick, and he continued to stroll the street.
He planned to develop this village and he would turn over the right of succession to his neighbor, the Verdugo family since the original owner of this territory was from them after all.
It might be a little different from the plot, it might even be changed the flow of the story but he wouldn't mind overthrowing his pride over his life. His territory had been destined to be annexed by the Verdugo clan after his character's death. So why not change to another direction without countering the future that plan would worth trying.
”Indeed. (Even I don't know what you're talking about.) Let's continue our patrol. Follow my lead,” Hermes answered.
The cold breeze coming from the west came. Without a cover on his head, he sneezed once again. His butler, Justin, asked his boss to stay on the bench to rest and he'll be back to get his cap in the car. Hermes let his servant did what he suggested.
Sitting on the bench without a companion to talk with, the young man got bored.
His silent night had been interrupted, more like got disturbed after three voices of old men passed through to his right ear.
Since his servant was absent and left him alone. He had two options to choose; hide or stay.
Without a second thought, he opted to hide. After all, he had no idea if the strangers were friendly or not. Could they be trusted to talk with or not was still a question inside his mind?
His character had a special trait or more like a skill to interpret his situation. His heart and body told him to hide and so he did.
He quickly jumped over the bench and hid behind it. But his shadow had already seen by one of them before he could do that.
”Hey kid, you don't need to hide yourself from us,” asked the middle man who appeared to be the leader of the crew.
The man with a bandana on his forehead cracked his fingers, ”Oh, there's someone there, huh. Oho, another playmate.”
”Jeez, don't you forget that we should play nice to our new acquaintance. We should be more gentle before we do something. ” the man on the right suggested.
”Right, right.” they agreed.
Hermes clicked his tongue, had no other choice but to show up since it was impossible to escape their sight. Yet, he remained behind the bench while the thugs moved closer from every side, blocking the path for escape.
The young Don turned vigilant, readied himself for some unexpected action.
”Well, what do we have here? A little pub is hiding behind the brown ugly bench. Are you seriously think we won't see you there?” the leader bragged, smiling.
Hermes turned his gaze at the leader. He placed his right hand on his c.h.e.s.t and he politely greeted the folks, ”Forgive me, sir. It is not what you think it is. To tell you the truth, I lost my cap when the wind blew it away from my head. I thought it had fallen behind the bench so I checked it to confirm. But my belonging was unfortunately not here. It was just a coincidence that you saw me like this.”
The leader moved closer in a distance and stomped his foot on the top of the bench. He leaned his arm over his knee and looked at the young Don's mask.
”Kid,” he picked out from his pocket a portion of a cigarette and lighted it by his magic. ”Why someone like you wearing a stupid mask would lie to me. Don't screw with me.” He blew a cloud of smoke at his mask that made the young Don leaned backward.
”Sir,” the young Don hesitated at first but remained his posture of a firm young lad. ”It is not my intention. I'm telling the truth.”
”Oh,” the leader destroyed the bench by the force that came out from his foot. It divided into two and leave a huge crack. ”Man, you're really a moron. Do you think such a petty answer will make us believe?”
”Sir, ” the young Don calmly spoke with manner, ”please, it is just a misunderstanding. If you may ―”
”― I said, ” The leader grabbed his neck with threatening gaze, ”Don't f.u.c.k with me, kid. Do you really think I won't see your lies behind that filthy and funny mask of yours?”
”Oh, then, so be it.” The young Don, unsurprised, glared at his eyes with disgust.
The leader tilted his head in confusion, ”What?”
”Get your hands off from me, you punk.”
”Wha- What did you just say, kid? Oh, lads. This kid has the courage to say that in front of me.” He pointed his index at the young Don while he was mocking him with his companions. His men were laughing from his mockery against the young Don.
”As I said, get your filthy hands off my neck. or else, you'll meet the maker in no time.” Hermes declared, gravely.
His terrifying neon sight from his eyes made the leader gulp.