Chapter 65: The new guy

Third POV

"Did you hear? Don Marco will be choosing a new guard and a new personal servant. I hope I get chosen," one of the servants said among the few gathered in the garden, earning giggles from the others.

"Everyone wants to be chosen. I heard Don Marco is not as ruthless as Don Edoardo. It might not be that bad working under him," another servant added.

The others nodded, and the conversation continued as they discussed their chances of being selected. None of them seemed to notice the man lying beneath the flower bed nearby, listening to every word they said.

Fabio had a slight smirk at the corner of his lips, the setting sun adding a faint glow to the visible parts of his face. His eyes remained fixed on a particular window of the mansion, unwavering as he listened to the servants discuss their new Don.

He remained in the same position for a few more minutes until a bell rang, causing the servants in the garden to immediately get to their feet. Their earlier excitement turned into hurried movements as they began making their way out of the garden.

"It’s time," one of them whispered to another.

Fabio watched them leave before slowly standing up and following suit. His mask remained firmly in place, concealing the lower part of his face.

Not long afterward, the guards and servants of the Moretti household were lined up on a field, with their new Don standing not too far away. A table had been placed in front of them, displaying different types of guns arranged for the test. Some of the men exchanged uncertain glances, while others appeared confident enough to believe they would easily pass.

Tony stepped forward and addressed the crowd. "The goal is to hit the target at point ten times."

He allowed the words to settle before gesturing toward the weapons on the table. The test would determine who among them had the necessary skills to serve Marco, and nobody wanted to embarrass themselves in front of their new Don.

One by one, the participants stepped forward, picked their weapons, and began shooting at the targets.

The first few managed to land several accurate shots, but none of them completed all ten successfully. Some missed their targets, while others struggled as the distance increased. Each failed attempt brought another round of whispers from those waiting for their turn, and the pressure on the remaining participants continued to grow.

That was until Fabio stepped forward.

Behind him, the others began whispering among themselves as they watched the masked man approach the table. Most of them recognized him as the new servant who had arrived not long ago, but none seemed particularly impressed by his presence.

"Isn’t this the new servant from the training ground?"

"Yes, it’s him. I remember because he is always wearing a mask. He said his face is ugly."

"I bet he won’t pass the first round."

"Even most of us with real field experience could not pass stage six. What can he do?"

Fabio paid no attention to their comments. His movements were unhurried as he reached for a Beretta APX, checked the weapon, and positioned himself before the targets. He raised the gun and began firing at the first five targets, his shots following one another with little delay. Every bullet found its mark, leaving no room for complaints about his accuracy.

The servants who had been mocking him gradually fell silent. Even those who had initially dismissed him began paying closer attention, their expressions changing as they watched him complete the first part of the test without a single miss.

Next came the sniping round.

Fabio returned the first gun to the table and picked up an M40A3. He moved into the designated position and took a moment to study the targets before settling into place. Unlike the others, he did not appear bothered by the distance or the number of people watching him. He simply adjusted his position, aimed, and fired.

In less than ten seconds, the man standing near the targeted area raised a blue flag, confirming the sixth hit.

Fabio shifted his attention to the seventh target, which was farther away, and took another shot. The blue flag rose again. The eighth and ninth targets followed just as swiftly, each successful shot leaving the watching crowd with fewer reasons to doubt his abilities.

Then came the tenth target.

It stood two miles away, and Fabio stared at it for a while without making a move. His stillness prompted the servants to start whispering again, although this time, their voices carried more uncertainty than mockery.

"He is good indeed, but this last one is impossible."

"I swear, Don Marco really has high expectations."

Fabio remained unbothered by their remarks. He stepped back toward the table, returned the M40A3, and picked up a McMillan TAC-50. After observing the target for a little longer, he measured the angles with his eyes, searching for the right position to take his shot. He eventually lay down on the grass and adjusted his aim.

This time, he took longer. Twenty seconds passed before he finally pulled the trigger.

The entire field fell silent as everyone waited for the result. The man standing near the distant target remained out of their sight, leaving the crowd to watch for the signal that would determine whether Fabio had succeeded. Even Fabio raised his brow slightly as he waited, though his expression remained difficult to read.

Not long afterward, the blue flag rose.

Applause broke out among the servants and guards, with some exchanging surprised looks as Fabio stood up. The man they had been certain would fail had completed the entire test without missing a single target. Fabio returned the gun to the table, seemingly unconcerned by the attention he had attracted.

Tony, who stood beside the table, looked up at him. His lips stretched into an almost unnoticeable smile, but Fabio paid little attention to it. Without giving the matter much thought, he reached up and removed his mask, letting out a low exhale as he finally allowed himself to breathe freely.

Then he turned his head toward Marco.

Marco stood watching him, one brow raised. His eyes seemed almost to twitch as he stared at Fabio’s exposed face, his expression betraying a reaction he could not entirely conceal. For a moment, nobody seemed to notice anything unusual, but Tony’s face had turned completely ashen. Standing behind Marco, James also stared at Fabio in open disbelief.

Fortunately for Fabio, none of the other guards or servants appeared to recognize him. Any Don’s identity all over Italy was usually kept hidden, not to talk of Fabio who was yet to take over his empire. Only a few people knew him.

And right now, Marco, Tony and James were the only ones.