Chapter 17: Appetite Of Heavens

Appetite of Heavens was a seven-star restaurant hotel located in Nova City, the capital of the World Government. The city was protected by high-ranking Awakener guilds and the World Government’s special forces.

No one would have even considered attacking Nova City.

No one had dared to do so in the past century—until today.

When news broke that Appetite of Heavens had been attacked by a terrorist organization, the city lost its mind.

Parents abandoned work and ignored traffic laws, rushing through the streets to reach the restaurant.

Powerful Awakeners appeared at school gates without bothering with transportation.

World Government security forces were deployed within minutes of the first alert, flooding the area with armed personnel and neutralizing the terrorists they encountered outside the hostage area.

However, no one had entered the section of the building where the hostages were being held. The authorities had no reliable information about the terrorists’ numbers or the number of civilians trapped inside.

The terrorists had made no demands yet.

Charging in recklessly would only endanger the hostages.

"This is Caly Folks, reporting for News Only For You. As you can see, the situation outside Appetite of Heavens has become increasingly chaotic. World Government security forces have surrounded the building, but they have yet to launch an assault."

The reporter stood behind a line of security personnel, holding her microphone with a trembling hand.

"According to the information we’ve received, the terrorists have taken an unknown number of civilians hostage. Their identities, motives, and demands remain unknown. We urge everyone to remain calm and avoid approaching the scene."

Behind her, several armored vehicles blocked the road. Armed Awakeners stood guard while medical teams waited nearby, ready to treat the injured.

However, the crowd showed no signs of calming down.

"My daughter is in there!"

A middle-aged man pushed against the security barricade, his face pale with panic.

"Please! Let me through! My daughter is still inside!"

"Sir, please calm down. We’re doing everything we can."

"Calm down?! How am I supposed to calm down when my daughter is in there?"

The man’s voice cracked.

Several other parents stood nearby, desperately trying to contact their children. Some were crying, while others repeatedly called their phones, hoping to hear a familiar voice.

Unfortunately, most calls went unanswered.

The situation was no better among the Awakeners gathered outside.

Many possessed enough strength to tear through the building’s walls, but that wasn’t the problem.

The terrorists had hostages.

One reckless move could cost innocent people their lives.

"What’s taking so long? Just send someone inside!"

"Are you an idiot? What if the terrorists start killing hostages?"

"Then what are we supposed to do? Stand here and watch?"

Arguments broke out among the crowd.

Meanwhile, inside a nearby command vehicle, a group of World Government officials stared at the building’s security footage.

"Have we identified the organization responsible?" one official asked.

"Not yet. We’ve lost access to most of the internal surveillance systems. Our remaining cameras show multiple armed individuals moving throughout the building, but we haven’t determined their total numbers."

"And their demands?"

"Nothing so far."

The official frowned.

An attack on Appetite of Heavens was already outrageous. Carrying it out in Nova City, the capital of the World Government, was practically a declaration of war.

Yet someone had dared to challenge the very heart of humanity’s governing power.

He had a terrible feeling about this.

An attack of this scale couldn’t possibly be a simple attempt to demand ransom. There had to be another reason.

Until they understood the terrorists’ intentions, sending their forces inside would be a gamble they couldn’t afford to take.

---

Inside Appetite of Heavens, the situation was equally tense.

The surviving hostages knelt on the floor with their hands bound. Several were crying, while others sat motionless, too frightened to make a sound.

Among them was Sofia Moretti.

Her cheek still hurt where one of the terrorists had struck her, and her wrists were beginning to ache from the restraints.

She glanced around cautiously.

Eight terrorists stood guard nearby, their weapons trained on the hostages. One watched the entrance, while another spoke into a radio.

Sofia lowered her gaze.

She had no idea whether anyone would come to save them.

But she refused to die here.

Not like this.

Clank—!

A faint metallic sound echoed through the corridor beyond the room.

One of the terrorists raised his head.

"What was that?"

Another tightened his grip on his rifle.

"Probably one of the security forces moving around outside."

"Then why did it sound like it came from inside?"

Silence fell over the room.

The terrorist nearest Sofia turned toward the entrance, his expression hardening.

"Everyone, stay alert."

Sofia’s heart began to pound.

She didn’t know what had made that sound, but she had a feeling that something was about to happen.

And somewhere inside the restaurant, Lorenzo Riina was coming for her.

---

Meanwhile, inside the Riina family residence, Aldric watched the news with a frozen expression and bloodshot eyes.

The only reason he was holding himself back was that his seven-year-old daughter, Sara, was sitting on his lap.

[This is Caly Folks, reporting for News Only For You. As you can see, the situation outside Appetite of Heavens has become increasingly chaotic. World Government security forces have surrounded the building, but they—]

Aldric quickly turned off the television before Sara could hear any more of the report.

Like her father and grandfather, she had black hair. However, her blue eyes came from her mother, who was no longer in this world.

"Daddy, didn’t Big Brother go to this restaurant with Big Sister Sofy?"

Her voice trembled slightly as she looked up at Aldric with her big, round eyes.

Aldric’s expression stiffened.

For a moment, he didn’t answer.

Sara continued looking at him, waiting for a response.

"Daddy?"

Aldric lowered his gaze toward his daughter.

"Yes, sweetheart. Your big brother went there with Sofia."

"Then... is Big Brother going to be okay?"

Her small hands clutched his shirt.

Aldric felt something tighten in his chest.

He could lie to her. He could tell her that everything would be fine and that her big brother would return home soon.

But he couldn’t bring himself to make that promise when he didn’t even know what was happening inside the restaurant.

"Of course," Aldric finally answered, placing a hand on her head. "Your big brother is stronger than you think."

"Really?"

"Really."

Sara’s expression brightened slightly.

"Then he’ll bring Big Sister Sofy home too, right?"

Aldric’s hand paused.

Sofia Moretti.

He knew about his son’s obsession with that girl. He also knew about the engagement Lorenzo had forced upon her by threatening her family.

And he had helped him with his little obsession.

After all, when the Riina family wanted something, who dared to stand in their way?

But now wasn’t the time to think about that.

Aldric carefully placed Sara on the sofa and stood up.

The moment he turned away from her, the faint smile disappeared from his face.

"Salvatore!"

The door opened almost immediately.

"Yes, Don Aldric!"

"Mobilize our people."

Salvatore hesitated.

"Don, the World Government has sealed off the entire area surrounding Appetite of Heavens. Their forces are already on-site, and they haven’t allowed anyone to enter."

Aldric slowly turned his head.

"Did I ask you whether they’ve allowed anyone to enter?"

Salvatore’s expression stiffened.

"No, Don."

"Then why are you still standing here?"

"Understood!"

Salvatore hurried out.

Aldric took out his phone and dialed a number.

The moment the call connected, a man’s voice came through.

"Don Aldric?"

"Deploy our people throughout Nova City, and find out everything you can about the terrorists responsible for this attack."

"Understood. What about the World Government?"

Aldric’s eyes narrowed.

"Uccidere per la famiglia. I don’t give a damn about the World Government or its guilds. Don’t forget that they’re allowed to exist in peace because I tolerate them."

His voice turned cold.

"But if anything happens to my son, I’ll make sure the people responsible regret ever being born and that includes officers from World Goverment, I’ll take on even that guy who sit’s as chairman of World Goverment."

"Yes, Don!"

Aldric ended the call.

For several seconds, he stood motionless, staring at the dark screen of his phone.

Then he looked toward the window.

Nova City was supposed to be the safest place in the world, protected by powerful Awakeners, elite guilds, and the World Government’s special forces.

Yet someone had attacked it anyway.

And Lorenzo was caught in the middle.

Aldric’s eyes darkened.

’Whoever you are, you’d better pray my son is unharmed.’

Because if Lorenzo died today, the Riina family would make sure the entire world remembered the price of crossing them.