Chapter 89: Mafia Boss [2]

The rain continued to pour over the streets of Berlin.

Inside a petrol car, Klaus Weber sat in the passenger seat, staring out the window with a cigarette between his fingers. Matthias, who was driving, remained unusually quiet.

They had just left the Hiroshi Family’s mansion.

Or rather, what remained of it.

The entire estate had been reduced to a blood-soaked ruin. Bodies littered the grounds, the mansion had suffered extensive damage, and Zomboto Hiroshi—the man who had once controlled a significant portion of Berlin’s underworld—was dead.

And the person responsible was a seventeen-year-old boy.

"Are we really going to leave it at that?" Matthias finally asked.

Klaus took a drag from his cigarette.

"Leave what?"

"You know exactly what I’m talking about. We just witnessed the destruction of an entire family. Shouldn’t we report what happened?"

"Report what?" Klaus asked casually. "An unfortunate explosion? A tragic accident? Perhaps a retirement party that got a little out of hand?"

Matthias glanced at him.

"You’re not seriously suggesting we lie in an official report."

"I’m suggesting that we don’t write something that could cause an international incident."

Klaus flicked the ash from his cigarette.

"The SCBD is in Berlin to maintain the World Government’s influence. We’re not here to provoke the Riina Family."

"That doesn’t mean we can simply ignore what happened."

"Matthias, do you know who Aldric Riina is?"

"Of course I do. He’s an Overlord one of four that there is."

"Exactly. An Overlord. And the boy we just met is his son."

Klaus leaned back against his seat.

"I have read the report on him just yesterday, Lorenzo Riina is only seventeen, yet he’s already been involved in the terrorist incident at Appetite of Heaven, survived an assassination attempt in Nova City, and now he’s wiped out the Hiroshi Family. Do you honestly believe we should pick a fight with someone like that?"

Matthias tightened his grip on the steering wheel.

"But he killed an entire family."

"And what did you expect me to do? Arrest him?"

Klaus turned his head and stared at Matthias.

"Let’s not pretend you could have done anything even if you wanted to. Salvatore was standing right there and he’s a Saint for fuck sake and we are at only [C] rank awakenres. The moment you pointed your gun at him, I thought you were trying to get us both killed."

Matthias looked away.

"I wasn’t going to shoot him."

"Of course not. You were just pointing a gun at one of the most dangerous men in the Riina Family. Very reassuring."

Klaus sighed.

"Listen carefully. Our report will state that an explosion occurred at the Hiroshi Family’s estate, resulting in multiple casualties. The cause will remain under investigation, and we won’t identify any suspects."

"An explosion?"

"Yes. And if anyone asks about the gunshots, they were fireworks."

Matthias stared at him.

"Fireworks?"

"That’s right. A retirement party, remember?"

Klaus smiled faintly.

"Now, forget what you saw today. It’ll save you a lot of trouble."

The car continued through the rain-soaked streets.

After a moment, Klaus glanced at Matthias again.

"By the way, you owe me."

"What?"

"You nearly pointed a gun at Salvatore. Do you have any idea how much trouble you almost caused me?"

"I told you I wasn’t going to shoot him!"

"That doesn’t change anything. You’re buying me an expensive bottle of liquor."

"You’re unbelievable."

"Consider it compensation for the years you just took off my life."

Klaus leaned back and closed his eyes.

He had no intention of getting involved in the affairs of the Riina Family.

Not when the person standing behind Lorenzo Riina was Aldric himself.

’So he’s going to be next boss? Nice choice for sure.’

---

Tak—! Tak—! Tak—! Tak—! Tak—! Tak—!

Meanwhile, Lorenzo descended a flight of stairs leading to the underground section of the Hiroshi Family’s estate.

He could hear faint movements beyond the heavy metal door at the bottom of the stairs.

Lorenzo stopped in front of it.

A thick lock secured the entrance.

He raised his axe and struck it.

Clang!

The lock broke, falling to the floor with a metallic clatter.

Lorenzo pushed the door open.

What he saw made him narrow his eyes.

Rows of children sat inside the underground warehouse.

Some were huddled together, while others sat motionlessly against the walls. Their clothes were filthy, their bodies were covered in bruises, and their expressions were completely lifeless.

The moment Lorenzo entered, every pair of eyes turned toward him.

His clothes were stained with blood, and he was still holding his axe.

Naturally, the children were frightened.

Some immediately began crying, while others instinctively crawled backward, trying to put as much distance between themselves and the blood-covered stranger as possible.

Lorenzo looked around.

’So this was what Zomboto Hiroshi had been doing beneath his estate.’

He had heard the reports about children being kidnapped and brainwashed into obedient soldiers, but seeing the results with his own eyes was another matter.

"Don’t be afraid," Lorenzo said.

His voice was calm, but the children only trembled harder.

"I’m not going to hurt you."

One of the children began sobbing.

"Please... don’t kill us."

Another child covered his head with both hands, as though expecting to be struck.

Lorenzo stared at them for a moment.

He wasn’t particularly good at comforting children.

In fact, he couldn’t remember the last time he had tried.

He lowered his axe and looked toward Salvatore, who had followed him into the warehouse.

"Salvatore."

"Yes, Young Master?"

"Heal them. Take care of their injuries and make sure they’re sent to a proper orphanage in Nova City."

Salvatore glanced at the children.

"As you command."

"Make sure they receive proper treatment. I don’t want them returning to a place like this."

"Understood."

Salvatore took out his communication device and issued several orders.

Within moments, a group of black-suited personnel entered the warehouse. Each of them carried a weapon, and their movements were disciplined and orderly.

They immediately began assessing the children’s conditions and preparing to evacuate them.

"Young Master, we’ll handle everything from here."

Lorenzo nodded.

The personnel bowed.

"We will follow Young Master’s command!"