Chapter 175

Chapter 175

I Became the Academy Mafia Chapter 175‘Toolsky Tokarev of the Old Republic Spy.’

Judging only by the visible description, its destructive power and rate of fire were severely lacking compared to the Tommy and shotgun I currently used, but this weapon had an advantage that compensated for all of those weaknesses.

‘Silence,’ which fired bullets without sound, and ‘Spy Exclusive,’ which prevented detection by any means.

In this world, where the development of subspace artifacts had advanced to the point that technology existed to detect even objects inside subspace, it could truly be called one of the most powerful abilities.

Most importantly...‘The shotgun and Tommy were a little awkward to carry around normally.’The two guns were rather bulky and heavy, making them difficult to carry around.

In terms of convenience alone, they were seriously lacking.

But with this, for the time being I could carry a firearm while still maintaining my mobility.

As for the lack of damage... I could solve that by injecting a little more aura with the trait 【Gunpowder and Explosions】, so it wasn't a major problem for me.

There was, however, one strange point.

Even though the description said it was a relic used by someone famous worldwide, it didn't say who that person was.

But for someone who already knew the worldview of CS, it wasn't particularly difficult to guess who it was.

The old Soviet spy ‘Kim Calby,’ who appeared in various forms of popular media.

If one spoke of a legendary spy mentioned in CS, there was no one else.

Of course, his actions in reality and those in the CS worldview would be completely different.

“Eugene?”

Perhaps because I had been silently staring only at the gun.

Father, who was sitting in front of me, called my name in a worried voice.

“Ah, I'm sorry. It's a far more excessive gift than I expected. Did you go all the way to Russia to obtain such a precious item?”

As I calmed my excitement at the appearance of a new weapon and closed the box again, the corners of Father's mouth rose slightly.

“Rather than that, things became a little complicated while obtaining it. As you can see, it was resolved well in the end. Now then, shall we talk about the other gift?”

Seeing Father smiling as he said he'd prepared another gift after the handgun filled with affection, I couldn't help my anticipation growing.

“A large party is scheduled to be held in The Hague next week. It's a kind of social gathering where important figures from all over the world gather. How would you like to go with me then?”

Hm?

“A social... party?”

“Yes. A social party. So far, you've only announced your debut on the Korean Peninsula, haven't you? Now that you've formally become the successor and are gradually learning more things, I think it would be good for you to start showing your face to this father's acquaintances as well.”

I'm sure the others will be pleased too.

It was only natural that Father's words left me flustered.

A social party? Good. New connections could always prove useful later.

The Hague? That was good too. Ever since coming to this world, I still hadn't traveled overseas, so a foreign country was no different from an unknown world to me.

But.

The social party being held in The Hague was a little different.

“Father. Does that social party happen to have a name?”

“A name? Of course it does. I believe it was called ‘Walpurgis Night.’”

“Ah.”

As expected, my guess was right.

Once a year.

A gathering that could be called a major event held at a random location somewhere in Europe, ‘Walpurgis Night.’

Father spoke of it very casually as though it were nothing, but if I remembered correctly, that gathering was definitely...

A social party where the major figures of the world's underworld gathered.

______________

[Anyone here good at the villain concept?][Author: 19-Year-Old Parasite][No, lately I've been seriously doing a parasite mastermind playthrough, right? My faction's gotten bigger and my recognition's gone up, but for some reason it feels like the other bastards discriminate against me like crazy. Every time something happens they call me a mongrel, every time something happens they call me an amateur, seriously makes me want to finger-jab all of them, but most of them have factions about as strong as mine or stronger so I can't really do anything. What do I have to do to get these guys to acknowledge me?][Corn Black-Beard Tea: Yeah~ rookie, go raise your notoriety more~][UnderworldMastermindFlame: Welcome, rookie lololol diapers are in that corner~][19-Year-Old Parasite: These bastards never give an actual answer and only make fun of me, fuck][ㅇㅇ: Did you get an invitation to Walpurgis Night?][└19-Year-Old Parasite:? What's that.][└ㅇㅇ: Once you pass a certain level of recognition or notoriety, an invitation comes once a year. You have to join that before people will go, “Oh, this bastard's actually somebody.”][└Corn Black-Beard Tea: You only get acknowledged as world-class for that, but a kid who doesn't even know about Walpurgis thinks he can join? Your build is fucked, start over lololol]

Even on the community, ‘Walpurgis Night’ held special meaning.

Because it effectively meant that the character I'd raised had become world-class, literally a globally recognized name.

Then did that mean all you had to do was accumulate notoriety?

No.

They valued not only notoriety, but also method and image.

There had even been someone on the community who attempted nuclear terrorism to join ‘Walpurgis Night’ quickly, but the result was that instead of Walpurgis Night, he merely received countless requests to shake hands from the Villain Association and the villains of Niflheim.

And now I had received an invitation to that elite gathering that was supposedly so difficult to enter.

In only my first year.

“Are you sure it's all right for me to go?”

And through blood relations, no less.

“Yes. If I, of all people, say I'm bringing my son, who would dare say no? In my view, you're more than qualified, so you needn't worry too much.”

If Eugene Han Calione's father had been an ordinary villain or the head of some middling organization, I would've dismissed that as nonsense.

But who was my father now?

The head of a massive underworld power that had seized control of most of the criminal world across the globe.

Don Vito Calione, head of the Calione Family and the man called the Emperor of the Underworld.

If Father was going this far, it was practically the same as saying the decision had already been made.

“I'm deeply concerned over whether I deserve to attend such a precious gathering, but I will certainly participate as a son who will not bring shame to you, Father.”

“Haha! Yes. Hearing you say that reassures me as well. All right, go in and get some rest for today. I enjoy speaking with you too, but... wouldn't Ji-yoon also need some time with her father after so long?”

As though all official matters had ended, Father's voice changed into one filled with affection.

Seeing that, I couldn't help smiling.

“Yes, that's true. Ji-yoon missed you very much too, Father.”

According to Alessia, the question the maids had heard most often from Ji-yoon lately was, ‘When is Daddy coming?’ That alone showed just how much she'd missed Father.

Wouldn't she immediately run at him the moment they met?

“Then I have things to prepare as well, so I'll head in first.”

After bowing to Father, I stepped out of the study and saw Ji-yoon standing there twisting her hands and feet.

“Big Brooo! Are you done talking with Daddy?”

She clearly wanted to rush in immediately, but it seemed she'd obediently waited outside for my conversation with Father to end.

This was probably all thanks to Alessia's education.

She looked cultured, befitting the Young Lady of Calione.

Of course.

“Yeah. Father says he wants to see Ji-yoon quickly too, so hurry and go in.”

“Really? Yes!”

When I stroked her head and spoke gently, Ji-yoon's face lit up with excitement, and she immediately went to the study door and knocked.

“Daddyyy~ It's Ji-yoon~”

-Come in.

“Yeees!”

The moment Father's answer came, Ji-yoon scampered inside.

And a moment later.

-Daddy, I hate your beard!...

I found myself thinking that perhaps being the head of a household was harder than being the head of the underworld.

______________

By the time I had returned to my room and finished my Academy assignments as usual.

Parnello, still wearing his benevolent smile, came to my room.

“I heard you called for me, Young Master.”

“Sorry for calling you so late.”

“Not at all. I happened to be feeling a little bored, so I was glad. What can I do for you?”

There wasn't any particularly major reason I'd called him.

I'd summoned him to clear up a few questions.

“I'm going to Walpurgis Night this time. I figured if it were you, Parnello, you'd be able to tell me what to watch out for or give me some useful information before I go.”

Aside from Father and the Consiglière, he was the only person in the organization who had been invited to ‘Walpurgis Night’ purely through his own strength.

“You, Young Master? To Walpurgis Night?”

Parnello's eyes widened at my words as though this was the first he'd heard of it, and he stroked his beard.

“Judging from the circumstances, the Don must have invited you. Given the timing, I had been thinking I should recommend it to the Don soon myself, so this is fortunate.”

Parnello had also been thinking of inviting me to ‘Walpurgis Night’...

Whether sooner or later, it seemed I was destined to go there eventually.‘Connections really are the best.’“I've only ever attended in the sense of accompanying and protecting the Don myself, so I don't know that much in detail... but I do know there are a few people you should be quite wary of.”

“People I should be wary of?”

Let's see.

Who participates in ‘Walpurgis Night’ around this time?

Since the people who received invitations changed depending on global events, even I could only make guesses and couldn't be certain.

Then Parnello spoke in a voice filled with caution.

“Scotland's guardian and the pioneer of the Dark Age, Macbeth. He's probably the person you should be most careful of, Young Master.”

“...

Macbeth?”

I knew about him too.

A man from Scotland who declared independence from the English government.

An international ‘rebel’ who drove back the government forces with his own strength and the strength of his subordinates, then seized control of the region.

“Why do I need to be more careful of him than anyone else?”

I had also played several quests involving him in the game and had spoken directly with him before.

The character setting I knew until now gave him the feeling of a ‘gentleman’ who could be reasoned with, so why was Parnello telling me to be wary of him?

“Because he regards those called ‘kings’ throughout the world as his rivals. In your case, Young Master, he'd probably see you as something like a crown prince.”

“Ah.”

Only after hearing that did everything begin to make sense.

Come to think of it, whenever that guy fought, if there was a famous figure or a leader on the opposing side, I'd seen him go berserk a few times.

So that was part of his setting?

I'd learned something new again.

“Of course, even he is ultimately only a rebel who seized an island nation. He wouldn't dare behave disrespectfully toward the Don,

so it's reasonable to assume he'll keep you under watch instead. Other than that... no one in particular comes to mind. At ‘Walpurgis Night,’ even those people try to observe proper etiquette.”

In other words, because they were people who had proven their strength and qualifications, they maintained courtesy and respect toward one another.

Aside from a few people.

“As always, the dress code is clothing that can express who you are. No weapons of any kind may be brought into the venue, and the event begins by teleporting together with the witches holding that day's invitations.”

From the sound of it, the other information wasn't much different from what I already knew.

“It goes without saying, but if you attend, Young Master, you'll need to clearly show that you are the successor of ‘Calione.’ After all, Young Master... you will likely be the main character of this event.”

At those words, I finally decided what sort of attitude I should show there.

“Yeah. Thanks.”

I'll try not to cause too much of a scene.