Chapter 29

Chapter 29

I Became the Academy Mafia, Chapter 29[Young Master, the guests have arrived.]

Around the time I was sitting in my room organizing information, Parnello knocked from outside and informed me that the Triad from China had arrived.

“I’ll be out shortly.”

After answering Parnello, I rose from my seat and walked over to the full-length mirror in the room.

I adjusted my perfectly neat black suit and pure white shirt, smoothing out the collar and tie until my appearance was immaculate.

Since this was my first time formally appearing before an outside organization rather than Calione, it was all the more important to be cautious and not allow myself to be looked down upon.

I opened the door and looked at Parnello standing in front of it.

“Parnello, will this be fine?”

I asked Parnello, who was second to none in Calione when it came to neatness, and turned around once in place.

Parnello studied me seriously, then nodded with a satisfied expression.

“Excellent. You look like the finest gentleman in Calione, Young Master.”

“...

Saying it like that is a little embarrassing.”

“What can I do when it is the truth?”

If Parnello said so, then that must be how it was.

Then all that remained was to show everyone my ability.

“Let’s go.”

“I shall escort you.”

It was time to handle my first official external duty since becoming a member of Calione.

_______________

Recently, I had gained another joy in life.

For me, Calione’s Hound and the man who served closest to the Don, to speak of a joy in life...

If anyone else heard it, they would surely tell me not to joke around.

That joy in my life was none other than the Don’s son, the Young Master of Calione who had recently begun successor training. ‘Eugene Han Calione.’

At present, the Young Master and I were on our way to receive the members of the Triad who had crossed over from China.

Despite being nothing more than a Triad based on the continent across the sea, and within Asia, Calione’s sphere of influence at that, they had brazenly attempted to enter our territory illegally.

According to the report, the Young Master appeared to have handled the matter exceptionally well, but regardless of that, those who had committed a crime had to pay the price.

Moreover, this was the first occasion on which the Young Master would meet with another organization.

Since the Don had entrusted the Young Master to me, I once again resolved to serve him to the best of my ability.

“This is the place, Young Master.”

An annex located beside the mansion’s main building.

Thanks to the CCTV cameras installed on all sides, the meeting room here was a place the ‘Don,’ who remained in his study, could also observe.

“The annex.”

The Young Master swept his gaze over the surroundings once before stepping inside. As I followed him in, the personnel who had been waiting in advance bowed toward the Young Master in greeting.

“No need for greetings. Are they inside?”

“Yes, Young Master.”

After receiving confirmation from the organization member, the Young Master entered the room first.

A faint scent of blood brushed my nose. Inside the room sat one person bound with a blindfold and gag, and another man silently holding his position.

“That is the man.”

That man was the Triad branch head who had dared bare his teeth at Calione.

If it were up to me, I would have slit his throat immediately, but the Young Master was the one with authority over this decision.

For now, I merely had to stand quietly behind him.

“...

And you are?”

The man sprang to his feet when he saw the Young Master and me. His expression stiffened upon seeing our faces.

Could he possibly have thought that the Don himself would come to meet someone of his station?

Laughable.

“Show proper respect. This is the rightful successor of the Calione Family, Young Master Eugene Han Calione.”

I informed him of the Young Master’s status so that he would know his place. At that, the man let out an ‘Ah’ and bowed his head.

“My name is Zhao Si, branch head of the Red Dragon Society, a Triad organization operating in China. It is an honor to meet such an esteemed person.”

That bastard was pretending to show respect, yet he had no intention of even removing the hat on his head.

He was clearly looking down on the Young Master because the Don had not come personally.

However, without even acknowledging his greeting, the Young Master walked straight to the head seat of the table and sat down.

“Let’s get to the point, Triad.”

Even with a member of another organization, and a branch head at that, standing before him, the Young Master showed no intimidation and attempted to seize control of the conversation.

He looked so completely at ease that it was difficult to believe he was a novice.

“...

Please speak.”

At the Young Master’s words, the man raised his head and took his seat.

“First, there is something I want to ask. What exactly is that?”

The Young Master said that while looking at the bloodied man trembling in the corner. At that, the bastard smiled as though he had been waiting for the question.

“Ah, he is the mastermind behind this incident. Apparently, he was secretly creating slush funds behind my back, and while laundering the money, a problem arose and he caused this entire matter. As an expression of apology, I brought him here like this.”

Saying that, he lightly smacked the head of the man kneeling beside him with his hand.

Bound by a blindfold and gag, the man could only tremble and breathe harshly.

From the blood staining the gag alone, it was obvious that his tongue had been cut out.

In other words, he was nothing more than a branch being pruned away.

The real culprit was clearly the Chinese bastard over there putting on that serious performance.

“Young Master, it seems───.”

Just as I was about to speak with that thought.

The Young Master stretched a hand toward me and rose from his seat.

“Interesting. You’re saying this man was the mastermind?”

“Th-that is correct.”

The bastard became flustered by the Young Master’s sudden movement, but the Young Master paid him no mind as he removed the man’s blindfold and checked his face.

“Hmm. I see.”

“...

Wh-what do you mean?”

“Zhao Si, was it? Since you came from China, surely you know something about physiognomy.”

“Physio... gnomy, you mean?”

“Yes, physiognomy. I have always been curious about various fields of study, so I learned a little physiognomy in the past. And if what I learned was correct... this man is not the sort of person who would commit such an act.”

Saying that, the Young Master put the blindfold back on him. At the sight, the bastard rose from his seat in confusion.

“What are you talking about? You can tell that just by looking at his face?! That makes no sense! That man is definitely the culprit!”

“Right? It makes no sense, doesn’t it? Then why are you placing a puppet whose tongue you even cut out in front of me and insisting that he is the culprit? Do you really think so little of Calione?”

The Young Master kicked the bastard’s chair away.

“What the hell are you doing!”

“Shut up. I’m barely holding myself back from cutting your throat right now.”

It seems.

“Parnello, if he tries anything foolish, immediately sever his Achilles tendons and ligaments.”

“I shall do so, Young Master.”

“P-Parnello? Calione’s Hound...!”

My concern had apparently been unnecessary.

The Young Master approached the bastard sprawled blankly on the floor and sat down in front of him.

“Yes, you should have looked at me with those eyes from the moment you first saw me. Now we’re finally on the proper level.”

“You think you can get away with this! My subordinates are in this annex too!”

As though making one final desperate struggle, the bastard backed away and shouted at the Young Master.

“Ha.”

But the Young Master merely snorted after hearing him.

“You think that’s funny? Fine! Even if our organization is pathetic compared to Calione, if we attack prepared to die─── Aaaaaaagh!!”

“My apologies, Young Master. It appeared that he was about to reach out his hand.”

I threw a knife at the tendon in his right arm and severed it.

The atmosphere the Young Master desired now was ‘fear.’ Overwhelming fear at that.

“Well done, Parnello.”

“Haa... haa... What the hell are you doing...!”

Perhaps realizing that his life was ‘truly’ in danger, the bastard began speaking politely again.

The Young Master nodded in satisfaction at the sight.

“Surely you weren’t planning to end this entire matter by handing over a puppet like that. How much authority did your Boss delegate to you?”

“I-I am the Boss’s representative!”

“If you’re your Boss’s representative... you must have brought quite a lot of money. What is the maximum amount you can offer?”

“O-one billion credits. Ngh...”

Perhaps he was still the branch head of an organization. He answered while reinforcing his muscles with mana to stop the bleeding from his right arm.

At that, the Young Master shook his head.

“Ten billion.”

“T-ten billion?! There’s no way we have that kind of absurd money! Even if we did, the Boss would───.”

“Right, absurd, isn’t it? Parnello, left leg.”

“Aaaaaaaaagh────!!”

This time, I threw a knife so that it grazed and severed the tendon in his left leg. Unless he received proper treatment, he would now live as a cripple for the rest of his life.

“Attempting to sneak into Calione territory itself was an absurd act. And yet what you bastards do is allowed, while what we do is not? I’ll say it again.”

The Young Master slowly stepped forward until his face was close to the man’s, then pressed down on his wound without the slightest change in expression.

“Kgh, kuh... Aaaaaaaaagh!”

“Ten billion.”

“I’ll prepare it! I’ll prepare it!”

“Be specific.”

“Urgh...! If we combine the organization’s stolen goods and slush funds, we should be able to come up with around ten billion. So please... please stop...”

The Young Master approached the pitifully sobbing man, put a hand into his pocket, and personally placed the man’s smartphone into his palm.

“Right now.”

“R-right now...?”

“Parnello, the right hand too──.”

“I’ll do it! I’ll do it!”

Before my name could even finish being spoken, the bastard hurriedly took the smartphone and began moving his fingers frantically.

The Young Master watched the scene clearly from the side. Then, without letting the bastard see, he showed me his palm behind his back.

A signal to stop. Before I could even process the meaning of that hand signal.

“You damned Calione... Gah?”

Apparently trying to take the Young Master hostage, the bastard holding the smartphone attempted to grab him, but his face was immediately crushed by the Young Master’s knee and he went flying backward.

He was perfectly following the teaching never to relax in front of an enemy.

I couldn’t help but smile in satisfaction at the sight.

“There won’t be a second time. If you want to live, handle it immediately.”

“Ah hehp ih ah... ehng... ehng ahng hi ha...”

Apparently terrified of the Young Master, who seemed to anticipate everything, the bastard completely gave up and began moving his fingers diligently again.

The Young Master stared blankly at the sight for a moment, then apparently satisfied, nodded and stood while holding the bastard’s smartphone.

This was the important part.

The point that would reveal whether the Young Master truly possessed the qualities of a Boss, whether he was ready to rise as Calione’s successor.

“Sahve... sahve me, pwease?”

“Unlike you people, Calione values the bonds and promises made between people.”

Ignoring the bastard staring up at him with bloodshot eyes, the Young Master rose and walked toward the exit as he spoke quietly.

“But it’s different with a son of a bitch who doesn’t even know what a promise is.”

“Huh? W-wait──.”

“Parnello, I’ll leave the cleanup to you.”

“Sahve me! Sahve me! Sahve me!”

And with that, the Young Master indifferently left the room after giving an answer worthy of a perfect score.

“...

As you command.”

It seems I truly had worried for nothing.