Free Web NovelAfter finishing a dinner no different from any other day, Lorenzo Medici was organizing documents in his study.
“This is driving me crazy.”
The fact that Xavier's suspicions had reached their peak was making him uneasy.
As early as next week, he would have to visit Xavier's estate.
“Alberto!”
At Lorenzo's call, the butler entered.
“You called for me, Master?”
“What about Grandfather?”
“He still hasn't regained consciousness.”
“And the physician hasn't said anything?”
“He told us to prepare ourselves mentally.”
“Damn it.”
In the middle of this crisis, Cosimo was hovering between life and death.
The biggest source of Lorenzo's authority within the family came from having Cosimo behind him.
“This won't do. We need to hold a family council first. Before attending the Baltice gathering next week, we need to make the family's position absolutely clear.”
“I will arrange it.”
“Tell all the direct-line relatives who stepped down to attend as well.”
When Lorenzo inherited leadership of the Medici family, the uncles and aunts who had been forced aside still retained considerable influence.
“...I don't think that's a good idea. Those are the very people who strongly opposed your succession, Lorenzo. If the family head hadn't insisted so firmly at the time, anything could have happened.”
At the butler's advice, Lorenzo bit his lip hard.
“I just don't understand why those people dislike me so much. Still, this time I need their help. I can't deal with all the other families by myself.”
“Master.”
“Alberto, follow my orders.”
Faced with Lorenzo's firm tone, the butler took a step back and lowered his head.
“As you wish. Before that, however, I'd like to confirm one thing.”
Lorenzo nodded.
The butler raised his head and looked directly at him.
“Were you truly uninvolved in this incident?”
Lorenzo frowned in displeasure.
“Alberto.”
“This is something that must be confirmed before convening a family council. Please answer honestly.”
“How could that be? We're expecting major losses as well. How could I possibly have predicted this?”
“You attended that meeting while bringing along the family head, whose health was already poor. After that meeting, it was decided to invest even more aggressively. Is that merely a coincidence? And because of that, the family head's health deteriorated rapidly—”
“Alberto!”
Lorenzo cut him off and glared at him as if he wanted him dead.
“That's enough. Even for you, I can't tolerate any more.”
“...Understood. I shall withdraw.”
The butler finally lowered his head.
Just as he turned to leave the study—
“Alberto.”
The butler stopped in place at Lorenzo's call.
“You're on my side, aren't you?”
With a faint smile, the butler replied,
“I am loyal to the Medici family. My father was the same. My father's father was the same. And my son will be as well.”
“I asked whether you're on my side, not the family's.”
“The family head is the family.”
“Tch... Fine. Bring me a strong espresso on your way out.”
The butler never once said he was on Lorenzo's side rather than the family head's.
Realizing that, Lorenzo's eyes darkened.\
* * *
“What? Who's being attacked?”
“They say the situation still isn't clear. Armed men suddenly stormed the Medici estate where Lorenzo is staying.”
“Ha...”
At the unexpected news, I let out a deep sigh and rubbed my forehead.
“Black Bear is on standby, right?”
“Yes. They were already waiting nearby. That's why we learned about the incident quickly.”
Han Kyungyeong, sitting beside me, asked,
“Lorenzo? The head of the Medici family?”
I nodded.
Han Kyungyeong's expression immediately became serious.
“Why him?”
“I recruited him and pushed Baltice into making reckless investments. He contacted me recently saying he was under suspicion. That's why I stationed a Black Bear team near the estate, but...”
I had naturally assumed Baltice might become suspicious of Lorenzo.
But using physical force like this?
I sank heavily into the sofa and thought.
If Lorenzo was captured, they might uncover my plan.
“First, we need accurate information. Find out whether Lorenzo is alive or dead.”
“That won't be easy. The estate is in a remote area, and after they entered, the entire property was sealed off.”
“Send Igor's team from Russia to Florence immediately.”
“Understood.”
I called Manager Ma back before he could leave.
“Oh, Manager. Who's the Black Bear leader currently stationed in Florence?”
“John Matthews. One of the men who went to Afghanistan with us.”
“Ah, him. I remember.”
The moment I heard the name, I recalled his face.
Despite his stern appearance, he was actually quite good at talking.
“Get John on the line.”
Manager Ma took out his phone and made the call.
A moment later, after the connection was established, he handed it to me.
“John. It's Charlie.”
—Boss! John speaking.
“It's been a while. We can exchange greetings later. Give me a situation report first.”
—Yes, sir!
John began explaining in detail.
—...While we were conducting surveillance near the estate, a large number of armed men suddenly entered. They surrounded the estate and moved inside. We couldn't get any closer.
“What about Lorenzo?”
—Unknown. However, we did provide him with a communication device for emergencies.
That was a relief.
As long as he could communicate with the outside world, there was still a way to learn his condition.
“That's good. Are there any places to hide inside the estate? Tell me anything you've heard.”
—I'm sorry. The estate is extremely old, and we couldn't obtain the original blueprints. Lorenzo never mentioned anything to us either.
While listening to John's report, I calmly analyzed the situation.
“Any other changes in their movements?”
—That... Ah, please wait a moment.
John excused himself briefly.
I heard rustling noises as he moved somewhere else, followed by his voice calling someone.
—Hey, Scott! What's the situation?
—Looks like they still haven't found Lorenzo. Those bastards are still searching around the estate. Colonel, what do we do? Shouldn't we rescue him?
—Hold your position for now. Report immediately if anything unusual happens. Understood?
—Yes, Colonel!
A moment later, John resumed his report.
—They've completely surrounded the estate and are searching the area. No gunfire or shouting has been heard.
“Then Lorenzo might still be alive.”
After a brief pause, John spoke cautiously.
—Boss, this is only my speculation, so please just hear me out. From what I know, old estates like that often contain hidden rooms built to avoid assassinations or enemy attacks. Places known only to the family heads and direct descendants.
“So you think Lorenzo is hiding in one of those secret places?”
—Yes. He's probably hiding there or taking shelter there. That's only my hope, of course.
If the armed men were still searching, it meant they hadn't secured Lorenzo yet.
“Understood. If you receive any communication or if their movements become more active, you don't need to wait for approval. Act immediately. I'll leave the field decisions to you, John. And Igor's team will be joining you. At the latest, within two days.”
—Yes, sir! Understood! I'll contact you if anything changes.
After ending the call, I handed the phone back to Manager Ma.
“Manager, tell Igor to join them as quickly as possible. He can receive weapons from John's team if necessary.”
“Yes, Boss.”
After Manager Ma left, I turned to Han Kyungyeong.
“You should head back too. And don't forget to increase your security detail.”
“Muhyuk. Will this really be okay?”
I nodded, reassuring him.
“It'll be fine. This won't become a major variable in what we're doing. So go back and finish your work.”
Only after sending away even the still-worried Han Kyungyeong did I begin wondering who was behind all of this.
‘Baltice? Or some other faction?’
Yet it seemed far too violent to be Baltice's style.
They tended to move much more discreetly.
As the night deepened, so did my thoughts.
Lorenzo was organizing documents in his study in preparation for tomorrow's family council.
“Alberto!”
He called for the butler.
But there was no response.
“Alberto!!”
He called several more times through the intercom, but still heard nothing.
This had never happened before.
A Medici family butler was always supposed to be on standby.
Feeling something strange, he rose from his chair and walked toward the window.
Not a single servant could be seen outside.
The staff who should have been bustling about had completely vanished.
It was as though every sound had disappeared.
An unsettling atmosphere had enveloped the estate.
Lorenzo couldn't shake off the ominous feeling.
He returned to his desk and called for Alberto again.
Still no response.
Just as he was about to open the study door and step outside, a loud crash echoed from somewhere beyond.
Through the doorknob he was holding, he could even feel a faint vibration.
Lorenzo immediately let go and hurried back to the window.
The estate's front gate was being smashed apart.
Armed men were climbing over the broken entrance and entering the estate grounds.
Lorenzo quickly hid behind the curtains and continued watching.
There was still a considerable distance between the entrance and the main building.
‘There should still be time to hide... No, what am I supposed to do in a situation like this?’
At that moment, the study door burst open and Antonio Ricci rushed in.
He had been Lorenzo's childhood friend and now served as both his bodyguard and secretary.
“Master. We need to evacuate. All the guards have disappeared.”
Relief at seeing a familiar face lasted only a moment before Antonio's words drained all color from Lorenzo's face.
“Antonio. Alberto is gone too.”
Seeing Lorenzo standing there in a daze, Antonio raised his voice and struck him hard on the back.
“Lorenzo! Get a hold of yourself!”
The sudden shock snapped Lorenzo back to reality.
“We don't have time. We need to move. I don't know if we'll make it out safely.”
Antonio pulled out the pistol tucked inside his jacket and checked the ammunition.
“Lorenzo, I'll protect you no matter what. First, let's go to the family head's room—”
The safest place in the estate might well be Cosimo's bedroom.
If the men who entered the estate were acting under Baltice's orders, they wouldn't dare enter Cosimo's room.
Antonio knew Xavier would never allow that.
But Lorenzo shook his head.
“No. It isn't safe there either. Follow me.”
He retrieved a key from the safe.
Then he said to Antonio,
“There's a secret passage for situations like this.”
Walking to the bookshelf, Lorenzo removed several books and thrust his hand into the gap that appeared.
A key clicked into place.
Because it hadn't been used for so long, the mechanism made a surprisingly loud noise.
With a clattering series of mechanical sounds, the bookshelf split apart and slid to either side.
After removing the key and replacing the books, Lorenzo turned to Antonio.
“We have to escape through here. Only the family head knows about this passage. Right now, only Grandfather and I know this location.”
“...Something like this existed?”
“Yes. And now you know too. Follow me.”
Lorenzo entered first, with Antonio following behind.
Once Antonio was inside, Lorenzo pressed the nearby button to close the entrance.
But something seemed to have broken.
The door wouldn't close properly.
“Antonio. It won't shut.”
“Wait.”
Antonio grabbed the bookshelf and pushed with all his strength.
With a loud grinding sound, it finally slid back into place.
The moment it closed, the passage was swallowed by darkness.
Feeling along the wall, Lorenzo found a flashlight hanging there.
After handing another flashlight to Antonio, he spoke.
“I was told this passage leads outside the estate. Let's move.”
Lorenzo and Antonio quickly began making their way through the passage.
It was narrow and winding.
Anyone unfamiliar with the route would likely become trapped forever.
To ease their anxiety, they talked as they walked.
“Antonio, Alberto betrayed me, didn't he?”
Antonio didn't answer.
The fact that Alberto was nowhere to be seen pointed to only one conclusion.
Still, he didn't want to say it aloud.
When no answer came, Lorenzo muttered in a hollow voice,
“How did it come to this? Do you think it was Xavier after all?”
Lorenzo was convinced Xavier was behind it.
“But Xavier couldn't have made Alberto move. Right?”
“...No. If Alberto betrayed you, then he must have joined hands with someone inside the family.”
That was where their conversation ended.
Without another word, they continued walking through the narrow, dark passage.
