Free Web NovelWhile Antonio and John drew attention at the front gate, Igor led his team toward the estate through the secret passage.
“If possible, I'd like to subdue them without a firefight. I don't want blood spilled inside the estate.”
“That won't be easy. People don't give up easily. Of course, resolving this without fighting would be ideal.”
“The front gate is keeping their attention, isn't it? If we seize the estate while they're distracted and surround them from both sides, won't they lay down their weapons?”
Igor didn't share Lorenze's optimism.
Still speaking in his stiff tone, he said,
“We'll try. The safety of my men comes first.”
Only then did Lorenze's expression ease slightly.
“What... happens to Giuliano?”
“We've already gone over the operation plan. Capturing Giuliano alive is the priority. However, keep in mind that anything can happen during combat.”
Igor had received orders from Kim Muhyuk to capture Giuliano and extract information from him.
Lorenze, too, didn't wish for Giuliano's death.
“Stop.”
At Igor's signal, everyone halted.
“This is Alpha. Beta, report.”
— This is Beta. Standoff at the front gate. Giuliano has appeared atop the watchtower.
After hearing the report, Igor turned to Lorenze.
“Lorenze. What are your orders? We can kill him right now.”
“No. If I kill family, no one will follow me anymore. Tell them to provoke him and make them attack first...”
Igor wasn't pleased with Lorenze's attitude.
He had just said his men's safety came first, yet Lorenze was ordering them to take risks.
Still, a contract was a contract.
He had to fulfill the client's wishes as much as possible.
“Beta. Continue provoking. Draw out a first strike.”
— Understood.
After ending the transmission, Igor spoke to Lorenze.
His voice was far colder than before.
“We'll be moving faster. Follow me.”
Igor and several mercenaries led the way.
With Lorenze in the center of the formation, they increased their pace while remaining alert.
At last, the end of the tunnel came into view.
“This is the key. Put it in there and turn it, then you'll have to open it manually. It's very old...”
“Give me the key and step back.”
After taking the key, Igor had Lorenze retreat.
The moment he inserted and turned it, rusty metal screeched unpleasantly.
Once the sound stopped, a handle emerged.
Igor signaled to his men.
Three mercenaries stepped forward.
One grabbed the handle while the other two pushed.
Nothing moved.
Igor sent several more men.
The original three pulled the handle sideways together.
Finally, with a loud groan, the door opened.
Two mercenaries covering the entrance pointed their guns inside.
“Kyaah!”
A woman screamed in surprise.
The mercenaries rushed in.
After sweeping the room, one of them called out.
“Captain, it looks clear.”
Igor nodded and tapped Lorenze's shoulder.
“This way. Stay behind me.”
Igor went first, Lorenze following behind.
At the end of the dark passage, they walked toward the light.
“Grandfather!”
Raising his voice, Lorenze rushed to Cosimo's side.
The old man lay unconscious, an oxygen mask covering his face.
Igor and the mercenaries secured the room.
Two men covered each window, while the rest guarded the doors.
Only after establishing their positions did Igor finally survey the bedroom.
In one corner stood a man in a doctor's coat and two women who looked like nurses.
Fear and anxiety were evident in their eyes.
And beside the bed stood an elderly man.
“Pietro. What's happened to Grandfather? Has he regained consciousness?”
“An hour ago, he lost consciousness while speaking with Lord Giuliano.”
The moment Giuliano's name came up, Lorenze's face hardened.
“What did Giuliano ask of him?”
“He asked for his support.”
“Pietro. Alberto betrayed me, didn't he?”
“...Forgive me. I will bear all the blame.”
“You've done nothing wrong. Alberto made his own choice.”
“My eyes were clouded because he was my son. The butler of this family exists only to obey the family head. He was never worthy.”
Pietro bit his lips so hard blood dripped down his chin.
“No. A person bears responsibility for his own choices. I know better than anyone how faithfully you've served our family.”
Taking out a handkerchief, Lorenze handed it over with a mysterious smile.
“You aren't about to ask me to spare Alberto, are you?”
Pietro lowered his head.
“No. Dispose of him however you see fit, my Lord.”
Lorenze nodded.
“Who is inside the estate right now?”
“Lord Giuliano, Lord Alessandro, and Lady Katarina.”
“So Uncle and Aunt are here as well.”
“......”
“They should've retired and enjoyed old age.”
Clicking his tongue, Lorenze beckoned the physician.
“Domenico.”
The doctor hurried over.
“Lord Lorenze. Thank goodness you're safe.”
“Giuliano didn't do anything foolish, did he?”
“No. He ordered us to keep Lord Cosimo alive by any means necessary until the family council.”
Lorenze ground his teeth.
“What are the chances Grandfather wakes up today?”
“It will be difficult. The shock earlier caused his heart to stop temporarily. We managed to revive him, but...”
“...Please do your best. I beg you.”
“Yes, Lord Lorenze.”
After taking one final look at Cosimo's face, Lorenze stood.
“Igor. Let's finish this. If Giuliano is at the front gate, there shouldn't be many people guarding the estate. Let's clean things up quickly.”
Igor nodded.
“Stay here.”
“No. I'm coming with you.”
“It could be dangerous.”
“I need to go myself.”
Since Lorenze insisted, Igor stopped trying to dissuade him.
“Fine. But follow my instructions.”
“Of course.”
Igor gave hand signals.
The mercenaries moved immediately.
Those guarding the door kicked it open.
“Everybody down! Hands over your heads!”
The lead mercenary shouted.
The men outside froze in confusion.
“Get down! Final warning!”
Instead of complying, the men exchanged glances.
Without another word, the mercenary fired.
Bullets pierced their hands.
Screams rang out and weapons fell to the floor.
The mercenaries rushed forward and subdued them.
With the area secured, Igor and Lorenze stepped out.
“Lorenze, do you recognize these men?”
“No. They're not our family's security personnel.”
Igor approached the captives and crouched down.
“Affiliation.”
“......”
“Affiliation.”
“......”
Twice they remained silent.
Igor drew his pistol and shot them in the thigh without hesitation.
“AAARGH!”
“Affiliation.”
“...G4S.”
Igor nodded and stood.
“They are mercenaries.”
“Mercenaries?”
“Yes. A fairly large security company headquartered in London. They wear the face of a security company, but they're practically a private mercenary corporation.”
“Hah...”
Lorenze rubbed his forehead.
Since Giuliano couldn't use the family's security force, he had hired outsiders.
Combined with Alberto dismissing the estate guards, Giuliano had taken over the estate with hardly any resistance.
“Let's find Uncle and Aunt first.”
Meanwhile, mercenaries began sweeping the mansion.
* * *
Seeing Giuliano, Antonio clenched his teeth.
“Giuliano! How could you betray the family head?! The head's siblings were all supposed to retire, but Lord Lorenze allowed you to remain active in family affairs!”
“Hahahaha!”
Laughing loudly, Giuliano answered proudly.
“I stepped up for the family. Brother Lorenze is destroying it. Brother Antonio, look at things objectively.”
“You bastard... I'll kill you myself.”
“Brother Lorenze! Where are you? I'm right here! Are you hiding like a coward?”
Giuliano repeatedly called for Lorenze.
But Lorenze never appeared.
The tense standoff dragged on.
Then John's radio crackled.
“We've entered the estate.”
Antonio's face brightened.
“Is the family head safe?”
“Yes. No combat. If we keep stalling, we'll be able to surround them once the estate is secured.”
John glanced toward Giuliano, who was watching them from the tower.
Time passed.
Then gunfire erupted from inside the estate.
Antonio and Giuliano both turned toward the sound.
Giuliano's radio came alive.
— Lorenze has appeared. It seems he entered through a secret passag— AARGH!!
A scream accompanied by gunshots.
Then silence.
Turning back toward Antonio, Giuliano roared.
“Antonio!”
His mask completely gone, Giuliano growled.
“So this was your plan?”
“Surrender, Giuliano. Surrounded from both sides, you won't last. The family head doesn't intend to kill you, so—”
Antonio never finished.
Giuliano snatched a rifle from a subordinate and aimed it at him.
Mercenaries holding NIJ Level IV ballistic shields immediately covered Antonio and John.
Giuliano pulled the trigger.
And with that shot, the battle began.
I waited in the penthouse for news from Italy.
'If this goes well, it'll be one hell of a blow to Baltice.'
Even for Baltice, replacing the head of one of the families would be a burden.
Politically and physically, the repercussions would be unavoidable.
Besides the five great families, many smaller families also followed Baltice's orders.
If they started replacing family heads at will, trust in them could disappear.
“Boss. Igor is calling.”
“Give it to me.”
I accepted the satellite phone from Chief Ma.
“Igor.”
— Boss. It's Igor.
“How did it go? What about Giuliano?”
— He attempted suicide at the end. We had no choice but to injure him while stopping him. He's currently being treated inside the estate.
I let out a sigh of relief.
The operation seemed to have ended safely.
“There was a firefight?”
— Yes. Giuliano fired first.
“That's good. We've secured both justification and practical gains. Go on.”
Igor continued his report in his usual steady voice.
— We also captured Lorenze's uncle and aunt.
“His uncle and aunt? Ah, those old elders?”
— Yes. Lorenze says he wants to speak to them now. Privately. What should we do?
“Privately?”
— Yes.
Already plotting something?
People really shouldn't repay kindness with betrayal.
I let out a dry laugh.
“What do you think, Igor?”
— I believe we should hear everything.
“Then do that. Send John in with you. For Lorenze's safety.”
— Understood. And...
Igor continued reporting.
Fortunately, no one had died.
If blood had been spilled, things would've become troublesome.
— Lastly, the mercenaries hired by Giuliano were from G4S.
“G4S? Why would they get involved in this?”
— We haven't figured that out yet.
“Interrogate them. G4S isn't the type to get involved in something like this. There has to be something behind it.”
— Yes, Boss. I'll report later.
The transmission ended.
“That was a good punch. It'll hurt for a while.”
Putting down the receiver, I smiled as the corners of my mouth curled upward.
