Free Web NovelGiuliano knew almost nothing.
The others involved were no different. No one had spoken with Xavier directly.
“You were thoroughly used by Xavier, Lorenze.”
The interrogations ended after a full day.
When Lorenze personally checked on their condition, he fell into shock. It seemed he had spent the entire night awake, his eyes sunken and dark.
“I see......”
“Does it make you uncomfortable?”
“No. Not at all.”
“That could have been your future. We’ll take care of everything ourselves. Don’t concern yourself with them anymore.”
“Yes. Understood.”
Perhaps he had accepted reality, because Lorenze no longer spoke about Giuliano and the elders.
“Has there been any contact from Baltice?”
Lorenze shook his head.
By now, Baltice must have sensed that something strange was happening.
All the eyes and ears they had planted throughout Italy had vanished, and communication from Giuliano had ceased. They undoubtedly knew something had happened.
Yet no one had contacted Lorenze.
“That’s unexpected.”
“They’re probably trying to understand the situation. Xavier never moves unless he’s certain.”
“Have you changed your mind about returning to Baltice?”
Lorenze answered firmly.
“No. I’ll go back and fight from within.”
“Cosimo told me. He said Baltice exists for Xavier and his family.”
“Yes. I misunderstood Baltice as well.”
“Then have you given up on taking control of Baltice?”
Lorenze nodded solemnly.
“I’m going to dismantle Baltice and create a new alliance of families.”
“Hm......”
A new alliance of families.
Did he mean to create another organization and repeat history all over again?
“I’ll leave John and his team with you. Use them well. They’ll do whatever you ask.”
“Thank you. Right now, having a trustworthy security team is the most important thing.”
Political struggles always ended in physical struggles.
On a small scale, even arguments between individuals eventually escalated from words to fists.
On a larger scale, conflicts between nations often spread from political battles to wars.
In the end, the final thing one could rely on wasn't wealth or power.
It was force.
There was a reason I had established Black Bear and used mercenaries like a private army.
“I’ll be returning to America now. Contact me whenever you need me.”
“Yes. Thank you for everything.”
As Lorenze and I stepped out of the study, Giuliano and the elders were being dragged away.
The elders drooled uncontrollably, and Giuliano had been ruined to the point that one could hardly bear to look at him.
Unable to watch any longer, Lorenze turned his head away.
Like pieces of luggage, they were loaded into vehicles and taken somewhere.
“Boss.”
Igor approached us.
I shook my head slightly, signaling him not to make his report.
Understanding immediately, Igor quickly changed the subject.
“Are you returning to America?”
“Yes. You’ll be heading back to Russia soon too, right?”
“Yes. I think I should finish what I was doing there.”
Igor’s primary assignment was protecting Medvedev.
Russia was also engaged in an intense battle behind the scenes over the next presidential candidate.
The President remained silent and simply watched.
Because of that, Igor’s team had taken over Medvedev’s close protection to guard against possible assassination or kidnapping attempts.
“Alright. Hang in there a little longer.”
“Yes, Boss.”
Igor stepped back, and Lorenze and I left the estate.
I extended my hand.
“Next time, let’s meet with smiles, Lorenze.”
“Yes, Charlie. I hope so.”
“In the end, the family that survives this crisis will be the Medici Family.”
“...It has to be.”
Leaving behind the exhausted Lorenze, I descended the steps toward the car.
Just as Manager Ma opened the rear door, someone came running in a panic.
“Family Head! Family Head!”
The man whose neatly combed hair had become disheveled from running was Pietro.
“Cosimo...! Cosimo...!”
He couldn't even speak properly.
But sensing something was wrong from Pietro’s urgency, Lorenze immediately turned and sprinted away.
Pietro followed close behind.
“Hm.”
I let out a low sound and turned around again.
“It looks like I’ll have to stay longer.”
Cosimo’s breathing had probably stopped.
Or perhaps it was about to.
“Manager. Change the schedule.”
“Yes, Boss.”
I reentered the estate and climbed the central staircase toward Cosimo’s room.
The bedroom door stood wide open.
From inside came Lorenze’s sobbing and the cries of others.
But I didn’t enter.
Only members of the Medici Family had the right to witness his final moments.
How much time passed?
Eventually, the sobbing subsided, and Lorenze emerged, supported by others.
“Le mie più sentite condoglianze. Rest in peace.”
I bowed my head lightly and offered my condolences.
It was the utmost respect I could show.
With eyes reddened raw from crying, Lorenze spoke in a trembling voice.
“Thank you, Charlie.”
Pietro, his voice thick with tears, addressed Lorenze.
“Family Head, please allow me to personally prepare Lord Cosimo’s final journey.”
“Please do, Pietro.”
Lorenze slowly walked over to me.
“Charlie, would you bless my grandfather’s final journey?”
“Yes. Of course. I’ll attend the funeral before returning.”
“...Thank you, truly. I need to rest.”
Lorenze staggered back toward the bedroom, and I returned to the room I had stayed in the previous night.
Taking out my phone, I called Han Kyungyeong.
— Hey. Muhyuk, you're coming today, right?
“No, I can’t. I think I need to attend Cosimo’s funeral.”
— What?
“You come here too. Lorenze is walking the same path as us now, so we should at least show him proper respect.”
— Understood. I’ll prepare and head over.
After ending the call, I idly fiddled with my phone.
‘Should I bring back Giuliano and the old men?’
But the thought didn’t last long.
Cosimo himself had asked me to take care of them.
Allowing traitors into the church would be going against his final wishes.
“At least your journey won’t be lonely.”
Rain tapped softly against the windows of the quiet room.
As if mourning Cosimo’s death, the downpour gradually intensified.
* * *
Cosimo’s memorial Mass was held at Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral in Florence.
On the day of the service, the cathedral was filled with mourners.
Citizens who could not enter gathered outside, paying their respects, while the interior was packed with people.
Standing in a corner with Han Kyungyeong, I watched Lorenze greet everyone.
Political and business leaders from Italy, along with numerous celebrities, attended the memorial Mass.
Even the President of Italy and the Prime Minister, who held executive authority over the government, were present.
“Lord Lorenze.”
Every one of them bowed their heads to him.
Lorenze received their greetings with dignity.
“Thank you, Mr. President. Prime Minister.”
“No. We had to personally see Lord Cosimo off on his final journey.”
Lorenze continued greeting everyone who arrived.
“Still no one from Baltice.”
Not a single head of the core families had appeared.
Soon, the memorial Mass began.
The cathedral had been decorated with candles and flowers.
The majestic songs of the choir echoed through the hall, honoring Cosimo.
Standing before the coffin, Lorenze prepared his final farewell.
Members of the Medici Family stood beside him.
In a voice steeped in sorrow, he began.
“My grandfather devoted his entire life to Florence and the Medici Family. His leadership and wisdom inspired all of us. His touch can be found throughout Florence.”
Inside the cathedral were works by artists he had sponsored, while sculptures and paintings created by Renaissance masters supported by the Medici Family adorned the building.
Florence and the Medici Family were inseparable.
“Today, we honor him and vow to carry on his legacy.”
Lorenze finished his eulogy.
As the Mass continued, the clergy prayed for Cosimo’s soul.
Their prayers and the choir’s songs echoed beneath the cathedral’s towering ceiling.
Like everyone else, I bowed my head and honored Cosimo’s passing.
Our acquaintance had been brief, but he had left a profound impression on me.
When the clergy finished, a cardinal sent directly by the Vatican stepped forward.
He was deeply attached to the Medici Family and was considered a strong candidate to become the next Pope.
In a solemn voice, the cardinal began.
“Today, we gather here to honor the great life of Lord Cosimo de Medici. Lord Cosimo led Florence to prosperity and elevated the honor of the Medici Family. His faith and wisdom became a light to us all, and his generosity and courage brought hope to every citizen of this city.”
The cardinal paused and looked toward the coffin.
“Lord Cosimo practiced the teachings of God and showed love and mercy through his life. May his soul rest in peace. We shall remember him and inherit his legacy as we move forward.”
The cathedral became enveloped in emotion after his eulogy.
It demonstrated the position held by the Vatican and the cardinals in Italy.
After the Mass ended, Cosimo’s coffin was moved from the cathedral to its final resting place.
I followed the procession from the very back.
“Do you think I’ll get a funeral like this when I die?”
Deeply impressed by the scene, Han Kyungyeong’s voice was more subdued than usual.
“Who knows? Our culture is different, so probably not.”
“You really have no sentiment.”
Talking as we exited the cathedral, we were met with an overwhelming crowd.
Even I clicked my tongue in amazement.
“Now I understand what kind of family the Medici Family is to Florence.”
Cosimo’s coffin wasn’t carried by a hearse.
Members of the family bore it themselves.
The roads had been blocked off by the police, and citizens stood along the streets to bid farewell.
“Long live Cosimo de Medici!”
“Rest in peace!”
When one citizen shouted, those around him joined in, calling his name and crying out their condolences.
Behind the Medici procession, countless citizens joined the line.
I stepped away from the procession and simply watched.
“It feels like the entire city has fallen into mourning.”
Taking another route, I arrived early at the Medici Family cemetery.
After quite some time, Cosimo’s coffin finally arrived.
It was placed within the family mausoleum.
Before the earth covered it, people offered flowers and spoke their final words to him.
After everyone finished their short farewells, soil was finally poured over the grave.
Not a single member of Xavier’s side or any family belonging to Baltice appeared.
When the funeral concluded, a memorial banquet was held at the Medici estate.
Only family, relatives, and the giants of politics and business attended.
Xavier arrived in the middle of the banquet.
“Lorenze. Forgive me for being late.”
Standing at a distance, I quietly observed.
Lorenze clasped his hand.
“Not at all. Thank you for coming.”
After greeting Lorenze, Xavier surveyed the room.
Then our eyes met.
I did not avoid his gaze.
Instead, I looked straight at him with a deep smile on my lips.
