The Five Families
The five bosses of the Five Families had gathered in one place.
It was the second day since Kazin and his subordinates had visited each of the Five Families, starting with the Marinelli Family. To get straight to the point: the Five Families—excluding the Marinelli Family, which had shown virtually no interest in the deal—had all failed to secure a transaction with Kazin.
The one who had held the highest expectations for this deal was Eddie Sanchez of the Sanchez Family.
Even though he had been roused from sleep and was still in his pajamas, the massive golem radiated overwhelming pressure simply by existing. His subordinates, including Harem, trembled violently at the sight of those enormous eyes gleaming in the darkness. Kazin, however, remained unfazed.
"...What is it?"
Sanchez clamped a cigar the size of his massive frame between his lips.
"...What exactly did those bastards propose?"
The golem clearly disliked the way this conversation kept circling back on itself. Kazin listed the money Luke Fellini and the Fellini Family had prepared to receive the narcotics, along with various additional benefits. The sum itself was substantial, but the most critical factor was their control over the maritime patrol.
The Wolf Kazin referred to here was not Luke, but his father—the former Godfather, Vito Fellini.
"...."
Sanchez suddenly realized something. In the current situation, there was simply no way he could offer better terms than the Wolf. The insolent elf standing before him surely knew that too. He was clearly just toying with him to keep up appearances.
Sanchez slowly rose to his feet. The mansion had been built for him, yet when he stood, his head nearly scraped the massive ceiling in a precarious sight.
Sanchez's subordinates throughout the room drew their guns, and Kazin's men immediately leveled theirs in response. Tension crackled through the air as Kazin also rose from his seat.
Kazin shot back, referencing the way Sanchez had just spoken about his boss. If his own boss heard those words, he would undoubtedly change his mind immediately.
In that taut atmosphere… the sound of gunfire never came.
Sanchez already had enough headaches to deal with. And so Kazin left the Sanchez Family and visited the others, repeating the same process. None of them had been able to present an offer attractive enough to satisfy him.
Kazin dangled the conditions the Wolf and the Fellini Family had proposed in front of the bosses, goading them, but offering anything better was practically impossible. The only one with any real chance had been the Lusso Family. They controlled numerous strongholds in northern Hevilly and the outskirts; if the cargo simply landed at a suitable port, that would suffice. The only problem was the maritime patrol, which had been bought off by the Fellini Family. Darius Lusso had no clear solution for that obstacle, so Kazin returned to the harbor without hesitation.
* Peaky Blinders - Barns Courtney - Fire
It is recommended that you listen to the above song from this point onward.
This was why the bosses of the Five Families had gathered. Although every last ounce of the narcotics shipped from across the sea had once again fallen into the Fellini Family's hands, next time could be different. If the Five Families joined forces once more.
That was why Eddie Sanchez, boss of the Sanchez Family, had invited all the bosses, and every one of them had agreed to appear at the appointed time and place.
A restaurant located in western Hevilly. It was a lavish, crimson establishment. However, it appeared the place was not conducting normal business today. Despite the abundance of empty seats, it was accepting no further reservations or customers.
The first to appear was Eddie Sanchez. The Sanchez Family he led had once commanded roughly 670 made men and approximately 3,000 associates, dominating western and central Hevilly. Today they numbered about 350 made men and roughly 1,600 associates. At the very least, no other family among the Five could overwhelm them in raw strength.
At the table and chairs prepared in the center of the restaurant, the seat reserved for him seemed to declare that he was the protagonist of this meeting.
The second to arrive was Vito Marinelli. The Marinelli Family had once commanded roughly 520 made men and approximately 1,700 associates, ruling southern and southeastern Hevilly. Today they numbered about 240 made men and roughly 700 associates.
Despite Sanchez's greeting, the golden dragon's descendant offered no response. His emaciated frame, exhausted face, and unkempt, wildly grown beard made him look like a wreck. He could not even walk properly without the support of his eldest son. And yet, scars covered his face and body—proof that the years had not been kind.
"...."
After that, Sanchez began exchanging perfunctory conversation with the eldest son in place of the ruined boss. While they spoke, the third boss appeared. It was Darius Lusso. The Lusso Family had once commanded roughly 620 made men and approximately 2,200 associates, controlling northern and northeastern Hevilly. Today they numbered about 330 made men and roughly 900 associates.
A special helmet encased Lusso's head. Though no oxygen remained inside for the flames to consume, his head continued to burn. The arrival of the Burning Vampire naturally caused the temperature in the room to rise.
The moment Sanchez addressed Lusso, a woman revealed herself. She had concealed her face and expression behind a chilling silver mask. Yet the long ears protruding from beneath it and the poisonous violet skin clearly marked her as a dark elf. Her name was Rita Carmen. The Carmen Family had once commanded roughly 110 made men and approximately 2,900 associates, controlling all information in Hevilly. Today, their exact scale remained unknown.
Carmen deliberately ignored the golem's words and checked the remaining empty seats. The Wolf she spoke of did not refer to the Fellini Family, but to another.
When the boss of the last family—the Dragovich Family—still had not appeared, the two bosses traded remarks. Sanchez and Lusso. The pair maintained a cooperative relationship. Sanchez was currently at war with Carmen in the west, and Carmen had brought the Dragovich Family into her camp to offset her numerical disadvantage. Sanchez, in turn, had drawn the Lusso Family—free from the western conflict—into his own alliance. Lusso also had no desire to face the combined forces of the other two bosses should Sanchez lose in the west. The current situation, where three bosses were trapped and powerless in the west, was ideal for him.
"...."
Despite Sanchez's outburst, Vito Marinelli showed no hostility toward Carmen. In fact, it was questionable whether he even registered her presence.
A mechanical voice mixed with static flowed from Lusso's helmet. It was difficult to tell because of the emotionless tone, but he was clearly quite angry.
At Sanchez's words, all the bosses except Marinelli turned in the same direction at once. Mikhail Dragovich. The last boss to arrive had finally appeared. The restaurant grew even more cramped with the arrival of the silver-furred, gray-eyed wolf-man and his fellow wolf-men.
Dragovich ignored the gazes of the other bosses and placed the cold metal prosthetic that had replaced his arm on Marinelli's shoulder. The Dragovich Family had once commanded roughly 440 made men and approximately 1,800 associates, ruling southwestern Hevilly. Today they numbered about 310 made men and roughly 1,000 associates.
"...."
Meanwhile, Marinelli showed no reaction whatsoever to his friend's gesture.
Ignoring Lusso's remark, Dragovich took his own seat. This was the first meeting of the five bosses since Vito Fellini's death. Ordinary members of the organizations had hoped this gathering would signal the revival of the Committee.
This was the first council of the five bosses since the death of Vito Fellini.
The ordinary members hoped it would herald the revival of the Committee.
Lusso answered in Sanchez's place after Carmen's remark. There was no falsehood in their words. Among the bosses, Sanchez was the youngest and Carmen was the oldest. Between Sanchez and Carmen existed vast differences in mindset, values, and even generation.
"...."
Carmen looked as though she had something to say, but Dragovich stopped her. Without his help she could not hold Sanchez back, so she respected his wishes and held her tongue. Thinking it was his turn again, Sanchez finally spoke the main point.
All the bosses except Marinelli reacted to Sanchez's words.
Dragovich, the boss closest to Marinelli, confirmed the necessary details with his friend's son.
Lusso refuted Carmen's words, and Dragovich questioned Lusso in turn. Simply put, none of the Five Families had managed to satisfy the drug merchants from Tirenia. Sanchez declared that if the Five Families combined their strength, they could satisfy them.
Lusso cut to the heart of Dragovich's statement. The port where the drugs were unloaded did not have to be the one on Hevilly's eastern side. The problem was the maritime patrol firmly in the Fellini Family's grasp. Before they could discuss how to handle the maritime patrol, Carmen asked a question that clearly left her incredulous.
BANG!
Lusso immediately slammed his hand down on the table.
While Dragovich mediated between the two bosses, Marinelli spoke in a feeble voice. His son behind him quickly covered his mouth. Of course, the other bosses were focused on the fact that Marinelli had spoken for the first time since arriving.
Lusso began pouring out his opinions regarding the port that Marinelli had mentioned. The other bosses listened for now, but during the discussion Sanchez dropped a meaningful remark.
"...What?!"
At Dragovich's question, Sanchez answered with a wicked smile. His gaze naturally drifted toward Carmen.
The bosses present did not acknowledge the title "Godfather" that Sanchez had used. Or, more accurately, they did not want to acknowledge it. Nevertheless, Sanchez calmly referred to the deceased Vito Fellini as the Godfather. That was because Vito Fellini had legitimately defeated Sanchez, and Sanchez had recognized him as his boss. The other bosses, of course, felt differently. To them, Vito Fellini and his children were mortal enemies no matter what.
Lusso began explaining as patiently as possible to the incredulous Dragovich.
The person in question, Carmen, of course did not stay silent.
"...."
The conversation was running in parallel lines. Sanchez and Lusso were pinning the Godfather's death on Carmen and even mentioned that the Fellini Family saw it the same way. Carmen, of course, flatly denied all the absurd accusations directed at her.
"...."
Carmen's expression was hidden behind her mask, but it was easy to imagine. Meanwhile, Sanchez continued speaking regardless.
Sanchez and Lusso made it clear once more to the other bosses. By sacrificing Rita Carmen, they could obtain the drugs and seek coexistence with the Fellini Family.
"...."
Carmen eventually stood up. She no longer wanted to spend even one more second in the same space as these idiots. Dragovich also rose and left with her.
"...."
Marinelli, supported by his eldest son, also left the restaurant. Just before getting into the car, he replayed everything he had witnessed today and nearly burst into laughter, but he exercised superhuman patience. If anything had been decided at this meeting, it was this: the Committee no longer existed.