Young Master, the Guests Have Arrived
As I sat in my room organizing information, Parnello knocked from outside and informed me that members of the Triads from the Chinese side had arrived.
"I'll be out shortly."
I replied to Parnello, then rose from my seat and walked over to the full-length mirror in the room. I smoothed my impeccably tailored black suit, crisp white shirt, collar, and tie, perfecting an utterly pristine appearance.
This was my first time facing an outside organization not as a Calione, so I had to be especially meticulous and unapproachable.
I opened the door and looked at Parnello standing there.
"Parnello, is this fine as is?"
I asked the man who was the epitome of refinement in the Calione family, turning in place for him.
He watched me gravely, then nodded with a satisfied expression.
"Perfect, young master. You look every bit the finest gentleman of the Caliones."
"...Coming from you, that's embarrassing."
"It's simply the truth."
If Parnello said so, then it must be. All that remained was to demonstrate my capabilities before everyone.
"Let's go."
"As you command."
It was time to handle my first official external duty since officially joining the Calione family.
Lately, I'd found a new joy in life.
The Calione family's hunting dog, the one who handled money up close—me—finding joy in life. Anyone else hearing that would probably tell me not to joke around.
But the source of my joy was none other than the son of money itself, the young master of the Caliones who had recently begun heir training: Eugene Han Calione.
Right now, the young master and I were on our way to receive the Triad members who had come from China.
Those fools from the continent across the sea—rooted in Asia, the Calione sphere of influence—had dared to attempt illegal entry into our territory without fear.
According to reports, the young master had handled them brilliantly, but that was beside the point. They had committed a crime, and they would pay the price.
Especially since this was the young master's very first meeting with another organization. The Don had entrusted him to me, so I reaffirmed my resolve to serve him with utmost diligence.
"This is the place, young master."
The annex beside the mansion's main building. The meeting room here was equipped with CCTV on all sides, allowing the Don in his study to watch as well.
"The annex, huh."
The young master glanced around once before stepping inside. I followed, and the personnel waiting ahead bowed deeply toward him.
"Enough with the greetings. They're in there?"
"Yes, young master."
Upon confirmation from the organization member, the young master entered the room first.
A faint scent of blood tickled my nose. At the far end sat a bound man with an eyepatch and gag, and beside him, a silent male figure keeping watch.
"That's him."
The man who had dared bare his teeth at the Caliones: the Triad branch leader. If it were up to me, I'd slit his throat right then, but the decision-maker here was the young master. For now, I just needed to stand silently behind him.
"...And who are you?"
The man shot up from his seat upon seeing the young master and me. His face hardened as he recognized us.
Did this fool actually think the Don himself would come?
Ridiculous.
"Mind your manners. This is the rightful heir to the Calione family, Eugene Han Calione."
I announced the young master's position to remind him of his place. The man let out an "Ah" and bowed his head.
"I'm Jao Si, branch leader of the Hongryong Society, a Triad organization operating in China. It's an honor to meet such a distinguished guest."
He was pretending to show respect, but he hadn't even removed his hat. He was clearly looking down on us now that it was the young master instead of the Don.
But the young master ignored his greeting entirely and strode straight to the head of the table, taking his seat.
"Let's get to business, Triads."
Even with another organization's branch leader before him, the young master showed no intimidation, seizing the initiative. He looked utterly composed—no one would mistake him for a rookie.
"...Speak."
The man lifted his head and sat at the young master's words.
"First question. What the hell is that?"
The young master gestured toward the bloodied man trembling in the corner.
The man flashed a grin, as if he'd been waiting.
"Ah, the ringleader of this incident. He was secretly laundering money through slush funds without my knowledge, and things went wrong, leading to this mess. As a gesture of apology, I brought him like this."
He patted the kneeling man's head. The bound figure twitched and gasped roughly through the gag. The blood on it revealed his tongue had been cut out.
In other words, this guy was just a scapegoat. The real culprit was undoubtedly the Chinese bastard putting on this serious act.
"Young master, it seems—"
As I opened my mouth with that thought, the young master extended a hand to me and stood.
"Interesting. So you're saying he's the mastermind?"
"Y-yes."
The man faltered at the sudden move, but the young master ignored him, removing the eyepatch to check the man's face.
"Hm. Got it."
"...W-what do you mean?"
"Jao Si, right? If you're from China, you must know physiognomy."
"Phy...siognomy?"
"Yeah, physiognomy. I've always been curious about various studies, so I dabbled in it. And if I'm right... this guy doesn't look like someone who'd do that."
With that, the young master replaced the eyepatch. The man stood in panic.
"What do you mean? You can tell just by looking at his face? That's nonsense! He's definitely the culprit!"
"Right? Total nonsense. So why are you shoving a tongueless puppet in front of me and insisting he's the criminal? You think the Caliones are that laughable?"
The young master kicked his chair out from under him.
"What the hell do you think you're doing!"
"Shut up. I'm barely holding back from slicing your throat right now."
Evidently...
"Parnello, if he tries anything stupid, sever his Achilles tendon immediately."
"As you command, young master."
"P-Parnello? The Calione hunting dog...!"
My worries were unfounded. The young master approached the fool sprawled on the floor and sat before him.
"Yeah, you should've looked at me like that from the start. Now we're on the same level."
"You think I'll just let this slide? I have men in this annex too!"
The man scrambled back, yelling his last desperate threat.
"Ha."
The young master scoffed.
"Funny? Sure! Even if our organization is pathetic compared to the Caliones, if we come at you with resolve to die— Aaaargh!!"
"My apologies, young master. He seemed about to reach out."
I hurled a knife, severing his right Achilles tendon.
The atmosphere the young master wanted now was fear. Overwhelming fear.
"Well done, Parnello."
"Hah... hah... What the hell is this...!"
Realizing his life was truly in danger, the man switched back to polite speech.
The young master nodded, satisfied.
"You didn't seriously think handing over a puppet like that would end this, did you? How much authority did your boss delegate to you?"
"I'm... the boss's proxy!"
"A proxy for your boss... must mean you brought a hefty sum. What's the maximum?"
"Ten billion credits. Ngh..."
Worthy of a branch leader, he used mana to reinforce his muscles and stem the bleeding from his arm as he answered.
The young master shook his head.
"One hundred billion."
"O-one hundred billion? No way such an absurd amount exists! Even if it did, the boss would—"
"Yeah, absurd, right? Parnello, left leg."
"Aaaargh—!!"
This time, I threw so the knife grazed his left leg. Without proper treatment, he'd be crippled for life.
"Attempting illegal entry into Calione territory was absurd to begin with. Your actions are fine, but ours aren't? Say it again."
The young master stepped forward slowly, leveling his gaze, then pressed down hard on the man's wound without changing expression.
"Guh... aaaargh!"
"One hundred billion."
"I'll prepare it! I'll prepare it!"
"Specifically."
"Ngh...! Combining the organization's stolen goods and slush funds should cover a hundred billion. Please... please stop..."
The young master approached the pitifully sobbing man, reached into his pocket, and placed his smartphone in the man's hand.
"Right now."
"R-right now...?"
"Parnello, right hand too—"
"I'll do it! I'll do it!"
Just before my name was called, he snatched the phone and frantically tapped away.
The young master watched intently from the side. Then, out of the man's sight, he flashed me his palm behind his back.
The signal to hold.
Before I could fully process it...
"You damn Calione... Huh?"
Whether trying to take the young master hostage or not, the man lunged with the phone—but his face smashed into the young master's knee, sending him flying back.
A perfect execution of the lesson: never relax before an enemy.
I couldn't help but smile in satisfaction.
"No second chances. Process it if you want to live."
"Aheok... ehng... ehenghanghi..."
Thoroughly cowed by the young master who anticipated everything, the man gave up completely and resumed working feverishly.
After watching blankly for a moment, the young master nodded in approval, took the smartphone, and stood.
This was the crucial part. Whether the young master truly had the qualities of a boss, whether he was ready to become the Calione heir.
"Halyeo... halyeouineuphya?"
"Unlike you lot, the Caliones value bonds and promises made between people."
Ignoring the man staring with bloodshot eyes, the young master walked toward the exit and murmured softly.
"But it's different with mutts who don't even know what a promise is."
"Eh? Dae... daekan—"
"Parnello, cleanup's yours."
"Halryeo ungha! Halyeo! Halyeo!"
With that perfect response, the young master indifferently left the room.
"...As you command."
Looks like my worries were unnecessary after all.